The Secrets Of Vancouver BC, Canada

Canada Finally Exits The Emissions Extortion Game

The Canadian government is formally withdrawing from the Kyoto protocol on climate change-the first country to do so-though it said it would honor a separate, carbon-reducing agreement reached over the weekend in Durban, South Africa.

It is now clear that Kyoto is not the path forward for a global solution to climate change. If anything, it is an impediment,” Mr. Kent told reporters in front of the Canadian legislature.

Mr. Kent said the pact was futile in combating climate change because it didn’t incorporate the world’s three major emitters. He also said Canada would have faced 14 billion Canadian dollars ($13.6 billion) in fines under the treaty.

The NDP wants us to pay up:

Canada’s New Democratic Party, the major political opposition, denounced the move. “This government is abdicating its international responsibilities,” said Meagan Leslie, the New Democrats’ environment point person.

You’d think that they would have plans for more free daycare with that 14 billion we’re saving.

Good first step.

 photo credit: bjornmeansbear

Too Fat To Fly

Kevin Smith would be proud: as someone who has had a hefty passenger beside me, I vote that they should have to pay for 2 seats.. or the portion they take from me.

Obese travelers to sue Air Canada over extra fees

OTTAWA — 2011 AFP - A judge has authorized a class action lawsuit against Air Canada on behalf of obese travelers forced to pay for an extra seat, a law firm announced Monday.

BGA Barristers & Solicitors LLP said in a statement the lawsuit aims to reclaim fees the airlines charged clinically obese passengers for a second seat before Canada’s transportation watchdog banned the practice in 2008.

A similar suit targeting its rival WestJet is also reportedly planned. So far no numbers of possible clients have been released, but according to court documents the suit could involve a multi-million dollar claim.
Following complaints, the Canadian Transportation Agency in 2008 ruled the two carriers had breached Canadian case law by charging obese and other disabled passengers accompanied by an attendant for two seats.

It cited a Federal Court of Appeal decision that found “a person who is obese may be (considered) disabled for purposes of air travel if unable to fit in an airline seat.”

The class action lawsuit covers fees paid to Air Canada between December 5, 2005 and December 5, 2008, as well as damages.

 photo credit: One From RM

Why Electric Cars Aren’t Ready For Prime-Time.

$41,545

$26,995

Tyler Hamilton of the Star: Ignorance and the art of electric car bashing.

Poor Tyler doesn’t get why the majority of people won’t buy into the electric car “fever” the environmentalists have. Ignorance has nothing to do with it. Consumers are a lot smarter than he gives them credit for.

Obama forced GM to prioritize the Volt and it’s a huge Obama success. Some months it almost sells 200 units. The car is a financial disaster, and would have folded GM if there wasn’t govt. money involved.

Had they pushed forward with the Camero at the time, the financial picture would be a lot brighter. The Camero is one of the better cars they have come out with, and gives them something to compete with against the Ford Mustang.

People aren’t as stupid as government. Something that the average Liberal cannot comprehend.

Here’s why we won’t buy electric cars right now, Tyler:

1) Cars still are a symbol of our freedom and an extension of our personality. This is why Prius owners generally are smug Liberals. Tesla has a great car I’d buy in a second, if it wasn’t 100K. The Volt is the equivalent to the K car as far as sexy is concerned. Make an electric car unique and better looking than a gas one, and you stand a chance.

2) You are selling instant obsolescence. Batteries are not there yet, and who ever buys an electric car today will be left with a worthless car in a few years. Given the risk a consumer is taking, an electric car today needs to be priced less than a comparable gas-powered car to take hold. Subsidies don’t matter, and in fact hurt the sales, as it makes us wary.

3) The cost of recharging is not that much less than gas in most high-electric fee areas – meaning payback for the initial price difference will almost never happen. I can accept a 50-100 mile range. I can’t accept that it will cost almost as much as gas, after paying a 50%+ premium for it.

Make a electric car that is sporty, fun and priced close to a standard car, and you may have some luck. The good thing is that they are capable of outperforming a gas engine.

You can’t guilt consumers into buying something. It has to make sense.

Consumers aren’t “bashing” electric cars. They aren’t buying it.

Create a good reason to own one from a marketing perspective and it may have a chance. Global warming isn’t it.

photo credit: sjsharktank
photo credit: eric.schnell

Canada-US Prices: We Get Gouged. So What.

The Sun did an article on the US/Canada price gap, which seems to have grown as fast as our dollar has risen.

Anytime I bring this up – insurance, gas, cars, food… the list goes on – I hear it’s because of taxes, “free” healthcare, and lack of the competition in our market.

Really?

We have more brands of grocery chains than Washington. We have malls with all the chains. Insurance… we have a state-run monopoly here, so I’ll leave that for another day.

The way to get their attention is to revolt… with our wallets.

A month or so ago, my wife and I got up in the morning and drove to Bellingham. A short drive that was paid for in gas savings.

We bought around $500 in clothes (would have been $750+ here) and $300 in groceries. Stayed away from beer although it was hard to resist. I know this is what fears Canada Customs most.

4 hours later, back to Canada. I knew I broke the 24 hour rule and wanted to find out if they would arrest me.

I told the lonely border guard exactly what we purchased and was told “Thanks”. I asked if I have to pay anything and was told “Nope”.

Since then we go every weekend. It’s quickly become how we spent our summer holidays.

When we cross into the US, I let them know that I am going down for a few hours  to spend a lot of money. My border crossing is now under 1 minute. They appreciate the business. I am hoping they’ll start a frequent flyer club for people like me… Nexus aside.

I bought a new TV for half price on one of our day trips and had to pay GST.. still saved 40%. I buy all my electronics, tires, golf clubs there now. When they tell me to stop inside and pay tax on these purchase- about 15% of the time – I gladly do. Seems imports from Asia trigger the GST.

If all border Canadians could start doing this, the message would be sent fast. We might see prices drop. At worst, we’d all get to experience customer service, great prices and stretch our pay a bit. Did I mention chicken is 1/2 price?

Or, we can wait for Flaherty to complete his inquiry.. while the bleed us dry.

Send Canadian retail the message. It’s how we get change.

photo credit: manyhighways

Next Up, Indoctrinate Government Workers.

Now the government is “encouraging” its workers to study up on the global warming issue. At first glance it might makes sense.

BC seeks heightened climate change awareness among civil servants‎. B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake announced the series in Victoria, saying it was essential to build a “solid knowledge base” on climate change within the civil service. He cited the need for an understanding of climate change impacts for the economy, environment, for land and water use, and for agriculture.

I am waiting for them to bring in the color-coded Climate Change Threat Level alert.

Why our civil service needs to have this solid knowledge base is debatable. It could be that they make up a significant part of our population and the “cause” has fallen off the map?

Wonder who is funding this?

In March 2008, the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) was established with a $94-million endowment from the BC Ministry of Environment (The Liberal party). PICS paid for the polling a steered the decision on our beloved carbon tax. Then it was off to work they go, funded in perpetuity.

Then, thanks to us paying higher prices for everything because of our carbon tax, B.C. is the first state or provincial government in North America to be “carbon neutral,” requiring public services to offset carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by buying credits from the government’s Pacific Carbon Trust. Proving that our money can buy “neutrality”.

The carbon trading/tax scam even extorts public (tax-funded) institutes.

Example: In 2010 the PCT collected $4.4 million from B.C.’s 60 school districts, to compensate for emissions that mostly come from school buildings. They tax us to pay for schools and then they tax the schools to take their money back silently, and put the money where? Wonder why the cost of schools, health and other publicly funded programs keeps rising beyond inflation?

It’s basically a Ponzi scheme.

But, great news: the B.C. government has started working on ways for public money to go to public projects. “I’m not sure where we’ll end up with it, but I think generally what we’ll see is some sort of fund within the Pacific Carbon Trust that’s dedicated to schools, to hospitals, so that money comes back to them to help reduce their carbon footprint,” he said.

It’s basically one big circle of cash.. all kept within the government to expand their ever growing largess. We can cut back on  delivery of public services (i.e. teachers) by taking money back fro our tax-payer paid services, and keep the money at the top of the pyramid. Great slight of hand.

Best of all UVic has a lock on the climate scare industry, and is expanding faster than Apple. Lifetime employment for all of their researchers. Algore would be envious.

Here’s your free lesson.. paid for by us poor BC taxpayers:

photo credit: rgmcfadden

An Irishman’s Point Of View On the Financial Collapse

Never a such truth been spoken (NSFW). This man should head the country.

Listening to the Silent Majority

Premier Christy Clark Now Has The Chance To Lead The Way On Tax Reform.

BC voters have shown us they have been pushed to the wall on taxation. We’ve finally  said enough is enough, and that we will no longer stand silent while politicians tax us into poverty.

Now that Christy Clark knows her chances of her party getting reelected are almost nill, why not start a move towards a complete tax and budget overhaul. With the odds of getting a far left government next election at almost 100%, she could find honor by at least doing something to protect us from them.

“The B.C. government, I think, has got now to sit down with business and all stakeholders and perhaps develop a Son-of-HST version that is a consumption tax, that is a fair consumption tax and allow it to not have to refocus its efforts on business taxes or on income taxes, which was their goal,” said B.C. Chamber of Commerce President John Winter.

BC in general is not business friendly. The reason is that we put up too many barriers to the creation of new businesses, and we lack competition. Our productivity suffers because of this, as well as employment growth.

Most are sympathetic to the fact that they need money to pay for all our freebies. The problem in BC is the government has crossed the line years ago in intrusion into our lives. We are a model nanny state.

The time for government to re-focus on what they really are responsible for, is now.

Christy could gain credibility and undo the damage done by Gordon Campbell by:

1) Cutting spending. Americans are leading the way in the “cut spending” movement, and spending cuts would be generally accepted. Yes the interest groups will all scream, but it’s about the silent majority. Government is spending beyond our means, and now is the time to make a few hard choices. We have a bloated government and now is the time to cut staff through attrition/hiring freeze, and salary freezes on public employees. Re-size government to the future.

2) Shutting down ICBC and getting out of the booze business. This would create competition in our insurance market and lower costs for most BC residents. Privatize the Liquor stores as Alberta did years ago. Once this is done, look at all ministries and shut down the foolish ones – it’s easy pickings here.

3) Getting rid of the carbon tax. It’s a sham and does nothing of what it represents. Our energy prices are only going up. Killing this tax would be a move to eliminate the deception Gordon Campbell left us with.

4) Reform the school districts. Focus on delivery of education not the bureaucracy. Create on school board and downsize or eliminate all the others.

5) Health Care? We know it’s going to bankrupt us in the next 10-20 years. Start looking for solutions to streamline delivery and to cut the waste.

6) Tax reform: BC taxes are the opposite of transparency. They have hidden a myriad of taxes in everything we buy. This makes everything more expensive in BC, and it is a silent job killer. The nickle and dime approach is petty and is causing tourists to stay away. Buy a bottle of water and see what I mean.We hide taxes on homeowners for things not related to owning a home, businesses for things that have nothing to do with business, and consumers for anything they can come up with.

Flat tax is the way to go, and a “Son of GST” would fly if the two happened at the same time. If the flat tax was handled correctly, you could even remove sales tax. The goal should be to streamline government income, and the best place is at the source. Removing the massive paperwork eliminates needless positions and expense. It also makes BC competitive in a global market.

If we don’t address the areas above soon, we’ll be forced to in ways we won’t have any control. Our wealth has been driven by housing and now that is about to end… and when it does, well see that it has been a mirage.

I know that BC has a strong anti-growth sentiment, and we need to instill the idea that growth is good, NOW. We’ve been held hostage by the enviro-nazi’s long enough, and hopefully now the silent majority will become vocal.

It is the only way we’ll be able to maintain our standard of living in the future… as the decline has already started.

The HST Referendum Results Are In – Deception Comes Home To Roost

% of valid votes voting Yes (Scrap it) 54.73%

% of valid votes voting No (Keep it) 45.27%

Today is the day when our votes on HST are tabulated.. and judging by the timing of the results, now the fun starts.

They tried the deceptive “yes mean no” trick question, hoping that the average BC resident is too dumb to read.

They diverted tax dollars to the “for HST” cause.

Business groups spent considerable money on the “for HST”. There costs have been cut, and we may see the savings someday. (We know better.)

Now, BC residents – the silent majority – have spoken.

Political deception – or standard political operating procedure – has been given a blow. Lying to get elected has a price.

The great thing to see is that even though we have been lectured that it will cost us big time to repeal this swindle, people decided to no reward the politicians for duping us. We are willing to accept the consequences, even though it should have never happened. Gordon Campbell’s big lie has cost us a few billion.

If they really wanted to save the HST, they would have dropped it pre-referendum. Not a year from now. We didn’t fall for this.

BC residents are now paying a huge price for the deception. Politicians will have their day soon enough.

What is really obvious is that the rich were apathetic and voted to keep it, the poor hated it and voted strongly to go back to the old system.

Thanks Gordon… you F’d BC.

photo credit: Jeff_Werner

Vancouver Hates The Bus

In Vancouver, they really, really want us to take the bus.

Although in downtown Vancouver about 40 per cent of commuter trips are by transit; in Surrey, the number is less than five per cent. Step outside of our perpetually gridlocked downtown, where you have a choice, and no one uses the bus.

Translink has the authority to tax us, and boy, do they use it (1.3 Billion last year):

Parking: As of July 1, 2010, the responsibility for the Parking Tax payable at commercial parking lots within Metro Vancouver was transferred from the Social Service Tax Act to the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act and administration of the tax has been transferred to TransLink.

Property Tax: They levy a fee to pay for transit. They blend this in with a road tax to lessen the pain.

Transportation Improvement Fee: A fee on all cars.

Gas Tax: Drivers are forced to pay a tax on gas to Translink, making our gas prices among the highest in Canada.

Carbon Tax – they are still negotiating their cut.

New: Tolls. As they replace our bridges, they get to add tolls.

Government transfers.

Actual transit fees pay less than 50% of their costs to run the system.

Now, as the geniuses at TransLink are finding out, we actually hate this form of transit despite being forced to pay exorbitant taxes to support it. Statistics Canada reported, in their 2010 General Social Survey, that the average Vancouver car commute was 25 minutes, 23 minutes shorter than the average transit commute of 48 minutes.

“Slightly less than half (47 per cent) of those who had tried public transit felt that it was a convenient way to get to work” reads the report. Yet 85 per cent of Canadians surveyed who commute by car say they’ve never tried public transit before.

Despite our social engineers doing everything possible to slow traffic to a crawl (quick, find a freeway in Vancouver – we have none),  we have a choice, for now.

Ride in a crammed bus, with the addicts they let on for free, or in the comfort of your car. In a move to get the freeloaders off the system, they are finally adding fare gates at on the skytrain so that you now need to pay to ride. This will set off a series of protests.

Keep in mind that housing requires 92% of the average income to own a home. Soon we’ll all be renters, forced to take the bus.

Social engineering does work.