Readers offer their opinions on Saskatchewan’s lack of a wetlands preservation policy and the Sask. Party response to a racial slur by a Saskatoon MLA.
As a result many volunteer organizations have come forward asking our government to build their Ag Water Stewardship Policy around a Wetland Policy, one that conserves wetlands and regulates drainage in a fair and responsible manner.
Some of these organizations are Wetlands for Tomorrow, Citizens for Environmental Alliance, Calling Lakes Ecomuseum, Last Mountain Lake Stewardship Group, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Public Pastures-Public Interest, Saskatchewan Alliance for Water Sustainability and National Farmers Union.
On Sept. 25, 2023, over 2,200 letters from Saskatchewan residents were delivered to the legislature asking how their new policy would improve water quality.
This volume of concern from everyday people of Saskatchewan demonstrates an obligation for our government to do the right thing and develop a wetland policy.
Wetlands have so many benefits, from filtering contaminants entering our lakes to recharging our drinking water and providing safe habitat for wildlife. We cannot afford to destroy this resource.
Why are we the only province without a wetland policy? What will it take to make the Saskatchewan government understand how reckless it is to destroy a valuable natural resource like water?
Kudos to the Saskatchewan Party staffer who orchestrated the recent David Buckingham/Scott Moe apology-adjacent performance. It was brilliant to make the mea sorta culpa admission that Buckingham used a racial slur, but only in the context of quoting someone else.
Like an English professor saying the actual N-word while discussing the history of racism using the book Huckleberry Finn. Poetic licence, I suppose.
Also creditable was the stage dressing with Saskatchewan Party candidates of a certain pigmentation (which I share, so the rules say I can notice it). The old “I have friends who are …” often falls flat, so better to follow the “show, don’t tell” principle.
Mr. Moe reassured us that party protocols had been followed after the incident. One imagines a huge reference chart on the wall of the Saskatchewan Party war room.
Run one finger down the column “MLA accused of using racist language.” Run another finger across the row “Provincial election this month and speaker has receipts.” Land on “Fess up.” (All other boxes on the chart? “Deny, deny, deny.”)
Chef’s kiss, anonymous political operative. Chef’s kiss.
Kishore Visvanathan, Saskatoon
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