Other Manitoba and Saskatchewan Developments

[dennis]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

question is why do we need trade agreements within our own country?

Apparently, BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan all see a need. The article on the previous page gives some examples. I wish the article was more clear.

[dsim249]

^ This article explains it a bit more in depth. I'm pretty excited about it. Especially if it's going to pass savings on to residents of BC, AB and SK.
And wow, "professional qualifications and business licences obtained in one province will be recognized by each of the partners.", that's pretty crazy. Although, that has its pros and cons. E.g. Someone from Vancouver can come to a cheaper university in Sask to get their Ph.D in Psychology (Pro), but then they are no longer obligated to stay in Sask to be able to practice psychology (Con, for Sask).

Western provinces sign economic deal

The premiers of B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan have signed a deal designed to help the three provinces remove barriers to economic development and function more as a single economic zone.

Under the New West Partnership agreement, which was signed Friday in Regina by B.C.'s Gordon Campbell, Alberta's Ed Stelmach and Saskatchewan's Brad Wall, professional qualifications and business licences obtained in one province will be recognized by each of the partners.

"We signed an agreement today that creates an amazing economic force: the New West, an economic region of 9 million people strong and $555 billion in GDP," Wall said. "It is an economic region that is home to a number of industries the world is very interested in right now."

The deal means, for example, a teacher who's certified in Saskatchewan will also gain certification in the other two provinces.

The provinces also agree to promote the region together. The three premiers will start doing that next month when they travel together on a trade mission to Japan and China.

They also say they'll try to use the provinces' joint purchasing power to get better deals from suppliers for things like prescription drugs.

That should save all of them money, Campbell said.

"If we jointly procure equipment for our schools or we jointly procure textbooks or pharmaceuticals, there are substantial savings for British Columbians, Albertans and people from Saskatchewan [ He didn't want to attempt saying Saskatchewanians?]," Campbell said.

The deal includes an innovation agreement, which the provinces say will better co-ordinate efforts to attract investment and talent.

Alberta's Stelmach said with all three provinces shopping together, they will be able to reduce some of their public expenditures.

"When we do that, we can then keep our taxes low, and that's what's going to attract investment from other countries," he said.

"We've just gone through a huge global economic shift," he added. "There's going to be tremendous competition for labour, for investment, and investment will naturally navigate to those areas that have same regulations, [a] larger base of population."

The deal has been the subject of intense Opposition scrutiny in the Saskatchewan legislature in recent days, with NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter asking how the government can sign a deal without telling the public what's in it.

Labour groups have also raised concerns that the deal will lead to a lowest common denominator of health, safety and environmental regulations.

However, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business hailed the agreement, saying it will reduce the red tape its members face and could help solve labour shortage problems.

Source

[1ajs]

the whole system is screwy across the whole country though...

and i have had very little problems with my exerperiance with the health car system so far gom..

[grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

the whole system is screwy across the whole country though...

and i have had very little problems with my exerperiance with the health car system so far gom..

I too have encountered no problems. Ask your mama how she feels about the Manitoba health care system. I know too many people with too many horror stories to believe the current government is doing an excellent job managing health care for Manitobans.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by grumpy old man

I too have encountered no problems. Ask your mama how she feels about the Manitoba health care system. I know too many people with too many horror stories to believe the current government is doing an excellent job managing health care for Manitobans.

There are horror stories and good stories. I know of both. That's what happens in a human system. What I do know is that we're moving in the right direction. We have brand new ERs in almost every hospital. We have state of the art equipment and more of it than ever. We have more doctors and nurses. There isn't much to complain about when you're moving in the right direction.

[dsim249]

Saskatchewan Roughriders licence plates to soon be available from SGI



REGINA — Starting May 19, Roughrider fans will be able to order special licence plates for their vehicles from SGI that will show their Rider pride.

The licence plates, which can be used in place of a regular Saskatchewan licence plate, will feature the team logo and include the phrase “Pride Lives Here”.

The plates will cost $50 plus GST. A duplicate plate is available for another $20 plus GST for the front of one’s vehicle. Personalized plates will cost more.

Net revenues earned from the sale of the plates will be given to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
Source

[RTD]

You know, I want to be happy about this "partnership", however, as my province was left out, I feel somewhat bitter to the three western provinces. It's almost like a high-school click, where the "cool" kids get invited to the good parties, and the "losers" are left high and dry. I know it's a corny analogy, but that is how I feel.

[rrskylar]

Classy part of Saskatchewan


Disabled kindergarten boy bullied on bus; father told to drive boy to school
By: The Canadian Press


ASSINIBOIA, Sask. - A five-year-old Saskatchewan boy who lost a leg in a lawn mower accident is being bullied on the school bus and school officials aren't helping, argues the boy's father.
Robert Coomber says his son, Ryan, got a black eye after being hit by an older student on the bus ride between the school in Assiniboia and the family home in Willow Bunch, about two hours southwest of Regina.
"I asked him why. He said it was because he was singing," said Coomber.
Coomber said he called the older student's parents but they were unwilling to help. The next call was to the RCMP.
"The RCMP came and took photos of Ryan's face and said that we were in full rights to press charges, but we decided not to, that we would let the school handle it instead of putting this kid through the justice system," said Coomber. "Instead of handling it, they removed Ryan from the bus because they said it was unsafe for him."
Coomber said there was no co-operation from staff at Ryan's school or at the older student's school, which he said "refused outright to discipline the child in any way." Ryan's school goes up to Grade 4 and the older student's school covers Grades 5 to 8, but they share a bus.
Coomber said an official with the Prairie South School Division told him that it would be best if he drove Ryan the 50 kilometres each way to kindergarten.
The frustrated father says it's not the first time Ryan has been bullied on the bus and he's just one of many victims.
"It's usually pushing, shoving, taking his bag, taking his winter clothes. The first kid actually tried to pull his prosthetic leg from him. And this is a joke to everyone ... in the system," said Coomber.
"All my boy's trying to do is to have his right to an education and to a safe environment."
"He was singing on the bus. They tell children from the youngest of ages about singing and singing about buses, 'The wheels on the bus go round and round.' So you start singing on the bus and that gives a person the right to belt you in the face hard enough to give you a black eye. That doesn't seem right. So when we complained, we were just trying to make right by Ryan and unfortunately it was completely ignored."
The Prairie South School Division said it couldn't talk about specific student issues because of privacy laws, but a spokeswoman said there are anti-bullying policies in place and a process to resolve disputes.
Saskatchewan Education Minister Ken Krawetz said an investigation is underway to find out what happened.
"Until that is complete, I don't think the board of education will be jumping to any conclusions. The short-term solution, I guess, was to ensure that there be no further antagonism between students and to ensure that the parents were able to drive the student to school," said Krawetz.
Krawetz said school boards have policies to ensure safe environments and that extends to school buses.
Ryan was run over by a riding lawn mower in May 2008. His left leg needed to be amputated below the knee as well as four toes on his right foot. His thigh bone was broken on his right side and his pelvis was shattered. The spinning blade cut out a portion of his liver, some muscle on his chest and muscle on his buttocks.
Ryan spent a year and thousands of hours learning to walk with the prosthetic limb.Coomber said now his son is struggling to understand this situation.
"Mentally he's OK. He's a little confused about why he's not allowed on the bus any more and he's kind of bummed out that he doesn't get to see his friends on the bus," said Coomber.
— By Jennifer Graham in Regina

[1ajs]

thats a nifty idea

[grumpy old man]

Didn't Manitoba offer something similar? I could have sworn there were personalized Jets and Bomber plates a few years ago...

[1ajs]

no just vetrans plates

[circle33]

Ontario has had this for years. Click. I wager that after hour one there will be more Rider plates than Argonaut plates out there.

[RTD]

I'll pretty much guarentee that when the Jets return to Winnipeg for next season, a type of specialized Winnipeg NHL plate will be offered as well. It's a great idea, IMO.

[Biff]

Could happen anywhere ^^^

[1ajs]

happy manitoba day guys

[JayM]

What kind of Thompson do you want in 20 years?

- AECOM's Don Hester poses with a few of the maps that point to what Thompson could look like in the future. - Photo by Ian Graham
Photo by Ian Graham

May 19,2010

By Ian Graham
[email protected]

Twenty years from now, Thompson's population may have grown enough that the people who live here today wouldn't recognize the city, says Shaun Klassen, a planner with AECOM, the company providing technical and management support to the City of Thompson's sustainable community and master parks plans.

But that doesn't mean current residents can't have a say in how it looks.

"You need a plan to go forward," Klassen said while hosting on open house on the plans at the Thompson recreation centre May 12. "Ideas have to be formalized to make it happen. It's incredibly important to have that."

Based on 20-year growth projections, Thompson could need as many as 1,800 more housing units in 2030, a fact that may seem to be evidence that the city's boundaries would have to expand. Klassen says it isn't necessarily so. In fact, 80 per cent of that housing could fit within the existing boundaries, he says, if people are willing to accept higher density.

"We don't have to grow in areas that are less sustainable in the short term," Klassen says.

To accommodate such growth, rezoning of certain areas may be needed. For example, the commercial area that stretches from behind City Centre Mall up to the intersection of Princeton Drive and Station Road could be redeveloped as a mix of commercial and residential development, making room for another 600 people.

Out-of-town housing is up for discussion, too, he said, as is the servicing of potential large lot estate housing to the north of Thompson, which may have to be borne by residents if such a project comes to pass, rather than see all taxpayers bear the cost of extending city water and waste for the sake of 60 to 100 people.

The sustainable community plan is by no means a done deal, but AECOM and the city would like people to be aware of such possibilities - and to hear back what they think.

"Is there potential for infill housing along River Road?" Klassen asked. "Are people willing to consider that? We're looking for the public to respond. We're definitely looking for feedback."

AECOM has also been contracted by the city to map out its recreation needs, both metaphorically and literally, says Joy Viberg, a landscape architect with AECOM who's worked on the city's master parks plan, which started with an inventory of parks and recreation facilities.

"Thompson's really well covered for recreation," said Viberg, referring specifically to sports facilities. "There are a lot of softball fields. The recreation part’s covered pretty good."

What could be added, she said, includes community gardens in higher density neighbourhoods and city parks for people who just want to be outside.

"They want pretty places to kind of hang out in," Viberg said, recalling some of the things brought up in previous public consultations. "People have asked for a powwow arbour."

Other potential upgrades include new tot lots and new facilities for some old ones as well as things such as outdoor skating rinks in areas that don't currently have any., mostly on the west side of the city.

What's really important, say Viberg and Klassen, who co-hosted the open house with AECOM project manager Don Hester, who's both a landscape architect and a planner, is hearing from everybody about what they want - or don't.

Certain segments of the population are harder to connect with than others.

"We've heard what youth need from adults," said Klassen, but they'd rather find out directly from youth. Other hard-to-reach demographics include Paint Lake residents, who may feel they don't have much of a stake in the designs and plans of the city, and seniors.

The population pyramid for Thompson, said Klassen, has very few old people.

"That demographic should be looked at, too," he said.

For both plans, however, Thompson starts from a good base, endowed as it is with plenty of green space and pedestrian connections.

"You have all these green connectivity spaces," said Klassen.

Copyright 2010 Glacier Media Inc.

[Winnipegger@Heart]

Originally Posted by JayM

What kind of Thompson do you want in 20 years?

- AECOM's Don Hester poses with a few of the maps that point to what Thompson could look like in the future. - Photo by Ian Graham
Photo by Ian Graham

May 19,2010

By Ian Graham
[email protected]

Twenty years from now, Thompson's population may have grown enough that the people who live here today wouldn't recognize the city, says Shaun Klassen, a planner with AECOM, the company providing technical and management support to the City of Thompson's sustainable community and master parks plans.

But that doesn't mean current residents can't have a say in how it looks.

"You need a plan to go forward," Klassen said while hosting on open house on the plans at the Thompson recreation centre May 12. "Ideas have to be formalized to make it happen. It's incredibly important to have that."

Based on 20-year growth projections, Thompson could need as many as 1,800 more housing units in 2030, a fact that may seem to be evidence that the city's boundaries would have to expand. Klassen says it isn't necessarily so. In fact, 80 per cent of that housing could fit within the existing boundaries, he says, if people are willing to accept higher density.

"We don't have to grow in areas that are less sustainable in the short term," Klassen says.

To accommodate such growth, rezoning of certain areas may be needed. For example, the commercial area that stretches from behind City Centre Mall up to the intersection of Princeton Drive and Station Road could be redeveloped as a mix of commercial and residential development, making room for another 600 people.

Out-of-town housing is up for discussion, too, he said, as is the servicing of potential large lot estate housing to the north of Thompson, which may have to be borne by residents if such a project comes to pass, rather than see all taxpayers bear the cost of extending city water and waste for the sake of 60 to 100 people.

The sustainable community plan is by no means a done deal, but AECOM and the city would like people to be aware of such possibilities - and to hear back what they think.

"Is there potential for infill housing along River Road?" Klassen asked. "Are people willing to consider that? We're looking for the public to respond. We're definitely looking for feedback."

AECOM has also been contracted by the city to map out its recreation needs, both metaphorically and literally, says Joy Viberg, a landscape architect with AECOM who's worked on the city's master parks plan, which started with an inventory of parks and recreation facilities.

"Thompson's really well covered for recreation," said Viberg, referring specifically to sports facilities. "There are a lot of softball fields. The recreation part’s covered pretty good."

What could be added, she said, includes community gardens in higher density neighbourhoods and city parks for people who just want to be outside.

"They want pretty places to kind of hang out in," Viberg said, recalling some of the things brought up in previous public consultations. "People have asked for a powwow arbour."

Other potential upgrades include new tot lots and new facilities for some old ones as well as things such as outdoor skating rinks in areas that don't currently have any., mostly on the west side of the city.

What's really important, say Viberg and Klassen, who co-hosted the open house with AECOM project manager Don Hester, who's both a landscape architect and a planner, is hearing from everybody about what they want - or don't.

Certain segments of the population are harder to connect with than others.

"We've heard what youth need from adults," said Klassen, but they'd rather find out directly from youth. Other hard-to-reach demographics include Paint Lake residents, who may feel they don't have much of a stake in the designs and plans of the city, and seniors.

The population pyramid for Thompson, said Klassen, has very few old people.

"That demographic should be looked at, too," he said.

For both plans, however, Thompson starts from a good base, endowed as it is with plenty of green space and pedestrian connections.

"You have all these green connectivity spaces," said Klassen.

Copyright 2010 Glacier Media Inc.

Forget the public input, as many of those who would respond do not grasp higher density, and how responsible it is. Sometimes, the public needs to be treated like children, while government plays the role of parents...just because the public does not like it, it is better for them in the long run.

[Winnipegger]

Originally Posted by Winnipegger@Heart

Forget the public input, as many of those who would respond do not grasp higher density, and how responsible it is. Sometimes, the public needs to be treated like children, while government plays the role of parents...just because the public does not like it, it is better for them in the long run.

You might get a lot of flak for saying those kinds of things, esspecially around the liberal community that takes part here, but in all honesty, I couldn't agree more. Sometimes people are just not capable of thinking of anyone other than themselves.

[JayM]

Smoothing the way

Photo by Donna Wilson

Lane widening and repaving continues between Paint Lake and Thompson. The three-year construction project is part of major upgrades expected to cost around $25 million. The work includes eliminating or reducing vertical curves by knocking down hills and filling in valleys and widening and travelling lanes and paving the shoulders. The new travelling lanes will each be 3.7 metres wide) with a 2.5-metre paved shoulder for each lane. The old lanes had a 3.4-metre width.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by JayM

Smoothing the way

Photo by Donna Wilson

Lane widening and repaving continues between Paint Lake and Thompson. The three-year construction project is part of major upgrades expected to cost around $25 million. The work includes eliminating or reducing vertical curves by knocking down hills and filling in valleys and widening and travelling lanes and paving the shoulders. The new travelling lanes will each be 3.7 metres wide) with a 2.5-metre paved shoulder for each lane. The old lanes had a 3.4-metre width.

i realy need to get up to my cabin