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We have to adjust our thinking around regional growth. I would say we’re not there yet. We’ve been the big dog in the region and we’ve pretty much annexed land from the RM of Corman Park relatively easily. That’s getting much harder to do. We can’t be too protectionist, to say things like rural residents coming in and using our libraries should pay more or people using our rinks should pay more.

I think environmentally, we need to pull up our socks a little bit. We’re lagging behind in some respects. We just brought in recycling in the last five years. So we’re not exactly leading in any great way.

We have an awful lot of sunshine here and I don’t know why solar hasn’t taken off. While not being too unkind to our Saskatoon Light & Power folks — they do a wonderful job — but that should be an energy company. Maybe it’s time to cut the tie with SaskPower and maybe generate, create energy and sell it.

I should mention that being in the land development business has been of great benefit to Saskatoon.

Q: What surprises you the most about Saskatoon’s growth pattern?

A: How fast some neighbourhoods built out. Some of the issues around access in Stonebridge were just caused because the growth occurred so quickly. It was less than half the time we expected it to be. It was a 15-year time frame, but it finished in seven and a half years, eight years. That surprised us a little bit. We had to really move quickly to get Brighton on stream.

There’s always surprises in growth. One thing that has surprised me a little bit is how long it has taken Parcel Y to get developed. I think what it is is a lack of appreciation for how many people are looking for excuses to go to River Landing. The pedestrian counts, I remember when State & Main opened how busy that restaurant is and it is today. It was all by itself and it was quite a walk to get from downtown to State & Main and it was always busy.