WHAT’S GOING ON WITH OUR GOVERNMENTS!!!

No matter where you look we have governments that don’t listen to their citizens! These cabals seemingly continue unabated . . .

First, look to our city council’s list of achievements: Charlie’s bike lanes that go nowhere, city out-of-control expenditures (let’s add a new multi-purpose facility to the 2026 tax burden), a transit system once soon(?) to be rapid but now “rapidly” falling apart, a city council consisting of some members accused, though not proven to be, child abusers, oh and, among other failings, roads, streets and avenues that ride like buckboards! This is the gift that keeps on taking . . . but don’t worry an election is just around the corner when you can get even!!!

Looking to our provincial government, we have governance by church! It’s one thing to have Scott Moe kowtowing (make that “cow”towing) to his rural base and implementing legislation favouring them over urban citizens but quite another when he and his congregation govern us by his bible. Grants to private schools and evangelical churches, all while some of their operatives get accused of child abuse, even sexual assaults (none of which has been yet proven in a court). How does that square with the bible! With the young people’s pronouns, we have legislation taking away human rights to favour “parental” rights, something that doesn’t even exist in our constitution. This and so much more preaching to his fold. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, spending nearly a million of tax payer’s dollars, he’s off to Qatar under the guise of trade opportunities just waiting for a little, lowly, province (they’ve had to consult their Google maps to find since they’ve never heard of us) to cast huge economic boon to, he rewards his ministers, campaign contributors, clergy and rural community leaders, with a trip of a lifetime, flying first class, eating and drinking of the world’s finest (alcohol is permitted but not public drunkenness and, for sure, Moe knows that you don’t get behind the wheel). All while back home, we struggle with third world healthcare, minimized education inputs, a 6% sales tax, a threat to our carbon tax rebates (offering nothing in its place) and civic down towns bordering on the twilight zone, to site but a few of the issues facing urban dwellers. . . but don’t worry an election is just around the corner when you can get even!!!

Federally, we have out of control spending, runaway inflation amid shrink-flation (toilet paper squares are smaller and thinner but oh so much more fun), uncontrolled immigration, withering military equipment, a “Service Canada” federal department in itself a contradiction, federal civil servants compensation lost in a monumental software blunder (thanks Mr. Harper), airlines dragging handicapped passengers down the aisle maybe even to be dispensed to a luggage carousal (what’s a Transport Canada and where are those flight cancellations when you need them), media monopolies (what’s a CRTC), and on, and on, it goes!!! . . . but don’t worry an election is just around the corner when you can get even!!!

About that!!!

SO NOW, AFTER WE’VE LOST ANOTHER LIFE ON OUR CITY STREETS . . .

Our city fathers diddle again, navel gazing as to what to do! Well, note to city council, as the editorial suggests, it’s time to stop and make a decision in the best interests of our citizens! We don’t need more studies and for sure not for $30,000. You know what you did on Victoria Avenue works so do it everywhere! Stop spending good money on stupid things like replacing residential driveways and put the money to widening our busy thoroughfare sidewalks to permit for pedestrians, bikes and scooters alike. It’s really simple and requires no study, just add a yard to the sidewalk width (you know, the distance you already expect vehicles to allow when passing bikes) or perhaps two yards, whatever. Allow all to use the crosswalk (which they already do anyway!) Simply get bikes and scooters away from moving vehicles. It’s really a no-brainer so you should be able to get past your mental constipation. European cities have been doing it for decades. Wake up! We’ve lost another life tragically and more lives continue to be at risk!!!

WHERE DOES IT END!!!

Over the past 8 years, our civic administration has run amok with spending and all under the watchful eye of our council! Watchful may not be correct as it appears they simply haven’t been aware or somehow think citizens are flush with cash for the plucking (note that that’s “pl” in case you misunderstood)!

First, a much needed new West/North extension to circle drive resulted in a 6% tax hike (remember then mayor Atchison telling us how it’s worth it) followed by the palatial, oversized, police station complete with above and underground parking for another 6% (new shooting range extra) but, keep in mind, that was substantially reduced by the whopping $2 million we received from the old station’s sale! Oh, and did we mention one other cost we’ve heard nothing about is that of the ongoing leases trailing behind the city police force after they moved into their new digs! Yes, until the completion of their palace, they were scattered about the city in long term leases.

Then there’s the multi-million$ bus barns ostensibly to accommodate that rapid transit system from never never land, but again its cost will be reduced substantially by the $4 million from the pending sale of the old barn!

Now, there’s the new Library, approximated to cost “only” $134 million (oddly, the same as the freeway addition and police station were each predicted to cost before their overruns) which will no doubt translate to nearly $200 million but, once again reduced by the substantial $4 million from the pending sale of the old library.

All this and, now, a new multi-purpose facility and surrounding improvements to other existing facilities going downtown at a projected cost of (wait for it) $350 million before the effects of inflation (that can’t be much!).

Altogether, past and present expenditures (oh sorry, “investments”) come to approximately $800 million before those windfall profits from the sales of old properties of +-$10 million.

Yes, we should have had a referendum on each of these but, of course, the prospect of losing is simply too much to bear so, the only true referendum our city fathers understand is the one on election day and that one’s rather final. Tragically, the administration, however, will live on to another day, er, I mean another project!!!

Meanwhile, taxpayers are left to ponder the obvious, wherever has this year’s $52 million shortfall and next year’s $23 million come from and what can we sell to recoup $500,000 of it. Oh, I know, we can sell Sask-Tel Centre! Nope, sorry, it’s the new city hall!!! Yes, you heard right, yet to come is the announcement of the new city hall!!! Yes, it is inevitable because the civic administration is hooked on spending! Sorry, spending on snow removal on residential streets will have to wait as it’s not in the budget!!!

CITY SPENDING OUT OF CONTROL!!!

Councillor Darren Hill Proposes a hiring Freeze and complete review of every managerial & supervisor position in the corporation! To leave all front line & service workers alone that they are essential! He goes on to suggest capping property tax increases to perhaps 4%!

Hill leans heavily on the civic administration calling it “irresponsible” for administration to “be throwing those numbers out” before council had a chance to discuss the budget. Further, he advances, that the administration has prompted a lot of fear in many citizens with some seniors very concerned about their ability to stay in their homes while facing such increases in their taxes!

“To blame it almost entirely on inflation is reckless. It’s ridiculous. Hill said, the shortfall is a “spending issue.” He goes on to suggest that one potential cost-saving measure would be to reduce the frequency of organic waste pick-ups during the winter months. He emphasizes that “no single household produces that much kitchen waste that that green bin needs to be picked up every two weeks”.

Hill predicts that “There’s going to be a number of other operational savings to be had and service reductions are unavoidable.”

“We need to get back to the basics of services that a municipal government is meant to provide. Roads, sewer, water, instead of creating programs and services in the areas of social services which are the responsibility of provincial and federal government, not municipal government!

TERRIBLE, AVOIDABLE, HUGE LOSS . . .

This past week we all experienced a huge loss with the tragic accident having claimed Natasha Fox’s life! Not to say city hall, nor one specific individual, is responsible but in our opinion, it was avoidable, and largely because our city fathers, by that we mean city council and our mayor (ironically oft referred to as “bike lane Charlie”), and the administration, by that we mean transportation department, continue to fail us with their indecision and inaction! For years, we have endured their gong show mismanagement of the ongoing biking dilemma, one which we have all faced and continue to face with no apparent solution in sight despite the obvious one . . . widening sidewalks to accommodate pedestrians, bikes and now scooters! We know this works because they’ve done it before. Best example is that of the Victoria Street hill ascending from the bridge, designed to do just that!!! Meanwhile, after miserably failing to effect bike lanes on 4th Avenue and elsewhere, their lame attempt at biking lanes has left us with the laughable 23rd Street four block legacy to the farcical!
Surely, the civic administration’s planning policy of “monkey-seeing, monkey-doing” that of other cities and their questionable solutions, can effectively divide our streets, avenues and sidewalks so as to protect its citizens, at very least!!!