The pollution concerns raised by the building of huge hog farms by Big Sky Farms have been solved by the establishment of a committee which will address water quality, and Florian Possberg, owner of Big Sky Farms, will be sitting on this committee(1).

Another major change in the agricultural panorama is the appointment of Gordon Nystuen as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food. Premier Romanow has praised the multi-talented Gordon Nystuen and has stated "Mr. Nystuen was born and raised in Spalding in rural Saskatchewan and... I am excited that Mr. Nystuen is returning to the public service as I believe he has an exemplary mix of skills that are ideally suited to leading the government's ongoing efforts to address the challenges facing the agriculture sector(2)."

I find strong affinities between Premier Romanow and Gordon Nystuen; they both are exemplary models for this government to cover their assets in the face of mismanagement and corruption; in fact, Premier Romanow was able to cover his major assets when David Milgaard threatened a lawsuit against him(3), and Gordon Nystuen was equally able to cover his assets when he mismanaged some $40-million of taxpayer money in the now dormant Saskatchewan Health Information Network(4) (SHIN).

Congratulations to our politicians and bureaucrats for their relentless work in good psychology and in covering their assets.

References/endnotes

General reference: articles by Mario deSantis

1. Committee to address water quality concerns, by Joanne Paulson, The StarPhoenix, August 30, 2000, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

2. CHANGES TO SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCED, Saskatchewan News Release, August 30, 2000, Executive Council - 508, http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/2000/08/30-508.html

3. Milgaard's $10 million compensation: covering up the personal assets of our policing Saskatchewan Government, by Mario deSantis, June 25, 1999

4. Saskatchewan Health Information Network: Gord Nystuen leaves his post to cover his assets, October 25, 1999