Thousands of investors bought into projects to develop raw Albertan farmland with residential communities, retail developments and even hotels and golf courses. Promoters raised almost a quarter of a billion dollars from investors to complete plans for lavish properties that offered a rate of return of 6 or 7 per cent. Ron Aitkens, the man behind the failed real estate development projects, blames the economy for the fact that his business plan failed deliver on the returns promise.