Saskatchewan Population Decline

[Prairie_Ally]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Population Decline

"Alberta is a place where I can still do that."

Ontario too!

Perhaps, but there is a major difference between Alberta and Ontario (Southeast Ontario). As a Western Canadian I think I might feel like a traitor moving to Ontario. As a Saskatchewaner I have much more loyalty to Alberta.

 

[Jay]

Interesting.

There is a huge diffrence between the two, but I doubt we agree on what that is! :lol:

 

[Prairie_Ally]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Population Decline

Interesting.

There is a huge diffrence between the two, but I doubt we agree on what that is! :lol:

There are huge differences between Ontario and Alberta but you are right, we probably wouldn't agree what those things are. But that's healthy.

 

[Jay]

Not if your wrong about it isn't....

 

[Prairie_Ally]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Population Decline

Not if your wrong about it isn't....

Now, what is it I'm wrong about? 8)

Northwest Ontario is pretty much a part of the west (what many people don't realize). I have many friends from there who have shared their thoughts with me. I think they should get their own province with Thunder Bay as the capital or something. Apparently they feel they have no real voice in the province since the provincial government basically works for Southeast Ontario. Ontario's government doesn't do a lot for the rural areas, does it? Alberta does. That's what makes the difference. The provincial Alberta government has always maintained that rural Alberta is the backbone of Alberta.

I know I'm very rural-focussed. I am a fifth-year student with a joint Family Studies/Canadian Studies major at university with a specializtion in Rural Canadian Family Studies. I do a lot of research in that area.

 

[Jay]

Not if your wrong about it isn't....

Now, what is it I'm wrong about? 8).

I'm just kidding with you...trying to create a little east vs. west rivalry.

Northwest Ontario is pretty much a part of the west (what many people don't realize). I have many friends from there who have shared their thoughts with me. I think they should get their own province with Thunder Bay as the capital or something. Apparently they feel they have no real voice in the province since the provincial government basically works for Southeast Ontario. Ontario's government doesn't do a lot for the rural areas, does it? Alberta does. That's what makes the difference. The provincial Alberta government has always maintained that rural Alberta is the backbone of Alberta.

Yes I'm aware of the animosity that northern Ontario has towards the southwestern/central parts of the province. To put it bluntly, northern Ontario couldn’t survive on their own; they don't have the population or the infrastructure to pull it off. What they fail to realize is, as much as they say they don't have a voice in Ontario, a disproportional amount of Ontario money goes north for the population they hold. With a population of only 110k in Thunder Bay, and that being the only city in the entire region, they don't stand a chance. We are already funding the project that is northern Ontario, if they separated we would just be funding them through transfer payments to do the same things we are doing now. The area you are talking about is also huge and you can't grow anything there other than trees and blueberries. Half the year it is under 10ft of snow. The only thing happening up there is natural resources or working for the government. There is some retail also.

Does the Ontario government support rural?

Rural in Ontario is massive....basically if it isn't town or city it is farm field, pasture or it's covered in trees. In southwestern Ontario, there aren't any massive forests; there are wood lots on private land and conservation areas. Basically living in southwestern Ontario is living in a cornfield. If it isn't a cornfield its cow pasture mabey some trees. On or about 80% of Ontario is "crown land" land held by the province. Southwestern Ontario is mostly in private hands with northern Ontario and chunks of eastern Ontario are owned by the government. Northern Ontario gets tons of infrastructure money it couldn't maintain, including things like universities and hospitals. Southwestern Ontario has agriculture and industry. All of these things receive various supports from the government.

It is true there is an attachment to the west in northern Ontario and this stems from history and geography. Winnipeg is a closer city for those people than other major cities in Ontario. Manitoba can barley support itself now they couldn't take Northern Ontario, and personally I think instead of northern Ontario separating, Manitoba should join Ontario.

Just so you know, I am from Sudbury and grew up in southwestern Ontario, so I am familiar with both areas...I just haven't made it out to Ottawa yet.

I know I'm very rural-focussed. I am a fifth-year student with a joint Family Studies/Canadian Studies major at university with a specializtion in Rural Canadian Family Studies. I do a lot of research in that area.

Thats great. It takes all kinds to run this place.

 

[Said1]

[I just haven't made it out to Ottawa yet.

[.

Yeah, well. Ottawa is where it's at!

I was born here, grew up mostly in Calgary, lived in Saskatoon and Winnipeg for short stints. I'm a westerner at heart, even after all these years.

 

[Jay]

What do you guys do out in Ottawa other than work for the government and smoke pot? :lol:

 

[Said1]

Post on message boards. What do you think we do while at work after smoking ajoint at lunch. Duuhh.

 

[Prairie_Ally]

RE: Saskatchewan Populati

I'm living in Winnipeg right now and you are dead wrong about Manitoba not being able to support itself. It is doing quite well actually--slow growth but that can be a good thing.

Northwest Ontario has a population of about 350,000 people (including about 150,000 people in Thunder Bay).
Ontario's situation is very similar to Canada's situation as a whole (the east verses west argument). Some say Northern Ontario has a much smaller population so it only deserves a proportionate amount of provincial money and power. But Northern Ontario contains a lot more land and natural resources.

The Ontario government pays Manitoba transfer payments for the Northern Ontario residents who use Manitoba's governemnt services including healthcare. If anything, Northern Ontario should join Manitoba.

I am a proponent of proportional representation. I think monies and seats should be divided via land area rather than via population amount.

Manitoba is not as gungho pro-West as the rest of Canada but if push came to shove they would never in a million years join Ontario. Western alienation and seperatism has its roots in Manitoba and Manitoba would side with its Western neighbours any day over Ontario.

Oh, by the way, I'm not a Western seperatist but I am pro-West, in support of reforming the federal governing institutions. There is a difference.

 

[Jay]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Population Decline

Post on message boards. What do you think we do while at work after smoking ajoint at lunch. Duuhh.

:lol:

Do you get outside of Ottawa much? Are there lots of farms and such?

 

[Said1]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Population Decline

Post on message boards. What do you think we do while at work after smoking ajoint at lunch. Duuhh.

:lol:

Do you get outside of Ottawa much? Are there lots of farms and such?

Yes, lots of wiiiiiddddeee open spaces. The population is about 600k now, lots of room for cows yet.

 

[Jay]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Populati

I'm living in Winnipeg right now and you are dead wrong about Manitoba not being able to support itself. It is doing quite well actually--slow growth but that can be a good thing.

Northwest Ontario has a population of about 350,000 people (including about 150,000 people in Thunder Bay).
Ontario's situation is very similar to Canada's situation as a whole (the east verses west argument). Some say Northern Ontario has a much smaller population so it only deserves a proportionate amount of provincial money and power. But Northern Ontario contains a lot more land and natural resources.

The Ontario government pays Manitoba transfer payments for the Northern Ontario residents who use Manitoba's governemnt services including healthcare. If anything, Northern Ontario should join Manitoba.

I am a proponent of proportional representation. I think monies and seats should be divided via land area rather than via population amount.

Manitoba is not as gungho pro-West as the rest of Canada but if push came to shove they would never in a million years join Ontario. Western alienation and seperatism has its roots in Manitoba and Manitoba would side with its Western neighbours any day over Ontario.

Oh, by the way, I'm not a Western seperatist but I am pro-West, in support of reforming the federal governing institutions. There is a difference.

Doesn't Manitoba receive transfer payments from the feds?

I'm pro west too, in the Alberta sense of it. We do need to change this little arrangement we have set up, that's a big reason why I vote conservative.


Ontario should annex Manitoba...face it, you would be happier.

 

[LittleRunningGag]

I'm on the other side of this. I'll be one of the few people moving from Alberta to Saskatchewan. Seeing as how the cost of living has skyrocketed with the wages around here, its next to impossible to go to school and have enough money to eat and pay rent. Especially here in Calgary.

 

[Hank C]

I'm on the other side of this. I'll be one of the few people moving from Alberta to Saskatchewan. Seeing as how the cost of living has skyrocketed with the wages around here, its next to impossible to go to school and have enough money to eat and pay rent. Especially here in Calgary.

you can find a decent 1 bed for less that 700......when you couple that with the wages which are much higher and the abundace of work whereever you happen to live in the city....there should be no problem???? you do worK?

 

[Hank C]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Populati

Doesn't Manitoba receive transfer payments from the feds?

I'm pro west too, in the Alberta sense of it. We do need to change this little arrangement we have set up, that's a big reason why I vote conservative.


Ontario should annex Manitoba...face it, you would be happier.

yes my friend, Manitoba is a welfare province.....Saskatchewan is far more respectable :wink:

anywho, northern ontario will never become a province....the last thing we need is another heavy welfare province. If anything was to happen it would see N Ont join with Manitoba, there are some prospects there, but I wouldent hold my breath.

 

[Hank C]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Population Decline

Interesting.

There is a huge diffrence between the two, but I doubt we agree on what that is! :lol:

There are huge differences between Ontario and Alberta but you are right, we probably wouldn't agree what those things are. But that's healthy.

Ontario is wine sipping yuppies, who call their cabins "cottages", and refer'd to Paul Martin as "mighty Paul".....Alberta is rednecks

 

[LittleRunningGag]

I'm on the other side of this. I'll be one of the few people moving from Alberta to Saskatchewan. Seeing as how the cost of living has skyrocketed with the wages around here, its next to impossible to go to school and have enough money to eat and pay rent. Especially here in Calgary.

you can find a decent 1 bed for less that 700......when you couple that with the wages which are much higher and the abundace of work whereever you happen to live in the city....there should be no problem???? you do worK?

No problem if all you need is a place to sleep. But then there's gas, insurance (which is still way too high), food, etc. Plus, wages are not that much higher unless you work in a trade or in the oil sands. You might see an extra dollar or two an hour but thats not much when you are still looking at sub $15/h.

And yes, both my girlfriend and I work. About 25 hours a week each plus school.

 

[Jay]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Populati

If anything was to happen it would see N Ont join with Manitoba, there are some prospects there, but I wouldent hold my breath.

And you can tell Manitoba to quit eyeing up parts of our province or we will run them over and they won't know what hit them.

I'll bet all those people in N. Ontario who want to either join Manitoba or separate, vote NDP.

 

[Prairie_Ally]

Re: RE: Saskatchewan Populati

If anything was to happen it would see N Ont join with Manitoba, there are some prospects there, but I wouldent hold my breath.

And you can tell Manitoba to quit eyeing up parts of our province or we will run them over and they won't know what hit them.

I'll bet all those people in N. Ontario who want to either join Manitoba or separate, vote NDP.

Are you talking provincially or federally? I draw a swift line between both. The federal NDP party is nothing like the provincial NDP parties.

And yes Manitoba has eyed getting at least part of Northern Ontario in the past. In fact, the region around the Lake of the Woods and Kenora was once supposed to be part of Manitoba but some ill-intentioned politics placed them with Ontario. The fact of the matter is that for Northern Ontario, Winnipeg is the major city everyone goes to. The people of Northern Ontario have much more in common with Manitobans. And about the welfare state nonsense--both Northern Ontario and Maniotba both have the infrastructure to take care of themselves. However, both get milked considerably by Southeast Ontario. (Just like Western Canada gets milked by Eastern Canada). Decisions made my the federal government, which were not supported by anyone out west, have caused decades of unfair resource revenues and such. It's why Western alienation exists. And Northern Ontario, just like Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC and Yukon, also suffers all the brunt of it too.

I was beyond happy when Harper won. If he hadn't I would've definitly became a Western seperatist. I don't like the fact that Harper is pro-American but at least he is a Westerner who is fully aware of the flaws in the democratic system and the power inequalities which exist between the regions. Unfortunatly, as part of a minority government, he isn't able to institute too many changes but it is a start to reparing national unity. I hope national unity is worth repairing.