Northgate SK -Soon to be Company town???

[oneoff]

30,000 yds of gravel in dispute.

[oneoff]

PDAP is going to pay RM for demolition; after RM pays for contracted demolition.

[BTO_farmall]

Jacksparrownotwhybuthow, So what are theys actually gonna be building here, a Man Camp er What?????? Dirty Oil = Dirty Money = Dirty Rig Pigs, Shoot First, Ask Questions later Sounds like, Aint that The Motto fer Big Business?????

[oneoff]

Shortly after the last message; the reeve baited a ratepayer sitting in the gallery and quietly minding his own business. Apparently council had noticed a laptop being used. In a very accusatory tone; and without any possible proof; the reeve demanded to know if the council proceedings were being recorded. When greeted with silence; a prepared motion was immediately read that forbid smartphones, laptops and cell phones being used (and after the meeting the reeve refused to clarify if laptops etc. are totally banned from open meetings within council chambers) The reeve's answer was to read the council motion. That's somewhat difficult to do since there was an immediate concern that the minutes won't be adopted and available for another month. Also; although council may know what their interpretation of the motion means; it certainly isn't clear to someone in the gallery if they really do mean to have laptops checked outside the chamber doors..
Anyway the laptop was shut down immediately; with the full realization that to do otherwise could and would result in expulsion from council chambers. It became immediately evident that the council decision had been previously made behind fully locked entrance doors; and a council meeting that started a good 15 minutes later than scheduled. No open discussion was needed for that motion.
That was the desired effect; and any transgressor in the future appears to be on the shakiest ground if a laptop, cell phone or smart phone is displayed ; particularly in the gallery.
It should be one thing for council to possibly ask for approval to tape or record or broadcast the actual council proceedings. But to intrude upon taking notes in any convenient form; and disseminating those notes in any possible form desired ( as long as council proceedings are not being interrupted); seems to me to be completely out of order. Council seems to have taken but yet another draconian move.

This is exactly how accountability is circumvented; and how democracy and free speech becomes the sole property of dictators.
The options for dissent are disappearing. Is it a futile effort to bring these matters to a largely apathetic audience? Remember that it is the ratepayers who have sole responsibility for holding a Council to the Municipal Act, the bylaws of the municipality; and the carried council motions that are made within the juridiction of the Municipal Act.
And except for specific exceptions those actions of council are meant to be conducted in open public meetings.

[oneoff]

The ones who have the inside information are not talking, so who can say for sure what is going to happen; let alone what has happened..
No one seems to have protected any options at the local level. Complete control of a strategic location was given to the first bidder. Information was suppressed and delayed; and for unexplained reasons.
What is finally known is that an 11 page document (dated, but unsigned by the purchaser; selling basically the majority a complete townsite to a non-Canadian called Corus Land Holding Corp. It looks like Corus have obviously acquired an understanding that municipal approval will be forthcoming for whatever they decide to allow to be developed.
What can you put on nearly four quarter sections of land? What is the "modus opporandi" of the principles behind the Land Holding company?
The possibilities obviously more than one grain terminal. The possibilities are endless; because the Farm Land Security Board Order; grants basically any facility in which the Land Holding company has a 10% or greater interest (up to 2016).
So it could be someting like a steel mill; or a refinery; gas processing plant; maybe an anhydrous manufacturing plant; rail terminal for loading oil, potash, gravel or, rubble, processing of any of our primary prairie production, WalMart distribution center; any of the above, or none of the above. One of three North-South connections is a huge asset. The rail bed to Lewvan Sask has not been surrendered by the CNR. Milestone and area may well have some of the richest and biggest potash beds in the world. Thats next door to Lewvan. It neds to be exported. The possibilities are endless and our leaders considered we only had a liability on our hands.
Remember; all Sask has done is hand over to a non-Canadian entity a complete townsite; a potential if not actaul rail terminus in Canada; all with zero consultation and explanation of what is in our future.
As for Sask being a have not province; that has not been one of our problems in recent history. Please quit pushing further growth..Is there anything to learn from the Alberta experience with growth?

Would it not be very wise to first catch up to the current run away opportunities throughout just about all of this province.
Sure abandoned and unused lots in Northgate were once looked at as a liability. Tell me if it shouldn't be agreed that in less than the last two months that that analysis should have been tossed out.
And if it turns out that the Land Holding Corp makes business arrangements with other Corporations; we should all be willing to speculate if much more control and influence on stategic long term planning and development might have been possible by tying to several horses; rather than just one.

[jackspratwhynot]

Then lets talk about adult bullying.

Because that just the feeling I got last night.

[oneoff]

Fresh report of the quarter section on the other side of the 49th parallel just sold for 3.3 million. Apparentltly no one will talk there either.

[BTO_farmall]