Swift Current NDP News

This article talks about the commitment of the New Democratic Party to help those who have little to obtain training, and affordable housing.

* $49.5 million for about 500 affordable rental and homeownership units for low- to moderate-income families and youth at risk.
* $10 million for ongoing rent subsidies for 300 low-income families and youth at risk.
* $500,000 to support a training component aimed at increasing participation among inner- city and northern youth in housing construction and repair projects.

I have to admit that I was surprised that:

The Opposition Saskatchewan Party finds no fault with the government's investment. But with Calvert in the fourth year of his mandate, it's widely expected a provincial election will be held this year.

They obviously think that this announcement was made only because of a potential upcoming election. I think that the only reason that the Sask. Party isn't complaining is that there may be an upcoming election and they don't want to piss of the North and the poor. I know that this idea is incredibly cynical, I mean what human being would be against helping these people? I will await the response of the flying-monkey right.

This article from Angela Hall at the Regina Leader Post talks about improvements to the Crop Insurance program.

Coverage per acre is increasing from a provincial average of $64 in 2006 to $86 this year.

The 2007 crop-insurance program will also see premiums overall reduced by 3.4 per cent, following two "relatively good" production years that have helped the program significantly reduce debt, the minister said.

"This is the first year as minister responsible for agriculture that I've been able to announce greater coverage and lower premiums and it's because of the '05, '06 years and production there," Wartman said....

...Also, the "establishment benefit" now covers damage by gophers, which have been a major problem in drought-stricken areas of southwest Saskatchewan. If gophers damage acres on a farm so the crop doesn't get established, an establishment claim will be paid, Wartman said.

The government didn't reintroduce spot-loss hail coverage. Agriculture Minister Mark Wartman indicated that the private industry is providing sound hail insurance. To this the Saskatchewan Party, the heroes of private industry, obviously don't think that the private industry is doing a good job providing hail insurance.

Saskatchewan Party MLA Glen Hart criticized the hail decision, saying it's something many farmers have been calling for.

"Without the spot-loss hail option in crop insurance, it adds significantly to farmers' overall crop-protection costs," Hart said.

Is he saying that the private insurance companies are charging too much for the insurance and that the government should take over the hail coverage? But the Saskatchewan Party doesn't like government controlled insurance.

The Sask Party has to complain about something I guess. It is their strategy after all. Their strategy certainly isn't appealing to voters based on policy. They didn't even debate policy at their convention. There is no way that they could say "good job, the lower premiums and expanded coverage will really help the farmers". That would cause their heads to explode. Also, they don't want to help farmers. I conclude this based on their support of the Conservative's attempt to destroy the Canadian Wheat Board. I should clarify, they don't want to help small family farms. They are all for helping monolithic corporate farms, who are salivating at the thought of the demise of the CWB. After all, this will cause the small family farmers to go bankrupt, and the large corporate farms can devour their operations for a pittance of what the land was originally worth.

Good job to Mister Wartman for actually helping farmers by expanding the coverage and lowering the premiums. As David Marit, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities indicated:

...the program appears to be moving in the right direction...

It is far from perfect, (spot-loss hail insurance, etc.) but it shows that the NDP is working on helping small farmers survive unforeseen problems. With Global Climate Change causing extremely unstable and unpredictable weather patterns, the farmers need the safety net to survive.

According to this article on CBC.ca, Stephen "Bush Buddy" Harper said that he would respect the passage of a bill that requires the government to meet commitments to Kyoto.

"Of course, if and when that becomes law, the government would respect it," Harper said in the House of Commons during question period Thursday.

Well isn't that special. What a sacrifice Stevie is making, actually obeying the law. Of course he is bitching and moaning about it...

"I'll just point out that the bill has no plan of action in it; the bill gives the government no authority to spend any money to actually have a plan of action."

What?! You mean that a bill was created without all of the answers already included to all of the environmental problems? Won't that mean that the Conservonuts will have to actually "govern" and come up with a plan? I am sure that Harper didn't think that "governing" was part of the deal. He undoubtedly thought that being in power meant that he had the combination to the treasury safe, and that he could enrich all of his crony buddies. At least that is what he was led to believe according to George "Wha' happened!" Bush.

Bush doesn't seem to need to obey pesky laws. He just creates a signing statement that indicates that the law applies to everyone but him. After all, another favorite of little Stevie Harper, Richard Nixon said "When the President does it...then it's not illegal." What a shock it must have been to Harper when he realized that he can't usurp the will of the parliament. He probably pouted...stamped his little robotic feet and threw a hissy fit.

Harper appeared to be backing away from previous government suggestions that it would simply ignore the law, and would be prepared to face any resulting lawsuits or even a non-confidence motion that could trigger an election.

Let's see if Harper can come up with a feasible plan that will satisfy this law. I have my doubts. I don't know if they can fit their "tax cuts for the wealthy" idea to this problem. Once they get past that, they are totally out of ideas.

I read an article in the Regina Leader Post that stated that Brad "Cheshire Cat" Wall is sure that the Saskatchewan Fascist Party will form the next government. Why is he so sure? Well, because things are so good in Saskatchewan, so, of course, people want a change. He claims that any good ideas that the NDP comes up with are the Sask Party's ideas. Especially the tax cuts. He assumes this because the Sask Party only has one idea...tax cuts. To paraphrase the Sask Party plan:

1. Lower Taxes
2. ????????
3. Prosperity

I do find it interesting that the Sask Party didn't debate any policy at their convention. What's up with that? What is the purpose of having a party convention if you are not going to figure out what the Party's goals are? Is this the way that the Sask Party plans to govern, to have parties, but not actually talk about doing anything useful? Obviously, the Sask Party isn't interested in anything other than winning. That's it! They don't care about environmental policy. They don't care about eliminating poverty. They don't care about job creation. They don't care about issues facing farmers. They don't care about improving our health care. I can only assume that they don't care about these things considering the fact that they spent the entire weekend focusing on what they really care about...winning an election.

Or maybe they knew that if they debated policy, it may be covered in the press. Then the voters would learn what they truly stood for. Brad knows that if the people actually knew what the Saskatchewan Conservative Party's values were, they would realize that they are insane, and that would be detrimental to primary goal, which is winning an election. They would realize that they are anti-Union and anti-Government. Both of these institutions are comprised and elected by "people". The Government represents us, and we have control over who represents us. Any time the Sask Party insults the working of government, they are insulting you and me and anyone that voted. The Sask Party hates "us". Why would anyone think that a party that hates government would be good at governing?

Unions represent workers, you know, the majority of the people of society. Their purpose is to ensure that management, which is driven by greed, can't sacrifice worker safety and fairness for profit. It ensures that labour, which is the most important part of any business, is treated with fairness and respect.

The Sask Party doesn't respect labour. They believe that labour exists to be exploited by Corporations and business owners. They are counting on you believing the right-wing propaganda that has been spewed over the years. This propaganda has convinced the public that Government is bad and so are Unions. What that, in essence, is saying is citizens are bad and so are people who work. If you are a citizen or a person that works, you should realize that you aren't bad. Allowing Corporate bosses to convince you that Unions are bad for your best interests is as ludicrous as allowing Oil Companies to tell you that alternate forms of energy are bad. Wait a minute...Oil Companies ARE telling us that alternate forms of energy are bad, and there are some morons who believe them. I call those people Saskatchewan Party potential voters.

Wall said voters would respond to a positive message on issues such as joining a trade and labour mobility agreement with Alberta and British Columbia, and a "patient-first" audit of the health care system.

I wonder how many people even know he is talking about. He is talking about TILMA. If you want to read an article outlining some of the implications if Saskatchewan becomes signatory to this agreement, click here. From this article:

Long fought battles for issues like pay equity, employment equity and basic rights against discrimination and harassment would seem to be at odds with the overall goals of TILMA.

Now I understand why the Saskatchewan Party is for TILMA, they love discrimination and harassment, and detest pay equity and employment equity. They would love workers from other provinces to be able to come to Saskatchewan, be willing to work for a pittance, and take the job of a local worker. Of course, the Sask Party would argue, if the local worker is willing to work for less, maybe they would retain their job. Brad Wall wants to set up a labour race to the bottom. Oh yeah...that's in everyone's best interest. How else can the rich get richer, while keeping an ever growing pool of desperate workers to drive down wages. In case you think that you are not a member of this "worker pool", ask yourself this question: "Do I work for an hourly wage?". If the answer is YES, then welcome to the "pool".

We had a saying during the last time that the Conservatives were in power in Saskatchewan; "Unemployment is Devine!". If the Saskatchenut Party gets in, we will have a new saying; "Labour's Back is Against the Wall!".