Strange timing?

Gov't eyes remembrance of Ukrainian famine
Angela Hall, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
REGINA -- The province of Saskatchewan will consider designating the fourth Saturday of November as a day to remember the Ukrainian famine-genocide of the 1930s, Premier Brad Wall said Tuesday.

Wall told reporters he thinks the government could "move quite quickly" in the fall on legislation that would recognize the millions of Ukrainian people who died as a result of starvation forced upon them by the Soviet Communist regime in 1932-33.

Wall's comments followed a ceremony outside the Legislative Building on Tuesday that honoured those who died in the Ukrainian famine-genocide, or the Holodomor. Survivor Stefan Horlatsch, who lost 11 members of his family, brought to Regina a remembrance flame that has been travelling the globe to raise awareness.

\We in Saskatchewan, as much as anywhere on the planet, understand the amazing gift that the world was deprived of because of this famine and genocide, for we have been such significant benefactors of that gift, the gift of Ukrainian value and tradition and contribution," Wall said in a speech.

"Those values are poured into the DNA of this province."

Ed Lysyk, president of the Saskatchewan branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, said having a designated day to remember the famine is an important step to ensuring it is not forgotten.

He noted Manitoba has introduced a bill to proclaim the fourth Saturday of November in each year as Ukrainian Famine and Genocide Memorial Day, and he said Ontario is considering doing the same.

"We would like some leadership to be shown in Saskatchewan as well for that."

Lysyk said he hopes the congress can also have discussions with provincial education officials to put more information about the famine into school classrooms.

"We want to work with them to improve this information, make sure that it really does provide the basic facts, and we've offered our assistance," Lysyk said.

Education Minister Ken Krawetz, who also attended Tuesday's ceremony, told reporters ministry officials are already looking into providing more information to social studies teachers so they have it on hand in their classes.




© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008

Happy B'day to my love
Councillors OK extension for Station 20 West project
Lori Coolican, The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Proponents of the beleaguered Station 20 West project heard some encouraging -- and unanimous -- words of support Monday from city councillors.

Spectators broke into applause after council's executive committee voted quickly to give the project at least another year to begin construction before the city takes any steps to buy back the reclaimed inner-city land it sold to organizers for $1.

The original sale called for the first construction permits to be issued by September of this year, but a controversial decision by the Saskatchewan Party government to withdraw $8 million from the project has forced organizers back to the drawing board.

"Given the importance of this project to the city of Saskatoon, as well as in consideration of the amount of public money the city has put in with respect to remediation of the site, I think it's important that council give the extension and give the proponents an opportunity to regroup and decide what they're going to do on a go-forward basis," said Coun. Tiffany Paulsen.

Coun. Glen Penner said a number of people have contacted him about extending the project's deadline.

"I've never felt that there was any problem with the extension. . . . A good idea is a good idea," he said. "I think this was a good idea when it was first brought to our attention, I think it remains a good idea, and I hope by having the extension the folks that are involved in this will be able to raise more money and do more that they would like to do."

Station 20 West is a product of three or four years' work by many people in the core neighbourhoods who felt excited that a needed service was under development, noted Coun. Bob Pringle.

"I think it does enhance the services in the core area -- even a scaled-back version would do that -- and I think it also contributes to the revitalization of the core area. It's obvious that Station 20 West has good community support," Pringle said.

"I'm on board with that," echoed Coun. Myles Heidt.

"We were the first out of the gate to get this thing going and . . . I don't know why we wouldn't extend an extension -- and if this one isn't long enough and they're moving forward, why we wouldn't continue on (with a further extension next year)."

Project manager Paul Wilkinson told the committee a new design has been prepared for Station 20 West, covering 19,000 square feet on two floors, for an estimated total cost of $2.6 million -- significantly less than the $11.5 million originally envisioned for the facility. The new design includes space for a co-operative grocery store known as Good Food Junction.

Organizers recently learned members of the Saskatoon Co-op have resolved to look for ways to help the Good Food Junction be successful, Wilkinson said.

"We believe we can raise the money we need within the time period that we've asked for," he added.

Public reaction to the provincial government's decision not to fund Station 20 West has built new bridges in Saskatoon, said Jacqui Barclay, vice-president of the Riversdale community association.

"As an inner-city resident, I have been heartened by the outpouring of support from citizens from all parts of Saskatoon. It has drawn residents from the west side and the east side closer together in the spirit of helping each other."

lcoolican@sp.canwest.com

Saskatchewan Liberal Party Renewal Workshop !

11:00am May 3, 2008 - 5:00pm May 3, 2008
Description:
Please join the Saskatoon and area Liberal constituency associations as they host a party renewal workshop!

If you are a current or former candidate, riding association board member, or interested member of the Saskatchewan Liberal Association, please join us for an opportunity to start a dialogue on the current state of the provincial Liberal Party and where we go from here.

To date we have participants from The Battlefords, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon and Wood Mountain confirmed – so register today and make sure that your riding/community is represented!

Date: Saturday, May 3rd

Time: 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (lunch and coffee will be served)Where: J.S. Woods Public Library – Main Auditorium
1801 Lansdowne Ave. (corner of Taylor Street)
Saskatoon, SKRegistration: $15 registration fee – to cover the cost of lunch and meeting space rental

Please Note: Once you have registered, more information will be sent to you regarding the proposed agenda and format for the workshopTo register or for more information, please contact:

Ryan Androsoff
(306) 261-1202
ryan@ryanandrosoff.ca

Inner-city clinic adds mini-grocery service!

Inner-city clinic adds mini-grocery service
Janet French, The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
You can see a nurse or doctor there, meet with a counsellor and sometimes, get your teeth cleaned for free.

So, you might as well buy a few carrots while you're looking after your health.

The SWITCH inner city clinic is adding yet another service to its roster of community projects -- once a week, it's a mini-grocery store.


The Student Wellness Initiative Towards Community Health, which gives students in the health professions a place to practise their skills and inner-city residents more access to health services, has teamed up with the Child Hunger and Education Program (CHEP) to bring affordable food into its post at the West Side Community Clinic.

SWITCH co-ordinator Carole Courtney says the program is buying boxes of healthy food -- including fruits, vegetables, eggs and cartons of milk -- and selling it to clients at cost.

"You may not be able to afford a bag of potatoes but SWITCH will be happy to sell you two for a quarter," Courtney said in a news release Monday.

The move is "small but necessary" for an area whose residents do not all have good access to grocery stores and therefore, healthy food, she said.

It was a logical extension of SWITCH's aim of health promotion, Courtney said.

At the clinic, which operates Wednesday evenings and Saturdays, students in medicine, nursing, social work, clinical psychology, pharmacy, nutrition, kinesiology, physical therapy, public health, arts and science, educational psychology and dentistry volunteer and professionals act as mentors in their fields.

Courtney said the decision to sell affordable food isn't related to the government's move to pull back $8 million in funding once destined for Station 20 West, an inner-city development that was to house a co-operative grocery store and several health services.

"We had decided to do this some time ago," she said.

"It doesn't matter who has the idea. The fact is that people in our community don't have access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. . . . Someone's got to do it."

The SWITCH Food Store is open Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 631 20th Street West.

jfrench@sp.canwest.com




© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008

Saskatchewan Liberty Train: An alternative view on the popularity of Station 20 West

Saskatchewan Liberty Train: An alternative view on the popularity of Station 20 West

I have a bad What?

I was told today that I had to work on my attiude .. Ha ha... This coming from the land of stupid...

What do think the Saskatchewan Government do with this money?

Should we get this cash? The new Saskatchewan ?

LAND SALE RECORDS SMASHED AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS
Boyd Calls $265 Million Land Sale a Vote of Confidence in the Province and the New Government

The oil and gas industry's interest in Saskatchewan is so hot that the record for a single sale of Crown petroleum and natural gas rights has been broken after only two months.

April's sale raised an astounding $265 million in revenue for the province. This not only shattered the previous record of $197 million set in February, but also eclipsed what had been a record for total annual land sale revenue of $250 million in 2007. Prior to the February land sale, the previous record of $85 million for a single sale had stood for 14 years.

Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd said the record sale represents an overwhelming vote of confidence in the province by the oil and gas industry.

"This level of interest is unprecedented and speaks to the optimism about the economic prospects of both our province and our number one industry," Boyd said. "It is also a clear sign of confidence in Saskatchewan's new government and our stable royalty and regulatory regime.

"It's also important to remember that the investment and economic activity does not stop with the land sale. In fact, it's only the beginning. Each of these sales will lead to more investment in our province, more jobs and more economic benefits for the surrounding communities."

April's sale included 28 exploration licences that sold for $130 million and 278 lease parcels that brought in $135 million in bonus bids. The average price paid on a per hectare basis was $2,725, topping the previous record of $2,495 set in February.

In addition to the parcels sold for bonus bids, four special exploratory permits were awarded to Lane Land Services Ltd. on the basis of work commitments of $5.7 million over the next two years. These permits are for exploration of 260,000 hectares located in a triangular area bounded by Canora to the north, Grayson to the south and Cupar to the west.

"Investors nationally and internationally are looking to Saskatchewan and seeing energy and opportunity," Boyd said. "Their confidence in us means not only a bright future for our oil and gas industry, but also jobs and prosperity for Saskatchewan people."

The Weyburn-Estevan area again dominated the sale with over $207 million in bonus bids, largely on the strength of the Bakken oil play. The Swift Current area followed with nearly $53 million, largely attributable to industry interest in the emerging Shaunavon oil play. The Kindersley-Kerrobert area was next at almost $3 million, followed by the Lloydminster area at just over $2 million.

The highest price for a single parcel was $26.3 million, paid by Sandstone Land & Mineral Company Ltd. for an exploration licence on over 1,200 hectares 12 kilometres north of Lampman.

The highest price on a per-hectare basis was an amazing $32,500. Standard Land Company Inc. purchased this 130-hectare lease parcel 15 kilometres southwest of Stoughton, for over $4.2 million.

The next sale of Crown petroleum and natural gas dispositions will be Monday, June 9, 2008.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Ed Dancsok
Energy and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2602
Email: edancsok@ir.gov.sk.ca

The March of support..

The Station 20 West project should not become a political football, as
some people want it to be. All the arguments should be based on the
merits of the project itself and the benefits of the project to the
whole of the west side.

The last series of actions by " the government in power " is a
statement to the people of the west side of Saskatoon about what they
think of us here in the poorer areas of Saskatoon. They think that we
don't count and that they can do anything they want to us.

It is time that we as a group of people step up and get everyone
involved. We need to say enough, look at the west side, say we matter
and we understand economics.

It really does not matter which government promised the money. The
money is needed for the project because this project is needed; that
is the bottom line. We have to convince the government in power that
this project will make it on its own and the numbers are there. The
voice of the average person has to be heard. This is a new
Saskatchewan so are we going to do things right and get everyone to
share in it or are we going to let them walk all over us?

Come out to the walk on Saturday and do your part. Call an MLA and
talk to them. Find out the facts and let the government know that this
project is more than just a mall, it is needed. It will be a one more
step for the people of this area to be part of the New Saskatchewan.