Money. Again

Remember when Calgary was flooded out in 2013, causing billions in damages?  That's when the province decided it had to build a dam to prevent this happening again.  That's when negotiations began with Tsuut'ina leaders to get them to agree.  That's also when the band trotted out the pricey lawyers because naturally -- surprise surprise -- the natives would not agree to any part of "their" land being accessed to build the dam.  Better for Calgary to be washed out again than touch a blade of grass on "their" land.

Seven years later, Kenney finally figured out all he had to was throw money at the band to make all the lawsuits go away.  Why it took him so long to figure out this was the obvious solution I have no clue?  So, the other day, the beleaguered taxpayers of Alberta handed the band $32 million and guess what?!  They dropped all their objections and lawsuits!  Wow, what a revelation!

There are approximately 2,000 natives who live there, so what's that, let's see, $160,000 each?  Not bad for having to do nothing.  I bet not a lot of that money will get to your average, run-of-the-mill band member, but at least they can do the math and figure out how much they should be getting.  Oh, and of course, that's over-and-above what they are handed each year via routine taxpayer transfer payments.

They claim the money will be used to enhance wild life and other "nature" stuff.  Yeah right.  Currently, the band's main business is fleecing people out of their money via the Grey Eagle Casino.  Nature walks and enhancements don't really figure, as far as I am aware.  Maybe they'll fix up a couple of houses so the dwellings are more "nature-like".  Here's a picture.  (Not sure which reserve this is, but from what I've seen as we've driven around this part of the country, it's fairly typical.)