Letters: Saskatoon’s new neighbourhood designs impede snow response

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Since our recent snowstorm, there has been concern from many residential areas about Saskatoon city council and its snow-clearing service. Most of this criticism is directed at the lack of budgeted money by administration and council for snow removal.

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This is a fact, for sure, but there is also another major issue that also impacts this service. That lies with the city’s development permit approval of our newer residential area designs the past several years.

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Allowing the developers of the new neighbourhoods to design and develop the narrow twisty streets with smaller lots with no off-street parking and the many newer neighbourhoods that have cul-de-sacs — these are great for the residents to live on, but also make snow removal difficult.

Front-yard driveways take up most of any available snow storage spaces. The new neighbourhoods are not alone in this concern. The many core areas also have snow removal issues, mostly with no off-street parking either. But in most areas at least they are much wider streets.

Yes, snow removal from our residential streets has been an issue for years, but there used to be a policy that all the Saskatoon Transit bus routes were done first; this was because all the bus routes were good access streets in mostly all neighbourhoods.

It also played a role in the transit system keeping on schedule. That policy has been virtually nonexistent for many years now too. So, even with a city-defined snow removal budget, it still will not change these situations.

Doug Wilson, Saskatoon

Crop insurance obvious culprit for deficit

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Now that Donna Harpauer has left the gang and started remedial math classes, the ones left behind are continuing in her steps in not having a clue about the deficit or basic arithmetic. Surprising that the reason for the massive miscalculation was crop insurance.

You’d think Farmer Moe would be more aware. And on that point, wondering if Moe recuses himself from any decisions related to farmers that may personally benefit him. If so, he would be spending a lot of time outside the room.

Diminished numbers, but the same old incompetence and excuses. Oy vey. Four more years of this. Hooray.

Tim Krause, Saskatoon

Province still has fingers in liquor business

Liquor laws fit for the prohibition era still plague Saskatchewan beer lovers. It has been two years since the Saskatchewan Party announced that the government was getting out of the liquor business. Yet consumer purchases are still restricted by rules that make little sense.

It has been seven years since Canada enacted the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, yet craft beer lovers are left out in the cold. To the Saskatchewan Party, I say, get with the times and get your hands off my beer, ya hosers!

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Logan Beatty, Saskatoon

Declare postal service essential and end strike

The postal strike is beyond ridiculous. It is hugely impactful to so many individuals and businesses.
Can it not be declared an essential service and put an end to this nonsense?

Kim Christiansen, Saskatoon

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