LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BROKEN PROMISES

I do not understand why there should be any problem with moving grain out of the prairie provinces to the seaports.

In the mid-1980s, when the federal government and the railroad companies were courting the western Canadian farmers to sign off on eliminating the Crow rate, they were promised that the problem of grain movement would disappear.

As the farmers lined up for their 30 pieces of silver in exchange for giving up the Crow rate benefit, they were heaped with more promises and guarantees on grain movement.

So why is there any problem, or is it possible somebody made some false promises? Robert A. Roy Saskatoon

RETHINK WISH LIST

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and his favourite farm organizations, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers, Barley Growers and others have finally won the day. They should be celebrating.

For decades they lobbied hard to get rid of the Crow benefit. They were sure that if only the railways were not hampered by rate regulations they would invest more in the system and give grain farmers better service. They got their wish in 1995.

But one more huge problem stood in their way — the Canadian Wheat Board. If only they could get rid of the board, they would realize much better prices and returns for their products in a free, deregulated market of their own choosing. Ritz delivered their fondest wishes with the Marketing Freedom For Grain Farmers Act. As of Aug. 1, 2012 they were free at last.

The good news just kept getting better. A bumper crop last summer, ideal weather, good quality, high prices — all wishes granted. What could go wrong?

Farmers who are currently stuck with mounting bills, grain that isn’t moving, and falling prices need to revisit the wish list. Railway regulation, orderly marketing logistics and equitable delivery opportunities, anyone? Nettie Wiebe Delisle

LET’S GET ACTION

Now that spring is on the way, the thoughts of Saskatoon motorists are even more on the perennial problem of potholes.

But many swear words also have been directed mentally to the city-made depressions that appear on repaved roads. The crews pave around the water turnoff valve or manhole cover. When hit by car wheels, this results in a “whump!”

But can we expect all that will change now that the city has millions more from our extra taxes? Now, when they resurface the road, they will place collars under the manhole covers to raise them to street level. It has to be done. Maybe with the extra money they might retrofit other streets.

And with all the extra bucks coming in, the city could install dedicated leftturn lanes on Taylor Street at Walter Murray and Aden Bowman collegiates. They are years overdue.

Just asking. Morris Sulatyski Saskatoon

ACCOMMODATE BLIND

Blind people in Saskatoon have been trying to get the bus drivers to call out some of the stops so that when we are on a long ride, we would have some idea of where we are.

Transit drivers in larger cities in Canada, especially Toronto, do this.

Often, when a blind person gets on a bus, the driver will ask, “Where do you want to get off ?” If it’s a long ride, the driver often forgets. I prefer to ask when I’m fairly near my stop.

I live on Louise Street, a long block east of Arlington. At Arlington, there is a stop, but no bus shelter. The next stop has a bus shelter.

Many times I’ve asked the driver to let me off at the bus shelter. When he says, “This is your stop,” I ask, “Is the bus shelter here?” and get a yes. But when I get off, I find that he has let me off at the wrong stop. This is especially dangerous when we’ve had fresh snow.

There are some very good drivers, but too many just don’t pay any attention. Doris Merkosky Saskatoon

IT DOESN’T ADD UP

Whoa, can someone back up the bus?

Is this province rich, or is it poor? Recent media reports delivered glowing statistics about Saskatchewan’s booming economy. According to these reports, the average income in the province is $900 a week.

How is this realistic with the fact that Saskatchewan spends $3.8 billion every year to cover poverty issues? Were all of these numbers crunched into that weekly average?

A third of our population is not earning the average wage, and the face of poverty is diverse. Statistics from 2010 identify that more than 37 per cent of our residents are below that poverty line. Many are working multiple jobs, if they can find them, simply to survive.

Which statistics are we to believe, because the “average” just doesn’t add up.

Beep ... beep ... beep. Sonja Van Stroe Saskatoon