Letters

To the editor:

As a resident I am writing to express my extreme disgust at the latest news report I have read regarding our city manager’s report to council to increase our water and sewer rates. As we live in the midst of a city wide water boil order due to a broken valve we now have parasites in our water, we are expected to sit back and accept a potential increase to our ever growing water bill?? If anything, the city should be offering a rebate for the inconvenience and additional power its taking to boil several litres of water a day or for buying bottled water.

When sent an email to our city manager regarding this issue, his reply indicated that this report was written before the valve broke and the water boil order was in place. He also indicated that other jurisdictions are also raising their water rates to the tune of nine per cent to 10 per cent. Well, other jurisdictions also have larger taxe bases, and city councils who know how to handle the money. We need the money we have to be focused on the crumbling infrastructure (bridge, new bridge, roads, and water/sewer)

Instead of always relying on tax increases, its time the city thinks of other ways to raise revenue, or at the very least, be more fiscally responsible with the money it already has.

The level of contempt our city council has for the citizens is appalling. It would seem that our city council has had one catastrophe after another beginning with the bridge, now the water and a multitude of other issues. Ironically, we had money for underground sprinklers at the soccer centre (a centre that too has had its share of controversy and many feel was an extravagant expenditure) and $400,000 on the 28th/2nd ave intersection on the hope and a promise of federal dollars (that never came).

I am absolutely outraged at the vagrant disregard our Mayor and Council have for this community. I sincerely hope that city council are updating their resumes, this upcoming civic election is going to be an opportunity for the citizens of Prince Albert to “clean house”. And with a new council perhaps a new city manager!

To the editor:

I applaud the motives of the Occupy Movement but I get the feeling that few understand what it is about and few of us want to camp out for the winter.

The Keystone Pipeline is a good example of what the movement is about. It is a huge corporate deal that has involved a lot of government lobbying to make it happen. There are a lot of things wrong with the Alberta tarsands, including its contribution to climate change. Saskatchewan also receives, as acid rain, almost ¾ of the nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxides put into the atmosphere by the Ft. Mac operations. People are slow to notice the accumulating damage taking place from acidification of our northern forests and waterways.

The pipeline means expanding tarsands operations - more acid rain.

If it doesn’t go through it may mean that the refineries slated for Texas, will be built in Alberta - even more acid rain. If we have dreams of our own tar sands resource, environmental assessments may determine that there is already too much damage being done to allow further development because this industry has not been challenged enough and remains largely unregulated. A twin pipeline to Prince Rupert has been planned for some time, crossing 1200 waterways, and hotly contested by 1st Nation and environmental groups. Harper’s promise to sell oil to China will serve to put more pressure on this pipeline proposal - and ramp up tarsands operations.

Why are the corporations and the federal government so anxious to deplete our resources so quickly.

Slower extraction is money in the bank for future generations. Why is our provincial government not pushing for more regulation of the Alberta industry to protect our future.

Interested in creating a better world - I’m in the book.
 

To the editor:

This election is not so much about what deals we will give to homeowners, or education or health. I believe all the parties will try hard to find solutions. What is not getting as much discussion is just how we are going to pay for what is being promised. The devil is in the small print.

The Sask Party is slated as not offering expensive solutions, seems like a common sense approach. Still, it is going to cost money to pay what they are offering. The basis of how they are going to pay is largely from resource revenues, and sizing down government. Their approach, however, is not to raise resource revenues but rather to increase the rate of resource extraction. They want to encourage corporations to come into our province and extract our resources as efficiently and least cost to the corporations as possible – low taxes, efficient application processes, streamlined environmental processes, self monitoring, low royalties, exploration tax credits, subsidized electrical supply, an agreement with Alberta and BC that allows easier movement of labour and investment. When you read their platform they are afraid to raise any cost to the corporations because they may choose to not do business in the province. They have become puppets to the corporations and are leading us in a race to the bottom as we deplete our resources as quickly as possible for limited benefits over a short time. A very real boom and bust approach. Our children’s futures are at risk with the Wall government.

The NDP want to generate revenue and offer more services to the province by increasing the royalties that we collect for our resources. They even want to collect revenue sufficient to create a bright futures fund which future generations can benefit from. I am not sure what measures they might pursue to encourage corporate investment. Their platform does reflect more concern for the environment and a commitment to reduce green house gases and promote renewable energy resources.

The Green Party is going to generate more revenue for their promises by eliminating subsidies to corporations. They have a fairly practical approach to resource development by utilizing a sustainable communities model that promotes development by Canadian and local industries that reflect a real interest in the communities in which they operate: now and into the future. Unlike the other two, parties they are committed to a nuclear free world, the phasing out of coal, the creation of a renewable energy society, and sustainable communities.

There is an incredible difference in party philosophies – vote very carefully in this election.
 

To the editor:

I am writing to note a continuing crisis that I have been watching develop over the past several years in my riding of Prince Albert Northcote. Until recently I was a resident of more than 40 years living here and I have never seen an MLA with such disregard for the basics of representing a constituency. These being truth and being present at the doorsteps in the riding.

The most recent events which I will note have motivated me to write this note and to encourageothers in our riding to take action. The recent debate put on by the Chamber of Commerce was open to the public, was co-coordinated with SYPE a youth organization designed to help develop mentorship and skills in young entrepreneurs and professionals. This youth organization's very important to me to ensure that our community has strong leaders and opportunities in the future.

This debate had been planned for weeks. On my own research, I have learned that in fact Darcy and Ted were very much intending to participate in the debate. The rules of the debate were clear, only candidates of the two Prince Albert Constituency’s were invited and allowed to participate. Had another candidate been proposed they would have been told from the beginning that they were not permitted to participate the debate.

The format was clear, it was a Q & A from questions gathered from the memberships of both organizations. Questions that were beyond basic economics and asked about key issues of the riding. Questions an informed candidate would be aware of had they been asking the riding or door knocking. These questions were provided to each candidate several days in advance of the debate. This would allow each group to fully prepare their answers.

Darcy Furber declined. At the very last minute, after previously committing and having received the questions in advance, he declined! Then he did exactly what his leader did. He said one thing and did another. He then told some strange story about another candidate from another riding who was going to take their place. More untruths.I don’t know why Darcy is afraid of questions from his riding residents. These are questions that are very basic and extend to all parts of the community; from Health Care to Unions, from the Bridge to Economic Development. If he is afraid to answer these questions maybe we need to ask him some simple ones. Darcy, where are you? Why have you not engaged this riding? Is it because in 4 years of opposition you haven’t accomplished anything?

Finally Darcy’s press release notes another untruth that they were already committed elsewhere. Truth; they were committed to this debate! Now they will create a story around other debates they have been invited to. Ghost Debates that no-one else seems to know exist.

I truly, hope he isn’t going to create a debate or only participate in those that are full of his followers. Those are not welcoming to the general public and don’t represent the riding.

Maybe Darcy it is time for change. Never mind moving forward, just move over.