LorneGunter

Last week several organizations released "The Downtown Investment Plan" which was based on solid statistics and practical research. Lorne Gunter thinks "The Downtown Investment Plan" presents a key argument as to why the City should no longer use taxpayers money to supporting downtown revitalization. Regardless of the City's expenditure on improving the downtown core on the surface, it appears to have had little quantifiable effect.

Many times over the years I've been reminded of a common sense colloquialism I first heard decades ago. The saying was "no matter how thin you slice it, baloney still has 2 sides" meaning there is more than one way to consider something. Whether one agrees with Lorne Gunter's columns or not, he often brings a contrarian perspective (another side) that is worthy of consideration, such as he expressed in his latest column below.

Lorne Gunters latest column is bound to raise the eyebrows and hackles of many, while at the same time many Edmontonians who agree that homelessness is a big problem. An even bigger problem that communities across North America and beyond are grappling with what should be done about homelessness and who is responsible to do it. Failing to address root causes perpetuates problems so even if Lorne Gunter's comments frustrate some they also serve to focus our attention on root causes, not just the symptoms.

The Valley Line LRT has been open for less than a year and already there have been 18 collisions reported, more than reported in the Metro and Capital Lines combined in all the time they've been running. Lord Gunter's comment on the most recent collision between an LRT and semi highlights points out that although these collisions may not be the city’s fault, they most definitely are the city’s problem. And rather than admit a design and decision mistake and doing what should be done to correct it, the City has thus far passed the problem on to the public and said deal with it.

Calgary's Green Line LRT extension has been a super-expensive white elephant right from the beginning. Rather than counting the losses and running Danielle Smith and the so called "conservative" party are threatening to jump in and rescue the project. As he so often does Lorne Gunter brings shares a perspective that does not bode well for the UCP and/or Alberta taxpayers.

It seems that Premier Smith and the current UcP government are willing to forsake large C conservative principles in order to stay in power and by doing so they validate Lord Acton's oft quoted statement that "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Edmonton has had a recent succession of so called "progressive" mayors who have proven that it is easy it is to spend other peoples' money. Under the guise of being forward-thinking the progressive mayors and the councillors who joined in their folly committed the City to billions of dollars in mega projects. The accumulated debt from these mega projects is now so BIG that debt servicing is now the third-largest expense in the city’s annual operating budget and interest on the city’s debt consumes about 10 per cent of the city’s nearly $4-billion budget.

Lorne Gunter's recent comment in the Edmonton Sun focuses on what has and is happening in Edmonton, but unfortunately it is being repeated in other cities and at Provincial and Federal government levels. The massive amount of debt at all levels will mean generations to come will be left holding the bag and having to pay the bills.

Since I offer refer to what Lorne Gunter opines in the Edmonton Sun I thought I'd begin naming (Gunteromments) and numbering (#..) his comments so here we go with GUNTER-OMMENTS #1. A couple of days ago I posted a report on Global News about the High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Facility (HSADF) and introduced it under the title GIGO.

GUNTER-OMMENTS #1 is about the High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Facility (HSADF) and the dilemma the inadequate (HSADF) presents to the City.

When I posted what can now be considered as Part 1 of FIRST CAME LRT, NOW COMES BRT. CAN ACRONYMS BE EFFECTIVE PEOPLE MOVERS? I didn't anticipate that I'd be posting something more on the subject so soon, but here it is as Part 2. Tuesday's meeting of city council's urban planning committee went ahead as scheduled, and Lorne Gunter added his commentary in today's Edmonton Sun. Gunter typically brings another perspective that is worth considering. Read it and let me know what you think

It should come as no surprise that City Council is floating the idea of raising our taxes once again. No matter what form of mans' government is in power they all prove what God told Samuel to say to Israel when they requested a king like other nations. 1 Samuel 8

One of the reasons I appreciate Lorne Gunter's columns is that he asks questions and looks beyond the obvious. In the case of the Jasper fire, Gunter looks at and questions the role Parks Canada played or didn't play in the fire. If what he is bringing to the fore is true, then Park's Canada has a lot to explain.

If what Lorne Gunter has brought to the fore is true, Edmontonions need to make certain that Park's Canada has no role to play in the river valley park system.

When the announcement of the 2025-2029 bridge closures were announced last week, the only downside mentioned was a 15 - 30 minutes longer commute to and fro the Southside and downtown.

As he often does, Lorne Gunter looks beneath the headline to reveal the disturbing underside of the City's spin regarding the bridge repair and rehabilitation story, which I posted about below.

When I read Lorne Gunter's take on Alberta's 2023-24 fiscal year surplus of $4.3 billion surplus I was reminded of the phrase "Let them eat cake" which is said to have been spoken by Marie Antoinette upon being told that the peasants had no bread.

Much of Albert's $4.3 billion surplus comes from the 13 cents/litre gasoline tax imposed upon the people when they fill up their vehicles. The $4.3 billion surplus belongs to the people (peasants/hoi polloi) who have been eating cake and at the very least would appreciate some ice cream to go with their cake (removal of the gas tax).

Premier Smith - I'd like 2 scoops, 1 pistachio & 1 salted caramel. Thank You.