Harper gov’t refuses to release secret report on pensions

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Harper+refuses+release+secret+report+pensions/6640037/story.html

So if April showers bring May flowers, what does a May snowfall supposed to get us?

Ben and Elaine. You might want to get someone to fix the glitch on your website which causes some of the posts that have links to have a huge space in them.

It’s a glitch that has been there from the beginning.

Does it affect functionality?

Does not appear to, so who cares.

It’s likely a function of the blog software chosen and to change at this time may be a huge pain.

“So if April showers bring May flowers, what does a May snowfall supposed to get us?”

Someone in Connecticut seems to have the same qustion.

http://www.wxedge.com/articles/20120508april_showers_bring_may_flowers_not_this_year

http://www.wxedge.com/articles/20120511a_blast_of_winter_returns_to_mtwashington

Been here 21 years and you can always count on snow around May long weekend

That is why you never plant your garden until the weekend after.

Hydro rates up another penny on tier 2 power. Works out to better than 10% on the tier 2 power.
How can anyone run a household on the monthly limit of 622 kw of power at the lower tier 1 rate.
The lieberals just fleecing the consumer pocket once again to support the money being given to independent power producers.

Resident, I have never gone above the tier one rate on my hydro, mind you I am also pretty power conscious and this in in a house with 2 15 yr olds.

I can do it quite easily as well. I use the cfl bulbs, I turn off lights when I leave a room, I only use the dish washer or do laundry when there is a full load etc.

I’ve also had the added bonus of my hydro bill going down about 9 dollars a month since I’ve gotten my smart meter.

Good post Charles. Those right wing nut jobs in Ottawa remind me of the goofs we have in Victoria; promise one thing just to get elected and then do the exact opposite.

I’d like to say I find the vaccine policy for children here in BC very disappointing. The info they provide is completely useless and unprofessional. The whole perspective is one of scorched earth for the ‘greater good’ with little regard for individual harm caused.

They are pushing the vaccines to children at too young of an age, for diseases they are not at risk (such as sexually transmitted diseases or other rarities in toddlers), and in multiple vaccine shots that increase the risk of side effects.

I have read that autism rates have gone from 1 in 2000 prior to mass vaccination of children to where its at 1 in 57 boys nowadays. I’ve also read that IQ rates in North America have dropped every year since vaccination programs were implemented. Some say this is because a childs brain is having its most critical development from birth to two years old at just a time when huge amounts of vaccines are pumped into them every two months overloading their immune system, polluting their brain, and forever altering their normal brain patterns… I’ve heard this is done at such an early age for liability purposes, because if a child is damaged before you know its true character then it can’t be blamed on the vaccine… that and a child is captive unable to speak for itself.

I tried to see if I could get the Whooping cough vaccine alone on its own as is available elsewhere outside of BC, but in BC they only have it authorized mixed with a minimum three other vaccines. This makes no sense because then if there is complications one has to guess as to what the problem vaccine actually was.

After doing the research I don’t know why any parent would risk giving their child a vaccine prior to two years of age. The risks are huge and the accountability for harmful vaccines is lacking IMO.

How is all the money that has been raised for the Lakeland Mills disaster going to be used? How will it be distributed? Is it an equal cash distribution to all employees of the mill? If yes, is the fundraising society even allowed to give cash donations? I’m not trying to be heartless, but if all of the employees are going to be on EI, they would need to declare any cash donation money received as income correct? Are we not subsidizing the EI system?

It just seems like there has been a lot of fundraising without much clarification as to what/how things will be done with the money?

If you live in an apartment building please be careful of strangers in the
hallways. A young lady was asked if she had a cup of sugar by a man. He followed her back to her apartment and assaulted her while her kids were in the other room. He is believed to be responsible for 17 other apartment break and enters. If you have Facebook there is a picture of him on buy sell swap prince George.
Surprised to not see any stories on 250 actually!
Be safe everyone!

Summit,

the first indication is the main focus will be the families of victims still in hospital, there are huge costs involved with travel, housing and loss of the ability to work. The short term needs of these families are of the most importance.

good point Eagleone, on vaccines,it seems that alot of people don,t realize there are side effects, I hate to see our grand kids get them. One of our kids got very sick after getting the flu shot, it attacked her nervous system and looked like MS, she got over it after about a year, but could not walk without help, this happens more than they will admit

Has everyone seen the Facebook page?
http://www.facebook.com/princegeorgepotholes
Maybe the “City” can be ridiculed into fixing the roads. There is a petition on there too. :)

I drove south through Quesnel last weekend and saw the enormous gold nugget in the over-sized gold pan on the side of the highway.

I can’t believe no-one has stolen that thing – it’s HUGE, and must be worth millions.

Mr. PG is going to be set free soon, I’m sure he will steal the nugget.

rocky,

That one is fake, I took the real one years ago.

snow covered flowers, pot holes I could lose my truck in, dust so thick you can see it floating through the air, welcome to springtime in PG. I can’t handle it much longer, I’ve been here for over 30 years and the 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad snowmobiling weather, the dust storms from the sand left over from winter, and the potholes that will rip a front end off faster than opening a can of tuna..sorry PG but as soon as I can I am heading south, where the sun shines for longer than 4 hours a day, the dust is something you wipe off your furniture, and potholes are something you find on a country road…I’m just about done.

Soon the HST WILL BE EXTINGUISHED AND THE LIE berals will be WIPED OUT. Then the BC Rail inquiry will begin. Under the great leadership of Adrian Dix. I can not wait.
It will be great to see these corporate pigs forced to pay there share of the tax here in BC. Remembeer what Ben said the other day. Soon the remnants of the LIE berals will be having there corrupt meetings in a Fiat 500. There will be nothing left of this group of crooks REALLY SOON. There is now talk of the collapse of this regime before summer is over. You can read that at: http://alexgtsakumis.com/
Lots of good stuff there if you want to see the truth about the corruption and contempt of this regime here in BC. It is just unbelievable. But all true and can be verified. The stories are shocking. Just wish we could do it like the Greeks. There they can organize thousands of people to actually get out and protest. Montreal has been doing good lately too, with thousands protesting the GREED. Let’s see some of this here for a change. We only need 6 MLA to quit this corrupt outfit to force them out. I just can’t wait to see the HST EXTINQUISHED. The MAJORITY voted for this and it is time to get rid of the LIE berals NOW. I am not sure which thing I hate more. HST or PAC? It’s a tossup there and you can be sure you will here me every time these subjects are on the menu. Probably I hate the HST more then PAC. Both are sickening things that only benifit the rich. But the HST takes the prize IMO.

Excellent post Eagleone.

Let’s think about this: You don’t use much Hydro, you must be using Gas, if not maybe Wood and Hydro and Gas ? We are not served all the same in the Places we live, many have no Access to Gas, so what Choice do we have ?
Hydro, Oil or Wood for Heat. I don’t like the two Tier System Hydro is using under the
Label of Energy Conservation , the first KWH cost as much to produce as the last, it’s all about ripping us off, not about Conservation,you can call it a Surtax on staying Warm.

This vaccines thing is about profit for the pharmacies. I see where they have stopped trying to decide which flue virus wioil arrive for them to fight when infact in the past they produce a vaccines but a differnet virus arrives.

Funny I have never had a flue shot and have never had the flue for many years.
Chbneers

mattyc

You are not an NDP’er, a Socred nor a Liberal. You sir are a ranting radical.

The city needs to get at painting the crosswalks asap. They are non-existant at many spots and I have had many close calls now that its biking season.

I heard the city was using a new eco-friendly paint. If so it has the durability of childrens finger paint. Someone is going to get killed at these spots. Time to do what is safe, not eco friendly if that is whats happening.

Alba, welcome to matty’s world.

mattyc …..

The HST is real. in less than a year you will however have to call it the GST+PST …

The PAC is not yet real. Based on the efforts of the last 40+ years, and the number of failures, it is not likely to be real soon.

Antiquus Vir’s response has suggested to me that you may have a slight case of a phobia.

Panphobia possibly. But choreophobia is definitely showing a strong correlation. ;-)

The city contracts out the painting …..I know that wasn’t your point.

“I’ve also had the added bonus of my hydro bill going down about 9 dollars a month since I’ve gotten my smart meter.” .. thats funny, they have been installed but the system isn’t online yet, any savings have nothing to do with the smart meter. Sorry to burst your bubble.

“The city needs to get at painting the crosswalks asap”

Waste of paint ….

The MVA identifies intersections as crosswalks.
———————————–
Definitions

119 (1) In this Part:
“crosswalk” means

(a) a portion of the roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by signs or by lines or other markings on the surface, OR

(b) the portion of a highway at an intersection that is included within the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on the opposite sides of the highway, or within the extension of the lateral lines of the sidewalk on one side of the highway, measured from the curbs, or in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway;

—————————————–
Please notice the OR so that (a) and (b) stand on their own.

continuing to the next important section:
———————————–
Rights of way between vehicle and pedestrian

179 (1) Subject to section 180, the driver of a vehicle must yield the right of way to a pedestrian where traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation when the pedestrian is crossing the highway in a crosswalk and the pedestrian is on the half of the highway on which the vehicle is travelling, or is approaching so closely from the other half of the highway that he or she is in danger.

(2) A pedestrian must not leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close it is impracticable for the driver to yield the right of way.

Crossing at other than crosswalk

180 When a pedestrian is crossing a highway at a point not in a crosswalk, the pedestrian must yield the right of way to a vehicle.
————————————–

“Been here 21 years and you can always count on snow around May long weekend
” ..not last year. It was nice and sunny out. We have planted before the long weekend most years because we always go somewhere during the long weekend. Our garden still grows regardless.

I`v been on this planet for 50+ years and I`v seen snow in June on the west coast many times…it`s nothing new.

When you read the MVA, it is obvious to me that the only locations where markings need to be on the road (which often cannot be seen in winter conditions anyway) and better still on posts placed at the sides of the road is where there is no intersection such as is the case on First Avenue which connects a park walkway on one side of the road with a park on the other side of the road Moore’s Meadow.

So, it may be time for some awarness raising of PG drivers ….. which is about as difficult as raising the awareness of Montreal drivers. :-)

So which planet were you on before that, Vulgar Sage?

Vulgan

I’ve wondered why the lines on the roads in this town only last one year, while the highways seem to last much longer. Is it eco friendly paint? Does it simply evaporate?

How much is it costing us to re-paint the roads year after year?

Interesting that mattyc mentions both Greece and Quebec in his post.

Greece has been living on borrowed money for years, avoiding paying the taxes owed has become a way of life. Bloated civil service with absolutely crazy retirement plans-full benefits at 55 with as few as 20 years service. The EU is right to pull the credit cards.

Quebec has about the lowest tuition in North America and has two choices so that it is sustainable over the long term either raise taxes to a level similar to the Scandinavian countries where you are looked after from cradle to grave or raise tuition.
What the students on the street don’t realize is that they will pay sooner or later, there is no free ride,except on air advisory days:).

Lived in PG for roughly 33 years of my life and I don’t think it’s accurate to say that you could always count on snow for the May long weekend. Some were cold, others were gorgeous. I’d say you could count on unpredictability.

Supposed to be hovering around +30 this weekend here in Ottawa, LOL :)

“waste of paint” Gus. You can’t be serious. Anything that helps drivers recognize a crosswalk is not a waste. The law is very plain as you posted but when someone is dead from this, the various sections of the law are irrelivant at that point.

Ben I love to listen to 250 at 10:am on my computer but do you have a glich with the broadcast as it cutd out unexpectedly and usually when the comentator is making an important comment.

Actually I am serious.

People get confused easily. The more places there are which have the heavy painted lines on the pavement, the more drivers and pedestrian think that those are the only places people can “safely” cross.

To me, the rule is simple. Every single intersection whether a + intersection or a T intersection is a crosswalk.

As I said, painted lines on roads are obliterated after a snow fall until the city clears the snow. In some places it will not get cleared enough to expose the paint.

If you want to identify a high volume crosswalk, and there are certainly some of those, do it with signage on the sides of the roads at a minimum where drivers are used to seeing traffic signs, and above the road where a higher level of visibility is required.

Train your eyes to look at the horizon when driving, not 50 metres in front of the car …… unless, of course, you are still in the crater avoidance mode in this City …. ;-)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2012/01/06/calgary-lethbridge-pedestrians-two-killed.html

Put “pedestrian killed in crosswalk” into your search engine and you might be surprised at the number of hits.

Several use words like this:
“Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be factors in this collision”

Mattyc: I’ve often thought your blood pressure must be a “little” high when you sit down at the keyboard, but I’ll give you one thing. You are absolutely correct that the truth about the BC Liberals can be found on Tsakumis’ site. It is great reading and cuts thru the BS that is being pounded out by the BS media. Very fortunate we have a few, at the coast and here, who refuse to hold any public officials up as Sacred Cows. The people, the taxpaying people footing the bill, have THE RIGHT to know, at least at this time they do.

I’ll agree to disagree Gus. Painted crosswalks have been with us as long as roads. Putting your life in the hands of “alert” drivers is a death wish. Its cheaper to paint than put up overhead signs at every crosswalk.

Take a walk and see how alert many drivers are. I have. Almost got clipped crossing Victoria at Tim’s. There is an overhead sign there. Why didn’t they put a flashing light on that sign?

So how did those pricey smart meters lower your electrical bill, I am curious? Also did you know those cfl bulbs have mercury in them, so don’t break any.

http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html

Those old fasioned tungsten light bulbs are quite efficient heat producers, more efficient than the gas heat needed for replacement.

http://www.science20.com/make_love_not_war/blog/mercury_poisoning_chinese_factory_workers_making_cfls_concern-71812

dow, I know what you mean but that is a terrible place for a crosswalk. Between bad sightlines, pedestrians that rush out without looking & people cutting across two lanes of traffic to get a stupid cup of coffee, there’e a LOT to watch out for there.

Well here it is another long weekend in the works. Former Mayor Rogers once said ”I have a dream for Prince George” Wonder what that was supposed to mean. Could it be thar it may have been a nightmare When you look at who spends their time in PG on a long weekend. This Saturday, Sunday and Monday the roar of traffic will be all gone from the Bypass. It will be silent.

Wonder if Council has ever thought of why the exodous from our village and yet we are spending money on attracting tourists when the locals all leave. Many years ago after spending the winter in PG at Easter going home the traffic was almost bumper to bumper South of Williams lake across the Chilcotin. It was weird to see this yellow line at dusk. Seems things haven’t changed that much.

How ever there are some changes . There was not a single accident between PG and Kamloops. Hope all those that have taken to the road have a great long weekend and arrive safely to their destination.

gus, I noticed that 119 (1) (a) and (b) use different language when describing the actual road. The former refers to a “roadway”, whereas the latter refers to a “highway”. Later on in 179 and 180, only “highway” is referenced.

This may seem like a strange observation on may part, but quite often in legislation the wording is very important. I’d be curious to see if there are different definitions for “roadway” and “highway” in the MVA as if there are, then it would seem to suggest that the stuff in 119 (b), 179 and 180 would only apply to the roads defined as “highways”. That would also mean that by definition, on “roadways” only places clearly marked with signs, lines or markings, etc., would be considered crosswalks.

I also agree about the drivers in Montreal, LOL. Heck, it’s like that across the river. It never ceases to amaze me that as soon as you enter Quebec, their entire approach to road building seems to change. You go from pretty linear and grid like layouts in Ottawa and then bang, you are in the land of multiple overpasses, merge lanes that seem to be built for appearance instead of functionality, etc. It’s quite exciting actually :)

NMG … good observation

In the MVA, highway is the definition for all PUBLIC passageways which accommodate a vehicle to move it from one point to another. In my opinion, it has to be to be effective at regulating the movement and parking of vehicles.

Note that it includes a private “place” used for parking or servicing of vehicles to which the public has access. Which means that when there are traffic signs in such a private place (parking lot) as the Spruceland Mall as well as a private place for servicing vehicles, such as a gas station, the MVA applies. At least that is the way it is written.

What the interpretation is in its application, I am not sure since I have never been involved with such situations. However, I think it is clear enough to me.

The word roadway does not seem to be defined, thus one has to go to the Oxford dictionary. On the other hand, the Oxford Dictionary does define highway, but that definition is not used for the legal purpose of applying the MVA.

And yes, you are also correct that in general, laws are expected to be accurate and if another interpretation can be made than is readily apparent in a law, then that interpretation can typically not be made because the consistent argument which will win the point is that if the drafters of the law had intended that interpretation, they would have written it in that fashion.

Definitions
1 In this Act:
“highway” includes
(a) every highway within the meaning of the Transportation Act,
(b) every road, street, lane or right of way designed or intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles, and
(c) every private place or passageway to which the public, for the purpose of the parking or servicing of vehicles, has access or is invited,

but does not include an industrial road;

http://bc-injury-law.com/blog/icbc-claims-uninsured-motorists-definition-highway

In my work, I deal quite a bit with forest service roads. The above is a case which examined the responsibility of ICBC to cover claims of collisions on Forest Service Roads.

Thanks for that gus, it seems pretty straight forward now. Seems like roadway is just meant to be interpreted in its “regular” meaning. I’m used to reading legislation that uses many terms that cannot be interpreted in their “regular” meaning, but of course, they are normally specifically defined within the framework of the legislation. Fun stuff, LOL :)

Eagleone:”The whole perspective is one of scorched earth for the ‘greater good’ with little regard for individual harm caused.”

Maddening, isn’t it? But so it has been over the decades of fighting chemical water fluoridation by municipalities! It’s for the greater good? No, it is not. The greater good has been achieved only when the whole province of B.C. is artificial fluoridation FREE!

Only THEN can ALL people choose to ingest hydrofluorosilicic acid or not! Freedom of choice! Wouldn’t that be great progress? The same respect of individual choice for all!

The good news is that after Kelowna, Kamloops, Kitimat, Burns Lake, Williams Lake and Lake Cowichan have stopped it there are only 2% left of the whole of B.C. population who regrettably have no choice!

The 2% are: Terrace, Fort. St. John and Prince George!

I take it PG population has not increased and may have decreased in the last 20 years, I stand to be corrected. Anyone one know if city staff has increased or decreased in that time, especially administrative, managers?

I like how the federal government is cutting Coast Guard services, closing stations and replacing people with fancy electronics in order to “save 80 million dollars” and the best part of their spiel is that they are also “enhancing safety” Well howdy!, they should have tried cost cutting before, if it is going to save lives. Lives will be lost because of this decision, but I’ll bet no one in the federal government bean counting department will have to answer for their actions.
metalman.

“replacing people with fancy electronics”

I have not looked into that. So are they replacing ships and helicopters used for search and rescue with electronics too?

Are they getting “beam me up Scotty” technology – people wear gps locators, the teleporter will pick them up from the water and transport them to shore?

It’s about time they did that! I mean, Gene Roddenberry was decades ahead of his time.

I hear the 2012 version is powered by wood pellets to boot! ;-)

why the hell are we paying more than 15 cents
a liter for gas than Kamloops!!

Price of oil is down to $91 dollars per barrel for pete’s sake…..!

Mattyc- you crack me up. You and your rah rah rah for Adrian Dix, you know the guy that FALSIFIED documents for his old buddy Glen Clark and then deeked out on paying sky train fare. Is that really the character you want in a leader? What a great choice, you’ll be whining about them I’m sure.

I’ll agree to disagree Gus. Painted crosswalks have been with us as long as roads. Putting your life in the hands of “alert” drivers is a death wish. Its cheaper to paint than put up overhead signs at every crosswalk.

Take a walk and see how alert many drivers are. I have. Almost got clipped crossing Victoria at Tim’s. There is an overhead sign there. Why didn’t they put a flashing light on that sign?