Residents in Yorkton were treated to a nailbiter of an election last week as incumbent Bob Maloney defeated former mayor Chris Wyatt by 33-votes. Only one returning councilor made the cut this time, so Maloney and Randy Goulden will work with five new faces. Of the five, I think three of them bring some youth and a unique vision compared to what we have been accustomed to. One has a lengthy history as a business owner, who I see as being a voice of reason and caution when needed. Another is a long time sales professional who, I think, can relate well to ideals new and old. Overall, it’s a great mix and I’m hopeful of seeing some results and, hopefully, quieting some of the complaining that we have been hearing on the streets (and about the streets) over the last two years or so. What I’ll be watching, in particular, is to see how much more scrutiny the unelected city workers receive from those who have been elected.
When the Trudeau Liberals were put into power last October, we saw how quick they could make something happen when they want to as the refugee influx was immediate. Of course, it had to be as people’s lives were at stake. On a personal level, I was called hateful names by those aligned with the left for being opposed to this. Well, now we have an emergency in northern Saskatchewan with several young girls, as young as 10, committing suicide. I have been very vocal on social media platforms calling for help and now I have folks aligned with the left telling me I need to be patient. No. I will not be patient. I demand immediate action from all levels of government (federal, provincial, municipal) to ensure we have help and resources in place. Each additional day we wait could mean another human life is lost. This is not the time to play politics, but it is the time to help. It’s clear those in positions, locally, to do so are failing and they need to get out of the way and let someone else do it. I don’t want to hear anything about being too stretched or cash poor to do what is needed. Unacceptable. Money and human resources should be no object when it comes to saving the lives of young girls. What is happening should make anyone’s heart break and we need to be very vocal to our leaders to step up and lead.
Something nobody bothered to consider when we started opening the doors to refugees was how in the world are we going to ensure their needs in health care. We have been, forever, hearing about doctor shortages and long wait times. When you add to the population base, but do nothing in the area of social services that are required to maintain quality of life; what are you really doing? Canadians who, already, feel that they aren’t getting what they should with their tax dollars are going to get even less.
Experts are weighing in on the value of conjugal visits for prisoners. One man was incarcerated for 15 years and his family was allowed to visit him for, up to, three days at a time.
This isn’t jail to me. But, experts will tell you to rehabilitate and move back into society, this is necessary. It’s important these folks know how to function when they are released. The Toronto Star article goes on to talk about how troubled and sick many of our inmates are and that this will only help them get better. If you really sit and think about it, whenever you are the victim of a crime, the only person to blame is yourself. If we, as a society, did a better job massaging these folks who commit crime and helped guide them into a more productive lifestyle; we wouldn’t have to worry about our vehicles getting stolen, or property vandalized, or getting murdered. This may explain why we are only sympathetic to the poor person who goes to jail and spends some time in solitary when he can’t behave there either. The victim of crime doesn’t deserve our sympathy.
For anyone waiting for me to comment on the latest with the American Presidential election campaign, I hate to disappoint you but I’m tired of it all. I could care less who wins.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders, historically, are the CFL’s worst franchise as far as wins and losses are concerned; so it’s only fitting they laid a big egg in the form of a 24-6 loss to the BC Lions in the final game at Taylor Field Saturday. I’m not a nostalgic person, so I didn’t watch. Hopefully those in attendance left happy. I know I wouldn’t, sitting in the cold and not even getting to witness so much as a touchdown.
Nice person mentions this week: Lynda Parsons, Wendy McOuat, Allan Mitchell, and Casey O’Brien.
