It’s our money–tell the government how you want to spend it
(photo: Canadian Design Resources)
The Saskatchewan Party has posted a request for ideas on how to spend the government’s oil and gas windfall on their party web site.
This is a great opportunity for voters to tell them exactly what their priorities are and how they want them to spend the money. For starters, how about restoring a tiny fraction of it to Station 20 West and invest in sustainable energy and food production?
Here’s my wish list:
- make a serious investment in non-polluting alternative energy sources (think solar, wind, NOT tar sands development) and encourage energy conservation. Invest in carbon capture for coal stations. This is our chance to take the lead and massively reduce our CO2 emissions.
- invest in public transport and promote efficient vehicle use, NOT roads. People have to be encouraged to get out of their private cars whenever possible and into affordable, convenient alternative modes of transport. Take the lead! Make Saskatchewan a showcase for the rest of the country! We have unique challenges but they can be solved.
- invest in local, sustainable food production, rural communities and help young people to become farmers. We need more small farm holdings to increase food safety and security. Help cities invest in local food production (i.e. creating community gardens).
- help cities invest in safe, affordable public housing to assist people adversely affected by the property boom
- help residents of Saskatoon and Regina’s core neighbourhoods gain access to nutritious food, proactive healthcare, and career/job training. Food banks are important, but they should be unnecessary. Solve the underlying social problems and give people the help they need to live full and productive lives, not just emergency handouts. Show them that you care! The initial proposal for Station 20 West would go a long way towards achieving these aims; I want to see this funding restored.
We are at a crossroads here and have such an opportunity to make a difference in the province’s future. We need to spend this money wisely and preserve the ecosystem to ensure that today’s children not only have a means of supporting themselves, but also a safe and stable environment in which to live.
The environment is my number one voting issue. We have to make serious progress in the next decade. If we don’t prevent catastrophic climate change, nothing else will matter.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
From a citizen of Canada
6 months ago we put the PC government into power because we wanted them to be there. They showed a change for Canada that the people asked for. We never asked for Liberals, NDP, or the Separatists (Quebec Wa!) If we wanted them in there we would have showed that at the polls. Back in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s with Trudeau at the helm our military took a beating. It ended with the PC’s giving the military back there pride that the Liberal party striped from them. Our Heath care became a issue, un constitutional gun laws were enforced because its the only way to keep the north weak against the Bear. Now we have a coalition involving the Liberal party (Socialists), NDP, and the Separatist party (Quebec wa!) What the hell is that? I would rather see the Green party in there before a NDP, Separatist, or the liberals. NOW IS THAT WHAT CANADA WANTS? Not on your life! Separatists are only in the best interest of Quebec, NOT CANADA! Why would any one want them to tell us what to do west of Ottawa! Or East of Nova Scotia What the Hell do the separatists know about what Canada wants? This also shows the mentality of the NDP and the Liberals how low they will stoop to get into power. Boucher started a treasonous act by placing a referendum of separation before Quebec which by the way belongs to Canada and he was shot down only to be left in power instead of being charged with treason before the state. If I as a regular Joe blow pulled a Louis Reille move like that I would end up in jail! If a United States senator tried that with one of U.S States he would be in jail a long time. If the people wanted the Liberals in power why did we vote them out! They are Socialistic self motivated with no care as to what the Canadian people want or they would take their loss as Canada has requested at the Polls. They need to shut up sit down and let Harper do his job! Why don’t those people try to listen to us little guys for once! Because they do not care about what we think, Go figure!
December 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I think if you reread the post, Neil, you’ll see that it was actually discussing the Saskatchewan provincial government, not the federal government.