Good news folks. Change is finally in the air in this country. Economic pain is a great catalyst for change.

Hopefully in the municipal election in Prince George next year we have some candidates for Mayor and City Council like Rob Ford who is currently running for the position of Mayor of Toronto. The election for the Mayor of Toronto takes place next month.

The following is taken from a recent article on the National Post web site:

"Rob Ford has surged ahead of his opponents in the race to become mayor of Toronto, as a new poll puts him 24 points ahead of George Smitherman, sitting in a distant second-place.

The Nanos Research poll, released on Sunday night, puts Mr. Ford’s level of support at 45.8% among decided voters. Mr. Smitherman holds 21.3%, Joe Pantalone is at 16.8%, Rocco Rossi stands at 9.7% and Sarah Thomson at 6.4%."

"Mr. Ford said he was humbled by the show of support, which indicates that barring any major changes he is en route to a victory. “There is a lot of work yet to be done since the only poll that matters is on Oct. 25,” he said. “My commitment to the taxpayers of Toronto is simple and clear: I will put an end to the party at City Hall with their money.”

It’s a platform that’s garnered him a wide lead and, according to the poll results, he’s gained most of the previously undecided voters’ support."

http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/09/19/ford-surges-ahead-at-45-8-support-new-poll-shows/

Look at Canada’s federal debt relative to the size of the economy and the country is a model of fiscal righteousness.

What happens when you throw in all the borrowing by households, companies and the provinces and plot it on a chart? The results look pretty “awful,” according to Scotia Capital economist Derek Holt.

“Canada is pushing toward the outer limit, along with countries like the U.S., U.K. and Spain,” Mr. Holt said in a research note Thursday. And France, Italy and Japan are also in the same ballpark.

What happened is that the federal government vacated the debt markets as it wrestled down the deficit in the 1990s. But consumers, businesses and several of the provinces eagerly filled the void, Mr. Holt explained.

“What looks good on the federal balance sheet looks awful for everyone else’s balance sheet,” he said in an interview.

The bottom line is that Canada has one of the most indebted private sectors in the world, measured by gross debt and including both corporate and household borrowing. And that “isn’t terribly appealing,” Mr. Holt said.

http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20100923.escenic_1722286/BNStory/Business

I noticed all the provincial park campgrounds have been closed for nearly a month now... whats up with that... and why are they all so run down this year? Is the money going to paying large salaries to a bureaucracy, rather than to keeping the parks open? What about all the returning Alaska tourists that return this time of year hopefully through this area... is this the way to welcome them... does it really benefit the private operators that much that we shut down our top tourists attractions in order to 'get the business'? Is this just in the PG area, or is this a province wide strategy? Where is the Northern BC Tourism voice on this matter? What about local close to home tourism by those that like to take pride in where they live and the public campgrounds that we have? How many dollars are saved and where do those dollars go now? I use to think it was just the forestry camp sites they were after... it now looks like they just don't want people camping in BC anymore?

Conspiracy or coincidence?

Also I noticed the Brewery took down their electronic clock and temp thing they had on the side of the building... I wonder if it will be coming back?

Some of the questions I have this week....

"I wonder if it will be coming back?"

Give them a call and let us know. :-)

the most important thing we have to do is aboloish the senate !! we have to force the idiots to do this !! enough of the old school rich game its over !!

I cant understand why is the recalls not starting on Nov 16? Why is it waiting until new years. By new year we could already have 3 of these bums removed from office. That would be a nice christmas present for gordo. Maybe he might see fit to allow the referendum to start in Jan. then. Just seems to me that somehow we're missing almost 2 months and thats all the time needed to gather the signatures. The rules say 60 days to gather the signatures. So let's start as soon as allowed. I was a petition canvasser and I know how many people were eager to sign. I will be happy to visit them all again hopefully starting Nov 16 here in PG/Mackenzie. I really don't like pat bell and cant wait to see him fired. He deserves it and I am going to work extra hard to get even more signatures this time. Does anyone know why its being put off that extra 2 months?

Good day all.
Hope you all have a great day and a safe motoring weekend...
40 kph over the speed is really going to cost you as it that couple of so called "safe" drinks you may partake in prior to driving...
but we know everyone will do the right thing...
WON'T WE????....

OK great CHarles, why is Tom Ford any different from any of these other blood sucking leeches that call themselves politicians?

Where are all those guys that 'guaranteed' that gas would hit $1.50 or $2.00 a litre this summer? Huh?

When is the Rollerdome going to get a facelift or get bulldozed? At least give it the ugliest building of the decade award.

There was a quite a debate on this site last year concerning the high rate of speed that drivers were going on the Hart Highway.

The debate centered on the fact that people who drove the legal speed limit in the "Fast Lane" were more of a danger to those drivers who chose to speed excessively and who also tail gated people until they finally moved over to let them speed by.

Some people commented that they were unwilling to move over for these speeders and the speeders felt that they should indeed move over for them to let them spped on by. The speeders claimed that by not doing so it created unsafe conditions on the roads, and so the debate went back and forth.

On that note... I LOVE THE NEW DRIVING LAWS aimed at excessive speeders.

I wouldn't be surprised if people started letting these speeders by because the law just got tougher. I know I will.

I wonder if some of the people who want to speed in the fast lane are willing to slow down now.

If your slow just accept it and get in the slow lane. Thats why its there. The problem is no one wants to accept that they are slow. What satisfaction can you possibly get from slowing down someone else?

^^^ This ^^^

Since there are left turns off of the Hart it is not a "keep right" and there is no "slow lane". I could care less if you do 40 in the left lane, just DON'T DO IT BESIDE SOMEONE! I have no problem passing you in the right lane :-)

I'll be doing the speed limit, read the signs people, MAXIMUM SPEED, not reccommended speed... and I won't pull over if I am in the inside lane, as chances are I will be turning left not too far down the road ...so go around and take your ticket like the sniveler you will become when caught...
or do the right thing, and it is up to you to decide...aren't decisions a wonderful thing.... it is actually one of your god given rights....

Speed limits are set artificially low to generate revenue from fines. Feel free to drive as slow as you want - it's your perogative, but two vehicles driving side by side at below the limit should be considered a form of aggressive/unsafe driving.

It is NOT your place to enforce traffic regulations.

I read that someone had noticed a road patching crew out working. I haven't seen one for two months now and only very minimal patching anywhere. The city streets manager awhile ago was eager to publish in the paper that he had crews out on three shifts but nary a word when a week later, he cut that back to two and then to one. All the warm dry weather we had in the last couple of months should have seen every pothole repaired. Do they have a standard where, small ones get ignored until they are really a problem, or do they only go out and repair ones that are reported? I thought the "sensible" thing to do, would be to go up one street and down the next, fixing all of them as they went. I drive these streets every night for a living and I haven't seen much improvement over the last two years. Very little improvement in fact. We were levied an increase in taxes just to cover the cost of patching and repairing our streets, a couple of years ago and I've been wondering where that money has been spent, because it certainly hasn't been spent on what we have given it for. Anyone from city hall care to inform us on that?

They spent it on pot and holes, what else?

The speed limit on the Hart is 70km/h. People ignore it by going 80 to 85km/h.

If they would raise the limit to 80km/h people would drive at 90 to 95km/h.

If they would raise the limit to 90km/h
people would drive at 100 to 105km/h.

Etc.

In the city the limit is 50km/h. People drive routinely at 60 to 65km/h.

Why do they do that? Because the RCMP has established and published a policy by which it is o.k. to be 10 to 15 km/h over the limit and there won't be a ticket given!

On B.C. highways if the limit is 100km/h people drive at 110 to 115km/h.

Where it is 110km/h people drive at 120 to 125 km/h.

Same justification. It has become standard routine.

The limits are set very low because the RCMP and the highways department know that exceeding any limit has become a deeply ingrained habit.

Some drivers ignore any limits and try desperately to pass even those who are already speeding 10 to 15km/h over the limit.

There is a MAXimum speed limit on all roads.
What do people do? They exceed it. Don't ever tell me there is a passing lane and a slow lane. There is a curb lane and an inside lane on four lane streets such as foothills, Ospika etc.
Here's what you do. Since it is common practice to drive 10 k over, if you're on Ospika or Foothills, use the lane nearest oncoming traffic if you're travelling a fair distance. This keeps the curb lane open for those entering the street going the same way you're going. They don't have to wait till you pass by, its just common courtesy.
As for those who want to go faster than 10 k over, I will move out of your way as soon as its safe to do so, don't tailgate me. And I'll even give you a courtesy honk further down the road when you're parked on the side of the road in front of our friendly traffic members.

BCRacer so lets say you are blocking faster traffic and someone gets impatient and gets into an accident passing you. How would you feel?

Again I was behind an auto turning left off Highway 16 onto Ferry Road heading to the Stupidstore. The auto ahead of me didn't turn left on a green light. Didn't even venture into the intersection. I politely informed the driver that it wasn't against the law to turn left on a green light. Better safe than sorry, eh? What green arrow? I didn't even see the Indian.

"Don't ever tell me there is a passing lane and a slow lane. There is a curb lane and an inside lane on four lane streets such as foothills, Ospika etc."

Call it what you want, whether it is road etiquette, common practice, or the law in various provinces ans states and countries, the fact is that in a divided roadway/highway situation when 2 or more lanes of traffic are going the same direction, slower vehicles are supposed to keep right and faster vehicles overtaking those should keep left until they "pass" a slower vehicle and, if it is appropriate, move back to the left hand lane.

It is a simple rule that is almost universal in those countries where traffic moves on the right hand side of a roadway.

Here is an article about "intentional" disruption of the prevailing flow of traffic.

http://www.drivers.com/article/149

"With a sign protesting the 100 km/h limit fixed to his car, Thompson and a friend drove side by side at exactly the limit on Ontario's highway 401 last summer. Between them they created a moving roadblock that infuriated some drivers to the extent that they passed on the shoulders. Every now and then the duo pulled off to relieve the pressure but they kept this up for over 80 km on what is one of the province's major arterial roadways.

"They were charged with obstructing the highway and public mischief. The latter, a criminal offense, was later dropped in return for pleading guilty to the obstruction charge. Both wound up with a fine and a six-month license suspension."

USA keep right laws

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

Colorado passing (left) lane law
http://www.coloradodot.info/library/Brochures/leftlanebrochure.pdf

A base attitude to have when driving is "stay courteous" don't adopt the attitude: "I'll teach her"

"keep right" signs for the DoT in BC.

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/publications/Circulars/All/T_Circ/2005/t08-05.pdf

Gus:
I agree with you for heaven's sake.
Just think for those entering the street going the same way as I am, it's common courtesy to go to the lane nearest oncoming traffic so that those who want to enter can do so quicker, helps with traffic flow.
I appreciate the frustrations drivers feel and I don't hold up traffic. Some people can't remember a simple rule though. When they're driving, they've gotta concentrate on the traffic around them, not what they're gonna have for supper tonite, or their date for the evening, or what happened at the worksite. It takes a lot of skill to drive a vehicle but so many drivers focus on so many other things when driving, its surprising there aren't more accidents. Checked out those links, real good information.

Re; Born in BC "If your slow just accept it and get in the slow lane."

I commented about people who drove the legal speed limit. I did NOT direct my coment at people who drive slower than the limits as set out by the law.

With that said, even though people travel at the posted speeds there are always people who want to go faster. These people TAILGATE them until they move over so they can SPEED UNLAWFULLY PAST!

The Raise-a-Reader campaign must be somewhat embarrassing for our educational system. Methinks this campaign casts aspersions on the teachers, school boards, education bureaucrats, AND parents. and their inadequacies when it comes to "learning" "little Johnny to read".

If there is an emergency vehicle approaching you from the rear, you are supposed to pull over into the right hand lane when it is safe to do so and allow the emergency vehicle to proceed. Guess what? The same rules apply to everyone who approaches you from the rear and is traveling at a speed faster than you are willing to go. So, just pull over to the right lane rather than forcing them to take erratic action. Because they will. Why are people so stubborn about this. You have no way of knowing why they are in a hurry. Let them suffer the consequences of their speeding. It's not your problem.

Forcing people to pass you on the right just increases the danger for everyone.

Gus:..."slower vehicles are supposed to keep right and faster vehicles overtaking those should keep left until they "pass" a slower vehicle and, if it is appropriate, move back to the left hand lane."

After they pass a slower vehicle they should move back to the right hand lane!

Passing on the right is against the law in some European countries, Germany being one of them.

The left hand lane is for passing. After passing one moves back into the right hand lane so that others coming from behind have the left hand lane free for passing.

If one contemplates a left lane exit, one must indicate so with the turn signal to enter from the right lane into the left lane and use the left hand lane to enter into the left exit lane.

The use of turn signals is mandatory.

Here we go we have the expert opinion of some and a hundred web sites to check to tell us where to drive on our streets. Why not, check the drivers manual that is published by the Superintendent of Motor vehicles .
Slim2229 is correct there is no slow or fast lane the speed limit is posted for all and every one is expected to comply. And the notion that its OK to exceed the speed limit is just that a dumb excuse for others to accept your bad driving habits. The center lane is for through traffic and the left lane is for off on traffic.

One need only watch the performance at a traffic signal with all those slow drivers in the left hand lane and the right hand has no traffic . The result is that the traffic signal will time out and not all traffic will get through the intersection.
Cheers

Re; Chester YOUR COMMENT... "If there is an emergency vehicle approaching you from the rear, you are supposed to pull over into the right hand lane when it is safe to do so and allow the emergency vehicle to proceed. Guess what? The same rules apply to everyone who approaches you from the rear and is traveling at a speed faster than you are willing to go.

OMG... seriously? No really... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Honestly now... do you actually believe that your comments are valid?

So if I'm travelling at the maximum allowable speed as set out by the law and you charge up behind me do you want me to believe that I am required by law, to pull over to the right and let you speed past just as though you were an emergency vehicle? So every speeder out there is now deemed to be a private emergency vehicle?

Do you actually possess a valid driver’s licence?

ARE YOU A COMEDIAN… cause this is some really good material if you are!

You also said that "You have no way of knowing why they (the speeders) are in a hurry."

Really? Well I’ve got news for you. There are quite a few vehicles that race up behind people when I’m driving. To put it another way, there are a lot of idiots on the roads today. Am I to believe that each one of them has their own "mini-emergency" just because I don’t know why they’re speeding?

GIVE ME A BREAK!

I’d love to see you challenge THAT in a court of law.

Now THAT would be good comedy!

Hey PrinceGeorge...

We are NOT a European country, nor are we Germany.

The left hand lane is NOT for passing. It's for driving. Are you saying that EVERYONE must drive on the right hand side of the road at all times and leave the left hand lane open for speeding and reckless vehicles? Is that why we have two lane roads? To accomodate all the speeders?

Ohhhhhhh okay.... so the right hand lane is the ONLY lane in which the posted speed limits (or maximums) apply to? So I guess that means that all left hand lane drivers have the freedom to choose their own speeds? Interesting...

REALLY? You wanna go with that?