stewart appoints watch dog

[farmaholic]

Sumdumguy: Some like to do both--farm
and count their money, LOL.

My above post was just an observation.
Unfortunately, too many of the older
generation suffer "depression
mentality".
A lot of those people grew up at a time
when there was no spare money and they
"learned" to save and be frugal. No
fault of there own. Yet their kids and
especially the grandkids have grown up
not wanting. Not that this is always
the case but it would be nice to see
those who earned it enjoy more of it,
I'm sure their kids will.

[sumdumguy]

I am sure that the MLA wont have just one guy
policing foreign ownership issue. One director
and staff sounds more appropriate. His
effectiveness will depend upon how well the
foreign ownership legislation is written. There
may be several court cases and work for
attorneys. We had good legislation in place
before, now we are "open for business". I dont
think any of us want to see our heritage (good
rich dirt and minerals) sold off to foreign
investors even if it does make ," my daddy rich".

[sumdumguy]

Not to mention the effect big farms have on small
communities.

Am I wrong?

[oneoff]

Can we not see these things coming....and then extrapolate a little to project what the short and longer term impacts will likely be.

[Rareearth]

So, govt is good or is it bad? No one wants govt
involvement in ag policy.. In the free market we
will out compete other countries with what, our
pristine Canadian image? Globalization like it or
not.

We do need govt, and it can't always be on the
terms we want or think we need. For this to
happen lobbying will be required, as there are not
enough rural votes. Maybe even promotion in
agriculture, what we do and why.

Some don't know where mike and eggs, lentils,
and bread come from. Yes the store.

[bucket]

oneoff

The answer is NO! There isn't and hasn't been a politician in this province that has enough vision other than to pick his own nose.

Remember when they cut nursing position at the university and siast. It took a few years for that blunder to show its ugly head.

They will continue to make short term decisions that will get the re-elected for another term and a nice pension because that's all most are in it for anyway.

When a government can get buffaloed by allowing the entire cattle industry to be consolidated in less than a week to XL/Nielsen Brothers you know you have some mighty stupid people working in the government. And what's worse is these guys got money for renovating the Moose JAw plant only to shut it down so they could try to bust the union. Sadly the plant wouldn't have kept most of the employees because there are better paying jobs everywhere around that area now. If XL had got their wish and no union, they would be paying more or they would have no workers. See - lack of vision.

The same thing happened with opening up Saskatchewan for foreign investment. Sure it consolidated the ma/pa farms to mega farms with lots of workers but it will eliminate small communities, create transient workers, but mostly there will be fewer and fewer actual farmers.

Larry Rudd for One Earth is not a farmer and neither is the guy he introduced with the funny accent, they are office workers/leeches much like the CWB was on most farms for the last 60 years. Providing no real value - just sucking money out of a farm's bottom line.

But he has sucked alot of money out of both the provincial and federal governments under the disguise of "training aboriginal peoples".

[SASKFARMER3]

Again I did a quick couple hundred dollar check
on the one local sale.
Used city property for down payment then
borrowed the rest from small branch out west for
the rest.
Basically hundred percent financed the purchase.
Canadian yes,
So this guy will find nothing.
The scam is in the companies that are sucking in
theses investors.

[bucket]

Furthur to my last rant/post.

If the government is worried about this - don't appoint a watchdog/buddy of yours to investigate.

Change the law, have an inquiry into the concerns and get to the bottom of this and quick.

If they thought Potash corp was a strategic asset to the province, they had better have a long thought on what saskatchewan land is really worth as an asset.

I went to an intergenerational farm seminar a decade ago and they said at that time there was 49 billion worth of assets to change hands in the next twenty years. If land values rose on their own, that 49 billion is closer to 75 - 85 billion now.

The other test about foreign investment is this - can you go to any other country and buy land? If they are worried about the chinese - ask the simple question - how much land can a saskatchewan farmer/investor buy in china?

[oneoff]

I know. You're 100% correct....and not a thing will change either.

[phoenix64]

bucket you hit the nail on the head! we can't assume that politicians know what is good for our industry. Truth is they do not know a damn thing about it. As farmers, community leaders and mentors we all have to let our local mla's and mp's hear our concerns, we as industry leaders will dictate policy with our voice not ignorant politicians and outward pressure that is influencing them right now.