Good morning. A barrel of oil is at it's lowest in a long time $73.17 Edmonton is paying from 81.9 to 85.9 p/l, us suckers in B.C. are paying 119.9 in Vancouver down to the lowest in Kamloops according to the gas buddy site 100.9 Robbed and taxed to death in B.C. Can't win with rising taxes.

Despite what they'll tell voters, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and his band of visionaries on council were not elected primarily because of their radical green agenda. They were voted into office largely due to public anger over the financial bungling by the previous NPA council of the Olympic Village. It's ironic that in demanding fiscal responsibility, voters ended up with a lefty government that nearly weekly seems to dream up new ways to spend their hard-earned cash.

Now, having saddled city taxpayers with even higher level of debt at the village, and mishandled the over-budget project so badly that it still remains largely empty — with no social housing yet operating and few takers for the $2,400-a-month suites designated for emergency personnel and teachers — we learned Monday of new fiscal mismanagement at city hall.

The Vancouver Sun revealed that since last summer at least four departments have moved out of city hall into leased spaces around the city at a cost of $48 million, leaving empty the top seven floors of the 11-storey city hall. This at a time when city council was telling taxpayers it was struggling with a $61-million budget deficit and cutting programs upon which citizens rely. Three departments were forced by Ottawa and Victoria to lease space in the Woodward's development, reportedly to ensure services were delivered in the Downtown Eastside. But one wonders if it was also to ensure the project, which was given $130 million in public funds, had tenants.

But seven floors sit empty at city hall? Are they serious?

http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/gordzilla/archive/2010/08/26/province-editorial-city-hall-is-nearly-empty-while-vision-rents-space-elsewhere-are-they-serious.aspx

I agree there is no end to taxes...
there is also no end to people with their hands out looking for government handouts either.
Both government and the rest of us need to get our prioritiies together and bugets figured out and live withing them...
There is a big difference between "WE NEED' and "WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE" and there are so many instances where that line becomes very muted.....

One last rant....Mr Bell, you are an avid mouth for the HST and how good it is for business....well I also know you own a Wendy's...I now find with my limited income and your increase in taxing me that eating out becomes one option I will have to forgo more often now...and your business is the first one on my list to avoid...if the rest of the people who think the HST is bad followed me on this I wonder just how good you would think this HST is then?

Have a great weekend all.

The following is the link to the story in the Vancouver Sun which is referenced in my above post:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Vancouver+city+hall+houses+seven+empty+floors/3430185/story.html

Good Morning to all that are fighting the fires in the province. Although I'm not in danger of these fires, I would like to say a super thank you for all your hard work at keeping us safe. From the grunt workers on the front lines, service staff, Rapatac crews and support staff, thanks.
As a Pilot, I must say though, the biggest thank you goes out to the crews of Airspray and Conair. I can't imagine what its like to fly into something that most people would be trying to get away from.
We all know what happened to a Conair Convair 580 a while ago and my sympathies go out to their families and workmates.
Once again, Thank you.

P.S. For those of you that pray, the Pilot was Tim Whiting and Co-Pilot was Brian Tilley.

Heros in my books.

The British Columbia Chamber of Commerce is engaged in a campaign to support the HST and sabotage the popular campaign to repeal this theft from consumers and consequent gift to big business.
May we ask the local Chamber to supply a list of Prince George's businesses supporting this attack so we may show our appreciation at the cash register?
Remember that we were promised price decreases as business passes cost savings on to customers. I have seen nothing but increases piggy-backed onto the HST.

i have lived in a lot of places in my 55 years ,prince george might not be the most scenic,but the people here are the most nicest and friendliest overall !! cheers

One thing about the HST is it is taking the attention away from the other issues, like the new tax increases the city of PG has just put through. These people are just as out of control as the Campbell government. Keep taxing the crap out of the working people. I know I support these business owners, I haven't spent a dime at Sherri Greens store or any one elses that supports this city council, Chamber of Commerce or the provicial government. Problem is all that is left is Ammerican owned. Oh well, at least I am not supporting the elected officals on City Council.

Yesterday a woman driving an older Honda CRV was driving beside me (in the right hand lane) down Peden Hill through the intersection with Cowart Road to the intersection at #16 & #97 while continuously TEXTING on her cellphone without having a hand on the steering wheel - question: How was she steering her car?

She only looked up for maybe one second in ten! Not only is this stupid and dangerous, it is also illegal! Some people think that anything goes as long as one doesn't get caught!

Yah, PG, texting is stupid. When do drivers concentrate on their driving? Well, you were, but a lot don't.There's them people who can't seem to keep their car in their own lane, even on gentle curves on First Ave., they just have to cross the center line.
Turning left from Ahbau onto Fifth, they go right to the curb lane, stupid and dangerous.
And I think enough has been said about yield and merge lanes in this town to last a lifetime. Then there's the fools who still don't know what a stop sign means.
Well, when we're working we concentrate on the task at hand and that goes for any line of work. It's called safety. But when they're heading home after work, they seem to lose their concentration, thinking of what they're going to do, or what they've done during the day. It's a new task and we have all got to concentrate on our driving skills when we're behind the wheel.
I'm not a perfect driver by any means but I try. Let's all get home safely, and hope every one has a great weekend.

We have ANOTHER CABIN FIRE AT CLUCULZ LAKE this morning on East Meier. Joins the east side of the lot that had the cabin fire last week. What is going on. Maybe a lingering ember from last week?

Randy is absolutely correct! Not only has this city council and the previous raised house taxes every year for FOUR YEARS but they have raised garbage, sewer and water as well. Now a HUGE 15% increase all at once for water and sewer? Hydro increases to the tune of 33% in three years, carbon tax increase on the same day and HST was implemented. COME ON! This is legalised robbery! When are we going to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? All levels of government are spending us, our children and grandchildren into a deep, dark hole that we will never recover from. The banks and corporations are winning and all we do is bend over without even a small squeak. For those of you who respond with "we need to pay for services" DONT! Most of our money goes to the wages, retirement and expense accounts of our over bloated government on all levels. Government keeps getting bigger and the tax payer group is shrinking.

WAKE UP SHEEPLES! WAKE UP!

Shopping weekend again this week getting the van ready to go up to Grande Prairie. I got my list made up and have not bought ANYTHING here in BC for the last 3 weeks. It feels GREAT driving past all these shops here with a full wallet and drive up there and buy everything I will need for the next 3 or 4 weeks. I Will not buy ANYTHING here I boycott ALL BUSINESSES since they are all part of this chamber of commerce in one way or another. And these are the SCUM that tryied to hijack our rights in court. SO BOYCOTT ALL OF EM UNTIL THEY RECIND HST. I will BUY NOTHING here in BC. I been doing it now 2 months and it works FANTASTIC.

You'll never see any end to increased taxation until the way governments do their books is changed.

While it's quite true that Taxes do fund services provided by government, just as Prices fund goods and services provided by private enterprise, there is no equivalent in accounting between the way each does its books.

For instance, if a private business builds a new facility, say a new supermarket, the capital costs of constructing that facility will be "expensed" over many years time into the prices of goods that supermarket sells the public.

This is done through an annual allowance for depreciation collected over the expected life-span of that facility.

It's how the investors in that business "get their (original) money back" ~ what they put out in the first place, plus, they're hoping, an annual profit for their effort.

They don't expect to recover the full cost of the store in ONE YEAR. To do so the store's prices on everything would have to be many, many times what they currently are. It'll be recovered, say, over twenty years.

Contrast that with the government, and the current concept of a Balanced Budget.

The government builds many things every year ~ all manner of public works. Many, if not most, of these things also have a lifespan of many years. Yet the whole premise behind a "balanced budget" is that the government will recover in taxation the TOTAL amount of all its spending in ONE AND THE SAME fiscal period.

So a new road that might last ten years before it needs to be rebuilt is going to be fully paid for through taxation in the same year it's been built? Under a Balanced Budget, balanced through taxation, and not increased indebtedness, that's exactly the premise.

It doesn't make sense. No business would ever be run like that. The road would be capitalised, and paid for out of the increased revenues it has enabled as it wears out.

Where is the government's Capital Account? Where, for that matter, is the government's Balance Sheet? Showing our ASSETS, as well as the Liabilities we have to meet through taxation?

In a private business that wasn't being mismanaged those ASSETS would always be increasing relative to the Liabilities, and there would be a matching INCREASE in Capital Account. From which dividends could be paid.

Do we ever get any dividends from our 'business oriented' government? In a pig's eye ~ it's tax and spend, increasingly, no matter who we put in. With the former now constantly outstripping the benefits of the latter.

Lets change the bookkeeping. It's not hard to do. Make the figures actually fit the facts. Before we see every dollar we earn removed from us in taxation, and a still rising debt load that destroys our whole society.

mattyc: You should not drive on the highway that is is getting paid for by B.C. tax payers(pine pass) as you are not contributing. Must be nice to get the benefits without paying for them. Oh well, when the businesses go under and your house value goes down, and you lose your job, you can go to Grand Prairie and buy a shack for $500,000.00. Moron

While I do not want to minimize terrorism, there is great entertainment value in viewing the Canadian Idol audition video for Khurram Sher. If you have a chance, for pure entertainment, check it out!
Hilarious!!!

Apparently he is a doctor. A family relative said he is a good athlete and if he did not attend medical school he would have played professional hockey. I wonder if I could see an audition video of his hockey skills?

Sher's audition is humourous, silly, and a nice addition to a Friday workday.

MattyC - you must be buying a pile of stuff to warrant 650 miles worth of fuel and wear and tear every three weeks just to save the HST... do you have a calculator?

I too will be going to Alberta for my major purchases.... not going every month but will be going twice a year....helps to have family there so the trip fills two purposes...
I will buy what I have to whenI have to but if it is a "it would be nice to have"...then alberta gets the business...
I will be looking to find wout what businesses are stark supporters of the HSt and they will not be getting my business either, unless I have no other choice.

mattyc: You should not drive on the highway that is is getting paid for by B.C. tax payers(pine pass) as you are not contributing. Must be nice to get the benefits without paying for them. Oh well, when the businesses go under and your house value goes down, and you lose your job, you can go to Grand Prairie and buy a shack for $500,000.00. Moron

What major purchases can be made in Alberta that were not previously taxed by the province anyway?

I have discovered that it only takes a few purchases to pay for the trip. I probably break even or maybe it costs me more I aint sure and do not care quite frankly. It takes about 30 bucks to drive there and of course its cheaper to come back. It gives me a charge to drive by them all here because they is behind HST and I will NOT buy anything here ever. Its a matter of principal. I wish more would do the same.

You have a van that is only using about 4 l/100km? Thats pretty good... Thats like 55 mpg for the standard folks out there.
:-)

Ya A VW diesel van from 1980s. Gets awesome mileage hehe

Well if thats the case, heres a real tax saver for ya
http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/biodiesel/ss/makebiodiesel1.htm

The assessment of mattyc's intellectual capacity seems to be following a certain direction. It is a shame that it has come down to name calling so early in the game.

Yes, driving on roads payed for BC tax payers to buy in another province is not supporting the local economy, but I am sure that he has prior to now contributed by spending locally.This is his method of objecting to the current political climate. He is literally voting with his wallet.

The dumba$$ thing (sorry mattyc my opinion of the action not the person) is actually driving all that way when a few mouse clicks could achieve the same result. Everything is available online. I suspect that is what the real impetus for all these recent increases. Local business is hurting due to more retail activity happening online. This is not just a Prince George phenomenon.

Mattyc I would do the same if i had a car that was good on gas, as it is I am just carefull where i shop.
cougar87 I am sure if Matty owns his home he pays property tax.... and has no choice but to pay tax on Hydro,Teresen and any other household bills....oh lets not forget we get taxed on showering, on drinking water,on getting gas and on pooping..and thats not all....soooooo your argument is BUNK... Im sure you are just jelous because someone found a way to not give all his money to the government.

Hey cougs78 were do you get off calling someone a moron. We are over taxed because of the fiscal mismanagement of this laughable dictorial governmnet and some like me will buy elsewhere when the opportunity presents itself.
The family just took a run to Edmonton for school supplies clothes and other perchases. Gas 87.9 and no scammed carbon tax. Did I save money overall, probably not but a good portion of the trip was covered. Almost like traveling for free.
So businesses in PG, want my business then put pressure on local and provincial idiot governments. Recognized quite a few PG people while there.
So cougs78 take a look in the mirror.

Hey everyone theres a walmart in Hinton maybe next time I go there. I have took it one step further. I dont buy ANYTHING here now whether it was taxed b4 or not. I have a fridge in my van too so I buy all my food there too now. I have not been in superstore for many weeks now. I am protesting with my wallet and those that call me names are just plain STUPID. RECALL NOVEMBER 15 EVERYONE. Time to fire bell bond and rustad. We do not need Vanderzalms blessing either. So have a good weekend everyone I am going driving now.

If we're overtaxed now, what we were 10 years ago when taxes were higher?

As for driving to Grande Prairie or Hinton to save some HST, I can't see myself doing that anytime soon. I try and support local businesses when they have the products I want and if their prices are fair. I have done internet shopping in the past, but even that won't save you HST now since if it's being shipped to BC, they will charge you HST.

At the end of the day, my time is also worth something and having a 12-14 hour roundtrip to save $50 in taxes is not something I'm all that excited about. I'd rather be fishing, LOL.

actually driving all that way when a few mouse clicks could achieve the same result. Everything is available online.

If you shop in the USA that might be true but if you shop in Alberta they will have to pay the HST. I just bought a camera lens from Vistech on line in Calgary and they charged me the HST.
Cheers

Let's all shop at Mall Wart in Alberta, then we can support billionaires in Arkansas, wars in the Middle East and avoid paying for the roads we drive on in British Columbia!

Ah yes taxed to death by the lowest provincial tax rate in Canada up to about $130k (at which time Alberta becomes lower).

Its great that we are free to not let things like facts get in the way.

People who dont pay their share, however they do it, are deadbeats.

I pay my share to live in BC. Its better than Alberta. I dont fish in mud puddles. I dont have signs for a 5 degree corder for 1 km before the corner.

Ive done things that I am not proud of but being freeloading deadbeat is not one of them.

Goto Montreal, where its very hard to buy anything without cash. These people are tax cheats. WE pay their share (well probably not all of us). Is everyone proud of them for finding a way to get a free ride? Im not. I am not jealous.

Do I pay for the right to look down on freeloading deadbeats?

YES

I just got to my hotel and wanted to get the latest news from PG. There is no other way to get news from home faster than Opinion250. Thank you Ben and Elaine. I hope that you both and Daisy have a great weekend and get some fishing in.

Psalm 2009 -- FIRST BOOK OF GOVERNMENT

Campbell is the shepherd I did not want.

He leadeth me beside the still mills and shops.

He restoreth my faith in the New Democratic party.

He guideth me in the path of unemployment for his party's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the bread line,

I shall fear no hunger, for his Olympic promises

are with me.

He has anointed my income with taxes...HST being the latest

My expenses runneth over.

Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all the

days of my life,

And I will live in a mortgaged home forever.

I am glad I am Canadian

I am glad that I am free.

But I wish I was a dog ....

And Campbell was a tree.

Amen.

mattyc said: "I have discovered that it only takes a few purchases to pay for the trip."

You're full of bologna! To pay for gas only, assuming it costs you $50 (which I highly doubt), and not accounting for eating on the road, wear and tear on your vehicle, or lodging, you would have to spend $1000 on purchases that are now taxable under HST and weren't taxed under PST and GST in the past.

Hammmy, jusr great

There are a number of posts today that are concerned about taxation and where our governments are going . It was Keynes that said, “there is a fine line between capitalism and communism”.

When you look at society today democracy is dead. Look at any of our governments today the only time we are consulted is at election time and after that we are governed from the top down

When have we had a referendum on some of the major expenditures, its been some time. Our Mayor tells us that he has a “dream” for our City and the mandarins at City Hall oblige him and they will fill his dream. Yes we have My Pg but it’s a bunch of hyp consisting of airy fairy dreams as well.

When you write to mayor and council all you get from some flunky is a response that your complaint has gone to council end of..

There are a number of nations in the world that have overt thrown the capitalis system but it took revolutions to do it by peoples movement. The exception today is that Russia moved from a communist government to a capitalis one in peaceful manner. And were are they today. One hears that there are many that want communist returned to power.

So like Russia we are some what wishy washy. It is Plato that said,”unless you take an interest in those who govern you, you shall be governed by those who are worse then yourselves”.
Cheers

Peoples out here don't want you to shop in PG, the say leave the Money in Town (narrow minded Folks) you see where I go with this, shop in Alberta in the States it's your Money, we all pay Taxes in many Ways, I don't think they need it all in one Place, but I just don't like the long Drive, so whatever is best for me I do and still pay Taxes.

Been stocking up on booze in AB for years & will keep doing it until BCLCB gets their pricing in line. I am certain I pay waaaay more in tax than the average so I am guilt free.

Dude, if you have to go to AB to save significantly on your imbibing, perhaps you should reduce the imbibing.

U got your poison, I got mine.

BTW - a bottle of wine is is approx 40% cheaper & a bottle of scotch is nearly half. So if I'm out there I'm obviously stocking up.

Nice day today!! :-)

Good to here the cops are actually going after unsafe vehicles for a change.

Ever try to buy a bottle of Blasted Church in Alberta?

Here is one from a Calgary wine merchant.
http://68.144.65.191/brit/products.asp?CID=CN

Blasted Church Pinot Gris 750ml $31.95. Don't know the vintage, but likely 2008 possibly 2009

BC liquor stores? $20 ....

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product-catalogue#type%3DWine%26subtype%3DTable%20Wine%26colour%3DWhite%26varietal%3DPIS-WHITE%26country%3DCA%26view%3Dlist%26order%3DASC%26perPage%3D20

Gotta go to SuperStore. Limited selection but whatcha gonna do? All BC wines are over priced anyway, $20 will get you a way better imported wine than a $20 bottle of Okanagan wine. Too bad, but it's true.

Good one Hammy

Well you can't comment on this one yet?

"7 Kamloops Jail Keepers Investigated For Failing To Act On Alleged Jail Cell Sex Act"

Who cares? If they were law abiding citizens they wouldn't be in there.

If them Muslim terrorist fellers in Ontario ever get let loose with their IEDs, they can just drop them in any pothole (we have millions) in PG. They just have to spend the time covering them up.

CBC News: Alberta is facing a $4.6 billion dollar deficit!

Times are tough! The Alberta government is now considering the introduction of a Provincial Sales Tax!

Yes, a PST! How would have thought!

Mattyc, better stock up now!

Are you not suppose to submit you PST or I guess it would be HST now when you bring goods into BC? No one does, but I do think it is technically the law.

Now I suppose if you are boasting about buying everything out of province and bringing it back with you and supply details like your vehicle and when you are coming back, you are just taunting those nasty people from the government to take your money away.

Hi everyone,

Glad to see you are all still here, bitching about hi fuel, hi taxes etc. Started my move to Alberta back on the May long weekend. came back in June to get my Harley, and back a couple of weeks ago to get my furniture and anything else that ties me to BC and Scumbell.

Welcome to Alberta. No PST, no HST, (they are forced to collect GST). Fuel hovers around 91 cents a litre +/-. No carbon tax included here. And may I add, the roads are smooth as glass compared to PG.

SuperStore has a liqour store, even has their own brand. Presidents Choice Pilsner, $11.99 a dozen, if you buy 2! lol

I miss you guys, but I don,t miss Scumbell and his henchmen. I will always have a place in my heart for Prince George, after all, I was born there, and spent a total of 58 years there.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Taxi

For those of you who would like to express your appreciation to the Chamber of Commerce for tying to short circuirt the wishes of 700,000 people, the site below lsts their members in PG.

[url]http://www.scribd.com/full/32347627?access_key=key-w7tdrs524g6kvp64ef4[/url