I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gordo and his goons for making life tough for senior centres by cutting lottery grants. I wouldn't expect anything different from this Liberal bunch.

Come on now, Gordo needs that money for his own pension and throw money at his good buddies.

Wow are there A LOT of pothholes. And the city won't even be starting to fill them till late next week. Who do I send my front end bill to in the meantime, because there's a few in the bcr that swallow cars whole!!!!!

Try to avoid Ospika between Massey and 22nd, it's a car smasher for sure.

I have a tip for people driving south into town on the Hart who want to make a left turn onto fifth. You don't need to get into the left lane at Austin Road to make that turn; you can wait until you're closer to fifth. Especially if you're going to be driving 10 kmh slower than everyone else.

I hope the city has found another way of filling potholes this year..
I don't know how they expect cold or hot patch dumped into a hole full of water to stay in place beyond the next freeze. Oh I have seen this happen, many times...

and yes there are a number of highway blockheads out there on our roads.

Right on the money faxman but usually they are turning left in Quesnel

I don`t get it. A lot of drivers in PG are extremely docile, especially on the Hart. It must be some sort of a comfort zone or something to drive slow in the left lane. If they were in Vancouver they would litterally be run off the road.

It is going to be very interesting to see how the Liberals and Reg. Dist.Bulkley Nechako is going to handle the Archaeological mess at Cluculz Lake. This covers a massive area of the North shore, bay and creek.[Most likely John Rustads home also} One major study was done in 1986, the regional district has had this info for 2-3 years and have been silent!!
This is a quote from a lettter from the archaeology branch
"there is always a limited possibility that archaeological deposits are more extensive than currently mapped on the property.
Archaeological materials on the subject property may consist of chipped stone, debitage [debris from the manufacture of stone tools], fire-cracked rock, charcoal, and bone or other materials.
Archaeological sites[both recorded and unrecorded] are protected under the Heritage conservation Act and must not be altered or damaged without a site alteration permit."

Part of the great joys of living in a northern town, Pot holes. Its worse with the freeze and thaw cycles, because the subbase becomes loose, and the edges of the frozen asphalt cracks off easier.

Report all pot holes to the city. If there is a record of the pot holes being reported and future auto damage occurs the city will consider payment of the repairs. This comes from past experience and verbal conversation with the city.
The downside is there are so many pot holes the internet may crash from overloading. There is also the report a pot hole phone line.

But remember, when you are contacting city hall try to be cordial when talking to them.

The city will fight the damage to your vehicle caused by potholes. A friend fought them and recently won his case in court after two years.

I'm sure everyone knows someone using birth control pills. Become informed and protect your loved ones. This issue has recently affected my family.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/EdmontonHome/20100310/birth_control_100310/

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/spinningapill/

Any opinions on the attack ads running on tv recently? I have only seen liberal and conservative ads. Not sure if the other two federal parties are running any.

Anyone please if you have any information on the disappearance of Lucas James Degerness please call Crimestoppers!!

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY LUCAS!!

we all miss you very very much!!

Yesterday: "A Calgary city council committee is recommending that fluoride be removed from the drinking water. The utilities and environment committee voted five to one Wednesday to ask the province for permission to stop putting the chemical through the taps."

Does Prince George have an environment committee? I doubt it. Who needs clean non-medicated drinking water?

Doesn't matter what party it is hood rich...they all do it.
One party is no better than the other.
The only attack ad I have seen here in B.C. is the NDP shot with the photocopier ad that spits out a picture of Gordo after they load all the Liberal candidates in.
Unfortunately for the Liberals...it is bang on the money!
I am sure they will fire back with their own sleazy ad at the NDP some point.

The government is giving $400 million to gaming operators to upgrade their facilities while operations like the Hart Pioneer centre are facing financial burdens due to lack of funding. Does this seem right?

To the Hart Highway ranter and ragers,as long as the other people on the highway are doing the speed limit they are doing nothing wrong if you were in a hurry maybe you should leave your house earlier to get to your destinations on time...and if they are driving 10 k`s bellow the posted speed limit at this time of year,maybe they were using their better judgment,something that more than a few drivers lack...in any city not just PG or the Hart area...

Maybe the shine is coming off the casino and bingo glitz after all these years. Maybe people are getting tired of losing their money at the one-armed bandits.

As for going too slow on the Hart: Going 70km/h in the left lane or the right hand lane means one is going about 20km/h too slow compared to those who usually tailgate and pass, spraying others with mud and gravel.

Photo radar. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea.

"I have a tip for people driving south into town on the Hart who want to make a left turn onto fifth. You don't need to get into the left lane at Austin Road to make that turn; you can wait until you're closer to fifth. Especially if you're going to be driving 10 km/h slower than everyone else."

yeah ...I have a tip as well. There are a lot of side streets that feed into the "slow lane" and anyone driving over 80 in the right lane is obviously "too slow" to understand that the reason for the 70 speed limit is so other traffic can safely get onto the highway.

Excuse me, but there is no law that says you have to drive in the left or right hand lanes in city limits. It's just a road like all the rest and people can drive in either lane. Besides, if they are going the speed limit, then that means you are going to be speeding to pass them. And if they are going below the speed limit, go around them in the right lane. What's the big deal???????

Totally agree Jimmi. Nothing is more annoying than drivers in the RIGHT lane who won't move over to the left lane when other drivers on the side streets are trying to enter.

Totally agree Jimmi. Nothing is more annoying than drivers in the RIGHT lane who won't move over to the left lane when other drivers on the side streets are trying to enter.

"yeah ...I have a tip as well. There are a lot of side streets that feed into the "slow lane" and anyone driving over 80 in the right lane is obviously "too slow" to understand that the reason for the 70 speed limit is so other traffic can safely get onto the highway."

That's not really a tip, it's more of an opinion. It's not the responsibility of the people in the flow of traffic to make way for those merging into the traffic. If the traffic is flowing along nicely at 80 kmh, you need to wait for an opening then get yourself up to speed.

When are we going to see some more demolition in this town....

I can't wait to see the new RCMP building site get underway and let's get the wrecking ball going for the PG hotel. Maybe we will get lucky and a few more of the so called "heritage buildings" will get caught in the crossfire.

I was walking on Victoria street yesterday at about 4PM. I was just about the only guy for blocks. Yup, downtown is a hopping place!!!

I am in full support of making our City nicer, but I also think that sprawl in this City is what's causing us the biggest frustrations because it leads to low levels of street repair & maintenance.

City Hall, stop approving new subdivisions outside of the bowl when they don't really add value to the tax base.

Just look at the hill above Canadian Tire with it's 2 houses on it. How much in property taxes is the city getting from this development........????

I have a suggestion too. I have been to Parkwood Mall, Stupidstor and Wally Mart. I have noticed an overabundance of signs designating parking for handicapped people, expectant mothers and mothers with babies. I asked a middle manager person at Walmart if they would consider putting up a sign for "old white guys too lazy to walk" signs. He didn't think I was serious. On another note, if these retailers (local and national) really care about selling healthy products, why not get the city to pass a bylaw designating parking for fat people on the perimeter and fringes of every parking lot? Make 'em sweat the Crisco out on their way to the building? Other than this rant, I'm good for this week.

For those traveling in the left lane holding up traffic besides being inconsiderate and selfish, is also an unsafe act. That traffic will tailgate, get upset which can cause irrational thinking leading to unsafe manuvering to get around you. So for your selfish act you may potentaly cause a more dangerous situation than the speeding.

For those of you who will not move over, do you also block faster walkers on a sidewalk. I think not as you are now not hiding in your car.

"Just look at the hill above Canadian Tire with it's 2 houses on it. How much in property taxes is the city getting from this development........????"

If I'm not mistaken there are geotech issues with that whole site that will prevent much from happening up there.

It's always the people holding up traffic that have this "I can drive in any lane I want attitude" Why not drive any speed you want in the right hand lane? That way if you come across another person "driving any speed they want" that is going slower you can pass them in the left lane. I am not the fastest one out there, I pass in the left then move to the right, then if someone is going faster than me, they can pass. It's not about rights, it's plain simple co-operation.
And as for all those reserved parking spots in front of every box office store, does every close spot really need to be reserved for some group or another? Just once it'd be nice to park close to the door. It really sucks when the parking lot is almost empty and one has to park a mile away. Have a good weekend

I read the piece about the Keg in the daily paper today. Headline says "Renos on track". The story goes on to say how they expect to be completed by September.

The initial re-opening was projected to be 3 months after they shut down June 2010. Strange notion of "on track".

The cost also has skyrocketed to $3million. Apparently some "problems" associated with buying the sidewalk and parking spaces for their patio.

Sounds like it will be a nice place. But talk about the lack of planning or planning gone wrong.

So, $3 million for that. Makes the RCMP building start to look like a bargain. Unless, of course, those prices will also go up by a factor of 2 or 3.

Many people in PG make up their own "rules of the road". Sort of like Quebec drivers .... :-)

Hey bave we got the whinies this morning about pot holes and bad drivers. The sun will shine for the next few days so that will make your winter more bearable. Herd about SAD it will pass.

Everything the City does is generaly a****s backwords. Please dont phone them to fill the potholed its a complete waste of time this time of year.

I drive Ospica most days and all I do is not drive through the pot holes Between Massey and 22nd. Remember your vehicle has a stearing wheel So Just crank it over a bit and youll miss the potholes.
Cheers

When is a **tourist** not a tourist??

The recent hotel tax in Prince George is nothing more than sticking it to people who come to Prince George to shop.

People from the outlying areas ie; Burns Lake, Houston, Ft Fraser, Fraser Lake, Ft St James, McKenzie, etc; etc; come to Prince George at least 26 week-ends per year for shopping. These people stay in Hotels, Motels, buy consumer goods, attend sports events, and gamble. They can hardly be called tourists,

Prince George in its wisdom has decided to collect a Hotel tax from these people, under the guise of tourism.

We all know that when we go on holidays to other areas of the Province, Country, etc for a week or a month, that we are tourists, however for those people who come to Prince George because of necessity we can hardly call them tourists.

Once again we can live up to our reputation of being shysters. We charge more for gas, cars, consumer goods, and anything else you can think of.

This town should change its name to Shysterville BC.

Don't be a "Left Lane Squatter"
And please to all you motoring challenged folks, Don't sit beside me in my blind spot. Sheesh.

I could personally care less if there are a handful of parking spots reserved near the entrances of stores for people that would benefit from those spaces. I also don't care if someone is doing the speed limit and travelling in the left lane. If I'm in that much of a hurry, I'll go around them. Odds are though, that they'll just catch up to me a couple hundred feet down the road at the next light.

I think people are losing their minds with the things that cause them so much grief an angst these days, LOL.

Speaking of left lane hogs, how about those that hold up traffic on the highway and upon reaching a passing lane speed up, WTF. I have actually tested that, stayed behind a vehicle holding up traffic, when it got to a passing lane they sped up. If I find for some reason I am holding up traffic I will actually slow on a straight stretch and passing lane so they can pass easier without blowing the speed limit big time. Its about being safe and courteous also defensive driving.

The ads on this site are extending into the comment box, which is irritating.

"The ads on this site are extending into the comment box, which is irritating."

Firefox with adblock plus gets rid of those ads for you. (I think there may be an adblock plugin for Chrome as well but don't quote me on that.)

totally agree NMG...don't sweat the little things, there's too much road rage. PG isn't that big that you can't get anywhere in town in 15 minutes. A few minutes behind someone doing the speed limit in the left hand lane isn't going to make that much difference.

If I wore a Campbell mask and a skirt, who am I?

"If I wore a Campbell mask and a skirt, who am I?"

LOL
Thanks for that seamutt!

To all the once who are late for Work or what ever, "The left Lane = the Speed Limit " what is the hurry in your little City you can go anywhere in a short Time, slow down and live another Day.

Anyone please if you have any information on the disappearance of Lucas James Degerness please call Crimestoppers!!

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY LUCAS!!

we all miss you very very much!!

Wanted to buy: 1 Hazmat Suit, large. Needed to clean up Compact Fluorescent light bulbs that are broken.. :-P

On a side note Ben, have you thought of creating a For Sale blog on Opinion 250??

On the highway
Keep right except to pass
Regardless of the speed limit

Palopu:"Once again we can live up to our reputation of being shysters. We charge more for gas, cars, consumer goods, and anything else you can think of. This town should change its name to Shysterville BC."

Who are *we*? You and the mouse in your pocket?

Just came back from month long stay in Kelowna. That is one EXPENSIVE town, let me tell you! No bargains to be found anywhere, Sears, Bay, Zellers, restaurants, pubs, grocery stores, etc.

Go to the local stores and find bargains everywhere! 40% off, 50% off....nothing of the sort there in the lovely cold and wet Okanagan!

Shysters? Give me a break, even little birds know not to poop in their own nest!

If one has NOTHING good to say about the good things in Prince George how about going where the grass is supposedly greener!

Where are you posting from???

govsux...please show us the law that says we have to drive in the right lane except to pass.

On the highway?
There are signs all over the province.
Very large ones down south, in fact, that spell it out with pictures and yellow paint for those of you that just don't get it!
Driving is a privilege, not an entitlement, learn the rules of the road.
If I had the time I would dig up the rules for you, any traffic cops logged in that could enlighten these heathens of the highways.

There is no such law. But there is a law against trying to bully (coerce) other vehicles into changing lanes or speeding up by tail gating or other attempts at intimidation.

Anyone know where I can buy gangster bling???CHEEP...

People seem to forget the speed signs say MAXIMUM speed, not minimum speed...so i'll do the limit, you don't like it take another road or go around..
and the 1 finger salute isn't going to speed me up.

Prince George. You just hit the nail on the head. Kelowna is a tourist town. Prince George is not. I would expect things to be more expensive in Kelowna, Jasper, Banff, Tokoya, etc;

Did you miss my point.??? The people who come to Prince George from outlying areas are shoppers who come because of necessity, to buy consumer goods, etc;. To nail these people for a hotel tax, which is designed specifically for tourists is pure BS. All this does is cost these people more money, and the money is spent by the tourist bureau to try and entice **real tourists**

If you check gas prices in Kelowna and Pr George you would see that they are at 116.9, while in Kamloops they are 110, 111, and Nanaimo 109.

Prince George is a gouger City. Cars and trucks are cheaper in Quesnel.

To tax shoppers who come to this town, and who are huge supporters of local business's is about a stupid as you can get.

Welcome to Shysterville.

Cars and trucks are cheaper in Quesnel? Do you really believe that? It is just a television ad! When we go to Kelowna, Kamloops or Nanaimo we pay the hotel taxes and whatever taxes that are in effect there. Period.

If we object to that, we don't stay there. But we would never call the people or the town a bunch of shysters!

What's the big deal? Do you own a hotel? The hotel business must be good in Prince George or they wouldn't be building new hotels and upgrading older ones!

Well, why do you torture yourself living in Shysterville, wherever that is. It can't be healthy to live in such a negative city as Prince George, so why not relocate?

Your negativity has made it all the way to www, the world wide web! Just google Palopu!

Then you will know what my point is, the one you keep missing!

BTW, gas prices are the least of MY concerns! My concern is access to a first class hospital, resident specialists, excellent recreational facilities, a good highway network with twinned bridges, a university, a symphony and theaters, friendly people and great local shopping!

All of these are readily available in Prince George! People from the outlying areas as far away as Kitimat know this and they come here for shopping, for star events at the CN Centre, for golfing, curling and other recreation, even the Casino!

Their children and grandchildren attend UNBC and CNC to pursue their education and embark on their careers! We have met many over the years which love Prince George and living here!

You certainly do not even attempt to see what makes this city a desirable place for those who thrive on its many advantages!

That's my last comment in respect to what was posted before.

"Keeping right except to pass" and "slower vehicles keep right" is a common courtesy when there are no signs saying so. Drive on the freeway through the Fraser Valley. When you catch up to someone in the left lane they usually pull over to let you go,(no matter what speed you or they may be doing). Thats called being courteous to others.
When there are signs saying "keep right except to pass", these signs are not asking you to "keep right except to pass", they are ordering you to "keep right except to pass".
If you don't you can be ticketed.

People that are not courteous, ignore this unwritten rule most times just because they're F%^#@ idiots that enjoy pushing others buttons, plain and simple.
It has been an ongoing issue since the invention of the automobile.


Slow driving
145 (1) A person must not drive a motor vehicle at so slow a speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

(2) If the driver of a motor vehicle is driving at so slow a speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, a peace officer may require the driver to increase his or her speed, or to remove the motor vehicle from the roadway to the nearest suitable place and to refrain from causing or allowing the motor vehicle to move from that place until directed to do so by a peace officer.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KEEP-RIGHT-EXCEPT-TO-PASS-is-common-sense-motherfR/112137942146496

I've appreciated the great lengths the city has made to maintain snow ploughing.
It's impossible with the huge dumps of snow we've had to keep up 100% in all areas of PG. How many streets and alleys do we have? Lots. I will gladly pay for this valuable service. Thank you so much city crews!

Trucks are cheaper in Quesnel. I saved 10 grand buying my truck in Quesnel that was twice the truck I was looking at in PG.

One of the dealers in Quesnel claims 40% of their business comes from out of town, (mostly PG).

"Just google Palopu!"
Palopu is a realist.
You are one of the sheep!

People who come to Prince George from outlying areas to shop and spend money should be welcomed with open arms. They are part of whats keeping this town alive.

If they only came once or twice a year you could describe them as tourists, however when they come every weekend or every other weekend, then they are shoppers and are part of the **bigger picture in the area**. They shouldnt be taxed as tourists, with a two bit hotel tax, so that the tourist bureau can pay themselves big wages and pretend to make a difference in this community.

When we pull stunts like the hotel tax, that puts us in the company of shysters, like it or not.

I have bought a few new vehicles in Quesnel over the years, and have saved in the area of %1500.00 per vehicle, you can also get them cheaper in Vancouver.

Lets not defend the indefensible.

PS. Little birds do poop in their nest.

Dragonmaster, your post says it all:

"145 (1) A person must not drive a motor vehicle at so slow a speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law"

This essentially confirms that a vehicle can be driven at a speed which DOES impede or block the normal flow of traffic if it is done so in order to be in compliance with a law (e.g. a maximum speed limit). Therefore, if the normal flow of traffic is doing 90 km/h in a 60 km/h zone and someone in the left lane is doing 60 km/h, they are NOT in the wrong based on the written law.

Further:

"(2) If the driver of a motor vehicle is driving at so slow a speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, a peace officer may require the driver to increase his or her speed, or to remove the motor vehicle from the roadway to the nearest suitable place and to refrain from causing or allowing the motor vehicle to move from that place until directed to do so by a peace officer"

To me, this one covers the situation where a vehicle is incapable of traveling the posted speed limit and as a result, is impeding those vehicles that are capable of doing the limit (e.g. a moped, a tractor, etc.). In that case it makes sense for the vehicle to move aside so that others can be on their way in a more effective manner.

I don't think either of the laws you posted provides an excuse to EXCEED the speed limit, nor do they require someone who is within compliance with the speed limits to alter their behaviour or get out of the way of people who are speeding.

Son of a gun, maybe Dan Rogers does read this site. What do you know, they cleared the third lane on Massey east of Westwood! Thanks guys, it was much needed. If you want to see the utmost in courteous driving, drive on any of the roads in and around Iloilo in the Philippines. We could all learn a LOT from them.

As a mom to a 2 month old and a three year old I happen to LOVE the designated parking spots for pregnant women or families with young children. You try pushing a fully loaded shopping cart in a heat wave or through the snow while pregnant. It's not easy!

I really think the city should have rethought putting Walmart in college heights. This is just my opinion but I think the city should have leveled acouple city blocks downtown, and built it down there. Too late now!

Managers are supposed to have some forethought to plan the activities of whatever situation they are managing, are they not? We had some big dumps of snow last week. It piled up so fast that it became compacted and exremely rough. Now, would it be too much to ask to have the city plow trucks modified so they could turn their underbody plows to plow to the left as well so when it snows so fast, they could at least get started plowing snow to the middle of streets where it is normally plowed, to prevent that kind of build up? Or would it be possible to have them lower their blades at all while they are doing all that running around sprinkling a bit of gravel here and there?

Then, the weather forecasts said that it was going to warm up drastically. That meant that water was going to be running and puddling. Water on the streets with traffic creates potholes. The potholes will come whenever it thaws. Would it be too much to ask to have patching material and trucks and crew ready to go at those times? I mean they are going to be needed and the quicker they can start, the smaller the holes will be. We already have some pretty big craters out there and we have to wait another week before they start? Why is that? Was there no forethought? But isn't that what managers get paid for? When poor managers start costing a company a lot of money they are quickly replaced. Now why would the city put with any lesser a standard? Maybe we should start looking at the whole system. It doesn't seem to be working really well. The right coach can often turn a losing team into a winner.

i agree there, i love the families with young children parking. it doesnt state you must have the children with you though. a good ole baby on board sign and your good to go. and if anyone asks the wifes already inside! or my wife prego she's just not showing yet. my only beef is the handicap that need 2 handi spots to park a sunfire!

faxman, you and many other drivers in Prince George have not a clue about merging. You and all your buds should stay off the road! Now there's a "TIP"

"If I wore a Campbell mask and a skirt, who am I?"

LOL, Is it Christy Clarke? LOL, Do I win something?

Has anyone else noticed that the new trail all the way from the university intersection down along Tyner way to the top of Ospika is cleared for any unlikely joggers out for runs??
Just noticed that was done since our dump of snow last week. I'm sure that's a priority!!! NOT!!!

"We all know that when we go on holidays to other areas of the Province, Country, etc for a week or a month, that we are tourists, however for those people who come to Prince George because of necessity we can hardly call them tourists."

Actually some of us know that is not true. Between the two in this family, we travel to Vancouver, and occasionally other communities, on average around 30 to 40 nights a year, always on business. Soon I will be off to that other expensive city, Kelowna, for 7 days totally on business.

People I work with provide their services throughout the province and, when they stay in larger communities, they typically pay some sort of local hotel tax these days. That is becoming more and more the case. With the HST, even the small community hotels have to charge an additional 7% that was not charged before.

The breakdown of business travellers versus those who have personal business such as visiting the community for recreation, shopping, etc.; visiting the community to see family (and keep the peace by staying in a hotel) would be interesting to see.

Hotel taxes, for whatever excuses are used, are a common tax throughout the world and the 2% or so that is charged here is nothing compared to some other countries.

Hey, maybe it is time the cities in Canada can charge a sales tax on top of the PST/GST/HST. Many cities in the USA have such local sales taxes, as do cities in other countries.

Just imagine some day in the future, PG will charge a sales tax on cars and Quesnel won't. Better still, the Regional District won't. Guess where some car lots will be relocating to. :-)

Oh, by the way. One can shop around for hotel rooms and one can also bargain for the price on hotel rooms. Unless, of course, there aere not enough rooms in town and they have have high occupancy rates.