Looks like Bob Lenarduzzi is out of luck

Now I got nothing personal against Bob Lenarduzzi or soccer fans or the BC Lions but.......

How quickly things change,and that`s not me saying that,uh uh......That`s no other than Gordon Campbell and Colin Hansen........

Lets examine the latest revaletions that have happened just in the last few days...We have been informed that our BC deficit is not going to be " $495 million maximum" Colin Hansen has informed the voters that our 2009 deficit is at least 4 billion$ dollars and....It`s even worse than that,the first order of business when the legislature resumes is.....

For Gordon Campbell to re-write his balanced budget law AGAIN to allow large deficits for not 1 more year but for 4 more years,we certainly wouldn`t want Gordon Campbell to break a law would we?

And this current deficit isn`t just business as usual,there are massive cuts to all the health authorities....between the Fraser health authority,Vancouver coastal and the interior health authorities there is a mad dash to cut 400 million$$$ out of this fiscal years budget, and from all the cancelled surgeries and services the crisis is going to exist next year and the year after as the backlog of surgeries pile up,how do you catch up without a huge inflow of money......and the cuts aren`t just in health,uh uh........there are cuts to libraries,cuts to community groups,cuts to student aid,cuts to scholarships.........

Cuts to park rangers,cuts to the ministry of the environment,I don`t know what`s going to happen in education this coming school year,I`m sure there will be cuts there too.....and it`s not just cuts,entire programs have been cancelled,the leaky condo program cancelled.....Power smart program has been cut,wow......this money crunch is SO serious that even programs designed to make homes more energy efficient and to "fight the biggest challenge our generation has ever faced,global warming"

So in saying all this,to slash the premier`s scholarship program,to put the fight against global warming on hold,to make seniors needing hips and eyes and knees and various other (elective) surgeries on long wait lists,to ask everyone to pay more taxes and "hunker down" while we ride out this "global recession" we certainly wouldn`t go ahead and sell provincial land around BC Place to raise taxpayer dollars to build a ........

370 million dollar retractable roof so grown men can kick a soccer ball around now would we!

So Bob Lenarduzzi being the honorable man that he is wouldn`t want to take money away from the province when grandma is waiting for a hip,would you BOB?

So it looks like your outta luck Mr. Lenarduzzi.

The Straight Goods

Cheers Eyes Wide Open

HST Fraud Exposed,Oil and Gas Edition

Straight off the BC goverment web site,a list of PST exemption for the Oil n Gas industry under the current tax regime......It`s a big list.....lets go

http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/industry_specific/oil_and_gas/nontax_list.htm

OIL N GAS PST NON TAXABLE ITEMS

A)amine skids used to remove CO2 from raw natural gas-automated equipment at the well head,processing plant or refinery.

B)bags,filter for exempt equipment that qualifies for the production machinery-barrels-batteries-bits,drill,tricones-blow out ignition system-blow out preventors-buildings,portable

C)casings-catwalks-cementing equipment-centralizers-centrifuge-chemical barrels-coil tubing-compressors-computers-control panels-custom software

d)dehydrators-dectectors,flame-disposal lines-drifts-drill bits-drill stem-drums

E)EDR(electronic drilling recorder)-EDR system-electric generators and alternators-EDR recorder-elevators-emergency gas shut off devices-engines on pump trucks-equipment used to monitor and control production at the well head,processing plant,or rifinery

F)filters-fishing tools for retrieving tools lost down downhole-flame detectors-flare sticks-floats-fracturing equipment-

G)gas detection monitors-gas dehydration equipment-gas flow equipment-gas lift lines-gas shut off devices-gauges-generators or gensets-guns-

H)hand held tools-hardware for use in drilling-heaters-

I)incinerators

L)lab testint equipment-line heaters-lines,salt water disposal lines-liquefaction equipment

M)machinery and equipment used to inject substances into a resevoir to assist,enhance or maintain production-meter skids-measurement drilling equipment-molecular sieve-mole sieve pellets-monitoring equipment-machinery and equipment at the well head,processor or rifinery-monitors-motors-MWD-

O)optical sensors

P)packers-panels-PDC(drill bits)-perforating guns-pipes-pipe joints-pipe racks-piping systems-pit volume totalizer-potable buildings-portable toilets-pressure pipes and systems-pump units-pumpjacks-pumps and motorsPVT,used for monitoring the bore hole

R)racks,pipes used in the drilling process

S)safety valves-safety equipment-salt water disposal lines-SCADA equipment-scaffolding,walkways.catwalks.and similar items-screw pilings-sensors-seperator vessels-shot gun equipment-slickline-slips-snubbing unit-software on computers that monitor the operation machinery-solder,welding rods-spiders casings-stabbing guides-storage tanks-submersable sump pumps-submersable trash pump unit-sulpher recovery unit-systems piping

T)tanks for storage at refinery,processing plant-tanks for water-thread protectors-tools-tongs-torque gauges-trandformers-tricones-tubing

V)vacuum tanks and systems-valves-vessels

W)walkways-waste gas transmissions-waste systems and bins-water,natural,distilled,ionized-water disposal lines-water tanks-welding rods and solder-well logging equipment-well meter skids-wireline

Y)YC/YT elevators

Don`t be fooled people,big industry saving are way overblown...almost everything is exempt from PST already.

The Straight Goods

HST Fraud Exposed,Logging Edition

Here we go again,the list I am going to post of PST exempt items in forestry is directly off the BC government web site....Lets go
http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/industry_specific/logging/nontax_list_PME.htm
In alphabetical order the big list on non taxable items under the current tax regime...
LOGGING
A)air filters-air conditioning units-anchors

B)backhoes-barges-bulldozers-bundle wire-boom gear-boom boats-boom sticks-bucking tools-buoys

C)compressors-cables-chains-chain saws-cranes

D)delimbing equipment-distribution equipment-drums for yo-yo lines and haul lines

E)equipment used in the primary processing of logs at a logging site-equipment used to cut underwater trees-excavators

F)front end loaders-feller buncher and related equipment-fallers wedges-fallers tape-felling equipment and controls-felling tools

G)grapple yarder-generators

L)log loaders and related equipment-loader mounted on self-loading logging truck-
M)moblie generators

O)oil filters

P)power saws

S)skids-skidders-saws-sonar hardware and software-standing boom sticks-safety equipment

T)transformers-transit boom sticks

U)underwater logging equipment(including moblie generators and transformers used to provide electricity to underwater logging equipment,barges to haul/house machinery and equipment,cranes used on barges to launch and remove felling equipment from the water,felling equipment and controls used in underwater logging

V)video cameras and hardware and software used to control and operate underwater logging equipment

Again,oodles of PST exempt items in the logging industry
The HST is a fraud,the big business savings are not there,don`t be fooled
The Straight Goods

HST Fraud exposed,Mining Edition

Since the media won`t report the facts I guess I`m going to have to do their jobs!
Here is the list of PST exempt items that mining already enjoys....Forestry and mining and oil n gas to follow.
This data is directly from the BC government web site.
http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/industry_specific/mining/nontax_list.htm
This is a big list of tax exempt items,and even this list is long it`s not quite complete.....Lets go
MINING INDUSTRY-NON TAXABLE ITEMS
A)Adapter couplings- Air couplings-air filters-anfo loaders-assay equipment-assembly spindle-
B)backhoes-basket filters-batteries-bearings-bevel gear retainers-bits,drill-bolts-bulldozers-bushings

C)cable swivel collar-carbide bits-caps,for wireline-casing guides-catwalks-cement equipment-chopping bits-chuck jaws-chutes and hoppers-clamps-clutches-compression springs-compressors-computers and monitors-conveyer belting material-core lift case-core lifters-cotter pins-couplings-couplings,air-crusher,including cutting edges,ripper tips,teeth and replacement parts

D)deflecting wedges-diamond bits-diamond drills-diamond set bits-diamond set shells-displacement plugs-disribution equipment-drill bits-drill casings-drill rods-driving discs-dust control systems-dux trucks

E)electric shovels-equipment used in primary processing-exacavators-eyebolt

F)fan belt-float collars and float shoes-flood lights-front end loaders-fuel filters

G)gaskets-gear bits-generator parts-generators and motors-geochemical equipment-geophysical equipment-graders-guide shoes

H)hand held grinders-hand held tools-haulage equipment-head saeling rings-hex stop nuts-hoisting cables-hoists-holding dogs-hoppers and chutes-hoses-hub gear-hydraulic grease fitting-hydraulic pumps

I)impreganated bits-injectors-inner tube stabilizers-inner tubes-intermediate gear shifts

J)jar staff assembly-jar top heads-jar tubes

L)landing rings-latches-lifting dogs-lightplant-locking couplings-lowering irons

M)masts-mine cars and mine rails-mine ventilating equipment-motor vehicles-motors used to operate drills-mucking machines

N)nipples-nuts and bolts

O)oil filters-ore trucks-O rings-overshot release

P)percussion casing-percussion drill parts-pickaxes-picks-pinion shaft-pipe fittings-plastic liner-pollution control equipment and machinery-pressure gauges-pressure plates-pumps,dewatering-pumps general

R)radiators-rails-rakes-range selectors-release springs-replacement parts for eligible equipment-rigs-ring cones-rock bolting machines-rock bolts-rock drills-rock saws-rotary bits

S)sand line-scaffolding,catwalks,walkways and similar items-scooptrams-seismic recording equipment-seismac shot-shear pins-sheaves-shovels-shut off valves-skids-skips-sleeve cones-sliding gears-slushers-spark plugs-spearheads-sprinkler heads-spur gears-stainless steel balls-starting barrels-steel angles-steel channels-steel plates-stop rings-stuffing boxes-swivel adaptors

T)temperture gauges-thread protectors-throwout bearings-throwout yolk-toledo scales-trammers-transportation equipment-transformers-transmissions-tricone adaptors

V)valves-van ruth plugs-vehicles-ventilating equipment-VK plugs

W)walkways-waste management machinery and equipment-water swivels-waterline heaters-wing bits-wire ropr-wireline cables-wireline hoists-wireline-wrist pins

Is there anything they do pay PST on? Where are the MASSIVE saving for this big industry...
The HST is a fraud,it`s nothing but a consumer tax grab that hurts the middleclass the most,and they are using a big business saving our future to sell this CON....DON`T BELIEVE IT.......
More to come.....The Straight Goods

The media,are they mentally deficient,incompetent or just stooges

What is going on in BC,we have had non-stop shocks from the Campbell Liberals since they won the may election and where or more importantly what the heck is the media in BC doing?

Gord MacDonald(filling in for John macolm) on CKNW has been whining all week,wah wah..what would the NDP do about the deficit,Carole James won`t say she will kill the HST in 2013 if elected..wah....The NDP aren`t being honest..wah..

Vaughn Palmer(on holidays again) hasn`t written anything during this political junkie`s dream world of current BC events(we do live in a electronic age)...

Les Leyne,who?

I will admit that a few politicos are writing stories,like Michael Smyth,but cmon Michael,have you ever done any real research in your life? Keith Baldrey,global`s legislative reporter,he reports,writes a few puff pieces in the :Burnaby now: but again,where`s the beef.....

Even the feisty(once feisty) online web site the TYEE had turned into a shy boy,Rafe Mair has been steady with his issues,fish farms and run of river but again,cmon,stop shying away from the obvious,where is the real hard hitting stuff,the posters at the Tyee are the new cutting edge story tellers,a once edgy online site has turned into for the most part a fast food joint of news,I`m very disappointed.

And It`s not sour grapes that they won`t publish any of the stories I submitted to them,I realize now that I am too hard hitting for them,I always have been a lone wolf.....aaarrrooo aaarrrooo

Now I`m not formerly trained by any stretch of the imagination but are the media STUPID,do they not have any INSIGHT do they not PROBE do they not have photographic memories like myself?

I have been straining to get facts out to the media,pleading for the stooges to dig,for god`s sake I have been leading the media down the garden path........

Time to get a little more specific.......Lets start with the HST,I have posted a few stories on this topic,a little research and the facts speak for themselves, take my Michael levy story,can not one media reporter/columnist publish the 1000s of PST exemptions that big businesses have,do they have to take what the government says about HST at face value,and especially after umpteen glaring lies from Campbell and Hansen alone in the last 2 months......It`s like,well ...they lied about everything else certainly they are telling the truth about HST.......

Here are some questions I would like the media to ask Gordon Campbell

#1)If the HST is the "best thing the government can do for the economy " why is it that your planning on running deficits right up until the next election?

#2)If all the BC government forecasters and economists were so wrong about all the revenue projections what makes you so sure their right about the HST?

#3)What percentage of the BC economy is the food industry,tourism industry,service sector,and retail,how many people do these sectors employ compared to oil n gas,forestry and mining?

#4)Gordon Campbell,since you will be running 4 more deficit budgets and you have already run 4 deficit budgets that makes for 8 out of 12 years of deficit budgets and 3 of the deficits are the largest in BC history,is that a record to be proud of?

#5)It`s estimated that the Canada line is over 1 billion over budget,the convention center was 500 million over budget,the golden ears bridge was 300 million over budget,the sea to sky was over budget by 200 million $$$....Would you call that a good job managing,how much would those revenues of helped the present state of the books?

#6) Is Jessicca MacDonald worth 348.000.00$ per year to the taxpayer?

#7) Do you believe anything that Alexandra Morton has to say about the harm fish farms are having on wild salmon?

#8) In light of the supreme court of Canada saying you broke the law in tearing up the HEU contract and subsequently having to pay them a 90 million$ settlement would you do it again if you had a chance to do it over?

#9)Are you ever going to settle the paramedic`s contract or are you going to just ignore them?

#10)Since you are going to be running deficits until at least 2013/2014 does that mean the minimum wage will remain at 6.00$ training wage and 8.00$ minimum wage until 2014......and do you think it`s fair that under your government that the minimum wage will have remained stagnant for 13 years?

Those are just a few of the questions the media or stooges should be asking.....along with some research,along with questioning and doubting the governments stance,for goodness sakes if a dummy like me can find the answers certainly the media and their research departments can dig up something!

So enough of the tepid little columns,enough of the subtle innuendo`s,enough of griping without one research fact dug up,here are a few facts you can dig up Vaughn Palmer,Michael Smyth,Keith Baldrey,Les Leyne and the like.......

Are we a net importer or exporter of power.....are we going to be using IPP power or exporting it south for a loss,are fish farms harming wild salmon.....Is Gordon Campbell`s fiscal record stellar compared to previous administrations,,,,Like GDP numbers,unemployment numbers,housing starts,wage averages in Canada against other provinces....What percentage of spending on health as compared to GDP.....Child poverty......Homelessness.....Social housing........,Levels of taxation including all user fees,transit,insurance,eco fees,the whole tamale,not just income tax.....utility rates etc etc etc.......

I have all those answers,I have written all those answers,read them,asked them only to be ignored.....

So get off your butts and do your jobs or hit the road and make room for youngbloods,or even someone like me whose only young at heart!

The Straight Goods

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

Michael Levy propagates the HST lies on CKNW with Michael Smyth

Would you trust Michael Levy? The man who railed against raising the BC minimum wage......

Listening to the Michael Smyth/Michael Levy hour on CKNW today the pure unadulterated B S continues to fly from the lips of Michael Levy.......He talks about the big savings for industry,he talks about EVERY SINGLE ECONOMIST WHO EVER WALKED THE EARTH IS IN FAVOUR of the HST.....And propagates the lie about how good this will be for the province,he talks about competitiveness,competing with Ontario,he talks about how in the long run this is the "single biggest thing the province can do to improve the economy"

Can you say HOOEY....I can.....Lets break this down a little bit,we have been told this is a 1.9 billion$ tax shift from business to consumers each year? And who the hell do you think buys the goods from business Michael Levy? The consumers.....

So if the consumers get their pockets picked for 1.9 $billion each and every year where is the money going to come from to buy consumer goods?

After visiting a BC government web site my eyes were opened up a little bit more

http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/industry_specific/oil_gas/nontax_list.htm

http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/industry_specific/mining/nontax_list.htm

http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/industry_specific/logging/nontax_list.htm

http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/industry_specific/manufacturins.htm

I wandered around the industry PST exemption section of the site and what do you think I found?

Lets go industry specific,now mind you the list of PST exempt items under the current BC tax code is just a tiny amount of the items that are PST exempt already(your welcome to browse the site and see how many 1000s of items for business are exempt from PST already)

Logging--Partial list of PST exempt items)Back hoes-barges-bulldozers-bundle wire-boom boats-compressors-chain saws-delimbing equipment-debarking tools-excavators-front end loaders-grappler yarders and a 1000 other items.

Manufacturing-Partial list of PST exempt items)Material inputs including raw materials and partially finished goods or similar items incorporated in the finished product---Costs associated with moving and storing these goods

Mining--Partial list of PST exempt items)Ammunition and all blasting related items,all safety gear-portable buildings,out-houses-waste management bins-welding equipment and supplies-generators,compressors,just about everything else associated with mining operations.

OIL n GAS-Partial list of PST exempt items)Amine skids used to remove CO2 from raw natural gas-automated equipment at the well head or at the processing plant or refinery-barrels-batteries-drill bits-blowout ignition systems-preventors-portable buildings-casings-catwalks-dehydrators-electronics-generators-elevators-shut off devices-all wellhead equipment-fracturing equipment-gas flow equipment-gauges-hand held tools-incinerators-lab testing equipment-liquefaction equipment-sensors-pumps-software on computer systems-tanks-pipes-valves and 1000s of other items.....

So in reading the list,well some of the list one thing became quite apparent,what the government is saying is a bold faced lie!...Sure,big business will have some savings but no where near what they are claiming.....they have so many 1000s of PST exemptions ........So then what is this HST all about?

Its about taking YOUR MONEY...The consumers money.....There is no way that big business will have any significant savings to pass on to the consumer....

Michael Levy faced some angry callers disputing his claims,and the only example that Levy could say was if a business bought software that would be a cost that they would have to pass on to the consumers.....in fact Michael couldn`t say anything definitive except "Every economist in Canada agrees with the HST" or "If we don`t go HST we will lose an competitive advantage with Ontario"

Where have I heard that argument before? Oh yea,that`s what Gordon Campbell said about the MASSIVE PAY RAISES for senior CIVIL SERVANTS " We have to be competitive with Ontario with wages to attract the best and the brightest" SAY WHAT? and those pay raise include Jessicca MacDonald(deputy secretary to the premier) whose wage rose by 104.000.00$ per year to bring her yearly wage package to 348.000.00$ per year plus expenses!

This is the biggest con job being foisted upon BCers in history....And Mcguinty Liberals are in on the con job.......Don`t buy it folks,show me the proof,show us the proof,show the voters the proof............

So the big business savings have been totally exaggerated,the hit will be to the consumer,I will reiterate a statement from an earlier post about the HST........

If your broke Campbell,if the province is broke,write some new legislation and cancel the income tax rebates associated with the Carbon tax and put the money into general revenue,that will generate 600 million a year and that will go up with each increase in the carbon tax!

The Straight Goods

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

Breaking news on CKNW...The Campbell government will be writing new legislation to re-break their balanced budget law that they already broke,apparently that emergency session called last year to write legislation to break their balanced budget law was to allow deficits for 2 years only,so according to the breaking news Hansen stated that they will be running deficits for the next 4 years so they have to re-write a law to break the law of 2 years to allow breaking the balanced budget law for 4 years.....Confused,I am.........And according to Coiln Hansen and Gordon Campbell.......

"bringing the HST to BC is the best thing that government can do for the BC economy" Say what.......If that was the case then why are we going to run deficits for the next 4 years?

Colin Hansen the fibber strikes again with budget shocker

Wow,what a lively day,the hits keep coming,lets talk toxic fudge budget.....Everyone knew that when Hansen delivered a pre-election budget the numbers didn`t add up,I knew it,the economists knew it,everyone knew it but the MEDIA and supposedly Colin Hansen and Gordon Campbell,the media really did know it but they were more interested in pictures of some kid with his hand on a breast or how many litres of airplane fuel Carole James used and the price of beer in SOME private beer and wine stores.

Here`s what will McMartin wrote on febuary/18th/2009 http://thetyee.ca/Views/2009/02/18/ToxicFudge/

What did Colin Hansen and Gordon Campbell(read my lips) say during the BC may election.."495 million dollar deficit,maximum" even when asked a follow up about the deficit (as few follow ups that there were) 495 million$$$ maximum......

Well,how quickly the used car salesman party strikes again!

Is Coiln Hansen and Gordon Campbell bold faced liars,well we know Gordon Campbell is,as for Colin Hansen,it`s my opinion that he is just as much of a bold faced liar....And just what did Colin Hansen say today,well lets repeat Colin Hansen`s bullshit before I dissect it and turn it into PABlum.....And these are direct quotes

"In the last three months,we have seen our projected revenue from corporate income tax and personal income tax erode by $1 billion for the fiscal year alone"

"we have seen our projected revenue from natural gas erode by almost $500 million in the last 3 months alone.We have seen our projected revenues from other natural resources erode by about $500 million.We have seen our projected revenues for the social services tax{PST}erode by about $200 million."

Hansen has said the deficit will be "significantly larger than the $495 million promised in the february budget" He offered no updated figure on the deficit.

"We are projecting that firefighting cost alone will be over $400 million dollars and a $100 million increase in caseloads for the ministry of housing and social development,which administers the unemployment insurance program",Hansen said.

So lets break down the obvious lies,the province doesn`t pay for unemployment insurance,the province does pay welfare to people whose EI has expired!

Lumber prices are no worse today than they were 3 months ago.

We know they suppressed the welfare numbers for april during the election so for Hansen to say he was unaware of rising welfare costs is a massive fib.

Corporate income tax decline is a no-brainer,they were all screaming for bail-outs.

And I love this one,it blows my mind away, "We have seen our projected revenue from the {PST}decline $200million dollars" Well blow me down,the consumers have pulled back 200 million$ so far this year in PST,imagine the overall spending decline to erode 200$million in the PST portion alone, yet Campbell and Hansen want to whack the consumer with a 1.9 billion dollar tax hit with the HST each and every year and they say this is "The best thing we can do for the economy of BC"

Just wait for the revenue shortfalls when that tax comes in! Can you say voodoo economics!

And for good measure lets chew up and spit out the natural gas revenue projections,because I got you nailed on this one Hansen......

After a little google,and 2 minutes later I got natural gas prices going back to march 30/2009 a a whole 2 months before the election and long before the "In the last 3 months alone" bullshit from Colin Hansen.

The price for natural gas on march 30/2009 was 3.75 per million btu - on may 25/2009 the price for natural gas was 3.60 per million btu -on august 3rd/2009 the price for natural gas was 3.60 per million btu - The price is low but virtually unchanged since the beginning of 2009 to the present date!.......So unless Colin Hansen was projecting a massive surge in natural gas prices during the worst recession since the Bill Bennett(So creds) days of of the 80s....he is bullshitting again.........natural gas prices here

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp

Colin Hansens bogus statements here

http://www.vancouversun.com/Province+sees+billion+revenue+short+fall+last+months/1910338/story.html

So lo n behold we are about to see the biggest budget deficit in BCs history in fiscal 2009......Which gives Gordon Campbell the Gold Gordallion for the largest deficit in BC history and remember Gordon Campbell already holds the Silver Gordallion for fiscal deficit 2002 and he is the proud owner of the bronze Gordallion for fiscal deficit 2003!

The man couldn`t run a lemonade stand,500 million $ over-run on the convention center..1 billion$ over run on the Canada line..300 million over run on the golden ears bridge...plus over-priced P3s like the Sea to sky....Abbotsford hospital...plus 36 billion in energy contracts to IPPs that are triple the cost of BC hydro produced power.......

But he sure took care of himself and senior civil servants while denying raising the minimum wage which is now Canada`s lowest minimum wage.......

The Straight Goods

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

BCLC gets in the business of money laundering

Update to my earlier post

I was slightly mistaken on my earlier post today,the new amount you can gamble weekly online at BCLC is not 10.000.00$ per week........

It`s 9.999.00$ per week,one dollar short of 10K per week limit.......So whats the big deal you say,what`s the difference? The difference is this........

There are laws on the books in BC that any gambling transaction of 10.000.00$ or more must be reported to the RCMP,just standard protocol........So with the BCLC new weekly gaming limit that is 1 dollar shy of 10K it circumvents that law........NO REPORTING NECESSARY......WOW

So here`s the deal,here`s how drug cartels launder money,well there are many ways but here is a real popular one.......

The Cartels,gangs,who-ever who wants to "Launder money" this is what they do.......They put money in,say 9.999.00$ in the BCLC account.........spend a few bucks and cash out,multiPle credit cards going to different bank accounts..........And since lottery winnings are not taxable there is no problem with the tax man..........

So not only is this an assault upon problem gamblers and retailors,it`s also opens the door for money laundering.......

BC Rail....Plutonic....Patrick Kinsella....Da mob.....Remember the raid on the legislature,remember the early spin that came out? remember is was first reported that the raid on the legislature was to do with organized crime......Here is one more step in that direction........Dirty money in,clean laundered money out!

Chicago,Chicago, you ain`t got nothing on BC.....

The Straight Goods

Cheers-Ears-Wide Open

Mom and Dad fishing,or in this case,controlled Chaos!

Well as I reported earlier in the week my parents,Dad 80 years young and mom,I won`t say,let em guess have been fishing for sockeye salmon in Port Alberni,I have missed being with them even if we have had thousands of fishing trips together through my lifetime,it`s never enough!

And I certainly enjoyed eating sockeye salmon steaks earlier this week,anyways I will get over to the way way west coast to join them later this month,mom calls me every night with updates to either their success or mishaps from the day,although I have to wait until after 6.00 pm ...That`s when mom has unlimited cell phone minutes so our chats don`t cost anything(somethings never change)
Well I received a call about 10.30 am yesterday from mom,I was a little worried because it was a call that was costing money and it was early in the day.....Well apparently she just couldn`t wait to update their latest "chaotic episode" she gave me the short version and told me she would call later with more details,which she did,about 7.00 pm...........

So here my dad a recent colon cancer survivor and my mom who has had more operations than that old Hasbro game which buzzed if you hit the edges........

So here they are fishing for sockeye but a few chinooks have been showing up so they put out a mixed bag of lures,some for sockeye some for chinook (and no,I ain`t telling what lures they used) ....The boat they`re fishing on,it`s old,28 feet long with steering only on the fly bridge and mom because of a nerve problem with her legs has real trouble getting up and down the stairs so usually mom is the dedicated steerer of the boat......
Well here they were fishing away and KABOOM......the rods start screaming ZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ.....and not just one rod but 2 of them.......well dad grabs one rod and hands it to mom up top and he grabs the other one........
There were lots of other boats fishing near by and according to mom weren`t catching anything,so as with fishing when you have "fish on" other boats have a habit of trolling over and "checking" out whats going on!
So anyways,my moms fish was sounding,running straight down to the bottom,dads fish was on the surface make all kinds of noise,circling,head shaking,just plain old scrappy.....meanwhile these other boats,I could just imagine what they were thinking....."What the heck are these old soaks doing"
So anyways moms battling away,dad is looking for the net which just happened to have got chewed up in a chance encounter with the trolling motor earlier in the week so it had a funky mend job on it, it still worked but didn`t open up like it had in the past to accommodate large fish!
Anyways,dad,according to mom had the rod in one hand arched backwards and the gibly net in the other hand and managed to land his fish......35lbs plus......he hauled the fish in the boat,gave it a bonk, cleared the net, and traded places with mom who struggled down the stairs to take her usual position as the netter......and success,moms fish was about the same size LARGESSE......
Meanwhile the shocked,and jealous onlookers were still "just fishing",waiting for some magic to happen on their boats.......
Anyways,it was another case of "controlled chaos" ......and boy do I wish I was there,looks like another batch of canned salmon is in the works,my supply is getting low.......meanwhile,bragging rights at China creek fish camp goes to mom and dad.....Again!

Cheers-Ears Wide Open

Gordon Campbell goes down in the gutter to find provincial $$

Back in 2001 BC Liberal leader Gordon Campbell in his election campaign promised no expansion of gambling,a promise he quickly broke.

New casino`s have opened up everywhere(with the help of Patrick Kinsella) new games of chance in drinking establishments and an explosion of store bought scratch and wins.....

A few years back the BCLC entered the online gaming world,I suppose in a world of allowing access to home bound,shut ins,or people too lazy to go out and gamble or the closet gambler I suppose there was a wee tiny bit of a reason to go down this slippery slope......In the little village where I live we have only a few stores and only a handful of drinking establishments but......."Small towns have big ears" And I heard many complaints from local retailors about the province entering the "Shadowy world of online gaming"

So me being the inquisitive type I dug into it a little deeper and asked one of our local general stores proprietors what her beef was with BCLC......Well she responded that stores receive 5 cents per per 1.00$ worth of tickets sold and are of course required to pay up to 200.00$ out to winners,she went on to say that the province is going into competition with retailors.......

Being in a small community everybody knows everybody`s vice....or vice versa....and yes,even here we have problem gamblers,one woman up here (so I`ve heard) easily spent 120.00$ a week with the online service being offered by the BCLC.....Anyways the retailor complaint wasn`t big on my radar at the time because it had a limit (120.00$ per week) and gambling was discretionary spending, or was it?

Which brings me to the latest move by the Campbell administration,here we are in the midst of a recession with no signs of it ending any time soon,welfare numbers in the province skyrocketing,unemployment numbers through the roof,numbers we haven`t seen since the early 80s,health cuts,service cuts,including PROGRAMS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED,PROGRAMS DEALING WITH ADDICTIONS......And over 800 organizations that got yearly grants from the province to fund music,arts,sport,volunteers groups,senior services etc etc have been left twisting in the wind......

These groups would have to make their application by may 31st each year and then they would get their money,and the money they received came from gaming revenue,the BCLC would actually use this fact in the advertising,reminding the gaming public that SOME monies from gambling was funding worthwhile projects through out the province......

So the province with all the wisdom of a three card monty dealer or a Nigerian stock trader have decided to "RAISE THE LIMIT" of it`s online gaming,so it was a 120.00$ per week limit,so what would be a reasonable bump up of the weekly limit? 200.00$ ....or maybe 500.00$ ...surely a 1000.00$ per week would be plenty.......Well apparently the new weekly limit is.......

10.000.00$ per week...10 thousand dollars per week every week until,until your broke, a 100 fold % percentage increase in the limit....WOW, holy guacamole batman thats a lot of scratch tickets,but it`s more than scratch tickets,it`s online slots/keno/poker/6/49,bc/49 sports etc etc etc.......Now I am sure that Patrick Kinsella`s buddies in the casino world must be fuming because the province is now attacking,competing against the River rock,and all the other big casino`s.......

Well,I`m not going to shed any tears for casino operators but they are just another group who has been stabbed in the back by Gordon Campbell,welcome to the gutter premier Campbell,you are lower than a snails belly,you are a gutless coward who should be dragged through the streets and pelted with raw fruit,......The online service requires a credit card,what part of credit don`t you understand,a 100 fold increase in the weekly online gambling limit...10.000.00$ a week, that`s like a 8 months worth of UIC or a years worth of welfare or 4 months of wages PER WEEK..........You are a weak pathetic person Gordon Campbell.....enjoy an eternity down under in da HEAT

Read the gaming limit raise story here

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Lotto+Corporation+raises+online+weekly+limit/1907100/story.html

Those are the Straight Goods

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

Susan Heyes lawyer Cameron Ward is one sly fox

I have been following this case closely for many reasons,I always pull for the little guy and this lawsuit is the classic tale of David versus Goliath,David being Susan Heyes and Goliath being Translink and the Campbell government......

This case has all the elements,lies,deceit,corruption,cover-ups,mis information and most importantly the vicious attack upon tax-paying businesses........

Lets lay out the details,the Canada line after a third arm-twisted vote from the council of mayors the olympic translink line from the airport to Vancouver was given the nod to proceed,next thing was the construction plan itself,an elevated train from the airport through Richmond over the skybridge to the Vancouver side then a bored tunnel to downtown and that`s where this project ran off the rails(pun intended)....

After lengthy consultations with businesses along the transit corridor Ravco (the quazi public/private consortium building the line) cambie merchants were assured in writing that the method of construction in front of their businesses was going to be BORED TUNNEL and the disruption to cambie street and to each business would be a few months at most.....

The Canada line original budget estimate was 1.35 billion$ and was later increased to 1.5 billion $

So the construction is off and running and the builders are spending,spending beyond any hope of completing this project for 1.5 billion$ ....and then they reach cambie street and lo n behold bored tunnel is tossed out the window and a new method of construction known as cut and cover is undertaken..........Translink/Ravco are claiming that by going cut and cover they are saving 200 million$$$ on construction costs.......and 4 years after starting cut and cover cambie street was still torn up businesses closed and going broke .......and any financial help is DENIED!

Lets examine this a little closer,Ravco,Translink, claim to have saved 200 million$$$ by going to cut and cover which may or may not be true,but for argument sakes if they saved 200million$$$ don`t you think if they spread 5 to 10 million $$$ amongst the cambie businesses this whole mess would of went away? I do

So this brings me to Cameron Ward,the lawyer for Susan Heyes,and boy did she pick a smart one...........

So the case of David versus Goliath begins with a little media interest,and lo n behold Susan Heyes wins and is awarded 600.000.00$ to cover some of her loses,case closed right? Not so fast,here with a barrage of lawyers for Translink /government they appeal........Well from what I gather about this case it is "cut and dried"......So off the case goes to court over an appeal request(which is granted) but the judge hearing the case says,not so fast,we will hear the appeal but in the mean time Susan Heyes gets her money......

Wow,thats a strong statement,is it a win for Susan Heyes,a loss or draw,I call it a massive win and with Cameron Ward(crazy like a fox) in her corner a win is inevitable!

The judge in the original trial called this P3 a "Sham P3"

Which brings me to the latest revelation and salvo launched by "The Fox"

Read it here http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canada+Line+operator+ordered+reveal+deal+with+Translink/1902920/story.html

For those of you not in the know,here are some details Ravco and the government don`t want revealed.

#1) The media and government claim this project is under budget,well the budget was 1.5 billion and the real cost is closer to 3 billion not 2 billion

#2)The government doesn`t want it known to the public that the operator will be heavily subsidized by Translink for years and years,and this project is a big reason why suddenly Translink needs 450 million more every year or else!

#3) The government doesn`t want the fact that there IS NO PRIVATE MONEY IN THIS PROJECT,to be known,the only contributers to this project are..Ottawa(tax payer) the province(the tax payer) ...Translink(the tax payer) 300 million from the airport authority and INTRANSIT...and who the heck is INTRANSIT ..An adopted name they picked for the Canada line, but what INTRANSIT is.........is a BC government pension fund which has some special protection backstopped by the BC government(the tax payer) If Intransit losses any monies the BC government has to replace the money......SAY WHAT....So where is the risk,the only risk is to the taxpayers!

#4)And I love this one.......The Musqueam first nation`s band were paid approximately 800.000.00$from Ravco because.....The Musqueam made the claim that where the Skybridge crosses the Fraser river is exactly where they always fished for salmon,you mean the Musqueam couldn`t of moved a hundreds yards up stream or down stream to catch salmon?

So,special interest groups,in this case the Musqueam got 800.000.00$ but tax paying businesses that are going or have gone bankrupt get nothing!

Well Cameron Ward,I think Susan Heyes is in good hands,because the senior adjudicator at the FOI (freedom of information) Ceila Francis has granted your request that Ravco turn over all documents related to costs/assessments,concessionaire agreements,aboriginal settlement documents and the like.

What a salvo Mr.Ward.....I expect the appeal to be dropped when you enter in a deal with Ravco to just forget the whole thing,the appeal,the FOI request........Congratulations Susan Heyes

CRAZY LIKE A FOX............The Straight Goods

Great Canadian myths,Sasquatch,Oogo Pogo,Revenue Neutral HST tax

I have tried to listen to all sides of the HST debate,good,bad or indifferent and my mind is made up,the tax is bad..........

Here are some things which I have considered which have not been answered by any pundits or government voices.

Quebec has had the HST for years along with Atlantic Canada,have either Quebec or New Foundland been stealing or wooing corporate Canada to leave Ontario for these provinces,NO.....are the HST provinces in better fiscal shape,no,in fact the new NDP government in NovaScotia after examining the financial books have come to the conclusion that the out-going provincial Conservative government had literally cooked the books,hidden debt,bigger deficit and unsubstantiated revenue forecasts..... read the story here ...

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090817/ns_money_090817/20090817?hub=Canada

So apparently when the economy is down in Canada it has no bearing as to who has HST or not,the world factors such as exports or world prices are the driving force........

As a country we have distinct differences from province to province,for example Ontario can`t compete with offshore oil investment on the east coast or tar-sand development in Alberta,Ontario can`t compete with BC`s big trees heading south,or our natural gas,or even BC mines,ore prices,gas prices are determined by various exchanges outside of Canada,BC mining companies are shipping coal and ores to Asia,well the last time I looked at a map I didn`t notice any seaports from Ontario with access to Asia.......

So for any mining or smelting operations to move to Ontario from BC only to ship the product back to BC is ridiculous,a few flow through taxes wouldn`t come close to covering the extra freight charges,and the same goes to BC,we have very little manufacturing in BC,that`s Ontario`s game,there is a huge American population base within miles of the major Ontario manufacturing centers and BC isn`t getting into building car factories!

Now I have been hearing the spin about embedded tax,I don`t know when the last time Colin Hansen or gordon Campbell shopped at Wallmart or Future shop or even Ikea........All electronics are made in Asia,clothes,housewares, furniture........the things people buy everyday are for the most part not made in Canada,therefor there is no embedded PST.....From ship to truck to shelf .....Raw resources leaving the province have no PST,the majority of BC maufacturers in BC use PST exemptions on new equipment,on most products bought for the manufacturing process so again there is no embedded PST......Small and big business have the ability to write off business expenses,even if businesses lose money one year they can write off losses onto future earnings........

Now Hansen talks about the labour intensive activity for small business to collect the PST,well they are still going to have to collect the HST and submit,from my small business experience it`s merely numbers on a ledger sheet,I don`t see where they save any money,and small business once they`re set up have next to nothing in flow throughs and again they can write off envelopes,pens,paper,new computer so where is the flow through? Now Hansen talks about small business saving 100 million a year in administration savings,I doubt the numbers and if you divided amongst all the small businesses it would be like 700.00$ per year...Not exactly earth shattering numbers.

Colin Hansen as quoted by the Burnaby now made this statement "most small business hate the PST system because it`s so complex and it requires so much administration,it`s estimated that this shift will take 150 million in compliance costs(annually,across the province) off of companies,bigger companies have computers systems do it"

Well I don`t know where Colin Hansen has been living but lets look at his statement,Hansen is admitting that big companies just tweak their computer and they`re done,where is big business administration savings? And in case you haven`t noticed,7-11..restaurants,corner stores,THEY ALL USE COMPUTERS,they merely have to tweak their computers!

A few big businesses have come out in favour of HST but they have talked in generalities,"(should) over time lower costs,investment climate (may)improve over 5 to ten years" Where is the definitive statement? Even Jock Finlayson said the same vague hooey,maybe in 10 years we will really see the difference,what kind of nonsense is that,yet small business,food industry,tourism,housing,services,labour,many foods,the list goes on and on and on of items that will cost more to the consumers without any benefit to those industries!

Unless the lumber demand picks up in the USA,unless commodity prices rise,natural gas prices rise,these industries won`t make money,and tax policy be damned,it will have no affect on their viability.......And not to mention we have a PST exempt province next door to compete with(Alberta)....and we have a southern border to compete with.......We have the lowest minimum wage in Canada 8$ per hour(Ontario 10$) and a 6$ training wage,Ontario hasn`t got a training wage....So what if Ontario goes HST,we have the wage advantage over them.........And finally,we have the most expensive housing in Canada,fuel,foods,the public is tapped,a 2 billion dollar yearly tax hit to the consumer will fuel the underground and make the cash strapped consumer pull back which will hurt business............

So Gordon Campbell,so Colin Hansen,time to come clean,admit our province is broke and indebted for starters,tell the truth,and if you need money write some new legislation,cancel the tax cuts associated with your useless carbon tax and put that money into general revenue..........and those are the STRAIGHT GOODS

The silence from David Suzuki and Tzeporah Berman is deafening

Lets flash back to to the beginning of the 2009 BC provincial election,or as they say the dropping of the writ........Who launched the first salvo in the election campaign,it wasn`t the BC liberals,it wasn`t the NDP,it was no other than the great David Suzuki and the charismatic Tzeporah Berman............
My mouth dropped open in shock,here was 2 of BC`s most prominent environmentalists stumping for Gordon Campbell,not only stumping for the Liberals but actually attacking the NDP over the "Axe the tax" part of their platform,now I can understand their support of a ineffective gas/tax but to stump for Campbell and his road building coalition was amazing,if anything I would of expected the dynamic duo to promote the Green party........

So what really was going on in the background,Tzeporah Berman (The cutie of Clayquot) and her latest group :Forest ethics: seems to have developed a love-in with IPP private power,now perhaps her motives were financially motivated who knows but Tzeporah seems to have left the environmental harm of large industrial sized run of river out her arguments........
which brings me to David Suzuki,Suzuki usually stays out of the political fray but not this time,it seems for some strange reason Suzuki was hell bent on protecting the carbon/gas tax........And I can respect him for that stance as mis-guided as it is,but what about the more glaring issues facing BC.........Like sea lice from fish farms,unregulated gas flaring,proposed Enbridge pipeline to bring dirty tar sand oil to Kitimat for export to Asia,the ten lane behemoth port mann bridge,the assault on burns bog with the SFPR road,coal bed methane in the Flathead valley,the Campbell push for offshore oil and gas drilling,the 500.000 hectors of BC crown land forest given away to forest companies for development,or the gutting of environmental standards at the ministry of the environment,could it have something to do with the fact the James Hoggan(Chaiman of the board of directors of the Suzuki foundation)has donated large sums of money to the BC Liberals and the fact that the James Hoggan and associates company received some very lucrative contracts from the Campbell government?
Story here http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BC-Politics/2009/04/15/SuzukiChairLiberalSupporter/

Who really knows what David Suzuki`s motives were,yet there were some REAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS screaming about these things, BC heroes like Alexandra Morton and Mr Foy,but of course the media all but ignored these environmentalists,I mean how can you compare the demise of BC wild salmon against a useless carbon/gas tax that even BC Liberal spokesperson Marc Jaccard states that " It will not have any effect on emission levels in it`s present form,the carbon tax has to be at least 25 times more expensive"

So now that the BC election is over and premier Brown jeans and the road building coalition won,I have been waiting patiently for a response from David Suzuki and Tzeporah Berman over the latest Campbell environmental moves.............Which are as follows, The Campbell administration has announced a massive reduction in royalties to the gas drillers to promote more fossil fuel extraction.....read it here http://www.timescolonist.com/launches+major+stimulus+program/1866325/story.html

As well as this last friday the home smart program was cancelled without notice (this programs was to help people make their homes more energy efficient)....And energy efficient appliances were PST exempt are now going to be taxed at 12%.....and that goes for solar panel,heat pumps,everything,all green items are now to be taxed at 12%,WOW what a way to promote going green.......and this is the big one.........Campbell and his pre-election lie about the HST .....Well I am not going to argue pro or con at this time but........The deal with the feds allowed for 5% of the GST base taxed items to be exempted from the HST.................

Campbell could of put those exemptions on green items,solar panels,bicycles, he could of put the exemptions on anything,but what premier brown jeans has chosen to do is to use up almost all of the 5% exemption totals and put it on GASOLINE! .....That`s right,under HST fuels at the pump would go up in price but Campbell has chosen to exempt fuels from HST which flies in the face of the Carbon tax strategy......Now don`t get me wrong,I am strongly opposed to the HST because BCers are already suffering enough but............isn`t fuel something that shouldn`t have been exempted? Remember Campbell`s statements over the last 2 years "Global warming is the single biggest threat facing the world"

I guess Premier brown jeans has changed his mind,"DRILL BABY DRILL"

Which brings me back to David Suzuki and Tzeporah Berman,..........

YOUR SILENCE ON THESE ISSUES ARE DEAFENING......and those are the straight goods

Which Sean Leslie will show up tomorrow on CKNW


As a frustrated listener of CKNW the once giant of cutting edge radio I am confused.....

Bill Good for years has been like a warm fuzzy sweater you got used to,but in the last few years and especially the run up to the 2009 BC Provincial election Bill Good turned into nothing but a Gordon Campbell spokesperson,he was rude to NDP MLAs,and any interviews with Campbell or Liberal MLAs were nauseous,lobbing softball questions with no follow ups,if any callers called in he would defend the Liberal stance and shun the callers,so many people called and accused Bill good of being bias which he staunchly denied,Bill would laugh and tee hee with Keith baldrey and Vaughn Palmer on fridays at any of the NDP platform or accusations and call them baseless.......A sickening display at best,Rush Limbaugh of the north would be a more fitting title.......................
After the election and all the Campbell lies were exposed from a massive 4 billion$ deficit to health cuts to HST fraud and something happened,I could sense that Bill Good was irked over the Campbell betrayal,maybe Bill`s restaurant friends were giving him a bad time,who knows...........
Anyways with the Liberal government in full blown promise breaking mode Bill has gone on an extended holiday........
I hope he returns refreshed and a little wiser and plays it fair,only time will tell,with Michael Smyth filling in for Bill Good things have livened up at the station,there`s vigor,there`s honest debate,outrage exhibited,the best radio CKNW has had on for years.......Lets hope when Bill Good returns he won`t spoil the show and remove the fresh air!

Which brings me to Sean Leslie,the week-end guy,maybe I should cut him some slack because he just returned from holidays but........
from 4.30 pm to 5.00 pm he had on the spokesperson from (Citizens for green power)....IPP pushers with a green name......Anyways they were discussing the BCUC decision which snubbed the Campbell energy plan........The BCUC decision was based on what`s best for the public,all the public,not just a select few,words from the BCUC about Campbell`s energy plan were ......"NOT IN THE PUBLIC`S INTEREST"

But that little fact seemed to be lost on Sean Leslie today,perhaps he didn`t read the BCUC report or maybe he couldn`t understand it,...........

So this spokesperson spewed the most ridiculous spin I have ever heard,he was saying that the BCUC said to run burrard thermal full out 24/7 spewing green house gasses, he said the BCUC was telling everyone to burn natural gas etc etc etc.......

Now I know this is nothing but spin but Sean Leslie just bobbed his head in agreement,he took no calls in the segment or I would of let fly,just for your information Sean Leslie, the BCUC decision reads like this.......

#1) Burrard thermal is always there as back-up emergency power in case of some sudden unexpected demand

#2)Burrard thermal has barely run in years,and even when it has it was at miniscule levels.

#3) The BCUC said the the power consumption predictions from BC Hydro were unfounded,that much demand wouldn`t be there,at least not from BCers

#4)The price that BC Hydro has guaranteed to IPPs was to damn expensive

#5) Every BC Hydro dam can be upgraded and have turbines added to them to create more power.

#6)With all new appliances that draw such little power and new light bulbs and with more focused conservation BC can reduce it`s power demands considerably

#7)And this one is from me......If BC stopped producing even one breath of GREEN HOUSE GASSES tomorrow the drop in world emissions would amount to a decrease of .010 %

P.S. and at the same time Gordon Campbell is pushing for a 4 billion$ pipeline to bring dirty tar sand oil to the west coast for shipments to Asia,and at the same time Campbell has announced massive royalty cut to the gas drillers in BC....At the same time Campbell wants offshore drilling for fossill fuels,at the same time were building a 4 billion$ ten lane behemoth bridge for car traffic,at the same time were building a unecessary highway through Burns bog(the lungs of the GVRD and fraser river water cooler) to handle an estimated 5000 more semi-trucks daily from an expanded port at a cost of over 1 billion$ at the same time all the energy grants for people to reduce power demands on their home has been cancelled,at the same time the new HST will apply to all energy efficient appliances and on and on...and on........

So perhaps Sean Leslie and the rest of the media will stop being a sounding board for the big business,road building,club.....Perhaps a reasoned response is in order,research,due diligence...........

Anyways,I wonder which Sean Leslie will be on the air tomorrow.......and those are the STRAIGHT GOODS

Cheers-Ears Wide Open

BC Liberals douse olympic flame and spirit

The ex-mayor of Salt lake city was on the the Bill Good show(hosted by Michael Smyth) and was talking about their winter olympic experience,he went on to say that the populous was split 50/50 pro and con on the lead up to the games but as the grand spectacle neared the public rallied and became engaged which turned public opinion around to a 90% approval.

well there are a few differences between the emotional state of BC and Salt lake city,for one Salt lake didn`t have a fraudulent election 6 months before the games.

This HST anger on top of massive medical service cuts are just the tip of the iceberg,despite daily warnings about health cuts during the election by Adrian Dix, the Liberals called Dix "reckless,fear mongering,spreading lies" and where was the media,Michael Smyth was scaring burger eating beer drinkers,Vaughn Palmer was sheepish at best,Canwest Global was showing pictures of Carole James with 2 FM rock DJs and whining about 400 litres of fuel used in a plane trip to view the Ashlu run of river project, and apparently the ride was a little bumpy from the wind and the media who joined Carole James were throwing up in barf bags,well I for one don`t feel bad because the media has been making me throw up for the last 8 years in this province!

Today the Fraser health authority made people cry during their town meeting in Mission as they confirmed Adrian Dix`s ignored warnings about massive cuts to health.
Link .. Http://www.theprovince.com/health/blame+authority+blame+Liberal+goverment/1891734/story.html

Well reading a Vancouver sun article tonight it gets worse,approximately 800 volunteer groups,CPACs,sports groups,seniors groups,phil harmonic,community groups who regulary got monies to fund sports/events and a myriad of other items are hanging in limbo,these groups which apply for funding by may 31st have not heard back from government,now remember these monies they received in the past have come from the BCLC,gaming revenue,and remember that other broken promise by Campbell of not expanding gambling,gambling has exploded under his leadership......
But it`s worse than that because the BC Lottery corporation in lots of their advertising make it known that monies from gambling are used to support sports/arts/community groups etc etc....So for the Campbell government to cut these grants is nothing less than breaking a moral contract with people of BC.......And Gordon Campbell breaks moral contract after moral contract with ease,he has it down to an art form.........I for one have an absolute belief that these groups will be left hanging until the 11th hour and then Campbell will send one of his lackeys to break it to them,sorry no money.......read about it here
http://www.vancouversun.com/Cash+strapped+community+groups+left+dark+over+lottery+money/1895279/story.html

Today on the Christie Clark show on one of her segments Christie had on as a guest Independent MLA Vicki Huntington from Delta South,well according to Vicki Huntington her MLA office has been swamped with voters,voters who voted for her and voters who voted for Campbell that are complaining about the HST tax and all the other cuts being announced every day.......
Vicki said the voters are telling her that they feel dirty,used,conned,voters who feel the entire election platform of the Liberals was a fraud. Well it was a fraud,Campbell and his ministers suppressed everything,the cuts,the deficit,the HST,Campbell kept telling the voters that we were in the best shape of any jurisdiction in the world,Gordon Campbell`s 2009 election was the most dishonest,toxic fudget budget,lie filled con job the people of BC have ever seen,it makes Glen Clark look like a saint.

So the people of Salt Lake City embraced the olympic spirit,I assure you Mr. Campbell that will not happen here,you have made the olympic doubters even angrier and more importantly you have single handily made the few remaining olympic supporters furious,any spirit,any happiness,any harmonization of the people is all but gone,the olympic flame in BC is a burnt out bic lighter,the olympic spirit has been doused for all,I for one will avoid the city and from the people I`ve talked to,they won`t be there either.......

So enjoy your games Mr Campbell,smile for the press,greet the world leaders,make sure to wear one of your Gordallions as you schmooze with the VIPs,for as far as I`m concerned,the olympics are already over.

Naikun wind power,who`s conning who

Lets get a few items out of the way before we expose the straight goods

Paul Taylor is the CEO of Naikun wind power project, who was once deputy finance minister for the Gordon Campbell goverment and when he left goverment Gordon Campbell appointed him as has head honcho of ICBC .........And I remind you that Taylor was in charge of ICBC through the chop shop scandal and "Rigged auction" scheme.........After the shit hit the FAN he quietly stepped down.
As power projects go I am not opposed to wind power,I think they`re far less destructive than run of river water diversions.

Gordon Campbell who started the gold rush to IPPs and cut BC Hydro out of all the new projects,I find it interesting that`s where Paul Taylor ended up going!

The Naikun wind power project is many many years from delivering even 1 electron of power,the estimated cost of this project is 2 billion dollars$....Well this last july the BCUC came down with their ruling on the BC Hydro call for green power,basically they put the hammer down on the Campbell goverments energy plan,it was a 200 page decision but the bottom line from the BCUC (bcuc their primary job is to protect the rate payer) was that the energy call from BC Hydro was reckless and "NOT IN THE PUBLIC`S INTEREST"

This decision sent the the stock values of IPPs reeling downward.

Now the way I have interpreted these IPPs is this,Gordon Campbell govenrment has signed such lucrative,guaranteed power prices to these IPPS that once they are approved the companies can go to any bank and open up the vault because government has assured these projects to make a killing,all of course backstopped by the BC taxpayer,the problem with these long term power contracts is........
First off we don`t need the power,BC is a net exporter of power,secondly BC Hydro,our beloved crown corporation can produce this power for a third of the cost,thirdly even if we export this power we will be selling the power at a loss,buy high and sell low is not a recipe for success(voodoo economics)
In reading Naikun`s web site there is lots of talk about raising money and the need to raise capitol for this project,the BCUC decision apparently has caused the banks to close the vault.

Naikun power project web site link here

http://www.naikun.ca/news_media/news.php?id=85

Still with the BCUC decision,after the ruling a howl came from first nations claiming the BCUC were not thinking about global warming,not giving a rats ass about the economic future of first nations and there were allegations from first nations (specifically from the Sechelt band) that the BCUC members were racists!
Leaving that behind for a moment,the BCUC ruling also riled the Campbell government,so now what? Well my suspicious nature and complete distrust of the Campbell government and financial motives of the IPPs suspected some sneak attacks.

So now we have first nations bellaching,Naikun wind power can`t raise money and Gordon Campbell ticked off......
So what happens next?
I got the answer in a Vancouver sun column,a three pronged attack,apparently the Haida first nations has signed a memorandum of understanding to take a 240 million dollar, 30% equity share in this project,before you think I`m a conspiracy theorist lets look at this closely.....

#1) With the Haida coming to the table with 240 million$ it eases the funding problem faced by the Naikun wind power project.

#2)When BC Hydro goes back at the BCUC with another proposal they will be able to say that if you refuse to grant this power call you will now be directly effecting the well being of the Haida first nation.

Now thats a fairly strong argument,if the Haida "cough" up 240 million dollars and then have the door slammed in their face would definitely raise the ire of first nations.........

But here`s the rub,first off I was amazed that the Haida had 240 million dollars but after reading the Vancouver sun column it became perfectly clear,the details in the column are sketchy at best but there were many red flags,or at least that`s the way I perceived them......

The story goes on to say that the Haida first nation is looking to Ottawa........It doesn`t say or imply why they are looking at Ottawa but one can only assume that the Haida are looking at Ottawa to gift,grant,lend,them the 240 million dollars. SAY WHAT?

There is another very telling statement quoted in the article from ex ICBC and now Naikun CEO Paul Taylor......Taylor believes "The project can succeed,within Hydro`s framework for the rates it will pay to buy independent power."

WOW.......If that isn`t proof that the price guarantees from BC Hydro(the taxpayer) are the driving force behind these projects,Taylor says nothing about the project being profitable on it`s own merits in a free market,because as Rafe Mair and many others have reported we will be buying power high and selling it low,I might not be an economist but I`m not stupid!

My last point is this,I have no ill will towards the Haida but.......To have Ottawa give the Haida tax dollars so that the Campbell government can guarantee more tax dollars to buy power at a rate we can`t afford for the benefit of a private for profit IPP is NUTS......That sounds like socialism for private industry and private shareholders paid for by the rate payers of BC.

Here is the link to the Vancouver sun column

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Haida+take+million+stake+Naikun+wind+project/1889138/story.html

We must save our fish

Where are our fish?

As an avid sports sports fisher I find myself holding back the tears for what is happening to our wild salmon,up here at Pender Harbour we had a fish farm...........And where was it placed,right near the outflow of the little streams that flowed from Sakinow lake,well as time went by our local sockeye run dwindled,they never recovered and they`re gone,caput,game over.......

Having watched the Howe sound salmon vanish, the pender harbour fish dwindle,I haven`t seen a Coho Salmon up here in 10 years at least.....Being the avid angler that I am,well many years ago my favorite fishing partner(DAD)and I ventured to the way way west coast and checked out Port Alberni........What could I say but WOW,they had salmon,lots of salmon,big salmon.......
In case you thought this was going to have a happy ending well think again.....some years later fish farms started showing up in and around the area,there was one in paticular that was placed between China creek and namint bay,well it didn`t take too long but the salmon return numbers were getting smaller and smaller,next thing we know the sockeye fishing was shut down,this shut down occurred about 6 years ago,anyways,after some pressure from unnamed sources the fish farm was pulled out of there,so five years ago this fish farm gets pulled and guess what,the sockeye have come back,so this year they re-opened the sockeye sports fishery and the numbers were good,so all is good,well not quite,we all have heard about the vanishing fraser river sockeye and the experts are stumped as to WHAT HAPPENED.....Fish farm lice,that`s what happened,all the evidence is there,how can the public be so stupid and our government so obstinate is beyond me.......
One other big problem this season(so far)is I have been a little busy,so my favorites fishing partners mom and dad are having to battle the fish without me,those fish beware,he might be 80 years young and mom might be a little slow on the net but I`m having sockeye steaks for dinner tonight.

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

Ethan Baron has it spot on

The Province columnist Ethan Baron has written the most accurate simple to read and understand assessment of the HST............

He`s got some great lines and subtle humour,I don`t want to spoil any of his words so I will let Da man speak for himself...........Here is the link,a must read

http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/will+taxed+voodoo+economics/1883724/story.html