Poll

[jensend]

i agree the province should never have given big sky a nickel but that's no reason to compound the error. just pointing out the govt did not buy the concern it only took an equity position which has depreciated to zero. we'll all pay for the screwup of investment but that doesn't mean the taxpayer should be on the hook for any additional funds.

[food4u]

I vote NO as well. When I sell a grain to a buyer it is my responsibility to determine if the buyer is able to pay or not( pulse buyers). Over the years I now have a shorter list of pulse buyers that I will deal with.

[cottonpicken]

Surprising results to me.

[parsley]

A contract asking for $x.oo up front that you can live with, really helps the bleeding.

Maybe a transparency webpage of:
1. Payments Owing
2. Late Payments

pertaniang to any buying company, could become standard?
Pars

[Wheatking]

Couple of questions

Are they not bonded, and how come they aren't.

How are they currently feeding the stock. I imagine they will have to keep feeding the pigs for at least a few more months to empty the barns, where is the feed going to come from.

I know I've had people tell me that they have been behind in there payments by eight weeks for at least a year, couldn't believe people would still haul there with that kind of risk.

[newguy]

I live next to one and the feed is coming in like crazy. Iknow alot of people here got stung it is too bad. Think someone heading big sky should be fired. Alot of people have sask. basket rrsp's which have big sky shares. I do not think I should have to pay anyone.

[wmoebis]

Don't get me started!

I lost thousands when their predecessors went broke. I never got one penny from Community Pork Ventures for barley I delivered. Although it was still in their bins I couldn't take it back, they wouldn't give me pigs or even the manure. Price Waterhouse etal got their pay checks. The lawyers all got paid etc. Big Sky gave them enough to pay secured creditors and legal fees and screw the little guy. The price could have been set high enough to cover all suppliers or non at all.

I was told, by certain public individuals that this is the price of doing buissness and FARMERS should expect not to get paid. They bought in good faith and were not liable. I should have paid a broker, to sell four miles from yard. Farmers are poor buissnessmen.

When I offered to sell feed to Big Sky I told them it would HAVE to be prepaid or C.O.D. they said it is not how they do buissness. No Sale.

This is free enterprize at it's finest. Secured creditors are covered, suppliers, no. CGC does not even have a bond in place to cover these types of enterprizes so they couldn't even get one if they wanted.

If this Gov't puts up one penny they better retro and pay off all suppliers from past deals. Then a can of worms will be opened for all tax payers to eat. What about the potatoe guys and all other gov't (presant and past)screw ups.

What we need is safe guards in place to protect us from these thiefs. They take our grain, and services, feed thier livestock, sell them and give the income to lawyers and accountants. Is this not called money laundering?

Thanks for not getting me started I managed well enough on my own.

[Hopperbin]

Being in the area at present time I would not sell to them unless I have payment first then they can pick up grain once the check is cleared. Starving pigs should not be my problem it is now the banks problem legally and they will be paying premiums I believe.

[Kodiak]

Not that this hasn't been said already, but I need to voice my agreement. Under the current business climate, I find it unbelievable that anyone would have sold Big Sky anything without payment by certified cheque either up-front, or on delivery. We all need to take responsibility for our decisions and be accountable for them. Going cap in hand to the government, just because they are government, is no more justifiable than demanding and expecting payment from any of the the other shareholders. Bankruptcy laws are in place for a reason, and by and large they work, as painful and messy it is for all those involved. Unless there were fraudlent payments made to related parties or to certain creditors by Big Sky management, there is no case to be made for prefernetial treatment of feed suppliers, or for shareholders to make whole the transactions of the company. Everyone knew the rules going in.

[JoeyPotato]

Everyone needs to do their homework before they deal
with someone. Because the Gov't is a shareholder is
irrelevant. For the record, Gov't has no business being
involved in business!!!

Gov't involvement should have been reason enough
never to deal with Big Sky.