Another year older..

Well as I turn the another year older.I still have a lot of questions to ask of my life. Where others are thinking what they are going to do in the goldern years. I am thinking how I long I will last doing what I am doing now. Also I ask other questions of myself . How can I make this a better place in the world than I left it. Also is the direction that Saskatchewan going the right one. Also is Canada on the right path . Questions , Questions, Questions, it seems as i get older. the questions keep coming. I do know that I have a great love and great family and I am very blessed with super friends. So life is not that bad. There is a lot more questions to asked and answered. So guess I will keep on going down the road of life and watch and enjoy it.

This really Stupid! How can you compare ?

Enough is enough! How can you compare these cities?

Entry for March 18, 2009
These numbers donot add up all these other cities are larger.
Saskatoon: The world's ninth-most dangerous city?Comparing Saskatoon to cities with ethnic cleansing "sheer lunacy," police chief saysAccording to Maclean's magazine, Saskatoon is the most dangerous city in CanadaPhotograph by: Richard Marjan, The StarPhoenixSASKATOON — Apparently, Saskatoon’s two homicides last year make Saskatoon too scary for one news website.

The website RealClearWorld.com has named Saskatoon the ninth-most dangerous city in the world, according to a feature posted Sunday.

The list is intended to highlight troubled places beyond headline-dominating violent hotspots, such as Baghdad and Kandahar, the editors explain.

Other cities with the dubious distinction include Johannesburg in seventh place, Detroit in fifth place and the Somalian capital Mogadishu at the top of the list.

The website explains Saskatoon earned its place on the list after Maclean’s magazine ranked the bridge city as the most dangerous in Canada. That analysis, based on per-capita crime statistics from 2007, found Saskatoon had the highest rate of aggravated assault and robbery in the country, and was fourth in homicides and sex assaults. Saskatoon’s mayor and police dismissed the report as misleading and out of date.

“The tourism industry of Saskatchewan (if there is such a thing) probably isn’t too pleased with Maclean’s,” RealClearWorld.com writes in its page on Saskatoon. The short blurb is accompanied by a YouTube video of footage from a vehicle driving through downtown Saskatoon, with the 1960s Petula Clark song “Downtown” playing in the background.

Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill says putting Saskatoon on a list with cities that need military intervention to stop ethnic cleansing is “ridiculous.”

“To even remotely compare Saskatoon to that is sheer lunacy,” he said.’

He points out Saskatoon had just two murders in 2008, and that a recent civic survey found only 18 per cent of residents said policing and crime was the most pressing issue.

Even compared to other Canadian cities, Saskatoon fares well, Weighill said. B.C.’s Lower Mainland has seen 15 homicides and 36 shootings in the last 1 1/2 months alone, he said. Calgary and Edmonton, meanwhile, have each asked for more than 200 police officers to help curb gang violence.

RealClearWorld.com describes itself as a “catch-all” source for global news, commentary and more. There is no information posted about where the site is based.


The world’s top ten most dangerous cities list:

10. London, UK

9. Saskatoon

8. Norilsk, Russia (in Siberia)

7. Johannesburg, South Africa

6. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

5. Detroit, USA

4. Caracas, Venezuela

3. Linfen, China

2. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

1. Mogadishu, Somalia

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

For to long we in this province tried to hide from the rest of the world it has to stop. Enough lets take this time to get straight get rid of the barriers and move forward.


Construction delay

Gov't must change legislation before projects can proceed

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenixMarch 12, 2009Comments (4)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )

Artist's drawing of Lake Placid developmentPhotograph by: artist rendition, The StarPhoenixTwo of the biggest private developments in the province, both slated for downtown Saskatoon, are awaiting a crucial change in provincial legislation to allow them to move forward.

Stoneset Equities is expected to start construction of an $80-million, 28-storey residential tower next to the police station this summer, while Lake Placid Developments CEO Michael Lobsinger has told the city his company has secured financing on his $200-million-plus Urban Village.

But both projects need a change in legislation that would introduce "strata" land titles to allow for separate condo corporations to operate on the same site. At present, land titles can only be issued for one condo corporation for each parcel of land, which can hold up financing for multi-use developments.

Stoneset's project, The Lighthouse, will combine market-driven condominiums with shelter and assisted living units above an underground parking lot and retail space.

"The way it sits now you're only allowed to put on one condo title," said Stoneset CEO Tony Argento. "It makes it really difficult, especially when there's going to be some retail and commercial development. Strata titles allow us to segregate so each condo company can have their own fees and their own board and manage themselves."

Similar legislation has been passed in most other provinces, said Crown Corporations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff.

It would also bring about changes in how land titles are issued for parking garages, which would likely receive separate strata titles if the legislation is passed.

Cheveldayoff said he expects the legislation to be brought forward this spring as his office and the Justice Ministry are working on drafts and studying other jurisdictions. But the need for the legislation has been accelerated by the Lake Placid project, he said.

"Anyone who attempts to bring $207-million to our city and our province, I think deserves any co-operation they can get from government," Cheveldayoff said of the Lake Placid project. "I've made it a priority to ensure that this goes forward."

Lake Placid Developments has paid two downpayments for the site south of 19th Street, across from Persephone Theatre, and is paying interest on the amount owing.

The company plans include a hotel, condominiums, retail, office space and a parking garage, so strata legislation is needed.

The developer has assured city administration it has financing in place for the project and is awaiting the change in legislation, said Mayor Don Atchison.

"It's not just about Lake Placid, it's that we want to get caught up to the rest of the nation," Atchison said.

There has been increased demand for this type of land title as more out-of-province developers -- who are used to strata land titles -- have eyed Saskatoon for large projects, said city solicitor Theresa Dust.

"It's a different way of designing and financing and selling off buildings than we are used to in Saskatchewan," she said. "The city has alerted the province to the fact that we expect more of this."

Stoneset's Argento, who expects the "bubble" surrounding the Saskatoon economy to continue, said the legislation is crucial for Saskatchewan to attract outside developers.

"I think because of the way the whole economy is going in Saskatchewan you're going to get a lot of development happening," he said. "You're going to run into these type of development issues more and more so I think the time is right to get it done now."

dhutton@sp.canwest.com

Jackas!!!!!!!!

Same OLD, Same Old, Enough time for this bullshit to stop.. Issues folks, it about the issues..
Atkinson admonished for 'jackass' comment. This what people voted for I donot think so.

By Angela Hall, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-
Note-passing and name-calling landed a couple of MLAs in hot water Tuesday as the second day of the spring legislative sitting took an unruly turn.
New Democrat Pat Atkinson was called on the carpet by Saskatchewan Party Premier Brad Wall for using the word "jackass" during question period.
Thinking the insult was meant for him, Wall rose in the assembly to admonish Atkinson for her language.
Atkinson later apologized and withdrew the remark, but said it was directed at another MLA, Mike Chisholm, and not the premier.
"It's not my fault that Mike Chisholm sits behind Brad Wall," Atkinson told reporters outside the assembly. "I want you to know I did not say the words 'jackass' out loud. I did mouth the words 'jackass.' "
She said she uttered the remark in response to a note Chisholm sent her in the house in which Chisholm asked her if a struggling cattle producer she referred to in an earlier debate received any cash from a recently announced government aid program. Chisholm also said he could help the producer fill out the forms, she said.
"I thought the note was callous, mean, sarcastic, not acknowledging that there really are people in the province that are in great difficulty in the livestock industry," said Atkinson, the NDP's agriculture critic and deputy leader.
"I think that his note was the kind of note that would be sent by someone who is a jackass."
However, Chisholm insisted his note was a sincere offer of help.
"I am an accountant. That's what I do for a living. So if somebody needs some help filling out the form, I'm more than pleased to do that," he said.
Wall later joked about the incident -- noting the word Atkinson uttered is frequently used by one of the main characters on the Saskatchewan-filmed TV show Corner Gas. But he said he drew attention to Atkinson's remark because "you want to get that sort of thing on the record."
"And it's Day 2 of the legislature, so where we can stop it on both sides, how about we stop it."
Name-calling by MLAs has been an issue in the past. Last year, Chisholm resigned as a legislative secretary after referring to New Democrat MLA Deb Higgins as a "dumb bitch."