Vancouver Secrets

Enjoying California This Week

California in June is the best time to be here – other than going broke, everything here is at its summer’s best.

Can’t really feel the collapse that is here, but I am seeing empty malls, and finding it easy to get into great restaurants.

Here’s how California and Arnold drove the state into collapse…

It turns out there’s a force in California politics that’s much more powerful than the Governator: a culture of spending pushed by public-employee unions, money-grubbing corporate-welfare cases, and more.

Sadly, California and Schwarzenegger are hardly alone in spending well beyond their means. As many as 40 states face whopping deficits that are only going to get worse as the recession continues.

If country-wide trends do start in California, Rep. McClintock worries about what’s in store for our nation. “As high taxes, high borrowing and high spending destroy Californias economy, Californians are moving to those 49 other states. If we allow the same policies to destroy our country where are we going to go?”

“Hasta La Vista, Arnold” is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Director of Photography is Alex Manning and Associate Producer is Paul Detrick.

Carole James Shares NDP Logic

Considering beer is $28/dozen, and I have to take out a small loan to buy scotch, I’m not sure how NDP left-wing logic explains how raising wholesale prices won’t mean we’ll pay more… Carole James is a gift to Gordon Campbell… she should change her name to Carole Dion.

VANCOUVER — A New Democratic Party commitment to raise wholesale prices charged to private liquor vendors doesn’t necessarily mean higher booze prices, Leader Carole James said yesterday while campaigning in on Commercial Drive in Vancouver.

James said there has to be a level playing field for the government liquor stores and the hundreds of private liquor stores opened in B.C. after the Liberals allowed them into the market. The Liberal government recently reduced the wholesale prices charged to private vendors and an NDP campaign promise is to raise it to match the public store cost, about six per cent.

“It’s up to them as businesses whether they pass that cost on,” she said. “It was the government that gave the private stores a break, gave a gift to them and said we’re going to let you buy liquor cheaper than the public liquor stores do.”

She said people will still be able to buy at the same price in public or private stores, “unless the owners decide to hike up prices.”

So, those nasty private liquor store owners will decide if we get screwed again… for some reason they pay their staff 1/2 that of a government liquor employee, and they are still more expensive. Maybe Carole could look into why this is? And why we get taxed twice if we have a drink at a restaurant?

Find me a party that promises to lower beer prices,  privatize the government liquor stores (and auto insurance), get rid of the fraudulent carbon tax – generally move BC into the 1990’s – and they get my vote.

Canadian Environmental Tax Fraud

Here’s how imposing taxes on anything under the banner of the environmentalism gets out of control.

BC has perfected the system – taxing us for throwing out a TV 10 years ahead of time (the disposal tax), a double tax on bottled water (deposit and environmental taxes), a tax on the environmentally safe replacement for Roundup, and the list goes on…

Now we see how we were duped into the continent’s first test of a carbon tax:

First, we have a tax that is revenue neutral – the Carbon Tax – sold to the people of BC by bribing them with a cheque of $100:

From the government website:

On July 1, 2008, subject to approval by the legislature, British Columbia will begin to phase in a fully revenue-neutral carbon tax with built-in protection for lower income British Columbians.

The purpose of the carbon tax is to encourage individuals and businesses to make more environmentally responsible choices, reducing their use of fossil fuels and related emissions. The tax has the advantage of providing an incentive without favouring one way to reduce emissions over another. Business and individuals can choose to avoid it by reducing usage, increasing efficiency, changing fuels, adopting new technology or any combination of these approaches.

A propoganda support site for the tax pops up…

For months we’ve been touting the British Columbia carbon tax, and for good reason. Not only is BC’s carbon tax the highest by far in North America ($10 per metric ton of CO2 this year, rising stepwise to $30 in 2012), but the rollout of the tax has seemed to be handled with great intelligence.

And now we have the mayors clamoring to get at the revenue generated…

Metro Vancouver’s 21 mayors kicked a $300-million political football into the B.C. election campaign yesterday, calling for carbon-tax revenues to be put toward transit shortfalls.

“This money has already been collected and needs to be redistributed,” said Diane Watts, who chairs the Mayors Council on Regional Transportation. “We don’t need any more taxation.”

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, a former NDP MLA, praised the mayors’ decision as a “bold step.”

So, a tax that was to be revenue neutral will soon morph into a new way to fund an out of control transit system.

Keep this in mind next time your province wants to levy a tax on your behavior… BC has become the poster child for the fraud called Global Warming.

If The $10 A Pack Doesn’t Get You…

Marijuana may increase smokers’ risks, study says

Smokers who light up an occasional joint may be putting themselves at a dramatically higher risk of developing chronic lung disease, according to a new study by Canadian researchers.

The findings indicate that marijuana, even in small doses, seems to accelerate the harmful effects of smoking and greatly boosts respiratory problems and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The disease, which is often caused by smoking, actually encompasses a few disorders, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD often have difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, and experience increased coughing. It’s one of the leading causes of death in Canada.

In the study, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers found that, as expected, smokers were at an increased risk of developing COPD. But that risk was much higher among those who smoked cigarettes as well as marijuana, according to Wan Tan of the James Hogg iCapture Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research, based at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver….

Despite this, an editorial being published today with the study suggests that marijuana users may not need to worry their habit will lead to serious lung problems. Dr. Tan’s study, as well as past research, hasn’t identified a strong association between marijuana use and chronic lung disease, writes Donald Tashkin, medical director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

But, you can have your pot and smokes too… Check out e-smokers magazine – all the nicotine with no smoke or taxes.

photo credit: rougerouge

Wish We Could Have A Tea Party In BC?

If you are following the Tea Party movement in the US, and starting to hear of the backlash against them, you’ll find this video interesting.

The Tea parties are growing at an incredible rate, and should dwarf the anti-war and illegal immigrant protests of the Bush years.

As the far-left has taken over BC long ago, we’ve learned to quietly live in the nanny state. Our health system that now takes up 60%+ of our budget, homeless funding that tops $50,000 per homeless, and in a not-to-distant future when we run out of money, we’ll be encountering a “get the rich” mentality the US in now under.

As this movement rises in the US, one can only hope Canadians are paying attention. Here’s the main web site.

Bonus: Obama Rap… h/t

Where Does The $6-7 A Pack Go?

Ontario Looking To Extortion To Stop The Bleeding.

TORONTO — The Ontario government will introduce legislation Wednesday that would allow the province to sue tobacco companies to recover costs associated with tobacco-related illnesses, Attorney General Chris Bentley said.

Mr. Bentley said the legislation, if passed, would allow the province to directly sue tobacco companies for alleged wrongdoing and for the recovery of past, present and continuing tobacco-related damages.

I think someday they’ll prove that…

…  smokers cost the health system less over the long run – usually smoking leads to a short, terminal disease. Think of how much Alzheimer patients chew up our health care money. Or those folks living to 100.

Could it be that enough people have decided against paying the exorbitant taxes on smokes? You’d think at $10 a pack there would be a fortune to pay for the health care of smokers.

How much does the tax on cigarettes bring in? Shouldn’t this go directly to health care?

Or are cigarette companies just an easy target for extortion.

Just saying…

photo credit: Thomas Hawk

Quit Backing Losers – Rick Santelli

Finally someone gets air time over the ridiculous plans of the Obama administration. The amazing part is that CNBC couldn’t censor it, as it was live.

On CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Feb. 19, Rick Santelli, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor reporter, along with several traders, expressed his outrage about President Barack Obama’s plan to “spread the wealth” for people that didn’t deserve it. He said a stimulus should go to people who live responsibly rather than some sort of housing bailout to people that lived irresponsibly.

“If you want the economy to work, maybe we should give these perks to people who will carry some water down the road.”

Amen.

CNBC big wigs must have flipped out over this one.

Gawker media and the left wing blogs try to play this down, but the comments show where the real sentiment lies.

Enough of “Peggy The Moocher” – oops, I may get accused of playing the race card.

Ot looks like Americans are waking up, and the protests are gaining steam…

Rebel Yell: Taxpayers Revolt Against Gimme-Mania

UPDATE: The White House on Friday dismissed a cable television reporter’s criticism of President Barack Obama’s housing bailout plan as the ranting of an individual who “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs poked fun at Santelli by inviting him to come to the White House to read the details of Obama’s plan. “I’d be happy to buy him a cup of coffee,” Gibbs said. In a nod to Santelli’s caffeinated style, Gibbs then wryly added: “Decaf.”

Golf Season Is Around The Corner

I was thinking of getting the clubs out soon, and maybe hitting the range. Then I came across this video… it pretty much sums up my game.

Money For Nothing

Stephen Harper has prepared Canada for the recession. Let’s hope the three parties of fools don’t decide to take Canada hostage and destroy our chances of getting through it relatively unscathed.

The cut to the GST last year actually stimulated the economy by the equivalent to 2% of GDP. It’s done a great job of this without having to borrow and spend. This year should end without a deficit.

While the NDP and Liberals wail that we aren’t throwing money at something, anything (and, especially at them)… the Conservatives have prepared Canada in a number of ways other countries are following – Britain being the latest to cut taxes.

The one thing that’s overlooked in the shrill hysteria of Jack Layton and his band of jackals, is that we must cut spending in order to be in shape to tackle the unexpected. Canada is seriously over governed, and now is the time to significantly cut down the size and spending of the government.

Ontario needs to wake up and create an environment for business- not continue to drive it away through taxation. It’s the fault of their current leadership that they are becoming a have-not province.

I never thought I’d be able to point to Saskatchewan as a good example of government.

Now is the perfect time to stimulate the economy by cutting taxes – the deficit isn’t a factor yet, and if it does appear, it should be because of declining revenues, not because of increased spending.

Unemployment Insurance (whoever changed the name to employment insurance?) has had a huge surplus over the past 8-10 years… no need to increase premiums or panic if unemployment rises a bit.

If we truly want the economy to grow, drop income taxes by 5-10% points (or more) for anyone making over $50K/year. These are the people that will get the country going – giving money to the ones looking for a free ride will do nothing.

Even BC is starting to take action by lowering taxes… to all of our amazement.

photo credit: Grant Neufeld

Would You Quit Drinking Bottled Water?

photo credit: Hambo

One of my pet peeves is my wife buying bottled water, even though we live in one of the more pristine areas of the world.

Vancouver is planning on launching a marketing campaign aimed at getting more people to turn on the tap when they’re thirsty, Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson said.

That’s a better way than a new enviro-tax to get you to change your ways…

When you buy water here, you pay a deposit and a recycling fee. (What’s the difference you ask? Good question). That alone should be enough to make you at least refill your bottles.

You’re paying as much for bottled water as gas… skip the Smart car and drink tap water.

Airlines Giving Us A Break?

photo credit: caribb

Westjet and Air Canada Have finally decided to give us a break.

They’re dropping fuel surcharges on their flights.

Now a flight from Calgary to Vancouver has only a 50% surcharge:

One way Seat Sale Fare to Abbotsford $109.00 CAD

Nav-Ins $18.00 CAD

GST-HST $7.58 CAD

AIF $20.00 CAD

ATSC $4.67 CAD

Total Taxes, Fees & Surcharges  $50.25 CAD

Total: $159.25 CAD

In July, with the surcharges, this flight was $125. ($50 before taxes and surcharges.)

Thanks.

Too bad I really don’t want to spend any money right now…

When Pigs Fly?

photo credit: eqqman

Oil Falls to Six-Month Low as Refineries Escape Major Damage

By Mark Shenk Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) – Crude oil fell to a six-month low in New York and gasoline tumbled amid signs that refineries along the Gulf of Mexico coast will soon resume operations after escaping major damage from Hurricane Ike.

More than 20 percent of the U.S.’s oil refining capacity was shut, limiting fuel deliveries and prompting the Department of Energy to release 309,000 barrels from its strategic reserves. New York Mercantile Exchange electronic trading opened early today to allow traders to respond to Ike.

“It looks like we’ve dodged another bullet,” said Peter Beutel, president of energy consultant Cameron Hanover Inc. in New Canaan, Connecticut. “The refineries in the Houston area seem to have come out of the storm remarkably intact.”

Crude oil for October delivery fell $2.07, or 2.1 percent, to $99.11 a barrel at 5:10 p.m. on the Nymex. Futures touched $98.46, the lowest since Feb. 26. Prices are up 25 percent from a year ago. Gasoline for October delivery fell 11.33 cents, or 4.1 percent, to $2.6563 a gallon in New York.

Oil in New York has fallen 33 percent from a record $147.27 a barrel on July 11 as high prices and slowing global economic growth reduce demand for fuels. Sales at U.S. retailers dropped in August for a second straight month and July inventories at American businesses increased the most in four years, Commerce Department reports showed last week.

So when do we actually see the robbery stop?? Or better yet, let’s see how fast they drop – considering the jumped 15 cents a litre this weekend in anticipation of higher oil prices.

If they use futures pricing to instantly jack the pump price, let’s see if they use it to “adjust” when it’s not in their favor.

My estimate is that gas prices in Vancouver should be $1.15-$1.20.

By election time, oil could be in the $80 dollar range.  And predictions are they’ll be even lower for 2009.

Maybe this is why the desperate push on carbon taxes… it will take a lot of air out of the “enviro” effort.

Will Gas Prices Rise 12.9 Cents A Litre This Friday?

photo credit: bitzcelt

Liberal MP Dan McTeague says drivers in Toronto and Western Canada will face the largest one-day price increase ever seen this Friday, when pump prices could jump as much as 12.9 cents per litre.

If true, this means Toronto will go to the highest price ever – $1.37 a litre…

In Vancouver we haven’t dropped below $1.40 since oil hit $140/barrel. This is an indication of how a carbon tax will relate to a huge ripoff. BC now enjoys gas prices of at least 10-15 cents more than the rest of the country – thanks to our 2.4 cent carbon tax. Funny how that works.

The most incredible thing is how a  hurricane some 2,500+ miles from Canada can cause our gas to go up instantly – and although oil has dropped 30-50% since the peak, prices are still at a level of $130+/barrel.

Each time gas goes up it sets a new benchmark for pain. The oil companies then drop it a few cents when oil goes down, and then jack it again beyond this threshold on an uptick.

I can’t believe that this continues to go on – time to get serious about the collusion going on.

Just Call The Election, Steve…

photo credit: kagey_b

Prime Minister Stephen Harper seemed almost certain to call a general election next week to decide who will guide Canada.

It’s a great idea.

Although the election and candidates will be about as exciting as watching lawn bowling, holding an election alongside of the US election would let Canadians in on the fun.

We might be able to get rid of Gilles Duceppe, leader of the separatist opposition Bloc Quebecois. I always wonder what would happen if a traitor ran in the US…

Jack Layton, leader of the leftist New Democratic Party, also needs to go. With no possible chance of ever getting elected, it’s a wonder how the NDP has survived all these years. Note that the Riders have only won a Grey Cup when Conservatives have been in power in Sask.

Liberal leader Stephane Dion has proposed a tax grab similar to the National Energy Program they blessed us with in the last economic collapse. This is good for at least 10% more votes for Harper.

It’s time for change – as Barack Hussein Obama would say.

Best of all, it’s time to trounce the Liberals before their wacky carbon tax plan can see the light of day.

Here’s a video for more information on how the election will be decided:

Petro Canada Is Ripping Us Off

photo credit: JoshMcConnell

You’ve heard it before…

When oil prices rise, the price at the pump goes up within a day.

When oil prices drop, it takes weeks for the adjustment.

It’s a way the oil companies gouge us both ways – up and down.

Why hasn’t there been a government inquiry into this?

Oil peaked at around $140/barrel and gas went to $1.45/litre in Vancouver.

Now that oil has dropped to $115/barrel, you’d think that gas would be in the $1.14-$1.20 range.

It’s stuck at $1.40 – meaning they are ripping off consumers by 75 cents per gallon.

This would cause an uproar anywhere else.. out here, nobody seems to notice.

Between the oil prices being artificially raised each morning and the overcharging, the oil companies should be getting a lot of heat.

Instead, we pay whatever they demand and become poorer through our silence.

Need a $77,000 Pay Raise?

photo credit: estherase

Gord Campbell’s Liberals showed their true Liberal roots this past week… slipping in a pay raise on a late Friday afternoon, so the media coverage would be muted by Monday.

For the better part, it worked.

It’s enough to make the average BC resident wish their was a Conservative party in the province.

Seems it takes a pay raise of 43% to “keep the brightest minds”. With decisions like this, one wonders if there are any bright minds in this government.

Liberals gave B.C. members of the legislature salary increases of 29% earlier. Front-line provincial government workers in B.C. won 2% raises this year.

Try to defend this when contract time time comes around.

With Health Care costs running at 50% of the provincial budget, one wonders where this money will all come from.

Maybe a Carbon Tax?

Vancouver Will Pass Montreal In Olympic Debt

photo credit: kevindooley

It took Montreal 30 years to pay off it’s Olympic games – Vancouver is shaping up to blow away the record.

In 1976 the games left Montreal with a $1.5-billion debt, and oddly enough much of the debt was serviced through a special tax on tobacco. (At $10 a pack, not sure you can add more tax to raise any money here.)

Montreal projected the games cost to be $300 million.

The B.C. provincial government claimed the cost of the Olympics wouldn’t exceed $600 million. Estimates passed $2.5 Billion a while back and it’s still going strong. Best of all the B.C. taxpayers are on hook for at least $1.5 billion.

The auditor-general pegs the Games’ total budget at $4.3 Billion. About $1.8 billion of that will be recouped from Olympic revenues.

Ottawa will contribute $607 million and local government $389 million, leaving B.C. taxpayers on the hook for about $1.5 billion, the report estimates.

Some examples of surprises still to come:

- Security – 1 Billion – original estimate $175 mil.

- The Canada rapid rail line – way over budget (plus the destruction of Cambie Street small business worth millions)

- A $150 million US currency blunder (organizers delayed entering into currency hedging contracts).

- The sports facilities are all in trouble – no one dares to publish the actual overruns. They were given $110 million earlier to cover cost overruns. Expect these to be at least $200 million.

Projects being done for the Olympics (but not included in the budget):

- the $775 million Sea to Sky Highway

Good news: The $1.3 billion in infrastructure and other costs, including some serious cost overruns reported in the past, are mostly accounted for in its general budget. This means we get to start paying for these now.

This is starting to sound like the way the Gov’t has handled my favorite company – ICBC.

They should have hired Calgary to look after the management.

Best of all is that nobody is responsible for reporting to the public on the overall cost of the Games.

If you have a link to any finance reporting on the games, I’d be very happy to get it… the Province seems to be the only one privy to any details.

Your estimate of what the final tally?

My guess is $3 Billion in debt. $1.5 Billion if we’re lucky.

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