Sound Off -- Dec.18, 2012

You represent us all

I am concerned about the political activity against affordable housing which the city councillors have taken. They seem to have forgotten that their job is to represent the community as a whole, not individual property developers! I hate seeing elected officials corrupted like this.

Hope we are all on the same page

Let’s hope that those six councillors who were smart enough to vote against Bill 7 were still on the same page Monday night. People have to work hard and sacrifice to purchase a home. And now the government wants to provide brand new houses with the help of taxpayers and private developers?

How is the money being used?

Just what is that federal money for the homeless going to accomplish? Is this money to be used to build housing or is it to hire more people to have a look at the situation? What they need is a place to live in. Let’s hope the cash is going to a good cause!

It is not a birthright to own a home!

Have our city fathers and mothers gone a bit loony? Why do they think everybody has the right to own an affordable house? Unless I’m missing something, that’s what some of the lefties on council are harping on. Houses aren’t cheap. Maintaining them isn’t cheap — or easy at times. All Brandon needs are a couple of large apartment blocks with varying apartment sizes and rent fees. Many people simply want to find an apartment, not a house.

If you don’t know what you’re talking about ... stop talking

I understand that there are people who love anonymously attacking others on Sound Off and I pity their shrivelled souls. The Strand Theatre has now joined ACC at BMHC, the Dome Building, the Keystone Centre, etc. as an object of their misleading attacks. Lots of work has gone into the Strand Theatre, including more than $150,000 from Landmark Cinemas this past year, so don’t lie and say no fundraising has gone on.

Enjoy your Christmas, please!

My heart goes out to all the parents of the children and also to the families of the teachers who were killed in Connecticut. This is Christmas time and we should be all blessed and it is so very sad to think of what these people must be going through. So what I am wishing for is that the people in Brandon should enjoy their Christmas holiday and be thankful that their children are safe and that we do not have the gun problems they have in the U.S.

Tick tock, get a clock — or a clue

A large bouquet to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Mennonite Festival Chorus. This Sunday’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” was truly inspiring. It’s a pity that the performance had to have an unscheduled intermission. The concert began promptly at 3 p.m. as clearly indicated on the ticket. About 15 minutes into the performance, doors everywhere started opening and at least 20 people came in and took their seats. The conductor had no choice but to halt the concert. I am sure it left many people on stage wondering if people in rural Manitoba owned watches or knew how to tell time! What a black mark for Brandon. Shame!

Glad to see Notebook back

One of the best features in the Saturday paper — your conservative columnist/managing editor James O’Connor — now has his Tory blue soapbox back after a break. While my wife and I don’t always (hardly ever) agree with what his viewpoint is, we appreciate what he writes and it provides a lot of discussion for us at the breakfast table each week.

Doesn’t impress me much

How does a group of natives block Highway 16 and the Trans-Canada with RCMP doing traffic control forcing big trucks up roads that are not suitable. Talk about safety ... anyone else trying a road block and it would not happen. Not very impressed.

Thanks for leading the way

On Dec. 14, Highway 16 from Neepawa and Highway 10 to Brandon witnessed the thickest fog I have ever travelled in. One huge truck got so impatient with my slow travel, he passed me on the wrong side. But a huge thank you to the car who travelled so sensibly that I was able to follow his tail lights all the way into Brandon. Many thanks, whoever you are.

Just to set the record ‘straighter’

Most self-employed people are not incorporated and therefore do not enjoy corporate tax rates. Self-employed people, specifically commissioned sales people, don’t work for cash; they receive taxable income and a T4A slip at the end of the year. Self-employed individuals pay both the employee and employer share of CPP premiums plus are responsible for 100 per cent of their RRSP savings contribution. And sorry to burst your bubble, but not every self-employed person has a fancy cottage and a big boat because after income tax, property tax, insurance, retirement savings and living expenses, the average person does not have enough money left for a fancy cottage and a boat. Here is the bottom line: Government, in all its forms, could not sustain itself without the private sector (simple math) which means generous salary and pension packages for all civil servants are only possible because of average taxpayers who do not enjoy the same level of benefits. So with all due respect, a little more appreciation for where the money actually comes from would be nice.

The troubles we’ve seen

In reference to our mayor’s comments to three projects she has undertaken last month. No. 1: “Canada Games” — yes, we have hosted these games twice and while it has made our businesses a lot of extra bucks, it has cost our residential taxpayers many, many, tax dollars, which we can’t afford. Yes, Winnipeg is welcome to host the games this year, the provincial government would no doubt pay the price. No. 2: “Brandon casino” — our city has turned it down twice — do you hear? Twice. Only idiots would keep trying. We don’t want one. No. 3: “WestJet” — yes, it would be nice to have flights in and out of Brandon, but remember all the big money spent on trying to get them here again, and after failures, they will pick the most profitable place they see fit. Good luck. What Brandon needs is reasonably priced housing, a couple of large manufacturing plants, i.e. cars, trucks, appliances, furniture, etc., after all, we’re on a highway crossroads. If we get these, the others will come “voluntarily.”

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition December 18, 2012