Pertinent topics, impertinent thoughts…
If you drove through the Hillside subdivision of Estevan this week, you probably noticed the number of stop signs has grown considerably.
The City of Estevan has started the process of installing stop signs at uncontrolled intersections, with Hillside the first area that they’re targeting. It makes sense; it’s likely the area with the most uncontrolled intersections, and there are some busy roads in that area.
For the time being, it will take a while to get used to. People will still stop at the intersection of Isabelle Street and Arthur Avenue, because that’s what they’re used to doing, even if they have the right of way. But we’ll adapt and eventually traffic flow will be better.
And the good news is this project is being completed through a grant from Saskatchewan Government Insurance, instead of with taxpayer dollars.
People who are critical of this project seem to forget that in other parts of the country, people clued in long ago, and realized that uncontrolled intersections are an outdated system for traffic control, at least in cities. Not everyone grew up with them.
There are a lot of people in Estevan not from Estevan originally. I’m one of them. So when we make it a little easier to navigate around the city, that’s a step forward.
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Premier Scott Moe has drawn the ire of some for posing with a replica of the General Lee Dukes of Hazzard car, which is being auctioned off in a fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
It seems that some people don’t like the fact that he was happy to be with a car that has the Confederate Flag on it. After all, that flag has been used as a symbol for racism and discrimination.
You have to wonder if these people would have had the same reaction if Moe posed with the car from a couple of years ago, which was inspired by the Joker from the Batman series.
(The Joker was a bit of a murderous fiend).
Then again, it’s unlikely that the people criticizing Moe would be voting for him or his party in the next provincial election anyways. The people criticizing him seem to be the political correctness thugs and the social justice warriors.
I think many of the critics are a little too easily offended. You also have to wonder if the people running this fundraiser have been criticized by the keyboard warriors for using a vehicle with the Confederate Flag on it.
At the same time, Moe had to know that he would be criticized by some for having a photo taken with a General Lee replica car.
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I don’t spend a lot of time watching television in the summer months. We only get a few months of glorious weather each year. The rest of the time, the conditions are too cold or too windy to be outdoors. There are also days in which there isn’t enough daylight.
So I’m missing out on all of the great pre-election television commercials. As stated in previous columns, I saw the reset of the Justin Trudeau “Not Ready” commercials earlier this year. They’re similar to the ones that worked so well four years ago. And I’ve seen the Andrew Scheer bobblehead ads, which are lacking in originality and creativity.
Honestly, people actually think these commercials will resonate with the public.
I haven’t seen any new pre-election commercials in the last few weeks.
Did I miss anything good? No? Didn’t think so.
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A meeting was held in Estevan last week to discuss the potential for Western Independence, or the Wexit from Canada, as it has become known.
Admittedly, I’m fiercely proud to be Canadian, and I think this country is the gold standard for all other countries in the world, regardless of the bungler we currently have as our prime minister.
There are a lot of people in the west upset with the present government. But Wexit still remains unfeasible for the west.
We’ll see what impact a change in government in the next election would have on western alienation and dissatisfaction levels with the government.
Can confederation be saved? It’s a long ways away from reaching the point in which it needs to be saved.
***
I’ll be in B.C. from Aug. 8-16. I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t been back since January of last year; it’s the longest stretch without a holiday in B.C. since I moved to Saskatchewan nearly 19 years ago.
It’s always more fun to be in B.C. during the summer than the winter, thanks to the longer days, the time spent on patios, and the lack of precipitation in August.
Most years a highlight is watching the B.C. Lions play at home. It’s a chance to head into Vancouver for a night and watch a game with my Dad.
The 1-5 Lions don’t have a home game during my holiday this year. I won’t get to watch Mike Reilly scramble for his life, trying to evade 270-pound defensive linemen, because the Lions spent money on Duron Carter instead of upgrades to the offensive line.
Instead, the Lions spent money to bring in Duron Carter.
