Pine Riders

The cat is out of the bag - Saskatchewan MP's are true pine riders. In the wake of the mighty potash decision, it has gone to light that thirteen of Saskatchewan's fourteen Members of the House of Common are sheep. This is amazing considering that Saskatchewan is a grain growing province not known for its livestock.

Luckily this news only appeared in Canada's national newspaper - which nobody reads on the Prairies.

It is rather ironic that we call these individuals "representatives". They sit silently, week after week, following the PMOs strict orders to not embarrass the government by opening their beaks. Maurice Vellacott please sit down.

This is first past the post representation in operation. Saskatchewan has some of the safest Conservative seats filled by some of the dimmest lights. See e.g. David Anderson.

But this is not endemic of Saskatchewan or the Conservatives. Each party has some of their safest seats filled by less than stellar performers (what does Mauril Belanger do with his days?) If Canada had some form of proportional representation, the cream of the crop could rise. Instead, with first past the post, and in a country where local representation is simply an idea, we are held hostage to vote for which ever candidate is forced us (Rod Anders come on down). Unfortunately for Saskatchewan, the Conservatives decided that it was easier to run a group of lackeys who could be counted to stand up and shut up instead of individuals who may provide effective representation. But, effective representation is the NDP's claim and until Saskatchewan provides fairer seat distribution, effective representation means counting sheep.

Latte Jack

Reading the grains at the bottom of our grande pumpkin spice latter foretells the possibilities - Canada needs more Starbucks. While my consumer preference tends to towards Bridgehead, ThreeHundredEight.com indicates that in order to get some real representation in Saskatchewan requires more Starbucks.

The Cons will want to contrast this with their Tim Horton's lot - i.e. what they deem to be the common person. To break this down, Starbuck's is a place for people to congregate, talk and consume an over priced but tasty beverage. Tim Horton's is a place for to go through the drive through on the side of the highway while listening to opinionated anti-government (but not anti-party that is in government...) talk radio.

Oh, and ThreeHundredEight.com is posting that the NDP is doing well in Quebec.