www.estevanmercury.ca
June 12, 2013 A7
Letters to the Editor
Rent control solution to high prices in Estevan The Editor: This is a response to Oliver Meixner’s letter regarding my letter a week ago. I have lived in Estevan for 28 years and when I moved here there was nothing to rent and apartment buildings had long lists of names of people looking for places to rent. Not too many people know this, but 28 years ago landlords could only charge a damage deposit of $125 and even though there was nothing to rent, the price of rent did not go through the roof like it has now. I realize that these things change but come on people. You are saying we need more places built in Estevan. I agree with you to a certain exent. If they would build more apartment buildings for rental use only that would be fine but they are building duplexes and condos which are for sale and if they do rent them you are looking at paying anywhere between $1,600 and $2,400 a month; who can afford that? I
don’t even make that much a month. These landlords and people that are renting out bedrooms in their homes have to sit and think. Sure, they are making good money off these companies, but they are not going to be here forever. Meanwhile, they are pushing out good Estevan people, people that have lived here all their lives. So when all these projects are done and everyone leaves, who is going to rent your places? No one because you have forced us to move elsewhere. And you cannot say that it’s not greed when someone gets put on the street because their rent goes from $1,800 a month to $3,800 a month. If that is not greed then what is it? Something is very wrong there. I still believe we need rent control in Estevan and I do not believe that it is right that people are getting pushed out of these rental places so the owners/landlords can make more money. Tell me, are we supposed to get some tents and put them
in front of City Hall? Where are we supposed to live so these companies can have places to live? Is it fair that the people who lived in this city for years are getting pushed out and have nowhere to live? So I stand my ground on the fact that Estevan people have gotten greedy when it comes to rent and it is not going to get corrected until we have rent control. We need more affordable apartments built instead of all these condos and duplexes. No one can buy them anyway because the greedy people are taking all our money. More people have to speak up on this subject and maybe if more people came forward, we would get something done. Let’s stop the greed in Estevan and let’s get rent control and turn Estevan back into a trusting city. Catherine Foster, Estevan, Sask.
Relay left an impact Conservatives stigmatizing mental illness The Editor: After participating in the Relay for Life walk, I couldn’t help writing a thank you to the committee and many volunteers who put it all together. One has to have been there to appreciate all the work that went into making it a success. Mother Nature doesn’t always co-operate with you, so having the old Civic Auditorium host a program that was never intended for it, showed us that keeping it around for a while yet would be a good plan. It’s unfortunate the team numbers were down,
much like the experience of service clubs nowadays in trying to keep up with memberships, but it also showed what volunteerism can do. I mentioned to one walker how amazed I was at the work that must have gone into its makeup and his response was “we’ve been here for three days.” To the general public, even if you don’t have a connection to a cancer survivor, come out and be part of a most worthy endeavor. See you next year. Toni and Frank John, Estevan, Sask.
The Editor, By playing politics with mental illness, MP Ed Komarnicki and the Conservative Party are not only stigmatizing those living with mental health issues, they are making our streets less safe. First, some context. Our justice system provides a third option for those who, at the time of the act, were too sick to understand what they did was wrong—people who are deemed “not criminally responsible.” These individuals are incarcerated in a secure facility with psychiatric services. Before they can rejoin society their case is consid-
ciety – based on no evidence and going against decades of science and myth busting about mental illness. This will force them into mainstream prison, from which they will almost certainly emerge far more dangerous and likely to re-offend. The Conservatives argue that Bill C-54 is about the rights of victims. If these changes were only about advancing the rights of victims, the Liberal Party would support them. But Bill C-54 goes well beyond that and stigmatizes the mentally ill, and offends basic Charter protections that will ulti-
ered by special board that is better equipped than a regular court to determine their treatment and the level of danger they pose. The Conservatives are trying to mislead the public into thinking this system is broken. In fact, the government’s own research shows that its success rate is high – offenders have drastically lower rates of re-offending than in mainstream correction systems. Yet under the Conservatives’ Bill C-54, one serious offence would brand someone as liable to repeat-offend or present a greater risk to so-
mately weaken the rights of every Canadian. We simply cannot support that. This damaging stigma will make it harder to get people into treatment — yet treatment is most effective preventative measure for the few people with mental illness who commit serious offences. By voting for C-54, Mr. Komarnicki is playing on the politics of fear to perpetuate myths and stereotypes about mental illness. That is wrong — and will make us less safe. Bob Rae, MP Liberal Party of Canada
Unreserved pUblic real estate, eqUipment & livestock aUction
top Gun ranches – Gerald & Dorothy Mezzo Minton, SK | Thursday, June 27, 2013 · 10 am
BEER BEER BEER GARDENS GARDENS GARDENS LIVE LIVE LIVE BANDS BANDS BANDS AND AND DJ AND DJ 555PM — PM PM — 1AM 1AM 1AM
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2 Home Quarters, 17 Parcels of Pastureland, 10 Crown Parcels of Pastureland & 2 Residential Homes – 4548.05± title acres (2968.36± deeded & 1575.58 crown acres)
T S C 35 35years years
FREE FREE FREE B-DAY B-DAY B-DAY CAKE CAKE CAKE
oPEn housE dAtEs: JunE 1 & 22 – 1 to 4 PM 1
KIDS KIDS KIDS CRAFT CRAFT CRAFT 5—8PM 5—8PM 5—8PM
Moose Jaw
TICKETS: TICKETS:$10/PERSON TICKETS: $10/PERSON (KIDS 12 AND UNDER GET IN FOR FREE) (KIDS 12 (KIDS 12 AND UNDER GET IN FOR FREE) SPONSORED BY: SPONSORED BY: SPONSORED
FRI. FRI. FRI. JUNE JUNE JUNE
21 21
FOOD VENDOR: FOOD VENDOR: FOOD VENDOR: EDDIE WEBSTER’S EDDIE WEBSTER’S EDDIE WEBSTER’S SAFE RIDE PROVIDED BY: SAFE BY: MURRAY GMPROVIDED ESSAFE RIDE RIDE PROVIDED BY: MURRAY TEVAN/OXBOW MURRAY GM GM ESESTEVAN/OXBOW TEVAN/OXBOW
BORDER REAL ESTATE SERVICE
SE 32-03-07 W2nd MLS# 464018 - $89,900
Jim Creek Lake
33 39
36
Assiniboia
13
Wood Mountain
Moreland
9 10 11 15 2
14 Weyburn
13
West Coteau Lake
6
Estevan
16 18
16A
Auction Location
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Montana
1 1A 5 6 1B 1C 7 8 1D 1E 12 13
18
39
Minton
Rockglen
3A 4A 3 4
Benson
6
13
2
18
DOORS OPEN @ 5PM @ EAGM ON OUTDOOR GROUNDS - 118 4th STREET DOORS OPEN OPEN @ @ 5PM 5PM @ EAGM ON OUTDOOR GROUNDS DOORS GROUNDS -- 118 118 4th 4th STREET STREET
Minton – 8 km
N
Grenfell
6
Rouleau
Opheim
LIVE ACTS: LIVE ACTS: THE THIRD TOWN BAND /VAL HALLA/ POOR NAMELESS BOY THE NAMELESS BOY BOY THE THIRD THIRD TOWN TOWN BAND /VAL HALLA/ POOR NAMELESS TYLER GILBERT/ THE WILDMEN/ INK ROAD/306 DJ SERVICES TYLER DJ SERVICES SERVICES TYLER GILBERT/ GILBERT/ THE WILDMEN/ INK ROAD/306 DJ SMALL KITCHEN RADIO /THE DUSTIN RITTER BAND SMALL RITTER BAND BAND SMALL KITCHEN KITCHEN RADIO /THE DUSTIN RITTER
1
Regina
85
Noonan
18A
North Dakota
18B
17 19
sk/rM surPrisE vALLEy #9
Auction LocAtion: From Minton, SK, go 8 km (5 miles) South on Hwy 6, Yard on East side. GPS: 49.0941, -104.5771 ProPErty FEAturEs incLudE: · 1100 sq ft 2 story home, 900 sq ft bungalow, livestock handling system w/ 300 head capacity, 40 x 200 ft barn, 36 x 50 ft hip roof barn, 40 x 60 ft shop, 32 x 50 ft arch ribbed barn, native grass, tame hay & canola in 2012, access to Jim Creek Lake, permanent grain storage, 80± acres irrigation pivot, dugouts, fencing, lake acres and Much More!
PArtiAL List oF EquiPMEnt incLudEs: 2002 New Holland TS110 MFWD · 2008 Circle J Mirage 30 Ft Gooseneck Stock Trailer · 6 Breeding Bulls · 55± red angus cross cow/ calf Pairs · 25± Black angus cross cow/calf Pairs · 22± angus/ charolais cross cow/calf Pairs · 6± Mature cow/calf Pairs · 5± Shorthorn cross cows · Livestock Equipment · Trailers · Grain Handlings Equipment...And Much MorE!
For up-to-date photos & details, please check our website: rbauction.com/realestate Owner – Gerald Mezzo: 306.969.4055 topgunranches@xplornet.com Ritchie Bros. Territory Manager – Eric Fazakas: 306.541.6024 800.491.4494 Escrow – Brennan LeBlanc: 306.280.4878
4 Royal Heights Home Park MLS# 460884 - $139,000
701 4th Street
1138 1st Street
MLS# 465441 - $254,900
MLS# 457139 - $259,900
New ng Listi
Sale Pendin
g
1339 - 4th Street, Estevan
306-634-1020 • www.century21.ca The Only Real esTaTe COmpany WiTh aiRmiles ReWaRd miles
Terry Germain
Melony Dew
Lynn Chipley
Lisa Foley
Dana Krienke
Darla Shillington
Oxbow
Carnduff
(Part-time)
(Part Time)
606 2nd Street
204-306 Petterson Drive
76 Cundall Dr.
1501 2nd Street
MLS#465669 - $285,000
MLS#465633 - $285,000
MLS# 462821 - $424,900
MLS# 453660 - $429,900
New ng Listi
New ng Listi
421 Maple Bay
1569 Wahlmeier Dr.
2224 Macready Bay
MLS# 459113 - $439,000
MLS# 463388 - $475,000
MLS# 465257 - $496,400+GST New ng Listi
2109 Larter Road MLS# 439466 - $499,900+GST