(Aired on April 28, 2010)
When an RCMP officer discharges his or her sidearm, it's hard to say what's the more frightening prospect for the officer - the incident itself or the aftermath.
Yesterday, a Mountie was forced to fire on a suspect after that suspect used a car to ram the officer. The suspect was hit in the shoulder and was injured. He'll have to deal with the court system and shouldn't expect an easy ride. But the officer doesn't simply get to go home and forget about it. In addition to the emotional trauma of having to shoot at someone in defence of your own life, it's likely this officer will have to relive the tail again and again for the investigators looking into it.
In the interests of impartiality and fairness, local mounties have called in colleagues from Kelowna and Saskatchewan to handle the investigation. They do it out of an abundance of caution. After all, there has been no shortage of incidents lately where the Mounties have had to investigate themselves, and impartiality is always a concern. The RCMP is a brotherhood of sorts, and there will always be the tendency to close ranks around their own. On the flip side, it would be nearly impossible for police officers to carry out their jobs if they didn't feel their colleagues would have their backs.
The member involved in this shooting may have times during the investigation when he feels like the suspicion is focusing on him - even when he feels he was just doing his job. But bringing in outside officials to examine this incident is the right move. Firing a sidearm has to be a last resort for law enforcement officers. It should be done out of an abundance of caution, and that's also what should be used to investigate it.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
HST Itself Won't Dethrone Liberals
(Aired on April 27, 2010)
The uproar over the Harmonized Sales Tax has reached jet engine-like decibel levels in this province. Observe any anti-H.S.T. petition signing event, and you will see people more than eager to sign up to voice their displeasure. We've heard stories of canvassers being chased down the street by potential signatories they inadvertently missed - people desperate to ensure the tax will fail.
And while all of this outrage is being directed at the provincial Liberals - and very little at Ottawa where the idea originated - my prediction is that it won't be enough to torpedo the Campbell government. The fact that the next provincial election is three years away is part of the reason behind that theory. This degree of pissed-offedness cannot be sustained for that long. But the real reason the H.S.T. itself won't sink the B.C Liberals has more to do with their opposition.
The provincial N.D.P. simply can't position itself against a tax as a matter of principle. I know the B.C. political scene is screwed up, but it's not completely upside down. Not long ago, the New Democrats came out great guns against the carbon tax with an "Axe the Tax" campaign. That effectively raised the hackles of the public.
But if the N.D.P. is going to come out great guns against the H.S.T. as well, it will soon be known as the anti-tax party. Cariboo-North M.L.A. Bob Simpson acknowledged this positioning problem in an interview with me several months ago. He said the party would have to focus on the fact that the Liberals deceived voters by not making the H.S.T. an election issue. Already, though, that argument is losing steam, and the opposition is focused on the effects of the tax itself. In three years' time the N.D.P's argument of "remember what they did last time" won't be nearly as effective as the argument "look what they're doing to you right now."
By then, the sting of the tax will have subsided and the Liberals will live to rule another day.
The uproar over the Harmonized Sales Tax has reached jet engine-like decibel levels in this province. Observe any anti-H.S.T. petition signing event, and you will see people more than eager to sign up to voice their displeasure. We've heard stories of canvassers being chased down the street by potential signatories they inadvertently missed - people desperate to ensure the tax will fail.
And while all of this outrage is being directed at the provincial Liberals - and very little at Ottawa where the idea originated - my prediction is that it won't be enough to torpedo the Campbell government. The fact that the next provincial election is three years away is part of the reason behind that theory. This degree of pissed-offedness cannot be sustained for that long. But the real reason the H.S.T. itself won't sink the B.C Liberals has more to do with their opposition.
The provincial N.D.P. simply can't position itself against a tax as a matter of principle. I know the B.C. political scene is screwed up, but it's not completely upside down. Not long ago, the New Democrats came out great guns against the carbon tax with an "Axe the Tax" campaign. That effectively raised the hackles of the public.
But if the N.D.P. is going to come out great guns against the H.S.T. as well, it will soon be known as the anti-tax party. Cariboo-North M.L.A. Bob Simpson acknowledged this positioning problem in an interview with me several months ago. He said the party would have to focus on the fact that the Liberals deceived voters by not making the H.S.T. an election issue. Already, though, that argument is losing steam, and the opposition is focused on the effects of the tax itself. In three years' time the N.D.P's argument of "remember what they did last time" won't be nearly as effective as the argument "look what they're doing to you right now."
By then, the sting of the tax will have subsided and the Liberals will live to rule another day.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
European Airport Shutdown Warranted
(Aired on April 26, 2010)
Airlines around the world have been in an uproar over the closure of many European airports the past couple of weeks because of that volcano in Iceland. Some are saying that governments were far too hasty in shutting down the airports before they knew the extent of the ash. It's now widely believed that the total shutdown implemented throughout Northern Europe may have been a bit hasty, costing airlines billions of dollars trying to recover and move passengers around.
So are we to believe that the airlines would rather we risk life and limb, not only of their own staff flying those planes, but hundreds of thousands of passengers? Is that what they would have us think? That it's okay to take chances with peoples' lives for the sake of a few dollars.
I'm fully aware of the cost incurred, the hassle trying to reroute hundreds of thousands of unhappy vacationers back to their homes. But would we rather have had a crash claiming several hundred lives because we didn't take appropriate action? Officials had to make a pretty quick decision. They consulted the people who should know. Acting on the best information available, they shut things down. Absolutely the most appropriate move to take. Discretion is virtually always the better part of valour, and it certainly is in this case. Can you imagine the outcry if just one plane had crashed because officials decided it wasn't a danger to fly through all that ash?
Unfortunately for the airlines, unforeseen occurrences are part of the game. And all they can do now is try to get back on track the best they can. Don't blame people for closing the airports. They did everything they should have.
Airlines around the world have been in an uproar over the closure of many European airports the past couple of weeks because of that volcano in Iceland. Some are saying that governments were far too hasty in shutting down the airports before they knew the extent of the ash. It's now widely believed that the total shutdown implemented throughout Northern Europe may have been a bit hasty, costing airlines billions of dollars trying to recover and move passengers around.
So are we to believe that the airlines would rather we risk life and limb, not only of their own staff flying those planes, but hundreds of thousands of passengers? Is that what they would have us think? That it's okay to take chances with peoples' lives for the sake of a few dollars.
I'm fully aware of the cost incurred, the hassle trying to reroute hundreds of thousands of unhappy vacationers back to their homes. But would we rather have had a crash claiming several hundred lives because we didn't take appropriate action? Officials had to make a pretty quick decision. They consulted the people who should know. Acting on the best information available, they shut things down. Absolutely the most appropriate move to take. Discretion is virtually always the better part of valour, and it certainly is in this case. Can you imagine the outcry if just one plane had crashed because officials decided it wasn't a danger to fly through all that ash?
Unfortunately for the airlines, unforeseen occurrences are part of the game. And all they can do now is try to get back on track the best they can. Don't blame people for closing the airports. They did everything they should have.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Icelandic Volcano a Pot Punishment?
(Aired on April 23, 2010)
An Iranian cleric this week is blaming earthquakes on promiscuous women. Yes, you heard that right. Hojjat Ol-Eslam Kazem Sediqi says many women who do not dress modestly lead young men astray and spread adultery in society which increases earthquakes. Something may have been lost in translation there, because I was following all the way up until the earthquakes part. Not to say I agreed, but at least I was following the argument. You may laugh at immodest women causing earthquakes, but it's hardly more ridiculous than Pat Robertson blaming the Haiti earthquake on the nation being cursed because it made a pact with the devil to get out from under Napoleonic rule.
So if natural disasters are indeed caused by the breach of some subjective standard of morality, what sin, dalliance, or impropriety caused this massive volcanic eruption in Iceland? My first instinct would be to say the sin was sexual in nature, because nobody appreciates a good bit of symbolism like the Almighty.
But maybe it's a little more literal, and that's why I've concluded that the sin being punished here is marijuana use. After all, all of European life is being crippled by a giant cloud of smoke. One of the cities impacted is Amsterdam, what with its permissive drug laws. And with hundreds of thousands of people forced to stay where they are it's quite likely many are experiencing varying degrees of paranoia. That doesn't even mention the fact that Tuesday was 4-20 - a day of celebration and participation for pot users around the world. For all of the headaches this is producing, I suppose we should hope that no one is using the herb for medicinal purposes for fear that the situation will get worse.
This disaster is costing the European economy billions of dollars, but using the same logic as the cleric and Brother Robertson, that's probably a logical punishment for smoking weed.
An Iranian cleric this week is blaming earthquakes on promiscuous women. Yes, you heard that right. Hojjat Ol-Eslam Kazem Sediqi says many women who do not dress modestly lead young men astray and spread adultery in society which increases earthquakes. Something may have been lost in translation there, because I was following all the way up until the earthquakes part. Not to say I agreed, but at least I was following the argument. You may laugh at immodest women causing earthquakes, but it's hardly more ridiculous than Pat Robertson blaming the Haiti earthquake on the nation being cursed because it made a pact with the devil to get out from under Napoleonic rule.
So if natural disasters are indeed caused by the breach of some subjective standard of morality, what sin, dalliance, or impropriety caused this massive volcanic eruption in Iceland? My first instinct would be to say the sin was sexual in nature, because nobody appreciates a good bit of symbolism like the Almighty.
But maybe it's a little more literal, and that's why I've concluded that the sin being punished here is marijuana use. After all, all of European life is being crippled by a giant cloud of smoke. One of the cities impacted is Amsterdam, what with its permissive drug laws. And with hundreds of thousands of people forced to stay where they are it's quite likely many are experiencing varying degrees of paranoia. That doesn't even mention the fact that Tuesday was 4-20 - a day of celebration and participation for pot users around the world. For all of the headaches this is producing, I suppose we should hope that no one is using the herb for medicinal purposes for fear that the situation will get worse.
This disaster is costing the European economy billions of dollars, but using the same logic as the cleric and Brother Robertson, that's probably a logical punishment for smoking weed.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Is NCR a Way Out?
(Aired on April 21, 2010)
I have issues with the law that allows judges to find persons not criminally responsible for their actions. I made mention of this during the days following the conviction of Allan Schoenborn on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of his three children in Merritt. It is a decision that makes me wonder whether this is a fair decision. I understand the reasons for it, but the fact is, if it can lead to someone being out on the streets in a shorter period of time than if they were found criminally responsible, I have trouble. Keep a person like that in a facility as opposed to prison, where they can be treated. But there have to be restrictions, and I don't have enough faith in the review board to ease my mind.
Another story this week has me equally concerned. A mentally ill Edmonton woman was shot by police after trying to stab an officer with a steak knife. The woman was apparently psychotic, under the influence of alcohol and Valium at the time, and somehow this means she can be found not criminally responsible. Because a person cannot appreciate the nature of their actions doesn't mean they shouldn't be contained, and be considered a danger to the public. Sorry, that just doesn't cut it with me. If they are let out because someone says they are no longer a danger, who's to say they couldn't go and do exactly the same thing again? If they're psychotic now and can commit an offence, what happens when they're psychotic next time?
Sometimes the explanation of the law makes sense, but it practice it often doesn't. Here's a case in point.
Doesn't matter whether they're criminally responsible at all. To me, the difference should be the place where they are held, not whether or not there's a chance they could be out on the street in six months.
I have issues with the law that allows judges to find persons not criminally responsible for their actions. I made mention of this during the days following the conviction of Allan Schoenborn on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of his three children in Merritt. It is a decision that makes me wonder whether this is a fair decision. I understand the reasons for it, but the fact is, if it can lead to someone being out on the streets in a shorter period of time than if they were found criminally responsible, I have trouble. Keep a person like that in a facility as opposed to prison, where they can be treated. But there have to be restrictions, and I don't have enough faith in the review board to ease my mind.
Another story this week has me equally concerned. A mentally ill Edmonton woman was shot by police after trying to stab an officer with a steak knife. The woman was apparently psychotic, under the influence of alcohol and Valium at the time, and somehow this means she can be found not criminally responsible. Because a person cannot appreciate the nature of their actions doesn't mean they shouldn't be contained, and be considered a danger to the public. Sorry, that just doesn't cut it with me. If they are let out because someone says they are no longer a danger, who's to say they couldn't go and do exactly the same thing again? If they're psychotic now and can commit an offence, what happens when they're psychotic next time?
Sometimes the explanation of the law makes sense, but it practice it often doesn't. Here's a case in point.
Doesn't matter whether they're criminally responsible at all. To me, the difference should be the place where they are held, not whether or not there's a chance they could be out on the street in six months.
Site C Dam the Lesser Evil
(Aired on April 20, 2010)
The proposed Site C power dam in the Peace Country has already raised the hackles of environmentalists and First Nations, less than a day after it was announced by Premier Gordon Campbell yesterday. The controversy was expected, which is probably why the announcement was made in the back country where no one could invade the media hype.
But while the dam is controversial, let's remember a few things. It's not a fait accompli yet, and will require years of environmental study and consultation with First Nations. It will flood prime farmland. It will cost a lot of money. No question it will have a downside. But let's look at the upside. It will provide power for half a million homes, at a time when there are few alternatives. Short of nuclear power, which generates controversy hundreds of times greater than the hydro dam, there are no alternatives for the future. We can't go back to burning trees for heat and light, wind power and solar power are very limited in their potential, so what are the alternatives? We can reduce power consumption, and we should be trying to do as much of that as we can, but short of reducing the population growth, and spreading our growth further and further afield, there's little else to do. The dam is probably the best of a number of alternatives.
I'm not in favor of flooding farmland, but neither am I in favor of destroying even better farmland at the coast, but developers continue to spread out rather than up. We could save billions if we had housing concentrated in a smaller area, instead of eating up beautiful land that could grow our food supply.
We have so many double standards. First Nations complain about consultation, but they don't mind their own decisions on many issues without consulting us. Environmentalists worry about the dam, yet they still drive the old gas guzzling pickups around their farms, and probably use as much hydro as anyone else. Without some new revolutionary technology showing up somewhere down the road, projects like Site C are really the only way to provide energy for the future.
The proposed Site C power dam in the Peace Country has already raised the hackles of environmentalists and First Nations, less than a day after it was announced by Premier Gordon Campbell yesterday. The controversy was expected, which is probably why the announcement was made in the back country where no one could invade the media hype.
But while the dam is controversial, let's remember a few things. It's not a fait accompli yet, and will require years of environmental study and consultation with First Nations. It will flood prime farmland. It will cost a lot of money. No question it will have a downside. But let's look at the upside. It will provide power for half a million homes, at a time when there are few alternatives. Short of nuclear power, which generates controversy hundreds of times greater than the hydro dam, there are no alternatives for the future. We can't go back to burning trees for heat and light, wind power and solar power are very limited in their potential, so what are the alternatives? We can reduce power consumption, and we should be trying to do as much of that as we can, but short of reducing the population growth, and spreading our growth further and further afield, there's little else to do. The dam is probably the best of a number of alternatives.
I'm not in favor of flooding farmland, but neither am I in favor of destroying even better farmland at the coast, but developers continue to spread out rather than up. We could save billions if we had housing concentrated in a smaller area, instead of eating up beautiful land that could grow our food supply.
We have so many double standards. First Nations complain about consultation, but they don't mind their own decisions on many issues without consulting us. Environmentalists worry about the dam, yet they still drive the old gas guzzling pickups around their farms, and probably use as much hydro as anyone else. Without some new revolutionary technology showing up somewhere down the road, projects like Site C are really the only way to provide energy for the future.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Taxed to the Max
(Aired on April 19, 2010)
I'm surprised at a recent report from the Fraser Institute which says we're paying 41.7% of our total income to taxes. Not surprised that almost half yours and my income goes to taxes. We've known that for a long time. Every time we turn around, the government hits us with a tax on something. Now what surprises me is that the figure isn't very much changed in the past 20 years. In 1981, taxes accounted for 40.8% of income. So while we've gone up a full percentage point in that time, I actually thought it would be more than that.
Every time we reach into our pockets, the government seems to be there first. It never occurred to me that the moths flying out of my pockets were some cruel government joke. And of course, soon the HST will take even more money from us. Governments are quick to defend taxes, suggesting that the money is needed to fund health care, education, you name it. But I don't think many of us are convinced that our tax dollars are being used to best advantage.
In the fiscal year ending March 2005, the government collected $198.4-billion in taxes and other revenues. That doesn't count money taken in by the provinces or municipalities. The largest single spending item was repayment on our national debt. Now that we've spent a lot of money trying to stimulate our economy in light of the downturn, I wonder how long it will be before the tax bite hits even further. The downturn will play a bigger role than it has already when it comes time to repay the money the feds used to try and keep the economy afloat.
If you think it's bad that almost half your income goes towards taxes, you probably are going to be even more disappointed in the years ahead as we try to repay an even bigger debt load. And here is our federal government telling us we're not putting enough away for our retirement years. How do they expect that to happen? If they'd give us back even a small percentage of the tax dollars they drain from us each year, think of how much we could salt away for our so-called golden years. The thought is mind-boggling.
I'm surprised at a recent report from the Fraser Institute which says we're paying 41.7% of our total income to taxes. Not surprised that almost half yours and my income goes to taxes. We've known that for a long time. Every time we turn around, the government hits us with a tax on something. Now what surprises me is that the figure isn't very much changed in the past 20 years. In 1981, taxes accounted for 40.8% of income. So while we've gone up a full percentage point in that time, I actually thought it would be more than that.
Every time we reach into our pockets, the government seems to be there first. It never occurred to me that the moths flying out of my pockets were some cruel government joke. And of course, soon the HST will take even more money from us. Governments are quick to defend taxes, suggesting that the money is needed to fund health care, education, you name it. But I don't think many of us are convinced that our tax dollars are being used to best advantage.
In the fiscal year ending March 2005, the government collected $198.4-billion in taxes and other revenues. That doesn't count money taken in by the provinces or municipalities. The largest single spending item was repayment on our national debt. Now that we've spent a lot of money trying to stimulate our economy in light of the downturn, I wonder how long it will be before the tax bite hits even further. The downturn will play a bigger role than it has already when it comes time to repay the money the feds used to try and keep the economy afloat.
If you think it's bad that almost half your income goes towards taxes, you probably are going to be even more disappointed in the years ahead as we try to repay an even bigger debt load. And here is our federal government telling us we're not putting enough away for our retirement years. How do they expect that to happen? If they'd give us back even a small percentage of the tax dollars they drain from us each year, think of how much we could salt away for our so-called golden years. The thought is mind-boggling.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Milobar Right to Protest IHA Executive Shift
(Aired on April 16, 2010)
Peter Milobar is a man who picks his battles. Kim Sigurdson can say what he wants, but the Kamloops mayor does not react emotionally to issues that arise. That's why it was somewhat shocking to hear him blow a gasket with regards to the new Interior Health organizational structure. It removes oversight of Royal Inland Hospital from someone who lives in Kamloops and gives it to someone who lives in Kelowna.
When you first glance at the new executive flow chart, one thing jumps out at you. C.E.O. Dr. Robert Halpenny has removed all regional responsibilities from the executive. For example, instead of Andrew Neuner being in charge of all health service delivery in the Kamloops-Thompson-Shuswap area, he is in charge of specific departments like Primary Care or Mental Health and Addictions throughout the entire Interior Health Authority. One person - Joanne Konnert - is in charge of the two largest hospitals in Kamloops and Kelowna. But another person is in charge of the regional hospitals in Vernon, Penticton, Cranbrook, and Trail, as well as all of the smaller hospitals in the interior - from Williams Lake to Grand Forks, and from Lillooet to Fernie.
This move is all about centralization. Halpenny wants his executive under one roof. That's fine for Vancouver Coastal Health, but the Interior Health Authority is roughly the size of Great Britain. Communities within the authority are unique. The needs of one hospital - our hospital - will not mirror the needs of another. That's why Milobar is so upset, and I don't blame him. It's compounded by the fact that - as usual - Interior Health has botched the handling of this by refusing to acknowledge Milobar's concerns. The mayor has recognized an opportunity to stand up for his own community, and that's the first thing on his job description.
Peter Milobar is a man who picks his battles. Kim Sigurdson can say what he wants, but the Kamloops mayor does not react emotionally to issues that arise. That's why it was somewhat shocking to hear him blow a gasket with regards to the new Interior Health organizational structure. It removes oversight of Royal Inland Hospital from someone who lives in Kamloops and gives it to someone who lives in Kelowna.
When you first glance at the new executive flow chart, one thing jumps out at you. C.E.O. Dr. Robert Halpenny has removed all regional responsibilities from the executive. For example, instead of Andrew Neuner being in charge of all health service delivery in the Kamloops-Thompson-Shuswap area, he is in charge of specific departments like Primary Care or Mental Health and Addictions throughout the entire Interior Health Authority. One person - Joanne Konnert - is in charge of the two largest hospitals in Kamloops and Kelowna. But another person is in charge of the regional hospitals in Vernon, Penticton, Cranbrook, and Trail, as well as all of the smaller hospitals in the interior - from Williams Lake to Grand Forks, and from Lillooet to Fernie.
This move is all about centralization. Halpenny wants his executive under one roof. That's fine for Vancouver Coastal Health, but the Interior Health Authority is roughly the size of Great Britain. Communities within the authority are unique. The needs of one hospital - our hospital - will not mirror the needs of another. That's why Milobar is so upset, and I don't blame him. It's compounded by the fact that - as usual - Interior Health has botched the handling of this by refusing to acknowledge Milobar's concerns. The mayor has recognized an opportunity to stand up for his own community, and that's the first thing on his job description.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Lake, Krueger not Standing Up for Kamloops
(Aired on April 15, 2010)
If an election were held today, MLAs Kevin Krueger and Terry Lake would be toast. Quite frankly, it's tiring hearing them toe the party line every time they turn around with just about every decision that's made. Maybe they're fighting the fight behind the scenes, in caucus, and telling the government how stupid they are. But in public they continue to tell us how great the Liberals are and what a great job they're doing. They're not serving the best interests of the people in Kamloops.
For example, word this morning that all decisions affecting Royal Inland Hospital are going to be made from now on out of Kelowna. If that's true, that's a huge slap in the face not only to Kamloops, but to our two MLA's. Krueger is quoted as saying it's a good thing and will provide Royal Inland with an equal opportunity to Kelowna General. That's crap, and Kevin knows it.
Mayor Peter Milobar is right when he says it would be like having only one city council because the communities are kind of close together. If the council were in Kelowna, do you think they'd think of Kamloops first? We're already hearing from the RCMP that they're having problems with the integrated dispatching service that is located in Kelowna. I said right off the bat there would be problems, and I've been proven right. The dispatchers in Kelowna don't even know half the time where they're sending people, because they don't know the area. And there are other problems as well.
When you couple this with the HST coming in, with the problems over education funding, the Liberals would not stand a hope in either of the two Kamloops ridings if we were going to the polls today. Having said that, the government has three years left in their mandate, and a lot can happen in that time. But I think Kamloops voters could well have long memories when it comes to this one. If the NDP can mount even a half-hearted attack in 2013, we'll be looking at a vast shift of power. But whether that will happen is, of course, anyone's guess. Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and someone in Kelowna will actually toss us a bone.
If an election were held today, MLAs Kevin Krueger and Terry Lake would be toast. Quite frankly, it's tiring hearing them toe the party line every time they turn around with just about every decision that's made. Maybe they're fighting the fight behind the scenes, in caucus, and telling the government how stupid they are. But in public they continue to tell us how great the Liberals are and what a great job they're doing. They're not serving the best interests of the people in Kamloops.
For example, word this morning that all decisions affecting Royal Inland Hospital are going to be made from now on out of Kelowna. If that's true, that's a huge slap in the face not only to Kamloops, but to our two MLA's. Krueger is quoted as saying it's a good thing and will provide Royal Inland with an equal opportunity to Kelowna General. That's crap, and Kevin knows it.
Mayor Peter Milobar is right when he says it would be like having only one city council because the communities are kind of close together. If the council were in Kelowna, do you think they'd think of Kamloops first? We're already hearing from the RCMP that they're having problems with the integrated dispatching service that is located in Kelowna. I said right off the bat there would be problems, and I've been proven right. The dispatchers in Kelowna don't even know half the time where they're sending people, because they don't know the area. And there are other problems as well.
When you couple this with the HST coming in, with the problems over education funding, the Liberals would not stand a hope in either of the two Kamloops ridings if we were going to the polls today. Having said that, the government has three years left in their mandate, and a lot can happen in that time. But I think Kamloops voters could well have long memories when it comes to this one. If the NDP can mount even a half-hearted attack in 2013, we'll be looking at a vast shift of power. But whether that will happen is, of course, anyone's guess. Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and someone in Kelowna will actually toss us a bone.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
McLeod's Shot at Cabinet
(Aired on April 14, 2010)
The Jaffer-Guergis scandal will certainly get worse before it gets better for Stephen Harper, and it's a case of reaping what you sew in the people you choose to be on your team. Here's all you need to know about Rahim Jaffer - he was a Conservative in Alberta and he lost. In 2008, Jaffer lost his Edmonton riding to a New Democrat, and the world has yet to return to equilibrium. It was my impression that to be a Conservative in Alberta and lose, you have to be either medically dead or on the sex offender registry.
That mark on Jaffer's record - losing that is - added to the drunk driving and cocaine possession issue never did bode well for his wife, Helena Guergis. And while the allegations against Guergis are still very much being kept under wraps, right now I'm more interested in her abandoned cabinet post.
Here's a wild idea - how about Cathy McLeod as the new Minister of State for the Status of Women? I've travelled quite a distance to arrive at this destination, but I think the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo M.P. would be a terrific candidate for the cabinet spot. McLeod has some strikes against her as a rookie M.P. and being from the west when Stephen Harper needs to replace a cabinet minister from Ontario.
But she has some definite assets as well. McLeod has shown hard work and competency as a member of parliament. She has, in my opinion, represented the interests of her riding well in Ottawa, including scoring us a significant amount of Building Canada grant moneys. While she lacks some public speaking acumen, she makes up for it by being courteous, professional, and quick to respond to requests. And above all, she seems to be as far removed as possible from a lifestyle of scandal. Minister of State for the Status of Women is not exactly a high profile position, and ideal for a political neophyte like McLeod.
Stephen Harper has a lot of things working against him these days, and he can use all the good people he can get. Cathy McLeod is one of them.
(Blogger's note: Rona Ambrose was appointed Minister of State for the Status of Women after Guergis' ouster. Whether this is a permanent arrangement remains to be seen.)
The Jaffer-Guergis scandal will certainly get worse before it gets better for Stephen Harper, and it's a case of reaping what you sew in the people you choose to be on your team. Here's all you need to know about Rahim Jaffer - he was a Conservative in Alberta and he lost. In 2008, Jaffer lost his Edmonton riding to a New Democrat, and the world has yet to return to equilibrium. It was my impression that to be a Conservative in Alberta and lose, you have to be either medically dead or on the sex offender registry.
That mark on Jaffer's record - losing that is - added to the drunk driving and cocaine possession issue never did bode well for his wife, Helena Guergis. And while the allegations against Guergis are still very much being kept under wraps, right now I'm more interested in her abandoned cabinet post.
Here's a wild idea - how about Cathy McLeod as the new Minister of State for the Status of Women? I've travelled quite a distance to arrive at this destination, but I think the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo M.P. would be a terrific candidate for the cabinet spot. McLeod has some strikes against her as a rookie M.P. and being from the west when Stephen Harper needs to replace a cabinet minister from Ontario.
But she has some definite assets as well. McLeod has shown hard work and competency as a member of parliament. She has, in my opinion, represented the interests of her riding well in Ottawa, including scoring us a significant amount of Building Canada grant moneys. While she lacks some public speaking acumen, she makes up for it by being courteous, professional, and quick to respond to requests. And above all, she seems to be as far removed as possible from a lifestyle of scandal. Minister of State for the Status of Women is not exactly a high profile position, and ideal for a political neophyte like McLeod.
Stephen Harper has a lot of things working against him these days, and he can use all the good people he can get. Cathy McLeod is one of them.
(Blogger's note: Rona Ambrose was appointed Minister of State for the Status of Women after Guergis' ouster. Whether this is a permanent arrangement remains to be seen.)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
New Health Funding Model has Potential
(Aired on April 13, 2010)
If you have followed this program over the years, you'll know I have constantly pushed the government to try new ways to fix the broken health care model. That's why I will not criticize a new plan announced yesterday by Health Minister Kevin Falcon to offer hospitals incentives to save money. The plan will give hospitals a bonus if they deliver acute care on budget.
The plan is called a "patient-focused funding model". There are 16 countries who have tried this plan in some way, shape or form, apparently with mixed results. If, as the Minister says, we wind up putting more patients through the system, reduce surgery wait times, and find innovative ways to deal with patients, it will be a good thing. It certainly puts the pressure on hospitals to ensure they follow best practices to get the job done, and maybe it will encourage hospitals like Royal Inland to start thinking out of the box to get the job done.
I think there are probably things we haven't even thought of yet to fix the system, and maybe this will cause a new braintrust to emerge who can find improvements.
On the down side, I think there is a real potential to push through the so-called "quick" surgeries like knee and hip replacements, and forget about providing care for heart patients and chronically ill patients. Those patients require much longer care, and somehow they have to be factored into the new system. If they don't, then the system is not doing it right.
Falcon is right about one thing, we can't spend our way out of the problems. I've said that for years. Maybe in that sense, government is finally starting to listen. And I will wait to make a judgment on the success or failure of this new program. It has the potential, if it's done right, to stimulate some creative juices and perhaps make us find new solutions. But if those solutions come at the expense of heart patients, who are going to become more and more a big problem to deal with as the population ages, if it comes at the expense of hospital cleanliness, or proper lab services, or proper diagnostic care, or proper support staffing levels, then it's just a wasted effort. The proof of this will definitely be in the pudding.
If you have followed this program over the years, you'll know I have constantly pushed the government to try new ways to fix the broken health care model. That's why I will not criticize a new plan announced yesterday by Health Minister Kevin Falcon to offer hospitals incentives to save money. The plan will give hospitals a bonus if they deliver acute care on budget.
The plan is called a "patient-focused funding model". There are 16 countries who have tried this plan in some way, shape or form, apparently with mixed results. If, as the Minister says, we wind up putting more patients through the system, reduce surgery wait times, and find innovative ways to deal with patients, it will be a good thing. It certainly puts the pressure on hospitals to ensure they follow best practices to get the job done, and maybe it will encourage hospitals like Royal Inland to start thinking out of the box to get the job done.
I think there are probably things we haven't even thought of yet to fix the system, and maybe this will cause a new braintrust to emerge who can find improvements.
On the down side, I think there is a real potential to push through the so-called "quick" surgeries like knee and hip replacements, and forget about providing care for heart patients and chronically ill patients. Those patients require much longer care, and somehow they have to be factored into the new system. If they don't, then the system is not doing it right.
Falcon is right about one thing, we can't spend our way out of the problems. I've said that for years. Maybe in that sense, government is finally starting to listen. And I will wait to make a judgment on the success or failure of this new program. It has the potential, if it's done right, to stimulate some creative juices and perhaps make us find new solutions. But if those solutions come at the expense of heart patients, who are going to become more and more a big problem to deal with as the population ages, if it comes at the expense of hospital cleanliness, or proper lab services, or proper diagnostic care, or proper support staffing levels, then it's just a wasted effort. The proof of this will definitely be in the pudding.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
30 Years Later, Terry Fox Still Inspires
(Aired on April 12, 2010)
30 years ago today, very few of us would have expected the impact to be created by Terry Fox when he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean to begin his Marathon of Hope. Terry's journey physically barely made it half way across the country, but the journey continued far beyond his and anyone else's wildest dreams.
Unfortunately, it was not so much the journey he made, but the journey he didn't make that led to the inspiration that has created so much hope and so many dreams that a cure will be found. When Terry Fox's physical journey ended barely half way across the country, in Thunder Bay, those who had followed his dream took up the cause and transcended anything Terry may have hoped to accomplish himself.
The effort he put into those daily walks, the pictures we will never forget of him walking along the highway, the tears when he had to call off the fight, and more tears when he lost that final battle, inspired many to fight on to ensure that dream has not been lost. Terry's older brother Fred, says when Terry started out he was hoping to raise $1-million. $500-million later, the figure is still climbing. Fred says Terry would never have believed 30 years later, his dream was still being lived by the countless thousands who participate in the Terry Fox run every year.
The inspiration that Terry provided touched something in all of us and reached us like very few things can. There are many out there who are living courageous fights every day. People we will never find out about because they haven't found the recognition Terry did. But they are out there, and doing what Terry did - living their dreams - dreams of hope, dreams of surviving to fight another day, days made possible in part because of Terry's legacy.
Cancer is still a formidable foe, but we are making progress in many areas. And if we continue to dream, as Terry did, that cure could be found with the help of all of us. It's certainly not beyond the realm of possibility. And wouldn't that be a fitting conclusion to a dream that started thirty years ago today with a piece of wood and metal being dipped in the vast Atlantic by a young man from Coquitlam.
30 years ago today, very few of us would have expected the impact to be created by Terry Fox when he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean to begin his Marathon of Hope. Terry's journey physically barely made it half way across the country, but the journey continued far beyond his and anyone else's wildest dreams.
Unfortunately, it was not so much the journey he made, but the journey he didn't make that led to the inspiration that has created so much hope and so many dreams that a cure will be found. When Terry Fox's physical journey ended barely half way across the country, in Thunder Bay, those who had followed his dream took up the cause and transcended anything Terry may have hoped to accomplish himself.
The effort he put into those daily walks, the pictures we will never forget of him walking along the highway, the tears when he had to call off the fight, and more tears when he lost that final battle, inspired many to fight on to ensure that dream has not been lost. Terry's older brother Fred, says when Terry started out he was hoping to raise $1-million. $500-million later, the figure is still climbing. Fred says Terry would never have believed 30 years later, his dream was still being lived by the countless thousands who participate in the Terry Fox run every year.
The inspiration that Terry provided touched something in all of us and reached us like very few things can. There are many out there who are living courageous fights every day. People we will never find out about because they haven't found the recognition Terry did. But they are out there, and doing what Terry did - living their dreams - dreams of hope, dreams of surviving to fight another day, days made possible in part because of Terry's legacy.
Cancer is still a formidable foe, but we are making progress in many areas. And if we continue to dream, as Terry did, that cure could be found with the help of all of us. It's certainly not beyond the realm of possibility. And wouldn't that be a fitting conclusion to a dream that started thirty years ago today with a piece of wood and metal being dipped in the vast Atlantic by a young man from Coquitlam.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Horrors of War Endure
(Aired on April 9, 2010)
On days like this, as we mark the 93rd anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, I always find myself a little conflicted. While I fully honour the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country, my mind is constantly drawn to the horrors rather than the glory of war. I battle the urges to keep myself willfully ignorant of what happens a world away.
This week, the website WikiLeaks posted the video of a 2007 mistaken American attack on civilians in the Iraqi suburb of New Baghdad. From the sky, the American helicopter crew identifies a group of people on the ground believed to be insurgents, and fires away. Of course, the so-called insurgents turned out to be civilians. The supposed weapons they carried were actually cameras belonging to a pair of Reuters journalists.
A mistake is one thing, but the way this was handled is more than outrageous. The airmen were absolutely bloodthirsty as they picked off their supposed enemy. They shot indiscriminately, and then killed the rescuers who rushed to the aid of the wounded. In the wake of this horrific event, the gunsight video was not released until two-and-a-half years after the initial freedom of information request.
Incidents like these happen more often than we are led to believe. And while the actions of the Americans are of course reprehensible, it is incumbent on politicians not to chart a course where so much is left in the hands of those who are so brave yet so frail. This week's announcement that United States and Russia have agreed to each reduce their nuclear arsenals by one-third is a good start. But armed with the knowledge that we can still blow up the earth a half-dozen times over, there is far more progress to be made. After all, to remember is to work for peace.
On days like this, as we mark the 93rd anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, I always find myself a little conflicted. While I fully honour the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country, my mind is constantly drawn to the horrors rather than the glory of war. I battle the urges to keep myself willfully ignorant of what happens a world away.
This week, the website WikiLeaks posted the video of a 2007 mistaken American attack on civilians in the Iraqi suburb of New Baghdad. From the sky, the American helicopter crew identifies a group of people on the ground believed to be insurgents, and fires away. Of course, the so-called insurgents turned out to be civilians. The supposed weapons they carried were actually cameras belonging to a pair of Reuters journalists.
A mistake is one thing, but the way this was handled is more than outrageous. The airmen were absolutely bloodthirsty as they picked off their supposed enemy. They shot indiscriminately, and then killed the rescuers who rushed to the aid of the wounded. In the wake of this horrific event, the gunsight video was not released until two-and-a-half years after the initial freedom of information request.
Incidents like these happen more often than we are led to believe. And while the actions of the Americans are of course reprehensible, it is incumbent on politicians not to chart a course where so much is left in the hands of those who are so brave yet so frail. This week's announcement that United States and Russia have agreed to each reduce their nuclear arsenals by one-third is a good start. But armed with the knowledge that we can still blow up the earth a half-dozen times over, there is far more progress to be made. After all, to remember is to work for peace.
Friday, April 9, 2010
No One Working on an Education Fix
(Aired on April 8, 2010)
MLA Terry Lake says it's fundamentally wrong to say the Liberal government doesn't have education as a priority. He, and his colleagues, continue to cite the increasing amount of money they're putting into education. They talk about their funding of full day kindergarten. They talk about putting money into a variety of special programs.
All these things may be well and good, but the government is not putting the education money where it's needed most-into basic education. All day kindergarten is an absolute frill. It's unnecessary and is really only a convenience to parents who don't want to hassle with daycare. Sorry, but that's a fact. No one will argue that it can't contribute positively to a child's education, but so can daycare. So can parents spending more quality time with their kids.
The government absolutely refuses to try to come to grips with the real problem in education - how to fund it in a time of declining enrollment. School Boards across the province are facing financial ruin, and here in this district, we've laid over hundreds of teaching positions the past few years simply because we can't find a new model. It's the same with health care, but don't get me started on that.
I find it absolutely reprehensible that our two MLAs can sit their and spout the party line, and can't go into Victoria and demand some change.
But it's not just the Liberals. The NDP has no solution either. Their solution is simply to put more money into the pot. That's not going to help. We've already done that.
We need to sit down and find a better way. It's not going to be an easy solution, and the longer we wait to come to grips with it, the bigger the problem will become.
Where are the people with vision for this province? Where are the leaders who will lead us out of the educational wasteland? Both the Liberals and NDP should be ashamed. So should senior bureaucrats in the Education Ministry who should be helping to lead this fight. Where are the visionaries who led this province to greatness? Obviously not living in B.C. any more.
MLA Terry Lake says it's fundamentally wrong to say the Liberal government doesn't have education as a priority. He, and his colleagues, continue to cite the increasing amount of money they're putting into education. They talk about their funding of full day kindergarten. They talk about putting money into a variety of special programs.
All these things may be well and good, but the government is not putting the education money where it's needed most-into basic education. All day kindergarten is an absolute frill. It's unnecessary and is really only a convenience to parents who don't want to hassle with daycare. Sorry, but that's a fact. No one will argue that it can't contribute positively to a child's education, but so can daycare. So can parents spending more quality time with their kids.
The government absolutely refuses to try to come to grips with the real problem in education - how to fund it in a time of declining enrollment. School Boards across the province are facing financial ruin, and here in this district, we've laid over hundreds of teaching positions the past few years simply because we can't find a new model. It's the same with health care, but don't get me started on that.
I find it absolutely reprehensible that our two MLAs can sit their and spout the party line, and can't go into Victoria and demand some change.
But it's not just the Liberals. The NDP has no solution either. Their solution is simply to put more money into the pot. That's not going to help. We've already done that.
We need to sit down and find a better way. It's not going to be an easy solution, and the longer we wait to come to grips with it, the bigger the problem will become.
Where are the people with vision for this province? Where are the leaders who will lead us out of the educational wasteland? Both the Liberals and NDP should be ashamed. So should senior bureaucrats in the Education Ministry who should be helping to lead this fight. Where are the visionaries who led this province to greatness? Obviously not living in B.C. any more.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Legal System Working in Schoenborn Case
(Aired on April 7, 2010)
You hear it repeated again and again - "the legal system is broken."
The refrain has no doubt been shouted from the rooftops by some in relation to the Allan Schoenborn case. Earlier this year, Schoenborn was found guilty but not criminally responsible for killing his three children in Merritt. A judge said the man's mental illness determined his horrible actions. That led to yesterday's BC review board hearing, where a three-person panel quickly determined Schoenborn should be locked up in the forensic pschyiatric hospital in Port Coquitlam.
The calls for Schoenborn's head on a platter are coming from everywhere - and if not for him, then for the judge who didn't throw the book at him. It seems to some inconceivable that a man continue to live his life on the taxpayers' dime, while three innocent children perished and their mother is tormented daily by their memories.
Perhaps the system is broken, but this is not an example. Even prosecutor Glenn Kelt said the justice system is not, and should not be, in the habit of punishing the mentally ill. Those who doubt Schoenborn's mental illness are neither mental health professionals, nor did they sit in the courtroom for the entirety of the trial, listening to the evidence presented. Having been found not criminally responsible, Schoenborn's case went to exactly the place where it should have gone - the BC review board - a body consisting of justice and mental health professionals. They determined Schoenborn should be locked up, and he will be. This is his - and our society's - best option.
I am far from satisfied with the outcome of this entire situation; that being three children dead at the hands of their father. But the torch and pitchfork crowd are after revenge and retribution, not justice. If the system is broken, it was working just fine in this case.
You hear it repeated again and again - "the legal system is broken."
The refrain has no doubt been shouted from the rooftops by some in relation to the Allan Schoenborn case. Earlier this year, Schoenborn was found guilty but not criminally responsible for killing his three children in Merritt. A judge said the man's mental illness determined his horrible actions. That led to yesterday's BC review board hearing, where a three-person panel quickly determined Schoenborn should be locked up in the forensic pschyiatric hospital in Port Coquitlam.
The calls for Schoenborn's head on a platter are coming from everywhere - and if not for him, then for the judge who didn't throw the book at him. It seems to some inconceivable that a man continue to live his life on the taxpayers' dime, while three innocent children perished and their mother is tormented daily by their memories.
Perhaps the system is broken, but this is not an example. Even prosecutor Glenn Kelt said the justice system is not, and should not be, in the habit of punishing the mentally ill. Those who doubt Schoenborn's mental illness are neither mental health professionals, nor did they sit in the courtroom for the entirety of the trial, listening to the evidence presented. Having been found not criminally responsible, Schoenborn's case went to exactly the place where it should have gone - the BC review board - a body consisting of justice and mental health professionals. They determined Schoenborn should be locked up, and he will be. This is his - and our society's - best option.
I am far from satisfied with the outcome of this entire situation; that being three children dead at the hands of their father. But the torch and pitchfork crowd are after revenge and retribution, not justice. If the system is broken, it was working just fine in this case.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Provincial Completion Rate Numbers Skewed
(Aired on April 6, 2010)
The completion rate for students is kind of like the Holy Grail of education. How many kids make it through to graduation? It’s a benchmark, and a fundamental building block that is a measure used by the government, by those like the Fraser Institute who like to rank schools, and by the schools, students and parents themselves.
Why then, would the province be so lax in how they determine this rate? Our school district wanted to find out why their own statistics showed an 82% completions rate, when the government’s stats were 6% lower. When the district looked, they found deceased students on the province’s role (I guess they didn’t complete school), students who were in non-graduation programs, special First Nations programs, international students who may only stay a year or two in our country and never intended to be here until graduation, and so on.
In other words, the province’s figures were poorly researched, and the results are unfair. That certainly hurts the reputation of the district, and it could mean changes in funding based on those results.
Isn’t it ironic that those like the province, who live and die by statistics, don’t seem to care if those statistics are accurate or not. Why should I be surprised?
The completion rate for students is kind of like the Holy Grail of education. How many kids make it through to graduation? It’s a benchmark, and a fundamental building block that is a measure used by the government, by those like the Fraser Institute who like to rank schools, and by the schools, students and parents themselves.
Why then, would the province be so lax in how they determine this rate? Our school district wanted to find out why their own statistics showed an 82% completions rate, when the government’s stats were 6% lower. When the district looked, they found deceased students on the province’s role (I guess they didn’t complete school), students who were in non-graduation programs, special First Nations programs, international students who may only stay a year or two in our country and never intended to be here until graduation, and so on.
In other words, the province’s figures were poorly researched, and the results are unfair. That certainly hurts the reputation of the district, and it could mean changes in funding based on those results.
Isn’t it ironic that those like the province, who live and die by statistics, don’t seem to care if those statistics are accurate or not. Why should I be surprised?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Catholic Church Must Own Up to Problems
(Aired on April 5, 2010)
It was a tough Easter for the Roman Catholic Church. The Church has been trying to get out from under a myriad of allegations about coverups involving abuse of young children, and the Church's failure to come clean on the issues, and deal with the offenders. Many had hoped the Pope would have something to say during his Easter services about the issue, but he was largely silent. The Pontiff did say that Easter is a time of pardon and truth but made no mention of the current controversies.
The problems are magnified by the fact that abuse has gone on for a long time and there has been relatively little done to curb it. Priests have been moved from parish to parish, basically moving the problem too. There are accusations that the Church in several countries mishandled and covered up episodes of sexual abuse of children by priests. The Vatican has countered the accusations by blaming the media. The Preacher to the Pope, as he is called, got other religions up in arms by comparing what he called the persecution of the Church to Anti-Semitic hatred of the Jews. As one leader said, that's a very bad analogy. Coupled with this, the dean of the College of Cardinals said yesterday that the faithful wasn't listening to what he called "petty gossip."
But that it's more than petty gossip is pretty obvious, and the Church's clumsiness in handling the situation has hurt its image greatly. Within the Church, many leaders are calling for change. Belgium's top Roman Catholic bishop denounced what he called the "guilty silence" of the church officials in the scandal. He criticized the church for often worrying more about the reputation of priests and abominably exploiting the abused children. The leader of Germany's Roman Catholic Bishops said the church must examine its "dark aspects" and called for a new beginning. He said the church could not be inactive on the issue. If the Church's leaders acknowledged the inactivity, and admitted there were problems, that would be the first step towards getting out of the hole that is threatening to widen and engulf not only Roman Catholocism, but many other faiths as well.
It was a tough Easter for the Roman Catholic Church. The Church has been trying to get out from under a myriad of allegations about coverups involving abuse of young children, and the Church's failure to come clean on the issues, and deal with the offenders. Many had hoped the Pope would have something to say during his Easter services about the issue, but he was largely silent. The Pontiff did say that Easter is a time of pardon and truth but made no mention of the current controversies.
The problems are magnified by the fact that abuse has gone on for a long time and there has been relatively little done to curb it. Priests have been moved from parish to parish, basically moving the problem too. There are accusations that the Church in several countries mishandled and covered up episodes of sexual abuse of children by priests. The Vatican has countered the accusations by blaming the media. The Preacher to the Pope, as he is called, got other religions up in arms by comparing what he called the persecution of the Church to Anti-Semitic hatred of the Jews. As one leader said, that's a very bad analogy. Coupled with this, the dean of the College of Cardinals said yesterday that the faithful wasn't listening to what he called "petty gossip."
But that it's more than petty gossip is pretty obvious, and the Church's clumsiness in handling the situation has hurt its image greatly. Within the Church, many leaders are calling for change. Belgium's top Roman Catholic bishop denounced what he called the "guilty silence" of the church officials in the scandal. He criticized the church for often worrying more about the reputation of priests and abominably exploiting the abused children. The leader of Germany's Roman Catholic Bishops said the church must examine its "dark aspects" and called for a new beginning. He said the church could not be inactive on the issue. If the Church's leaders acknowledged the inactivity, and admitted there were problems, that would be the first step towards getting out of the hole that is threatening to widen and engulf not only Roman Catholocism, but many other faiths as well.
Increased Fees no April Fools Joke
(Aired on April 1, 2010)
You may have seen a story in the Kamloops Daily News this morning announcing coin-operated water meters for the city. A funny story and of course, an April Fools' Day story.
But the rest of the news relating to money this April Fool's Day is no joke. In fact, it's a cruel scenario being played out as fees for a whole bunch of things are up today. Many of them affect the coast, but some affect all of us. B.C. Hydro rates are up over 9% today. Terasen Gas ups its rates 6%. If you take the ferry, use Transit at the coast, you'll pay more starting today. Overnight camping fees in provincial parks are up as much as $6 per night. You'll start paying PST on EnergyStar appliances.
What kind of message does that send about going green? Dig deeper in your pockets, folks.
And we're not done yet. The harmonized sales tax isn't far off, and the Bank of Canada is going to start increasing interest rates again in a month or two. The Banks, who take in billions and billions of dollars in profits every year, have already jumped the gun on that, raising many mortgage rates. Once you've got all the moths out of your pockets, start thinking ahead to what all this means. Individuals and corporations hurt by the global recession make less money, meaning less tax revenue for the government, but also the bigger chance for layoffs.
No wonder Canadians surveyed by the Royal Bank are pessimistic about things. How can they be anything but? I think a good stiff drink is in order to calm the nerves, but the government taxes that to death as well. It's not a rosy situation, despite indicators that show we're back on track for an economic recovery. It looks like we're getting that recovery off the backs of taxpayers, and eventually the taxpayers backs are simply going to give out. What then?
You may have seen a story in the Kamloops Daily News this morning announcing coin-operated water meters for the city. A funny story and of course, an April Fools' Day story.
But the rest of the news relating to money this April Fool's Day is no joke. In fact, it's a cruel scenario being played out as fees for a whole bunch of things are up today. Many of them affect the coast, but some affect all of us. B.C. Hydro rates are up over 9% today. Terasen Gas ups its rates 6%. If you take the ferry, use Transit at the coast, you'll pay more starting today. Overnight camping fees in provincial parks are up as much as $6 per night. You'll start paying PST on EnergyStar appliances.
What kind of message does that send about going green? Dig deeper in your pockets, folks.
And we're not done yet. The harmonized sales tax isn't far off, and the Bank of Canada is going to start increasing interest rates again in a month or two. The Banks, who take in billions and billions of dollars in profits every year, have already jumped the gun on that, raising many mortgage rates. Once you've got all the moths out of your pockets, start thinking ahead to what all this means. Individuals and corporations hurt by the global recession make less money, meaning less tax revenue for the government, but also the bigger chance for layoffs.
No wonder Canadians surveyed by the Royal Bank are pessimistic about things. How can they be anything but? I think a good stiff drink is in order to calm the nerves, but the government taxes that to death as well. It's not a rosy situation, despite indicators that show we're back on track for an economic recovery. It looks like we're getting that recovery off the backs of taxpayers, and eventually the taxpayers backs are simply going to give out. What then?
Thursday, April 1, 2010
MMA Violent, Barbaric... and Lucrative
(Aired on March 31, 2010)
It seems mixed martial arts is not in the mainstream yet - at least not for some people. Abbotsford recently booted out an MMA trade show because someone thought it would attract gang connections to the city. Now, an Ultimate Fighting Championship event is having trouble establishing itself in Vancouver, encountering red tape and behind-the-scenes resistance. Word was UFC 115 might have had to be moved to Cincinnati - of all places - before a resolution was reached today.
Let's get one thing straight. Mixed martial arts is a fad sport that has gained a following because of its no-holds-barred violence. It's testosterone gone completely out of control. The sport crosses way over the line between athletics and pure barbarism - and for my part, I hope it fades into oblivion as quickly as it arrived on the mainstream sporting scene.
But that's just me, and my take is no reason to stop events from happening. What separates MMA from human cockfighting is the fact that these participants are willing to subject themselves to this abuse and injury. They signed on the dotted line, and people want to watch it, so let the events go ahead. I can say what I want, but the sport is not underground anymore, and the likelihood that an event would evolve into a gang battle is extremely small. And a municipality like Vancouver, that has a mandate to attract economic activity, should see a cash cow staring it in the face.
If no one showed up to MMA events and the sport failed miserably, that couldn't make me any happier. But it's not up to local governments to make that happen.
It seems mixed martial arts is not in the mainstream yet - at least not for some people. Abbotsford recently booted out an MMA trade show because someone thought it would attract gang connections to the city. Now, an Ultimate Fighting Championship event is having trouble establishing itself in Vancouver, encountering red tape and behind-the-scenes resistance. Word was UFC 115 might have had to be moved to Cincinnati - of all places - before a resolution was reached today.
Let's get one thing straight. Mixed martial arts is a fad sport that has gained a following because of its no-holds-barred violence. It's testosterone gone completely out of control. The sport crosses way over the line between athletics and pure barbarism - and for my part, I hope it fades into oblivion as quickly as it arrived on the mainstream sporting scene.
But that's just me, and my take is no reason to stop events from happening. What separates MMA from human cockfighting is the fact that these participants are willing to subject themselves to this abuse and injury. They signed on the dotted line, and people want to watch it, so let the events go ahead. I can say what I want, but the sport is not underground anymore, and the likelihood that an event would evolve into a gang battle is extremely small. And a municipality like Vancouver, that has a mandate to attract economic activity, should see a cash cow staring it in the face.
If no one showed up to MMA events and the sport failed miserably, that couldn't make me any happier. But it's not up to local governments to make that happen.
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