L E T   ' E R    R I P !!!

Quesnel has decided to utilize the same method of garbage pickup that is used in P.G.
I would appreciate feedback on some of the problems that may occur during the winter months.
I visualize dragging a garbage can over a snowbank for the truck to pickup.
I visualize garbage cans becoming vehicle obstacles to avoid on streets that are now more narrow because of snowbanks.
I also foresee the snow plow mowing over garbage cans that must be put in place before the home owner leaves for work.
Thanks in advance for your feed back.

this system is the greatest LEN2, I have a really bad back, but with the big wheels on the container, it is very easy to pull the container to the street. Best system ever, especially for people that can't carry the bin to the curb.

As far as the snowplows mowing over the containers?? According to most people in Prince George, this will never happen, because they never plow the residential streets.....lol

All joking aside, a great system!! You will love it.

As a former resident of PG, I can tell you that I really miss the automatic garbage pickup. Now I have to worry about the weight of the bags and usually have to put 3-4 cans out to ensure they are not overweight. You run into the same problems regardless of the type of can, dragging through the snow, but the large wheels on the auto-cans are quite good. Usually you put the can inside the corner of the cleared portion of your driveway. The snow plows will not come to an area on garbage day for that very reason.

I would also like to comment on the snow removal that PG gets; you do not get that level of snow removal anywhere else I have seen in a northern climate. Where I live now, they wait until there is at least a foot of compacted snow before they will clear the side streets. Depending on how the snowfall comes it can be quite a mess.

workin_dave, the comment I made about snow removal, was a bit of a joke!! I think PG has one of the best snow removal systems in the country! We have nothing to complain about there! Hell, we don't even have to shovel out the end of our driveways when the plow comes down the road. That was my job when I was a youngster here!

Now, POTHOLES, that is another story. Most of our roads "ARE DONE", beyond repair. I drive a cab. I put on about 300 klm a shift, 6 days a week. I get to see most roads, unlike you folks!! Our roads are in a horrible mess! City Hall, can no longer ignore this disgraceful neglect of our roads over the last several decades. Yes, I said DECADES!!

MR. ROGERS, lets get your slippers, and seat you in a comfy chair!! Do another damn study, while your feet are up, but heaven forbid, don't fix the roads.

This City Council is no different than the ones in the past. It just never bloody stops does it. PAC for 54 million dollars. 4th ave. refit, at a cost of 6.2 million. Are you idiots out of your frickin minds This City is a disgrace. It is known throughout, as a place you go to breath really bad air, and toast the undercarriage of you vehicle, dropping down into grand canyon size craters on our roads.

To get to our very own UNBC, via 15th Ave., you have to go through one of the worst sections of road in our City! And as you climb the hill, potholes everywhere! The main entrance to CN Center, disgraceful. Who is steering this ship???

This $h!t H@l& is a disgrace!! Somebody should make it right real quick, or we will all loose.
COULD THE LAST ONE TO LEAVE, PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHT, and watch out for the POTHOLES, as you are driving out of town!

Have a great weekend all, and keep your head above a "POTHOLE"

@LEN2 - There was much concern about how well the garbage cans would function, but I believe everyone has been pleasantly surprised how well the system works.

One benefit even I didn't think of but noticed right away is how much cleaner trash day looks with rows of neat, standardized, equally-placed and coloured bins vs. lumps of various cans and garbage bags.

One negative is our system was promised to save money. Hardly. The system is much more expensive, and many pointed to the city's lack of math skill when analyzing this new system.

But I wouldn't want to go back, and I doubt many of the initial nay-sayers would, either.

bohemian, do you mean, if we hadn't gone for this automated garbage collection system, we would have had
more money for the fixing of potholes today???? Just wondering!!

Expect gas prices to rise this weekend!
looks like there going up across the country.

Gotta admit I was wondering how the new garbage pickup was going to work when the word came down. I like it....no more critters n buzzards rippin the bags open before the truck arrives....glad I got the biggest can though...although only had to pack it full a couple times. Seemed like as a rule of thumb the snow plows would usally buzz by the night before pickup unless a huge dump of snow had em elsewhere. I'm not too sure if city halls financal forcast on the operation proved to be bang on or not.

Hey everyone happy friday, I agree with taxi, you'd think after how many years, (I have lived here just under 30 years now), and you'd think someone would figure out a way to deal with potholes. I mean its like snow removal its the same every year. We get lots of snow and then we get lots of potholes.

So instead of wasting our time on art centres and casinos how about coming up with a budget that matches the problem EVERY SINGLE WINTER brings?? Its not like its never happened before. I mean if we get lots of snow every year, and we get lots of potholes every year, can city council not look back at previous years and make their budget decisions based on that??

Undercutting the budget and then giving lousy service is not the answer. What you get is upset citizens wondering who's sailing the ship?? Because they see the same problems year after year and no solutions.

It would be nice to see problems get fixed once and for all and not bandaid solutuions that just pop up again and again, and again...

Just a thought.

I have been waiting all week so I could vent. There is nothing more disgusting than
going into a wash room and finding that some inconsiderate pig couldn't flush the toilet!

Does anyone know what happened to the starving, dead horses down at Canim Lake? Why was the story kept out of the news so much? When those other two horse were up in McBride there was something in the news about them every day! Just curious!!

Len2
One of the biggest problems with this type of garbage collection is that people don't put all their garbage in bags before putting it in the can. When the truck picks up the can and tips it, piles of loose garbage takes flight and makes your neighbourhood look like the hood. The city of PG does nothing to ensure this doesn't happen. IE: they don't warn people to secure their garbage or face littering fines.

Good question angeleyes...I have been wondering the same thing.
The story sure disappeared in a hurry!
Why was that?

People being paid off not to print anything more about it would be my guess Andy.

Whatever the reason,I do find it odd lostfaith.

Well folks I think the reason you have not heard anything about the horses at Camin Lake is because they are on reserve property. Different laws.

This really isn't a new situation for this herd. They have been in existance on the reserve for years. Legally they may be classed as 'ferel'. So there is no way to make anyone responsible for thier suffering.

I must express my extreme disappointment that our new Mayor has actually REDUCED the amount of money that will be put into road repair and repaving this year compared to last year! How on earth can that be justified, especially since our taxes for this year went UP again?

What are they doing with all that money???

I'm stuck for words to express how I feel about that! Taxinapothole, your turn! You have a way with words!

Well folks I think the reason you have not heard anything about the horses at Camin Lake is because they are on reserve property. Different laws.

This really isn't a new situation for this herd. They have been in existance on the reserve for years. Legally they may be classed as 'ferel'. So there is no way to make anyone responsible for thier suffering.

Sorry about the double post. Forgot about the refresh thing.

Totally sick and tired of paying, paying, and more paying for nothing! Those doe heads at city hall will get their art centre and I'll be paying, paying, again for something I'll never use. We all use the roads Dan Rodgers fix them before one of your own is hurt by them! That is why I voted for you. I thought you were for the people. Do we really have to go rally in front of city hall with torches and pitch forks to get it though their thick heads. This has been a 20 year problem that has gotten out of hand with poor miss management of our tax dollars. This road problem has not just happened over 1 year. I know I've been here all my life! OMG I hate admitting that fact.

Diplomat I just wonder if reducing money for road repair now might result in a couple of years surprise surprise we have money for the performing arts centre. The problem being is you will need an ATV to get to it.

So why are we facing a tax increase, when the tax payers income has not changed.

Daniel Hannon represents England in the European Parliament. The following link is a video of a speech he gave in the European Parliament a couple of days ago. The video is 3 minutes and 28 seconds long. Anyone interested in financial and economic matters (which is probably most of us now) should watch this video. I think a lot of people in the United Kingdom are going to be asking Daniel Hannon to run for Prime Minister.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs

Chales.. We need him to be our P.M!!

Charles, that was hitting the nail so square on the head, that with a single strike it has set itself. Everyone should listen to Daniel Hannon speach.

I see that some of the gas startions are sporting a new price tag of 95.9 today.
Must have a holiday arriving soon...
TIME TO GAS UP

To continue my thoughts from earlier, why should our taxes increase in these times. Why couldn't the Mayor and Council simply say, roll over last years budget and tell its subordinates..... make it work.

Why do we need to build a 30 million dollar new building for the RCMP. Sure it would be great for me and my company. But why are we trying to build a Police Station suited for a city of 150,000 people. Seriously. Wouldn't it make more sense to build a smaller 4 to 5 million dollar operation each in the Hart and one in College heights. Wouldn't that be a bit more effective way to police our city.

Less time will be spent going back and forth to headquarters. In fact wouldn't this provide presence to the burb.

Do we seriously need a 52 million dollar theatre to watch some pansy dance around. Oooops not PC, Don't we have Vanier Hall. Why can't that facility be better utilized. Or does the art community need there own little castle to feel important.

The Library, we spend three million dollars a year on to keep it running. i believe that we need a Library. But don't we have three high quality libraries in our city. UNBC and CNC has a library also. We have our books, we know what the public wants. Why don't we just pay either the College or the University, one million dollars a year to become our public Library system.

Swimming Pool, hockey rinks, etc. why not lease it off to a private company. Have them run it. Get rid of the liabilities of employees.

We need to be looking at ways to reduce costs, not finding new ways to spend on things that are marginally to the benefit of the public.

Now that uproar over the ice oval has died down it would be interesting to know just how many people used the facility this winter once it became user pay. It should be relatively easy to divide the total monies collected by the user fee and come up with an estimate of total users plus or minus 5%. My betting is it will be a far cry from the 20,000 people the society claimed were users when they went to council to get taxpayer money for the facility.
The society has been so silent on the oval it is as if the oval no longer exists or have the speed skaters achieved their goal and eliminated the general public from the oval?

Charles...great link!
Wonder if Daniel Hannon would like to immigrate to Canada?

A few days ago I got a piece of junk mail (direct advertising literature) with an auto key attached. It was from a very large Dodge dealership in this town. I won't name it. Anyway off I went to the dealership. Walked in the door with my junk mail with key still attached. I was directed to a salesman whose first question was, "What is your drivers license number. I said nothing. He then invited me to sit down at his table. On the table (facing him) was taped was 4 pages of fine print rules. He then pushed an application form across the table and asked me to fill it out. It looked like an application to buy a vehicle. I asked why I couldn't just try the key. He replied, "Insurance reasons". I asked what happens to the information on the sheet, should I fill it out? He mumbled something. I got up and walked out. Crumbling up the flyer and dropping it in the round file and then dropping the key on the floor purposely by their coffee machine. If they don't have a regular night janitor the key might still be there. Help yourself. What "twicksters " they are. No wonder Chrysler is on the ropes.

"Do we seriously need a 52 million dollar theatre to watch some pansy dance around. Oooops not PC, Don't we have Vanier Hall. Why can't that facility be better utilized. Or does the art community need there own little castle to feel important."

I went down for some PD a couple years ago and had the instructor tell a story about how his company wanted to transfer him and they asked what it would take. He threw out a number that was 3 times his current salary thinking they would never pay it. A couple days later he was on a flight to PG. A year later he quit his job because his wife refused to stay no mater what the pay. She was artsy (or as you apparently refer to them "a pansy").

Now I realize no one in PG cares what professionals want, with one glaring exception. Doctors. We need doctors. My family doctor is in a long fight with his wife. She doesnt care about the low cost of living or the fact a PG doctor can work as much as he or she wants. She doesnt want to be here. Eventually she will win. Providing culture might be the only way to attract and retain longterm medical professionals. Isnt that worth something? Dont we have to try?

I am dismayed, however, at the news of more jobs being off-shored to other countries by TELUS. Estimated Job in the Phillipines and India 7000- 10000 jobs. These were good Canadian jobs which service Canadians.
Telus confirmed that it pays its workers in the Philippines about three times
that country’s minimum wage, or roughly 16,000 Philippines pesos per month
(depending on the region), which translates to $415 a month.

Its my opinin that a corperation with policies such as this, should not be able to do buisness here in Canada.

Support a more ethical provider!

Actually, my earlier comment about the Mayor having reduced the amount of money for road repairs in comparison to last year's is not correct. The amount is greater than last year's but it still falls short of the recommendation made by Mr. Blues.

I'm eating crow!

The homeless man in Vancouver who was shot by police when he pulled out a knife was an American in Canada looking for a better life. I am sad that the man lost his life but what was he doing here ?? Apparentley he had mental problems and alcohol addiction and was on the streets. Was he on our welfare system?? We roll out the Red Carpet for the Homeless from all over Canada and now it looks like also the U.S. homeless are coming here. The man's family is upset and it looks like they could be going to sue us ? So why weren't they looking after him? I keep asking how many of the so called homeless in P.G. are from P.G., how many are being sent here ? How many more new shelters are we going to build?

Same number of shelters. One less bed.

Can't use the Univerity and Public Libraries for general reader's use. Although citizens are welcome to both of these libraries, the reading material is toally different. A strong public library is indicative of a strong democracy.

Also, we do need the arts. It is self-evident that if we want to retain professionals and others we need a strong
social diversity.

Dear Clean, now you are talking. I just wish I could have made some important people listen to what I was trying to tell them years ago. Now we will reap what was sewn.

Charles I watched that last night and I agree he is the best hope for Britain... seems to be the only politician in Britain that understands what is going on... Gorden Brown is a Rothschild eunuch for a NWO globalization debt slavery plan. To bad Danial Hannon is in the European parliament and not representing his country where it counts... the world could use a guy like that running the show in Britain at the heart of the bankster City of London.

I bought a great audio book the other day called 'Great Speeches in History' and if you liked what Danial Hannon had to say, then you would love the speeches in this audiobook. Full of power and fight for freedom and justice... I liked it because it was a lot of short 10-20 minute speeches... so easy to listen to on a short drive.

The thing the really stuck out for me from Hannon's speech was the every child born today inherits more in its per capita share of national debt... then it will take to educate that child in its entire lifetime.... That is an incredible statement that exemplifies true debt slavery IMO.

Upon further research it appears the 5 time elected British MP George Galloway was banned from Canada by the Canadian government as per an agreement between Israel and Canada called the Canada-Israel Declaration signed by Stockwell Day and the Israeli government on March 23rd 2008. Apparently Israel has personnel that operate in Canada in consultation with the Canadian authorities with complete access to all files on Canadians in the search for violators of Israeli 'security'.

It was one of these Israeli officers that made the call for Canada to ban George Galloway from the country based on Mr Galloways views of the war crimes Israel committed in Gaza last December. The official word from Jason Kenney was that it was Mr Galloways views on Afghanistan which got him banned from Canada, which says the Canadian government isn't coming clean with the Canadian people as to what is driving their policy decisions that gravely effect our right to free speech in this country.

The Canada-Israel Declaration is an agreement with a foreign country to police Canada secretly behind the scenes out of the public light for free speech violations against political criticism of the zionist policies including war crimes that are committed by Israel in the Middle East.

I find this completely incredible that Canada would surrender its sovereignty on issues so critical to our nations independence... and to do it to protect the crimes of Israel should be considered treason IMO.

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The terms reference of the Canada-Israel "Declaration" are extremely broad. They include issues of immigration and ethnic profiling, the management of borders, intelligence and the exchange of information, emergency preparedness, correctional services, prisons, law enforcement and counter-terrorism. The agreement allows for officials from the State of Israel, to play a role in Canadian "public security" including border security and immigration.

Israel is not part of North America. Canada and Israel do not share a common border. So what is the underlying agenda of the Canada-Israel Declaration... and why was this not negotiated in Parliament... and why is the media banned from talking about it?

Stockwell Day seems to be the one behind this who signed the agreements with Israel... and Stockwell Day is the minister in charge of the RCMP where he has planted Israeli advisers for Canadian security policy... is this part of the problem with RCMP accountability and their new attitude towards the public?

So in effect Canada is not a neutral partner in the peace process, but is in fact a partner with Israel to carry out Israeli policy... such as the Gaza attacks. Meanwhile the RCMP under this agreement are obligated to share all the information they have on Canadians in their Canadian data bases for Israeli uses with no privacy protection for Canadian citizens in the name of anti terror cooperation with the state of Israel.

The rights of Canadians is given away to a foreign nation so this foreign nation can police its policy against Canadians in Canada.

Some would argue that this 'security' agreement defacto commits Canada to Israel's side in a war with Iran and that in fact was its purpose... kind a 'Project for a New American Century' kind of manifesto?

Is it a coincidence that all of this is done behind closed doors without the involvement of parliament or the Canadian voting public? I guess when you create agreements that violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms you do these kinds of things behind closed doors in secret.