Vancouver Secrets

Saskatchewan Throwing Millions At Our Olympics

The story that has some in Saskatchewan up-in-arms is that they are over budget and spending 4.1 million on the pavillion for the 2010 Winter Games.  Saskatchewan’s total expenditure for the games is $7.2 million.

Let’s keep things in perspective:

- It’s only $7 per resident of Saskatchewan, or 50 cents per gopher.

- Saskatchewan is fast becoming Canada’s hotspot for tourism.

Brent: Want me to fill it up?
Man: Sure. You know I’ve never driven across Saskatchewan before.
Brent: Well, you still haven’t really. About halfway to go yet.
Man: Sure is flat.
Brent: How do you mean?
Man: You know, flat. Nothing to see.
Brent: What do you mean, like topographically? Hey Hank, this guy says Saskatchewan is flat.
Hank: How do you mean?
Brent: Topographically, I guess. He says there’s nothin’ to see.
Hank: There’s lots to see. There’s nothin’ to block your view.
Brent: There’s lots to see. Nothin’ to block your view. Like the mountains back there. They’re uh… Well, what the hell? I could’ve sworn there was a big mountain range back there. Juttin’ up into the sky all purple and majestic. I must be thinkin’ of a postcard I saw or somethin’. Hey, it is kinda flat, thanks for pointin’ that out.
Man: You guys always this sarcastic?
Brent: Nothin’ else to do.

Source- Corner Gas

- It’s a great excuse to spend 700K on high-definition images of the province. (See above photo).

- If Saskatchewan manages to convince at least 100 families (realistic) to vacation in the province, it will only cost $70,000 per family.

This comment on the Leader Post’s story says it all:

Oh my there are a bunch of whiners. Canada gets the oppertunity to  be on the world stage for the 1st time in 22 years and people are complaining that we want to showcase Saskatchewan to the world?

We actually do have a tourist industry here, whether you believe it or not. This can and will help tourism. I’ll bet half of you haters don’t even know that we have white water rafting on this province. Some of the best hunting and fishing (although I don’t like either) in the world.

4.1 mill is tiny for this kind of advertising. And before you all bash, I actually am a NDP supporter, but I also believe in taking advantage of opportunity when it arrises.

They can raise our taxes by $10.00 this year and it’s paid for. Relax, it’s not that much.

By the way, you do know that our neighbors in Manitoba are spending more. All provinces except NB are having pavillions.

Or this one:

Why do all the tax dollars always have to go towards the poor?  What have the poor people ever done for us? It’s nice that the tax dollars get spent on entertainment once and awhile.  I work hard and pay lots of taxes – it’s nice that I get to enjoy them once in awhile instead of seeing that money wasted on useless people who are too lazy find a job and work hard.

Thanks Saskatchewan for helping us out.

Don’t let “oppertunity” pass you by.

photo credit: Jordon