I find myself wondering what will happen to the three conservative senators today. Will they be ousted or not? It also begs the question of whether or not we should continue to fund the rubber stamp mill at all. Any thoughts?

Is anyone taking up the issue of the city allowing some developer to cut down acres of trees within city limits INSIDE the riparian zone in College Heights? (Malaspina area).

According to city bylaw #6343 (Tree Protection Act) there is a big fine for doing so. Home owners face a fine for cutting down a tree (without permission and paying a fee), but a developer can do what he/she wants.

To be clear, the residents there are trying to be heard, but the media is doing nothing. I talked with a person who lives in that area and they can’t get either of the local newspapers or any of the radio news teams to do anything, and City hall staff are simply stalling.
These politicians put in the laws, but don’t even follow their own rules. No wonder they find themselves having so little respect.

What is the city project going on beside the Hofferkamp Rd. turnoff. How much are we paying for this?

I find it both amusing and sad, how the “Liberal” spin doctors try laying blame on the Prime Minister’s Office for what these three Senators have done. So the PM appointed them, is he suppose to be some kind of prophet knowing that they would be doing something stupid in the future? Trudeau and Mulclair are barking up the wrong tree, trying to make political hay and looking ridiculous doing so. Time to move on to more serious issues and let the offending Senators be disciplined as they should.

Right, the Cons never try to make political hay, do they?
No, I’m with Sine on this one: the “Red upper House” should be done away with ASAP. It performs the same function as teats on a rooster and its ongoing presence as well as the current displays of obnoxious behavior do nothing more than contribute to the rising tide of contempt for politicians.

Flu vaccines required by health care workers or wear a mask. (please don’t question me as to why I have decided to wear a mask, I am all really labeled)
Is this really any different then the goverment making a decision that smoking a joint of Marijuana every morning is good for you and hey maybe it could prevent 3 strains of the flu.
No way the general population would say, there is not enough research, look at the ingredients how can marijuana be any good for you? It to me is about choice and I for one choose to wear a mask at work.

As long as you do not wear a hijab and live in Quebec, you should be okay. :-)

I think we need two houses in Parliament. We could introduce two in the provinces as well. The reason is to provide a better check and balance system. Senate committees can look into the workings of ministries and programs from a quality audit point of view. As always, that assumes everything is working properly.

BUT, it should be an elected senate and representative of the provinces and territories and the regions within each.

Five or so senators per province and territory. Like the USA, the representation should not be based on population but based on lower government jurisdictions.

Cheetos werote: “I find it both amusing and sad, how the “Liberal” spin doctors try laying blame on the Prime Minister’s Office for what these three Senators have done.”

Did you forget that Nigel Wright, the PMO chief of staff, resigned after it was discovered that he issued a cheque to Duffy for $90,000 to pay for his living expense claims that did not meet the criteria?

It also sounds like Harper accused Wright of telling other about the cheque.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/10/24/stephen_harper_says_nigel_wright_told_others_about_cheque_to_mike_duffy.html

As far as the PM Office goes, it is Harper’s office; he is the head honcho, and the buck stops at his desk. If he cannot control his people, it is his problem.

Last I checked, the Esso at Domano and O’Grady was still holding on to their gas prices at 10 cents a litre higher than the Chevron across the street. And I still see cars filling up there.

The Senate is supposed to be an independent group of thinking people to examine issues handed to them by elected MPs. They are supposed to be examining legislation freely, that is why we call them a chamber of sober second thought. How can they practice independent second thought if they are being steered by the PMO and told what to do and to obey even if they personally disagree, but being afraid to step out of line?

If all they are allowed to be is a quasi second parliament, with a majority of one kind of party members calling the shots according to party policy and slavishly following orders from the PM/PMO why do we need them?

If that is all they are, I say abolish the whole thing a.s.a.p.!

Why does this website bother with surveys? You can just keep voting over and over rendering them practically useless and utterly untrustworthy.

I’m with you Gus an elected senate would serve Canadians much better. I believe we do need the over site of an unbiased senate, not a bunch of hand picked ideological monkeys who pull the party line

Someone posted on Facebook yesterday that Michael’s craft store closed. I find this hard to believe and I am away until the first week of November so I can not go and see for myself. Can someone confirm or dispel this “rumour”. I am a frequent shopper and if they have closed this is of concern to me.

I know my topic is a little more trivial than the others but it’s been driving me crazy since yesterday. LOL.

Thanks in advance.

They were still open yesterday.

Cheetos states: “I find it both amusing and sad, how the “Liberal” spin doctors try laying blame on the Prime Minister’s Office for what these three Senators have done.”

You do realize that on June 13, 2013 the RCMP confirmed the force has launched a CRIMINAL investigation into Wright’s payment to Duffy?

What part of “CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION” do you not understand?

Without commenting on the antics if the PMO staff and senators there is a concept in this country of innocent until proven guilty….people#1’s take is the bizzaro version of guilty until proven innocent…unless they are ndp.

Downtown monthly parking rates are being raised January 1st, some as high as 111%. From $45 to $95! And yet no access to a plug-in for the vehicle. This is outrageous! How can the City justify such a huge increase? I guess this is the price we pay for not allowing parking meters to make a comeback. :((

I have run into a problem that I sent to my MP, I was looking to change my cable/phone/internet service back to a company I used before. They asked for two of the following ID: SIN number, Passport number, BC Care Card number, Drivers Licence number or BC ID number. When the MP’s office check with the head office they said they would never ask for a Passport or BC Care Card number but they do ask for SIN number, drivers licence number or credit card number; at the same time my MP’s office stated that I should not give them my SIN number. I phoned back and they told me they had the right to ask for the SIN, Passport, BC Care Card and BC ID number and that they had been told by head office to ask for them. I read out the letter from the MP’s office and also Service Canada that states private companies are not allowed to ask for SIN number for credit information. I also told them that they had credit information on me seeing that I had been a customer and the numbers they were asking for would not help in a credit check, at the time the message changed that they had to build a profile on me.

Has anyone else had this problem?

This is why I call Stephen Harper a Harpercrite!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COwvznzJkV8

Any questions?

myview: “Downtown monthly parking rates are being raised January 1st, some as high as 111%. From $45 to $95! And yet no access to a plug-in for the vehicle. This is outrageous! How can the City justify such a huge increase?”

Probably because $45 wasn’t covering the operation and maintenance of the parkng lots.

graymare:

Just make up a number with the proper amount of numbers or letters and write down the phoney numbers if they ever ask for them to confirm your ID. There is no way they could confirm the phoney numbers as Service Canada would not release that info to a cable company.
My Passport has two letters followed by 6 numbers,AB123456. Really that is it;-)

Harpercrite…That anything like a Dippercrite?

Hmm… I wouldn’t go so far as calling Harper a “Dippercrite” ewitt, that’s just nasty ;-)

myview: “Downtown monthly parking rates are being raised January 1st, some as high as 111%. From $45 to $95! And yet no access to a plug-in for the vehicle. This is outrageous! How can the City justify such a huge increase?”

Probably because $45 wasn’t covering the operation and maintenance of the parkng lots.

The city needs to figure out what they are doing with parking downtown. Taxing the people that work downtown to the tune of $1100 a year to come to work is tantamount to gouging. With no effective transit system in this city, it is unrealistic to direct people to taking the bus. To harass people to NOT park on the street and coral them into unaffordable parking is not a solution, it is contributing to the problem.

ewit, no I would not do that; what if the numbers ended up belonging to some else. I work with two people that had their lifes messed up with some else using their ID for loans etc. Also the point is that they are asking for numbers that we should not be giving out to anyone. I even told them the my Passport does not belong to me but to the Canadian Government therefore it could never help them with a credit rating. I just do not understand people freely given out such personal information.

I also wonder what is going to happen seeing that our BC drivers licence and Care Cards are becoming one card. I will not be giving out my licence number when that happens.

Years ago the RCMP said never give out your divers licence number and a credit card number for cheque ID. With those two numbers you are open to theft. I don’t know if that is true.

Why would they release a convicted sex offender that is at a high risk to reoffend ? Unbelievable laws or like Ben used to say, stupid,stupid,stupid.

graymare -If you listen closely they ask for “a” SIN or passport number not “your” number most likely because they cannot legally ask for that private information. If you keep your bills paid up there should be no problem if you did happen on someone’s number, and if you gave them two numbers the chances would be astronomical that it would be the same person.

Looked up Dippercrite in Urban Dictionary- no definition only a picture of p#1. Username change in the offing?

Oh… ewitt, when I posted the link to the youtube video, I meant are there any questions regarding the content of the video.

I am sorry you misinterpreted it to mean any questions about the person posting the video. Funny how in that video, some of Harper’s loyal followers (sheeple) walk up and surround Harper to protect him from any media questions about Nigel Wright and the Duffy pay-off…kind of like what you are doing here on this discussion thread ewitt.

ate: “The city needs to figure out what they are doing with parking downtown. Taxing the people that work downtown to the tune of $1100 a year to come to work is tantamount to gouging. With no effective transit system in this city, it is unrealistic to direct people to taking the bus.”

The problem is the some feel entitled to free (or subisidized) parking. Nothing in life is ‘free’. Everything costs money to operate and maintain and those costs aren’t going away. Either the users pay it, or it gets picked up by the taxpayer. I personally favour a user pay system when it comes to parking.

Regarding transit, I agree that people around here generally don’t use public transit… but I wonder if that’s because don’t like the fact that it’s less convenient than driving your car.

I work in the public sector and if I steal from my employer I would be fired. NO questions asked. The same should happen to the three senators in question. I am surprised how quickly they threw Harper under the bus. And it was really funny that everyone was up in arms about being called in ( very early ) for A friday sitting in the senate…I guess these folks dont like to work a full work week. This is when I am not so proud to be a Canadian.

barely 11:00am and we have to take a shot for the Sheeple drinking game – happy Friday

public transit use is not what it could be for a simple reason:
It sucks.

for example, it takes an hour and a half to get from hart mall to westgate.

To get downtown it takes an hour with two transfers.

for those that cannot afford a vehicle, this is treating them as second class citizens. A little bit like the Indian (not north American) caste systems untouchables.

“Why does this website bother with surveys? You can just keep voting over and over rendering them practically useless and utterly untrustworthy.”

We should conduct a survey to find out why. We just need to make sure that we post that no one is allowed to vote twice, even if the whole family shares one computer. ;-)

The parking cost increase was planned all along, the city had reviewed the cost of parking in the other major centers throughout the province and it averaged around $90(+tax). The city had just planned on getting the parking meters first…… pushing people into the parking lots and parkades then raising those costs once people had committed to them. The current rates were covering the maintenance costs, however they weren’t providing much net revenue. To park in most of the lots in the city costs a person $600 a year (not free), now it will double. If the current rates weren’t covering the costs we would sure as hell have heard about it from the city…..this ridiculous hike in costs is just going to push more businesses from downtown out into areas like Quinn, Opie etc where they can have onsite parking for their employees.

Increasing the rate for parking on any parking lot or parkade in the downtown, especially in the amount of doubling, is sure to increase the rate of abusing free on-street parking for 2 hours.

The only way to offset that is to decrease the time limit for free parking to 1 hour and use a license plate scanner to improve enforcement.

If the city does not do that, I think there is an argument to be made that the City is trying to undermine the free on-street parking program.

Why do we need 2 hours of free parking during business hours on weekdays? Make it one hour Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Now that people (employees and business owners) have had a taste of free parking downtown, it is hard to convince them to pay anything, no matter what the rate — let alone what it costs to maintain parking lots. The City was the master of its own misfortune there.

License plate scanners are great in the summer, but many vehicles have their plates covered in the winter due to snow. If you start handing out tickets for that, people are likely to become outraged. It is a no-win situation.

Good point gus. But voting could only be permitted with a login.

We have to remember that those who own buildings in the area bounded by 2nd, 7th, Queensway and Victoria, are charged an extra levy so that they do not have to provide on-site parking. The City provides the parking for those businesses through parking lots and parkades.

It would be interesting to see the calculations for the parking load the buildings in that area generate using the zoning regulations and whether the City is providing enough parking for those spaces.

I suspect, with the amount of removal of buildings that has gone on in the last decade, that there likely is enough parking.

That leaves the question of whether the parking locations are reasonably well distributed so that people do not have too far to walk. It also leaves the question of exactly what the levy is supposed to cover – the annualized capital cost of land and infrastructure + ongoing maintenance cost, or also a profit?

If the levy is high enough, then an argument could be made that each building owner should be assigned spots in the nearest parking facility for no additional fee.

The task of enforcing the use of the space would then fall on the building owners …. represented by the DBIA.

2 hours is reasonable gus. When I shop downtown I hit up a few stores at once, and usually grab lunch somewhere. I also get my hair done at a place downtown, and depending on what I’m getting done even 2 hours isn’t enough.

some random thoughts for this weekend.

A great job to Diversified Transportation for putting the white strobe lights on top of school buses. I could see the strobe light long after the tail lights disappeared in the fog the other day.

With the recent air advisories, transit provides some free rides (which cost all taxpayers) I am dismayed to see that developers by the golf course and riverside shopping area, as well as by the library are permitted to leave mud, gravel and whatever all over the roads, which then dries and adds to the poor air quality as well as costing the taxpayers for more road sweeping to clean up after them. A couple of years ago while in the lower mainland, I stopped at a construction site to see what they do and found that there are bylaws where all vehicles leaving the construction site must be washed off by the developer to remove mud, loose gravel, dirt etc., before being allowed onto the city streets. Perhaps our city folk can look into something like this to make sure that the rest of us don’t have to keep supporting these developers and keeping ICBC busy with windshield claims.

on the parking issue, I noticed at the post office yesterday around 4 p.m. that the 30 minute parking limits on Quebec street in front of the entrance to the winter games office were being ignored as some vehicles were parked there well over an hour. I guess expecting our parking enforcement folk to do something about this is wishful thinking, they are too busy ticketing the public who are trying to patronize the various buinesses where there is poor parking provided.

U.F.C.W. The United Food and Commercial Workers union, for example, added a few thousand new members by organizing drug dealers in states that have legalized pot. Who’d a thunk it, eh? Source? Page 11, The Financial Post magazine dated October 13.

Interceptor … a sighting of our People’s advocate for the Sheeple

http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/e50a42c35d81.jpg

Happy Friday ;-)

oops: “I am beginning to feel like some of the reporters in this video”

The Cities foray into purchasing property on the Hart Highway Industrial land, with the intent to eventually sell it to a developer needs some careful scrutiny.

Since when did we vote in a Council to make such arrangements?? In fact when has this type of purchase ever been part of a public debate.??

The City might have the right to do this under Section 8 (1) of the Community Charter, however in my opinion they would also need the ok from the taxpayers who’s money they are spending, and putting at risk.

There is far to much secrecy involved in the shenanigans at City Hall. In this case we need to have more information.

1. Who is interested in purchasing this property, and what type of industry would be located there.

2. Why is it necessary for the City of Prince George to be involved in a project that should be the responsibility of the Province, Regional District, and the proponent.

3. Is it the Cities intent to purchase this property and then service the area. If so are the taxpayers of Prince George on the hook for the servicing costs.

4. What guarantee is there that our investment would be protected, and that we at the very least will get our initial investment back.

5. Other than some profit from flipping this property, what is the purpose of the City being involved.

6. What type of industry will be involved, and what are the environmental ramifications.

7. If the City is in financial difficulty then why are we spending money on a project that is out of our jurisdiction, when this money could be better spent on roads,garbage, sewer, etc;

8. One would assume that this property has a large amount of timber on it. Is it the Cities intention to log off this property, and have the money from the sale go to general revenues.

Seems to me this is another undercover operation by the City, IPG, and some speculators. When will the City get down to the basics of governing and get away from these dubious projects.

Lets hope that our Councilors nip this project in the bud, and let the chips fall where they may.

People: “Aww, come on, I posted a video link of Harper, hoping to ignite a thoughtful conversation on what an “open, honest and transparent” government should be.”

Yeah right. Let’s be honest here… You’re just looking for people to jump on your anti-Harper bandwagon.

peegee wrote: “2 hours is reasonable gus. When I shop downtown I hit up a few stores at once, and usually grab lunch somewhere. I also get my hair done at a place downtown, and depending on what I’m getting done even 2 hours isn’t enough.”

May I ask if the place you get your hair done is within the perimeter streets I identified? I know there are barbers in that area. Hairdressers which are outside of that area come to mind, but none inside that area.

Hairdressers such as the one at the Coast are outside their area and have their own parking.

In fact, if I was doing that kind of shopping, etc. I would use the 4th avenue parkade behind City Furniture which is free, has an escalator that goes to the ground floor and exits across from Northern Hardware. I used that even when it did cost something to park there.

Wasabi Sushi for lunch, a walk down third and fourth avenue “shopping” if one wants to call it that, and 2 hours is gone, all for nothing, all without worries if one runs into friends and grab a coffee on George.

I am amazed how little that parkade is used by those who are able to walk, are not afraid to do so, and get enjoyment from it.

Come to think of it, we used to use that parkade when it was the Bay. So, that makes it the fall 40 years ago.

Creature of habit. Except the environment has changed for the worst.

That is the problem with us older folks who used to enjoy downtown. We have seen better times. At least I think they were better time. Never noticed the street people because the place was so crowded and because we came from Toronto and loved the mixture of people on streets such as Yonge, Kensington Market, Bloor, etc.

La Tienda on 4th
I didn’t realize that parkade was free, I will probably start using it now. Although as a single girl I’m a little leery of places like parkades, they can be a little creepy sometimes. Thanks!

who da thunk wrote: “Perhaps our city folk can look into something like this to make sure that the rest of us don’t have to keep supporting these developers and keeping ICBC busy with windshield claims.”

Those are reasonable and acceptable regulations in communities in the lower mainland and on the island.

Around here, those are the types of things on a list of issues developers have with the City they think makes the PG an unfriendly place to do business in.

Look at the construction fence around the WDIC building for instance, especially the closure of the sidewalk on two streets. Any other city would require a wooden sidewalk constructed there as was done on part of 4th avenue for the RCMP building.

“I work in the public sector and if I steal from my employer I would be fired. NO questions asked”

I agree. So put it to the RCMP, let due process run its course and come to a conclusion based on the facts. If after that it is determined that theft or breach of trust occurred, remove them from the senate and charge them if warranted. Simple.

The majority of these people grandstanding from their senate pulpit wouldn’t understand auditing procedures or investigative tactics if they hit them in the face. Why are they so worried about having a REAL investigation into the whole matter???? Heck, even the people being accused are asking for a REAL and likely more intrusive investigation to take place. What does that tell you?????

Park on the top level. It is not enclosed; open to the sky. There is always a spot close to the entrance to Liquidation World. Go in there and head for the escalator down to the furniture store.

“That is the problem with us older folks who used to enjoy downtown. We have seen better times. At least I think they were better time. Never noticed the street people because the place was so crowded and because we came from Toronto and loved the mixture of people on streets such as Yonge, Kensington Market, Bloor, etc.”

It’s not just older folks gus ;)

Did you know that I used to walk a mile to school across barren fields between our subdivision and the Laurentian HS on Baseline and Clyde … in the middle of a blustery winter …..

Well, maybe a half mile … ;-)

The school, complete with a theatre with fly tower, football field, track and bleachers, was torn down a couple of years ago and the field had high rise apartments built on it.

Things change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. :-)

I agree with NMG, regrettably the only way we are going to see any kind of “open, honest, and transparent” process to this senate fiasco is through a thorough RCMP investigation!

In this matter, we must heed Harper’s own words; “When someone doesn’t answer questions in a straight forward manner, there may be something else.”

Time for the RCMP to find out what that “something else” is!

“Did you know that I used to walk a mile to school across barren fields between our subdivision and the Laurentian HS on Baseline and Clyde … in the middle of a blustery winter”

I knew Baseline but I had to look up Clyde. As it turns out, I really like that area. I often go for runs down by the Experimental Farm, through the Arboretum and onto Dow’s Lake and beyond.

I actually saw some snowflakes today . . .

My response to Palopu …. he’ll have to ask the City to get their response. Good luck!!! ;-)

1.Who is interested in purchasing this property, and what type of industry would be located there.

Could be almost any kind of large primary processing/manufacturing plant which generates a significant amount of pollution that would be inappropriate to have in existing industrial land in the City since our knowledge of such plants and their effect on the surroundings has changed considerably since the pulp mills were built.

2.Why is it necessary for the City of Prince George to be involved in a project that should be the responsibility of the Province, Regional District, and the proponent.

The Regional District has identified the properties after many years of study, but has not got them ready for development. Leaving it to the province does not move swiftly enough for developers. Not everyone moves at a snail space such as pipeline companies. I understand that a City can typically pick up property at a fraction of the price that private industry can.

3.Is it the Cities intent to purchase this property and then service the area. If so are the taxpayers of Prince George on the hook for the servicing costs.

I highly doubt it. Even our City Hall is not that stupid.

4.What guarantee is there that our investment would be protected, and that we at the very least will get our initial investment back.

None. Simply put, we need to do the best we can to secure the property through provincial agreement, agreement with the RDFFG or on our own in order to be able to attract heavy industry to this community. We are one of the cities which fits the pattern of being in a good position to do that. It is one of the things many on here post about …. The making of “real wealth”, at least the old fashioned kind. If we cannot compete in creating of intellectual wealth, we have to keep doing the old fashioned primary industry type.

5.Other than some profit from flipping this property, what is the purpose of the City being involved.

Flipping a property, and I would not even bother to “flip” it but sell it back at cost as an incentive IF the development takes place. Otherwise no deal. The big money is in the jobs, the taxes, etc. which will benefit both the City and the RDFFG. The other thing we have to remember is that we are part of the RDFFG and, as such, we pay a major share of the costs of the RDFFG. It is not as if we will not benefit from making the outskirts of the City (RDFFG) more viable.

6.What type of industry will be involved, and what are the environmental ramifications.

Already answered in 1.

7.If the City is in financial difficulty then why are we spending money on a project that is out of our jurisdiction, when this money could be better spent on roads,garbage, sewer, etc;

One cannot stop operating a business when times get tough. One still has to go after new clients, especially when old clients just do not cut it anymore. We are not that financially strapped that we cannot afford to go after new clients.

8.One would assume that this property has a large amount of timber on it. Is it the Cities intention to log off this property, and have the money from the sale go to general revenues.

Too much of a detail for me to even hazard a guess. Also, in the big scheme of things, small change.

One thing is for sure. These properties that have been identified by the RDFFG and the City, since it is contained within the RDFFG, have been sitting there for some time and nothing is being done about them. Either we get off our asses and match potential developments to actual and potential inventories of land, or we give up and let the world pass us by.

Yes, we often went to the experimental farm. Of course, in those days, no one jogged ….. except me because I was on the HS track team …. people thought I was crazy jogging down the streets …. LOL

I am betting the property that the city wants to purchase north of town is going to be for a large pumping station or something similar for the Northern Gateway pipeline. That is probably why Kinsley started these proceedings to buy the property when he was mayor.

I doubt it. That would be a total waste of prime heavy industry land.

The whole process of identifying industrial land around the City was started more than a decade ago. The RDFFG had public sessions in all the electoral areas affected. Environmental assessment were done from the point of view of water, air, etc. plus accessibility to rail, highway, water, etc.

I kept myself relatively informed about what was happening to the point of actually sitting down at the RDFFG and looking at the files with photos, reports, etc.

“people thought I was crazy jogging down the streets …. LOL”

Just like PG circa 2011, LOL ;)

I just checked some distances.

The property in question runs between Salmon River Rd to the south and just shy of Mitchell Rd, the turnoff to the Huble Homestead.

The distance from the Salmon River Rd/Hart Hwy intersection to Austin Rd/Hart Hwy intersection is 24.7km and the GPS tells me that is an 18 minute drive. Vancouverites would consider that a nice short commute to work.

The pipeline is shown to go through Bear Lake. That is 63 Km from Austin Rd., a 44 minute commute.

So, that site and the route which Enbridge is showing in its proposals do not match up.

Just checked the distance from Dunkley Lumber to the intersection of 97 and Barkerville Hwy in Quesnel … 37km … with 25 minute driving time.

They have located a lot of hog farms in Arkansas, and some other states. These farms are in depressed areas. You can imagine the stink from thousands of acres of pig s..t being dumped on the ground.

The pig farms provide employment for the locals, however you can rest assured that those areas are not attractive to other industries, other business, or tourists.

Soooo. We need to be sure that the industry we locate in the greater Prince George area, is a benefit to all, and not just to those who locate there.

We do not need to kiss any ones butt for the sake of a few jobs.

I suppose at some point we will find out the real story behind this maneuver, and you can rest assured that it will be a nudge, nudge, wink, wink, deal.

We certainly do not need anymore pollution going into the Fraser River, we get enough from industry already located along the Fraser.

Gus wrote: “Did you forget that Nigel Wright, the PMO chief of staff, resigned after it was discovered that he issued a cheque to Duffy for $90,000 to pay for his living expense claims that did not meet the criteria?”

Well since you asked….no I didn’t, but what’s the big deal? Didn’t Mr. Wright, write that cheque from his personal funds? Maybe Mr. Duffy was a little short on cash, and Mr. Wright tried to help him out…Mr. Wright was trying to do the right thing and it turned out wrong, so he made the right decision to step down, but what wrong did the PM do? Is he suppose to be omniscient?

People #1 wrote: “You do realize that on June 13, 2013 the RCMP confirmed the force has launched a CRIMINAL investigation into Wright’s payment to Duffy?”

What part of “CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION” do you not understand?

Well I watch the news like you do People#1 – I know that….but what wrong has the PM done? Are you suggesting the PM said to Mr. Wright, “Hey help Duffy out…you are a wealthy man….cut him a cheque for 90 grand”

A criminal investigation takes place because a “crime may have been committed” not that a crime was committed. So what part of that don’t you understand?

So the property to be developed by the City North of Prince George has been considered in the past for.

1. A steel mill
2. Burning creosote ties for briquettes.

3. Seems it was also considered (and may still be considered for a Urea Formaldehyde Plant. These plants run best when Natural Gas is used. In addition the power that used to go from this area to supply the Upper Fraser Mill is available.

The problem with producing Urea Formaldehyde is that you have to use Ammonium Nitrate, and would therefore have to have an Ammonium Nitrate plant in the area. These plants are somewhat dangerous.

Sooo. If this is the plan, then we certainly need to get all the information we can.

**Urea is produced by reacting liquid Ammonia NH3 with carbon dioxide CO2. The conversion to urea is not complete; Therefore urea is separated and purified.

Perhaps our resident scientist at UNBC could explain the process’s involved in a Urea plant.

Have a nice day.

Harper heads, and is in charge of his own office (the PMO) he is suppose to know what goes on in his own office! Given his obsessively autocratic and controlling nature, he must have known about he $90K cheque being cut for Mike Duffy.

Even now he is back tracking and contradicting himself on record. Before he stated; “Nobody” knew about the cheque” now he is saying “very few people” knew about the cheque”. None of those people was him????

It’s not looking good Cheetos!

So, ‘guilty until proven innocent’ in other words. Sounds about right.

The issue about the senators is not about what they didn’t report and thus their lack of ethics. That is straight forward and I think all are in agreement this was unethical on their part and abusive of their positions.

We have a growing issue of a Prime Minister that is anything but ethical and it appears he can not tell the truth. No matter how much he points to others, it does not address his own bad choices. The Prime Minister runs the country, he should be held to the highest standard.

Prime Minister Harper appointed the three senators under question. In return for their appointments he had them campaign to help the conservatives win the last election, while being paid for senate work on tax payer dollars, and while billing their expenses to the government. Is this not an election expense?

Did the conservative party of Canada ever offer to pay back the expenses in question, as they were incurred for partisan conservative fund raisers and not actual senate work?

Does the Prime Minister feel it is ok for them to make these expenses to campaign with him, but its not ok and they are criminals if they get caught?

When did the Prime Minister know that the senators he appointed were campaigning on a senate budget for the conservative party of Canada and where was his ethics then?

When this became a political problem for the Prime Minister how involved was he in the political damage control, as his story keeps changing, and would he be willing to risk his legacy in a court of law for perjury? It seems as though the Prime Minister had to know of the $90,000 buy out of Duffy from the PMO. Harper has been smart to date to make his claims in the House under immunity, but would he be willing to take this same risk in a court of law, which is where this will ultimately end up? If not he is in a big hole… thus the rash move to remove the senators quietly he thought.

If a Prime Minister lies to protect a partisan use of the senate for election campaigns, and his appointments to the senate, then why would this not be a red flag?

Is the Prime Minister the one behind the unconstitutional removal of the senators to try and silence any connection to the conservative party and his abuse of power? Is there ramifications for Canadian democracy if senators can be removed without due process, at the whim of the Prime Minister, simply for the sake of quieting partisan problems?

For me the Prime Minister is guilty of talking the talk, but then being willing to say anything, even apparent lies or throwing people lower on the chain under the bus, to appear to be saying the right thing politically even when he has no intention of following his word or the same standard for himself when it comes to political advantage. Harper only says what can be spun as a advantage politically (a political salesman with another motive), his actions do not match his words. Harper will throw anyone under the bus to protect Harper from his own bad decisions.

The man has no shame and shows he can not be trusted with his actions in the senate scandal.

The three senators should have due process, at which time evidence should be presented and statements provided under oath. The end of which they very well should be found guilty and disallowed from the senate.

Canada is not bolshevik Russia.

IMHO

On a higher note I’d just like to thank the volunteers that did all that great work out at the Ancient Forest for all their efforts. Wow its like a great wall of China effort they made in the board walks out there. Its only too bad this was done so far from town where its not likely to get utilized to the extend something like this closer to town would be.

I would love to see that kind of effort done for a Crandbrook Hill Crest Trail along the top of Crandbrook Hill from UNBC to Moores Meadows. I think it would be the crown jewel in the North for out door recreation and PG tourism if it ever happened.

WHERE is the Ancient forest??? Directions on how to get there??/ Please??

Go East highway 16 until you see the sign — about 60 miles I think.

113 km

Eagleone wrote: “Canada is not bolshevik Russia.”

Neither is Canada a banana republic ….you are doing a lot of assuming and we both should know where that leads.. ;)

my thoughts on the Senate — regardless of elected or appointed they can be bought. Abolish this patronage, archaic waste of taxpayers money.

What is going on with our Habitat for Humanity ReStore???and the resources and the Money in the BANK?? Lots of questions and no answers. I think we as a City should fight this one ,WHY did the national H4H body pull the affiliation charter from the local group? What right do they have to take our H4H away? Can this problem be fixed?

There are standards, based on what was in the news, the local chapter did not meet them.

It appears the local chapter has to be shut down, all assets liquidated, and a new chapter can form and acquire the assets.

One cannot run a chapter against the standards of a national organization. If one does not agree, one can start their own organization.

So, you think an elected official can be bought, Big Bore, or just an elected senator?

Why would an elected senate have anything to do with patronage?

The US Senate is elected. How can they be patronage position?

I was reading on the CBC that it looks like the Mackenzie pipeline is looking to be revived.

They say the Mackenzie delta natural gas will not be gas from fracking, but actual gas reserves. We know for a fact almost all of the gas for the LNG plants will be gas that comes from fracked shale gas wells.

We also know that fracked gas carries a uranium and other heavy metal risk as those heavy metals are loosened and absorbed into the fracked gas. We know that heavy metals poison the environment and it is not the thing to have pumped through ones home for heating to be exhausted into ones neighborhood.

So I wonder if it would be possible to see that actual natural gas goes into our domestic gas lines for home heating… and the fracked gas goes to the LNG plants for export. I don’t think its too much to ask for and if that was the basis for the Mackenzie pipeline, I could most definitely support that from a national energy security perspective.