A nice analysis of how whoever is in power deals with that power.

The new green levy does not apply to pick-up trucks, and most SUVs are actually fuel efficient enough not to be subject to the green levy. For example, a Chevrolet Suburban 4x4 with the 5.8 litre engine will not be subject to the levy.
[/url]http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/agency/budget/2007/excise-e.html#q3[/url]

This is precisely why we should have given Dick Harris the boot last time around. Show the conservatives that they should not just take our support for granted so they can use us to attain power at our expense.

Obvioulsy the rest of the country plays strategic voting and they get the results. We on the other hand with our dwindling population base in comparision to the rest of the country are quickly becoming irrelevant even when we do support a party that attains power, so why not hedge the bets.

Imagine what something like the BCSTV system would do to change the way our elected politicians represent us. Wouldn't democracy be sweet if we actually had some of it. Its to bad the conservatives have turned their backs on the reform party roots in bringing democracy to the west.

WE GET KICKED IN THE HEAD TIME AFTER TIME BY THE FEDS AND WE KEEP STICING OUR CHIN OUT. THIS TREATMENT WILL NEVER STOP. THE EAST HAS ALL OF THE POLITICAL POWER TO DO WHAT EVER THEY WANT. WE IN THE WEST JUST DON'T COUNT. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO WAKE UP AND SEPERATE. WE WOULD DO JUST GREAT ON OUR OWN. PROBABLY WOULD PAY A LOT LESS TAXES. THE COST OF TWO LANGUAGES ALONE IS STAGGERING. WHO NEEDS IT.WE IN THE WEST DESERVE BETTER.WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU PAY YOUR TAXES,THEY ARE ALL GOING TO YOUR OWN PROVINCE INSTEAD OF BACK EAST. QUEBEC HAS BEEN SUCKING OFF OF THE REST OF CANADA FOR DECADES. GOVERNMENT GRANTS,QUESTIONABLE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS,GOVERNMENT EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEMES,IT ALL HAPPENS THERE.ENOUGH SAID,"LETS SEPERATE".

How True giterdun.It is definetly time that tricky Dicky and the hill man go....

Presuming that those parts of the Country which vote for the party in power deserve funds because they voted that way is, to my mind, a scurrilously cynical approach to the running of a country. It is quite obvious that the Northern Interior of BC needs quite a bit of Federal and Provincial support due to the problems arising from the beetles, and neglected roads etc, but that money should be forthcoming because it is necessary for the NI to continue developing. Pork barreling, the gimme money because I voted for you approach, negates the whole basis of responsibility in government. The whole question as to whether Quebec should receive the funds it does is a huge national issue, and I suspect it has nothing to do with Prince George. Similarly, I do not support bribing a province to remain Canadian. Money Quebec receives should be justifiable without taking the possibility of separation into account, just as the money PG receives should not be based on whom they voted for.

Gil, the leader of the Bloc, expressed on TV that those extra federal *imbalance* billions given to Quebec will come in handy to assist in Quebec's ultimate goal of becoming an independent nation!

Slap in the face of the rest of Canada, of course, but he is just being very forthright about Quebec's ambitions.

Ammonra, I agree that funding should be in accordance with need, but in reality it is like always being used for vote buying and vote maintenance.

"Its too bad the conservatives have turned their backs on the reform party roots in bringing democracy to the west."

The idealistic roots have been uprooted. It is back to all true blue Mulroney style Conservative again.

The West STILL wants in.

"We drive Pick-ups because roads aren’t plowed, we experience poor highways, not six lanes divided, but rather, roads with pot holes, ice, and very often nearly impossible to navigate."

Isn't it obvious what needs to be done: Improve the highways, build more lanes, eliminate potholes, sand the ice in time (BEFORE a rash of accidents)and make the roads navigable!

And: make them safe for passenger cars, even the newer smaller more fuel efficient ones!

Not doing the obvious is like continuously putting the cart in front of the horse.

Whine, Whine, Snivel, Snivel. Firstly lets see what happens when and if the Conservatives get re-elected. Secondly, just what exactly is it we want from the Feds. More money I presume, so we can continue to spend it on goofy projects like the Airport Runway expansion, a cost of $33 Million on the basis of **build it and they will come** or 25 Million on a new Police Station that we dont need, or a multi million dollar Performing Arts Centre that will in all probability be under utilized like the Civic Centre, Swimming Pools, CN Centre, University, etc; etc;

If you think you are being hard done by with the Conservative Government then take Hill and Harris by the hand and show them what we have got from the Liberals in the last 20 years. Very little if anything. And of course we all know what we got from the constantly complaining NDP. Exactly nothing.

At least with the Conservatives in power we if we care to do some serious lobbying stand a chance, with the others its just more of the same.

Again, once the polls close in Ontario, the election is over. I don't know how many times I have had to say that. But you get the idea, doncha?

Palopu, you are mixing up civic politics and spending with federal politics and spending. There is a distinct difference between the two for those that don't understand.

Everyone of the examples you mentioned short of the airport runway are civic examples of spending from local tax payers. The question is where is our return on our federal dollar investments.

Is Palopu really Dick Harris? I think so in a way. He writes in the same way Dick used to write his letters to the editor at the PG Citizen before he was elected. Maybe you should run for a civic position and do some good rather than riding the high horse with the big pension hypocritically stabbing this region in the back when it comes to our return of federal dollars.

IMO Giterdun is absolutely correct. If I run for politics you will all know that my intention is for Northern BC to first be its own province, and second no more favours for Quebec. If they leave that will be their mistake and then we will maybe have a chance at a country that has integrity in how it treats all parts of the country.

Time Will Tell

A leader leads. Jay Hill and Dick Harris provide no leadership to this region in this critical time in the calm before the storm we all know is comming. They will enjoy their nice pension as 5-time elected MP's, and Dick for sure will not continue living in this region, as he is nothing more than a part time renter at election time now as it is anyways.

Palopu, the history revisionist, says we didn't get anything from the NDP. An expanded Hart Bridge with new approaches all around, a new Courthouse and a University (yes, it was funded during the NDPs terms). That sounds like quite a bit to me.

The Courthouse was in the works for 20 years, and yes it was completed by the NDP and at the same time they gave away the Provincial Government building on Third Ave for $1.00. It wasnt good enough for the Government but it is apparenlty good enough for other people.

The Hart Bridge was twinned in a vein attempt to get Paul Ramsay re-elected, and was over budget by $17 Million dollars.

The University was the Brain Child of the Social Credit Government and they tried to get it established with Campus's in other Ridings such as Terrace, Valemount, Mcbride, Quesnel, etc; to get re-elected. When they lost the election the NDP had no choice but to carry on.

At tax dollar is a tax dollar. If I pay income tax and that money goes to the Federal Government, then some is sent to the Provincial Government, and then some is sent to the Municipal Government it is all my tax dollar. So is the GST Money, and Gas Tax money. Some of this money is transferred to the Province, who in turn gives it to the Municipality. An example is the White Elephant SportsPlex on the hill. $20 Million came from the Provincial Government, however they probably got it from the Feds, (Who knows)

We have to many Governments (4 Levels) with to much taxing power, spreading money around to and fro so that its anybodys guess where it comes from. In addition we have Transit Co., with taxing Authority, Airport Authoritys with taxing Authority. Government owned insurance companies that can increase rates at will etc;

Last but not least we have thousands of vested interest groups crying like Oliver Twist for MORE' MORE' MORE'

I say more for what? If there are some good ideas out there that will foster growth, and create jobs, without constant Government interferance I would support it 100 percent. If it is just to get money to spend money on ** not so bright** ideas, such at Co-Generation plants to heat water to heat buildings in the downtown area. Or to spend $15 Million to replace a bridge that could be repaired for $724,000.00, or any other assinine idea then I am against it.

If we could get the Government out of our pockets, reduce taxes so that we the taxpayers could spend the money, rather than self serving politicians, and vested interest groups, we might be able to get something done in this area, however at present we are not making any headway.

Revisionist history is wonderful. TheSocreds were originally opposed to the University and did their best to avoid it, but Lois Boone went qfter them time and time again, then time and time again after that. Yes I know it wasn't an NDP idea (actually a Liberal - a true one not the present mob) originally suggested it way back, but the NDP pushed for it, especially after the citizens of PG started the campaign to bring it about. The NDP did have a choice, and they took the one they were fully in agreement with.

The Bridge was built because we needed it, and had nothing to do with re-electing Ramsey. It was obvious by that time that he wasn't going to be, but the bridge went ahead anyway because the City needed it - as I said facilities should be built where they are needed not because people vote the way they do.

The old provincial building went to the Native Friendship Centre, it wasn't just thrown away for a dollar, unless you think First Nations have no business in Prince George. It has been in continual use ever since. The courthouse was needed and is a major improvement over the old.

I forgot to mention, of course, the Family Practice Centre, another NDP facility that has had major benefits to Prince George and the surrounding area.

My point is that the statement made that the NDP gave PG nothing is blatantly false. They provided a lot and it was provided at a time when the Federal Government was severely reducing transfer payments to the provinces, including BC. The NDP was able to find the necessary money to improve the infrastructure despite that difficulty. A pity the Liberals with the claimes rampantly successful economy are not as capable, because PG gets nothing that I can see from Campbell's Government.

I would suggest that if your suggested way of financing local projects were to be followed, there would be nothing built in PG ever. People who are that crabby about taxes would never endorse the kind of facilities the City needs to progress.

As to the local disasterous policies about the Cameron Street Bridge and so on, let me remind you that the Mayor is a Liberal not a New Democrat. When a New Democrat was in charge the City was run quite well. He was the golden eyed wonder boy until he came out and supported Paul Ramsey, when you guys turned on him overnight.

"Revisionist history is wonderful. The Socreds were originally opposed to the University and did their best to avoid it,.."

This is a blatant misrepresentation of facts.

Revisionism in action, I would say! Please refer to the B.C. Legislature Hansard on the net to get the real, non-revisionist chain of events.

The NDP gave, not only to P.G., but the whole province a real present: Doubling of the provincial debt from 17 billion to 34 billion, quite an accomplishment as the NDP managed to accumulate in one decade what it took all the other governments to accumulate in total since B.C. joined confederation!

There was a need for the Simon Fraser Bridge to be twinned, however the Government of the day chose to twin the John Hart Bridge, which just happened to be in Paul Ramsays riding. Need I say more.

The Provincial Government building was given to the Natives after we built the New Courthouse, (after) In other words once we got the new one we could hand down the old one. If there was a need for this type of building for the Natives maybe we should have built them a new one. (Ever think of that)

It has always been debatable whether or not we actually needed a new courthouse. Some would say it was another example of building for the sake of spending money. It certainly isnt over used.

The building of UNBC was announced by Bruce Strachan (Social Credit) on June 9th 1990, and Bill 40 the UNBC Act was passed June 21st. The NDP won the election in 1991 and on April 1992 Mike Harcourt (NDP) attended the Sod Turning ceremony.

I am not opposed to building as you suggest, however I am opposed to over building which is what we do in the City, mainly because we are confused and think we are a big City when in fact we are **small fry**. Some examples.

(1) University built way beyond what is required to educate 3600 full and part time students.

(2) CN MultiPlex built to seat 6600 fans, last 5 years the average is approx 3600

(3) 2 Huge swimming pools, both under utilized.

(4) Civic Centre that is used for various and sundry purposes, however rarely used for what it was built for (conventions)

(5) Proposed new Police Station that will cost $20 Million or more, when the present one could be renovated and upgraded for probably less that $5 Million.

(6) Building a new bridge over the Nechako rather than making repairs to the existing bridge and excercising some fiscal responsibility.

(7) Building an expensive Art Centre that is utilized mostly by the staff that works there.

All of the above taking place while the population is declining.

A number of the people who promote these expensive endeavours, end up leaving town once they get their pensions etc; and move to warmer climes, leaving us the taxpayers to pick up the cost for years to come. We should be grumpy.

"It has always been debatable whether or not we actually needed a new courthouse. Some would say it was another example of building for the sake of spending money. It certainly isn't over used."

I remember the stalling techniques employed by Victoria to weasel out of the promised building of the new court house. Victoria claimed that it would take at least a couple of years of *studies* to make sure that it could be build at all in a 200 year flood plain.

Our Mayor became extremely annoyed and complained about the large hole in the ground where the hotel used to be and he threatened that he would personally go and knock some sense into a few heads in Victoria!

I think that he was right. A city of this size needs to have proper government buildings.

I kind of liked the Government Building on Third Avenue. It seemed to suit the purpose, and even to-day is a nice bulding that houses all kinds of different offices and business. In any event its a done deal now, whether it was required or not.

Being a self proclaimed Northern Capital I suppose we need some kind of a building to make it look like its so, even if it isnt.

Palopu, who else's riding could the Hart Bridge possibly have been in except the MLA for PG North. Get a grip. It needed widening and it was widened, under the NDP. What are you suggesting, that the Hart Bridge should have been moved to Lois Boone's Riding? Don't be ridiculous. It was where it was. Which MLA's constituency was involved had nothing to do with it.

I find it interesting that you say the new courthouse isn't overused. Perhaps crime is declining after all and all the publicity about drug dealing car thieves is just anti-everything hype! And, plese, why spend more money on a new Native Friendship Centre when the old Provincial Building was there waiting. Do you want to waste taxpayer's money?

With regard to the Socred attitude towards the university, let me remind you that Stan Hagen was the Minister of Advanced Education when this issue was being discussed and made his ignorantly offensive remark about Prince George being the home of a bunch of loggers who didn't need an education. As minister of Advanced Education he was opposed to a university in Prince George and reflected the official Socred viewpoint at the time. It was only later, when they were due to be defeated that they decided it was needed in attempt to save their necks. In fairness, Bruce Strachan and local Socreds did mostly support it.

The fact that the people of British Columbia were sick and tired of the NDP and its policies and turfed them out - reduced them to a mere two seats - apparently has totally escaped those who still insist that the performance of the NDP was top notch, flawless and never-do-wrong in every conceivable way!

To screw up is one thing, but to never admit any foul ups and take responsibility for them is another matter altogether!

When Mike Harcourt took over the province he boasted that it was the #1 province in Canada.

Ten years and four premiers later B.C. was #10 and had achieved have-not status!

None of it had anything to do with Victoria of course - just ill winds from Ottawa, Asian flu and the roll of the dice. All of those completely circumstantial and beyond the control of the party in charge.

Well done. Congratulations.

Real usable ferries will start arriving in the fall of 2007, by the way.

When you can't respond with reason to facts put forward, revert to the same old insults, true or false, who cares, eh?

In case you did not notice, we had an election a while ago and a few more New Democrats were elected.

"When you can't respond with reason to facts put forward, revert to the same old insults, true or false, who cares, eh?"

The above is the reply that I knew was coming.

I rest my case. Over and out.