Northgate

[oneoff]

In Summary (so far)
8 miles of pavement (not necessarily primary weights year round ) is about a 9 million tab. $90 Million is a larger amout; but not billions or trillions.
You shouldn't be at all comfortable with secrecy in public business.
The announcement of this "rail hub" is not the end; but rather the anticipated beginning of development.
If you only require future suprise anoouncements; then I fully understand how you wish to be led by circumstances.
If you do not entertain realistic comments about issues that should be considered; then you should be held responsible for your fair share of the consequences.
Lack of consultation and opportunities for meaningfu public input are deteriorating each year. Those closed Facebook loops also have their unintended and sometimes disasterous outcomes.

Public business is meant to involve consultation; input and accountability. Considered decisions should not be based on personal agendas and potential of personal gains.

[oneoff]

Baby steps here

70,000 barrel/day oil...... plus... 40,000,000 bushels
grain per year or well over 100,000 every day whether it is a Sunday or holiday or not.
Are taxpayers on the hook for the Boundary road to a solid block of land owned by Corus and effectivey its partners such a Scholar. Roads do cost big money to maintaain and ugrade. And why would the new owners want a public "town" street(s) closed when they could demand snow plowing; gravelling and rebuilding to adequate standards for several hundred big "semi's" per day. Just a thought.

[LEP]

Oneoff you are right. Better to block all
development and have the pleasure of driving
by those pristine pieces of property that just
need the weeds mowed a couple times a year.

It makes perfect sense.

[cottonpicken]

Ya,and who cares about all the young guys in that
middle of nowhere place who want to stay but can't
find a good job,minus of course the slave labour
wages some local farmers throw at them.

[wilagro]

Sounds like Saskawatchaland is ripe for exploitation and by gar she's-a-gonna- be developed. Secrecy covers up a possibility of opposition to these projects...its the CONservative way whether it be federal, provincial or municipal. Our Alberta works in a similar manner when ever possible and we are developing even more procedures to lock out any possible discussion OR opposition by the public.

Electric transmission towers in Alberta...application for approval. NOW stamped OKAY before the ink even dries.

Pipeline across your prime farmland...application to be okayed by an authority "Acting On Our Behalf". Yep, democracy is being increasingly replaced by government dictatorship.

[oneoff]

The relative handfull of apologists and promoters of self interest are of pretty small concern to me. They have congregated into packs of like minded vocal supporters; and stic out very well. And their names come up one after another b
My concern is for most of the rest. And it comes down to if that majority prefers to sit on the fence (or bury their heads deep in the sand for fear of taking a stance. Or they may cower in corners for fear of being attacked. At some point in time one might just say that it is not of sufficient use to raise the issues that should be weighed before decisions are made.

If public business is not the public business and conducted with open disclosure; and the courts cut a lot of slack for ublic officials; and discretion may be exercised in very slanted ways and issues of fraud investigation are bungled by the police; and Crown attorneys may decide that several hundred dollars are not worth pursuing in potential fraud cases; and auditors know that doing a thorough job will haunt their company down the road; and councillors deide to be well paid and set their wages at exactly what they choose;...... then what to do?.

And next to no one wants to pay any attention or do anyhing to remedy the above. A fact that apparently is a fact of life in rural Sask. and who knows; maybe in Western Canada.

All one can say is that we get the government that we deserve.

[oneoff]

Please give me a break about the young guys in the middle of nowhere who want to stay; but can't get a good job comment. That isn't true in SE Sask or this province within a reasonable driving distance. I call "Bullshit".

I do agree with the slave labor and cheap farmers who would complain about paying minimum wage. You too may be absolutely surrounded by recruits from around the world who are providing the manpower, year after year on neighboring Canadian farms.

Whether that takes what should be good paying jobs from Canadian unemployed would make a good debate topic. But as is often the case; those involved do not see the same image in the mirror as may actually be present.

[oneoff]

Don't worry about mowing the weeds. That was never done in Northgate. Facts needed before that angle will gain
any traction.

You tell us how its smart to allow anyone to tie up all of a stategic (one of a kind) property under one developer. Why not allow what tat speculator actually needs and can handle; and keep open the rest of the property for future
opportunities.

And cut out that tax incentive crap and next to give aways of real property in secret agreements.
Are we the same or worse that the rest of the world's corrupt regimes?

Does not anyone agree?

[ColevilleH2S]

Oneoff did your counsel do any thing
that was illegal? Why aren't you
demanding that charges be laid?

[RD414]

Any idea as to how much in taxes this will eventually bring in.The truck traffic in would worry me as a councillor. Hopefully they have an agreement in place for this.If you feel bad about not getting any lots Oneoff, there are hundreds of hamlets and villages that have lots for sale and nothing going on. Fire sale prices I'm sure.

[LEP]

Sheesh Oneoff give me a break. I believe if you were the majority
you wouldn't be the only one from the area that has anything to
say about this.

I believe for many years the only activity in Northgate, was a
tumbleweed blowing through town so don't try and tell me it was
one of the prime opportunities in all of Western Canada.

This could just as easily been located on the south of the border.

If it was such an obvious opportunity, why weren't you jumping
all over this two years ago? I mean you have all those letters
behind your name and by your own account are so much smarter
than the rest of the world.

I can't comment on the oil, but if you actually believe that they
will be handling 1 million tonnes a year, you must also believe in
the easter bunny. My guess is 200,000 mt tops.

[grrrr]

Everybody should just go easy on oneoff. He is hurting from the fact that he could have bought up all this land for next to nothing 10 years ago, but didn't. Then he could have turned around and made a fortune by flipping it. Yup, hindsight is 20-20.