Moving on

[Horse]

Thanks for the info. I have never been to manatoba, I thought about it some and my choise would have been on a boat on the lakes . But as with every thing in life it seems to soom old and to late smart, and of course when one is young you have no money and when you get a little money age and health plays a large part . Best of wishes on your new adventure as you dont get to come back and do it over.

[wilagro]

Grassfarmer: So in some ways you are an agricultural refugee escaping from the fascist regime of the Regressive Conservative government of Alberta. Can't blame you for your choice in moving to Manitoba. In the last seven decades I have seen this province go from prosperity for many to a province with policies that create prosperity for those willing to develop our resources in what you describe as a "reckless manner".

The farmer/rancher has finally awakened to the fact that this government has stacked the deck when it comes to landowner rights and the old boards are gone where we might get some satisfaction with disputes over incursions by oil and gas developers. Now we have one man "controllers" appointed by government to manage these affairs. The electrical supply industry and the oil and gas industry where it relates to landowners and consumers are effectively controlled by government SHILLS.

[grassfarmer]

I wouldn't disagree with anything you have written wilagro. I also recognize there are many people that are happy with the way things are, it just depends on your values.

Just got back from delivering beef in Canmore and some in Cochrane. The "Men of Vision" statue in Cochrane was one of the things that made an impression on me when I first toured this area of Alberta before moving here. A tribute to the ranchers that established the Cochrane ranch - the first big scale ranch in Alberta.
Unfortunately it's hard to see the statue now, it still sits up on its hill but your eye is drawn to the condo's and huge houses covering the hillsides around. The town motto, proudly shown on the Cochrane sign is "How the West is Now" I suppose its true but I find that rather sad. I guess others think $500,000 houses and shiny trucks are the ultimate in progress.

Coming closer to home passing through Eckville there are signs of construction by the railway tracks. The elevators were torn down years ago, the fertilizer plant that replaced it torn down this year. The next great thing is a "frack sand depot" where they can bring the stuff in by the trainload to truck out to well sites. These depots are springing up across central Alberta.
Interesting that these frac sand depots aren't being brought in with the fanfare that usually accompanies development in small towns. I think its a recognition that this is a shady practice, dangerous, experimental at best and essentially unregulated.

I'm reminded of one of my favourite songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4zR9r9olOg

[ALLFARMER]

Good luck to you and your family on the big move.

[johnseba]

Hopefully, right decision, Good Luck..

[sumdumguy]

Ah-closer to the centre of the universe! Might be a bit cooler. Good Luck in MB. One thing I have noticed is that Alberta drivers are DANGEROUS, at least when they come to Saskabush.

[grassfarmer]

I sure noticed the difference in MB with the driving - quiet roads, most drivers sticking to the speed limit. And that quaint rural thing of waving to other vehicles on the highway!
Here it seems the driving has just got ridiculous, nearly everybody going 20 over the limit all the time, constantly getting tailgated by young guys in jacked up trucks and at night lots of guys are keeping their high beams, fog lights or these dazzling blue lights on when they pass oncoming traffic. Gets to the point I just wants to stay home to avoid the danger.

[kato]

We live in radar country here in MB. You do not want a Manitoba speeding ticket! Our local paper has an RCMP report that features the Speeder of the Week. It' very often someone from Alberta who is doing 130 plus, and gets their eyes opened ehen the ticket is in the $800 dollar range. MB residents will lose merit points on their driver's licences, and be paying more for a few years until they earn them back. We just chuckle whenever an out of province licence plate blows by us on the highway.

[grassfarmer]

I wondered that …. I'll need to get the wife to ease up on the pedal as she has a tendency to be lead footed, LOL.