This is a refundable provincial income tax credit for individuals in BC who are at least 65 years old. The credit applies to eligible permanent home improvements. The credit is 10% of eligible expenditures incurred on or after April 1, 2012, up to a maximum credit of $1,000 per year. The credit can be claimed on personal income returns starting with 2012 year.
In simplified terms the eligible expenditures must meet 5 criteria:
1) be for improvements to the senior's principal place of residence (including the land),
2) be for the purpose of enabling a senior to gain access to or to be mobile or functional within the property or to reduce risk of harm to the senior,
3) be of an enduring nature and integral to the property, including things that become permanent fixtures,
4) were not made for the principal purpose of increasing the value of the property,
5) would ordinarily be made by, or for, a person with an impairment to enable that person to gain access to or to be mobile or functional within the residence or land.
It doesn't matter whether the indiviiduals own their home or they are renting. In addition the credit can be claimed by a person who shares a home with a related senior.
Generally speaking, taxpayers have to fit squarely within the provisions of the legislation to be entitled to tax credits.
Some examples of expenditures that may qualify include:
Certain renovations to permit a first-floor occupancy or secondary suite for a senior
Grab bars and related reinforcements around the toilet, tub and shower
Hand rails in corridors
Wheelchair ramps and lifts
Walk-in bathtubs
Wheel-in showers
Raised toilets
Widening passage doors
Lowering counters and cupboards
Motion operated lighting
Non-slip flooring in bathrooms
Lever handled taps and doors
Accessible light switches and electrical outlets
Hands-free taps
Touch and release drawers
See also Canadian Seniors Information website
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tamiflu
Tamiflu has been touted by the World Health Organization and the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) as an essential anti-flu medicine and stockpiled at great cost by a number of countries. Tamiflu is said to shorten the time flu will linger if taken as soon as symptoms appear, and more importantly, to reduce the chances of getting flu if you take it shortly after being exposed to a flu virus. However,the Roche Groupe, the corporate group that makes Tamiflu, is said to have done ten studies, but have released their findings on only two of those studies. Okay, right away we have a huge reason not to trust Roche or anybody else touting Tamiflu. What isn't Roche telling us?
In my opinion the major pharmaceutical companies are about as trustable as the tobacco industry.
According to an article in the CBC news dated April 20, 2009 the Canadian stockpile of anti-flu drugs was about 55 million doses. Here is an excerpt from the CBC news article - The national antiviral stockpile contains 55.7 million doses, enough to treat nearly 5.6 million people. Tamiflu, which is sold by Hoffman-La Roche, makes up 90 per cent of the holdings. Relenza accounts for the remaining 10 per cent.
Over the past five years a number of countries have stockpiled antiviral drugs — mainly Tamiflu — as a hedge against a feared flu pandemic. Tamiflu seemed to be a safe bet. Resistance to the drug was rarely seen. And laboratory studies suggested viruses that acquired resistance would be weakened and less able to spread from person to person.
To widespread dismay that theory was proven to be wrong in the winter of 2008. A resistant strain of influenza A virus of the H1N1 variety emerged in Northern Europe. The strain took off, rapidly spreading around the world.
The following is an excerpt from another CBC News article dated March 2, 2009.
The main strain causing flu illnesses in the U.S. is resistant to the antiviral drug Tamiflu, a government report released Monday shows. As of Feb. 19, researchers found 264 of 268, or 98.5 per cent, of influenza A viruses tested were resistant to oseltamivir, or Tamiflu, researchers reported
in Monday's online issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Last flu season, 19 per cent of H1N1 viruses tested were resistant to the
drug, said Dr. Nila Dharan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
Atlanta and her colleagues. In December, the CDC first warned doctors that they were noticing resistant to Tamiflu among H1N1 strains. At the time, the CDC advised giving Tamiflu with another anti-viral drug, Relenza, also called zanamivir, or a generic drug called rimantadine.
For the study, the researchers interviewed 99 patients. They found 30 per
cent of them were vaccinated against the flu, but came down with it anyway.
The following information is from the Tamiflu website
Indications Tamiflu is for treating people 1 year and older with influenza (flu) whose symptoms started within the last 2 days. Tamiflu can also reduce the chance of getting the flu. Tamiflu is not a substitute for an annual flu vaccination.
Important Safety Information
Before taking Tamiflu, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing. Let your doctor know if you have kidney disease, heart disease, respiratory disease, or other serious health conditions. Also tell your doctor about any medications you are taking or if you’ve received a nasal-spray flu vaccine in the past 2 weeks. If you have an allergic reaction or a severe rash with Tamiflu, stop taking it, and contact your doctor right away. This may be very serious. The most common side effects of Tamiflu are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting.
The following bits of information are from the 24-page Tamiflu Prescribing Information Website:
There is no evidence for efficacy of TAMIFLU in any illness caused by agents other than influenza viruses types A and B. Influenza viruses change over time. Emergence of resistance mutations could decrease drug effectiveness. Other factors (for example, changes in viral virulence) might also diminish clinical benefit of antiviral drugs. Prescribers should consider available information on
influenza drug susceptibility patterns and treatment effects when deciding whether to use TAMIFLU.
People with the flu, particularly children and adolescents, may be at increased risk for seizures, confusion, or abnormal behavior when they first get sick. These events may occur when the flu is not treated or right after starting Tamiflu. These events are uncommon but may lead to accidental injury. Contact a healthcare professional right away if you notice any unusual behavior. The most common side effects are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting.
Limitations of Populations Studied
Efficacy of TAMIFLU in the treatment of influenza in patients with chronic cardiac disease and/or respiratory disease has not been established. No difference in the incidence of complications was observed between the treatment and placebo groups in this population. No information is available regarding treatment of influenza in patients with any medical condition sufficiently severe or unstable to be considered at imminent risk of requiring hospitalization. Efficacy of TAMIFLU for treatment or prophylaxis of influenza has not been established in immunocompromised patients.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Serious skin and hypersensitivity reactions
Neuropsychiatric events
Less serious reactions include:Nausea,
Vomiting,
Diarrhea,
Headache,
Fatigue
and other less common reactions
The following chart is from www.Webmd
Common side effects of Tamiflu Oral:
Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe
Throwing Up Less Severe
Infrequent side effects of Tamiflu Oral:
Bronchitis Severe
Dizzy Less Severe
Chronic Trouble Sleeping Less Severe
Head Pain Less Severe
Cough Less Severe
Diarrhea Less Severe
Stomach Cramps Less Severe
Rare side effects of Tamiflu Oral:
Pink Eye Severe
Angina Severe
Abnormal Heart Rhythm Severe
Acute Infection of the
Nose, Throat or Sinus Severe
Pneumonia Severe
Inflammation of the Large
Intestine with Bleeding Severe
Hepatitis Severe
Bleeding of the Stomach
or Intestines Severe
Bloody Diarrhea
from Antibiotics Severe
Erythema Multiforme Severe
Toxic Epidermal
Necrolysis Severe
Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome Severe
Hives Severe
Delirium Severe
Seizures Severe
Fever Severe
Rash Severe
Puffy Face from
Water Retention Severe
Nosebleed Severe
Abnormal Liver
Function Tests Severe
Injury Severe
Low Body Temperature Severe
Life Threatening Allergic
Reaction Severe
Reaction due to
an Allergy Severe
Diabetes Severe
Anemia Severe
Confused Severe
Irritation of the Ear Less Severe
Indigestion Less Severe
Eczema Less Severe
Inflammation of Skin
caused by an Allergy Less Severe
Hallucination Less Severe
Sensation of Spinning
or Whirling Less Severe
Low Energy Less Severe
Runny Nose Less Severe
The following is an excerpt of a November 28, 2012 article from Dr. Mercola's website, http:// articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/
By Dr. Mercola
What should you reach for when you come down with the flu? The antiviral drug
Tamiflu is the second recommendation on the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's (CDC) list of recommended treatments, right behind the flu vaccine.
Both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines
Agency have approved Tamiflu for both the treatment and prevention of flu, and
governments around the world have stockpiled the drug at the recommendation of
the World Health Organization (WHO), in preparation for potential flu pandemics.
Use of the drug dramatically increased after the worldwide 2009 swine flu pandemic. But does Tamiflu actually work?
Researchers with the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration group are now raising
serious questions about the drug's effectiveness and the scientific basis for
the global recommendation of the drug. In a similar vein, despite the fact that
the science behind flu vaccines is flimsy at best, with numerous studies showing
flu vaccines simply do not work, 150 Cincinatti health care workers now face being fired unless they get a flu shot, as reported by CNBC above. This trend of widely recommending, or worse, mandating, certain drugs and vaccines without a sturdy scientific base for doing so is truly
troubling, and must be addressed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The world has been sucked in. All that Tamiflu and all that money and no evidence whatever that it works. As the makers tell you on their website, viruses mutate. Even if it works a little one year will it the next. The only believable evidence is that Tamiflu can make you sick or, in rare cases, kill you.
My question is why are we still pushing any anti-flu vaccines, whether it is Tamiflu or anything else. My own doctor, while paying lip service to the accepted practice of recommending annual flu shots, didn't try very hard at all. I was left to conclude that she didn't particularly disagree with my long held position that I am no more likely to get the flu than those who religiously, with blind faith in the unproven, take anti-flu vaccines. Actually I think I am less likely to get it. What is certain is that I am not ever going to get any of those potentially nasty side effects.
In my opinion the major pharmaceutical companies are about as trustable as the tobacco industry.
According to an article in the CBC news dated April 20, 2009 the Canadian stockpile of anti-flu drugs was about 55 million doses. Here is an excerpt from the CBC news article - The national antiviral stockpile contains 55.7 million doses, enough to treat nearly 5.6 million people. Tamiflu, which is sold by Hoffman-La Roche, makes up 90 per cent of the holdings. Relenza accounts for the remaining 10 per cent.
Over the past five years a number of countries have stockpiled antiviral drugs — mainly Tamiflu — as a hedge against a feared flu pandemic. Tamiflu seemed to be a safe bet. Resistance to the drug was rarely seen. And laboratory studies suggested viruses that acquired resistance would be weakened and less able to spread from person to person.
To widespread dismay that theory was proven to be wrong in the winter of 2008. A resistant strain of influenza A virus of the H1N1 variety emerged in Northern Europe. The strain took off, rapidly spreading around the world.
The following is an excerpt from another CBC News article dated March 2, 2009.
The main strain causing flu illnesses in the U.S. is resistant to the antiviral drug Tamiflu, a government report released Monday shows. As of Feb. 19, researchers found 264 of 268, or 98.5 per cent, of influenza A viruses tested were resistant to oseltamivir, or Tamiflu, researchers reported
in Monday's online issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Last flu season, 19 per cent of H1N1 viruses tested were resistant to the
drug, said Dr. Nila Dharan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
Atlanta and her colleagues. In December, the CDC first warned doctors that they were noticing resistant to Tamiflu among H1N1 strains. At the time, the CDC advised giving Tamiflu with another anti-viral drug, Relenza, also called zanamivir, or a generic drug called rimantadine.
For the study, the researchers interviewed 99 patients. They found 30 per
cent of them were vaccinated against the flu, but came down with it anyway.
The following information is from the Tamiflu website
Indications Tamiflu is for treating people 1 year and older with influenza (flu) whose symptoms started within the last 2 days. Tamiflu can also reduce the chance of getting the flu. Tamiflu is not a substitute for an annual flu vaccination.
Important Safety Information
Before taking Tamiflu, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing. Let your doctor know if you have kidney disease, heart disease, respiratory disease, or other serious health conditions. Also tell your doctor about any medications you are taking or if you’ve received a nasal-spray flu vaccine in the past 2 weeks. If you have an allergic reaction or a severe rash with Tamiflu, stop taking it, and contact your doctor right away. This may be very serious. The most common side effects of Tamiflu are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting.
The following bits of information are from the 24-page Tamiflu Prescribing Information Website:
There is no evidence for efficacy of TAMIFLU in any illness caused by agents other than influenza viruses types A and B. Influenza viruses change over time. Emergence of resistance mutations could decrease drug effectiveness. Other factors (for example, changes in viral virulence) might also diminish clinical benefit of antiviral drugs. Prescribers should consider available information on
influenza drug susceptibility patterns and treatment effects when deciding whether to use TAMIFLU.
People with the flu, particularly children and adolescents, may be at increased risk for seizures, confusion, or abnormal behavior when they first get sick. These events may occur when the flu is not treated or right after starting Tamiflu. These events are uncommon but may lead to accidental injury. Contact a healthcare professional right away if you notice any unusual behavior. The most common side effects are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting.
Limitations of Populations Studied
Efficacy of TAMIFLU in the treatment of influenza in patients with chronic cardiac disease and/or respiratory disease has not been established. No difference in the incidence of complications was observed between the treatment and placebo groups in this population. No information is available regarding treatment of influenza in patients with any medical condition sufficiently severe or unstable to be considered at imminent risk of requiring hospitalization. Efficacy of TAMIFLU for treatment or prophylaxis of influenza has not been established in immunocompromised patients.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Serious skin and hypersensitivity reactions
Neuropsychiatric events
Less serious reactions include:Nausea,
Vomiting,
Diarrhea,
Headache,
Fatigue
and other less common reactions
The following chart is from www.Webmd
Common side effects of Tamiflu Oral:
Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe
Throwing Up Less Severe
Infrequent side effects of Tamiflu Oral:
Bronchitis Severe
Dizzy Less Severe
Chronic Trouble Sleeping Less Severe
Head Pain Less Severe
Cough Less Severe
Diarrhea Less Severe
Stomach Cramps Less Severe
Rare side effects of Tamiflu Oral:
Pink Eye Severe
Angina Severe
Abnormal Heart Rhythm Severe
Acute Infection of the
Nose, Throat or Sinus Severe
Pneumonia Severe
Inflammation of the Large
Intestine with Bleeding Severe
Hepatitis Severe
Bleeding of the Stomach
or Intestines Severe
Bloody Diarrhea
from Antibiotics Severe
Erythema Multiforme Severe
Toxic Epidermal
Necrolysis Severe
Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome Severe
Hives Severe
Delirium Severe
Seizures Severe
Fever Severe
Rash Severe
Puffy Face from
Water Retention Severe
Nosebleed Severe
Abnormal Liver
Function Tests Severe
Injury Severe
Low Body Temperature Severe
Life Threatening Allergic
Reaction Severe
Reaction due to
an Allergy Severe
Diabetes Severe
Anemia Severe
Confused Severe
Irritation of the Ear Less Severe
Indigestion Less Severe
Eczema Less Severe
Inflammation of Skin
caused by an Allergy Less Severe
Hallucination Less Severe
Sensation of Spinning
or Whirling Less Severe
Low Energy Less Severe
Runny Nose Less Severe
The following is an excerpt of a November 28, 2012 article from Dr. Mercola's website, http:// articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/
By Dr. Mercola
What should you reach for when you come down with the flu? The antiviral drug
Tamiflu is the second recommendation on the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's (CDC) list of recommended treatments, right behind the flu vaccine.
Both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines
Agency have approved Tamiflu for both the treatment and prevention of flu, and
governments around the world have stockpiled the drug at the recommendation of
the World Health Organization (WHO), in preparation for potential flu pandemics.
Use of the drug dramatically increased after the worldwide 2009 swine flu pandemic. But does Tamiflu actually work?
Researchers with the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration group are now raising
serious questions about the drug's effectiveness and the scientific basis for
the global recommendation of the drug. In a similar vein, despite the fact that
the science behind flu vaccines is flimsy at best, with numerous studies showing
flu vaccines simply do not work, 150 Cincinatti health care workers now face being fired unless they get a flu shot, as reported by CNBC above. This trend of widely recommending, or worse, mandating, certain drugs and vaccines without a sturdy scientific base for doing so is truly
troubling, and must be addressed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The world has been sucked in. All that Tamiflu and all that money and no evidence whatever that it works. As the makers tell you on their website, viruses mutate. Even if it works a little one year will it the next. The only believable evidence is that Tamiflu can make you sick or, in rare cases, kill you.
My question is why are we still pushing any anti-flu vaccines, whether it is Tamiflu or anything else. My own doctor, while paying lip service to the accepted practice of recommending annual flu shots, didn't try very hard at all. I was left to conclude that she didn't particularly disagree with my long held position that I am no more likely to get the flu than those who religiously, with blind faith in the unproven, take anti-flu vaccines. Actually I think I am less likely to get it. What is certain is that I am not ever going to get any of those potentially nasty side effects.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Health Study Headlines Often Wrong
On October 5, 2012 a CBC News article written by Kelly Crowe reported a French study that concluded that the news media report initial biomedical findings that more often than not turn out to be wrong. The study also concluded that the news media generally ignore any follow-up information that refutes the initial claims.
Are we surprised? I don't think so. And it's not just the news media. Many internet websites and blogsites are loaded with the latest health claims, new health product information and diet information or claims. Nobody seems to ever retract anything. It seems that it is all about grabbing readers' attention, increasing volume and making money; not about spreading truth.
Obviously we have to read these reports and claims with several grains of salt. The items I find the most disturbing are the ones that want to make people believe that more pharmaceutical drugs are needed. The French study made a specific reference to a number of studies on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that in most most cases were never proven to be true over time but were never revisited by the media.I found this reference to ADHD interesting because of the large increase in ADHD medicine prescritions in BC over the last decade. On November 3 I wrote about this issue. I am not suggesting that report was incorrect. It was based on information the Vancouver Sun obtained from the BC Ministry of Health. However the increase in prescriptions for ADHD would at least in part reflect the reports in the news media about ADHD. As reported in the Vancouver Sun a lot of the information about ADHD in Canada is funded by the pharmaceutical industry.
Are we surprised? I don't think so. And it's not just the news media. Many internet websites and blogsites are loaded with the latest health claims, new health product information and diet information or claims. Nobody seems to ever retract anything. It seems that it is all about grabbing readers' attention, increasing volume and making money; not about spreading truth.
Obviously we have to read these reports and claims with several grains of salt. The items I find the most disturbing are the ones that want to make people believe that more pharmaceutical drugs are needed. The French study made a specific reference to a number of studies on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that in most most cases were never proven to be true over time but were never revisited by the media.I found this reference to ADHD interesting because of the large increase in ADHD medicine prescritions in BC over the last decade. On November 3 I wrote about this issue. I am not suggesting that report was incorrect. It was based on information the Vancouver Sun obtained from the BC Ministry of Health. However the increase in prescriptions for ADHD would at least in part reflect the reports in the news media about ADHD. As reported in the Vancouver Sun a lot of the information about ADHD in Canada is funded by the pharmaceutical industry.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
ADHD Prescriptions Triple
A recent news article in the Vancouver Sun stated that ADHD medication prescriptions have tripled in BC over the last ten years. Are we surprised? No, we are not surprised at all. North American society seems to have gone prescription drug crazy over the last decade. The pharmaceutical industry is winning the battle to make you believe you need their products and to keep your money in their pockets. It seems that you cannot turn on a television without being innundated with advertisements flogging some prescription drug, usually loaded with terrifying side effects. We are also bombarded by the health care industry with products of questionable value such as flu shots.
According to the news article the Centre for ADHD Awareness in Canada recently ran a national awareness week funded by Shire Canada, the makers of two of the ADHD medications. Once again the drug makers are calling the tune.
The news article also stated that all of the doctors on the board of Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance which has set diagnosis and treatment guidelines for ADHD have declared links to pharmaceutical companies for either consulting or speaking engagements. This is like being a paid advocate or a lobbyist. Ladies and gentlemen, the key point to understand about paid advocates or lobbyists is that their opinions are bought and paid for by special interest groups, in this case by the pharmaceutical industry.
Who knows what long-term side effects are going to come out of the current wave of ADHD drugs. Remember in most cases these drugs are being given young children or teenagers.
With the massive amounts of prescription drugs, flu shots and similar items it is no wonder that healthcare costs are skyrocketing.
The government should ban direct public advertising of prescription pharmaceuticals and also make it illegal for practising doctors or other healthcare professionals to earn fees or take money or gifts from the pharmaceutical industry. Objectivity is a critical aspect of professionalism.
visit my website
According to the news article the Centre for ADHD Awareness in Canada recently ran a national awareness week funded by Shire Canada, the makers of two of the ADHD medications. Once again the drug makers are calling the tune.
The news article also stated that all of the doctors on the board of Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance which has set diagnosis and treatment guidelines for ADHD have declared links to pharmaceutical companies for either consulting or speaking engagements. This is like being a paid advocate or a lobbyist. Ladies and gentlemen, the key point to understand about paid advocates or lobbyists is that their opinions are bought and paid for by special interest groups, in this case by the pharmaceutical industry.
Who knows what long-term side effects are going to come out of the current wave of ADHD drugs. Remember in most cases these drugs are being given young children or teenagers.
With the massive amounts of prescription drugs, flu shots and similar items it is no wonder that healthcare costs are skyrocketing.
The government should ban direct public advertising of prescription pharmaceuticals and also make it illegal for practising doctors or other healthcare professionals to earn fees or take money or gifts from the pharmaceutical industry. Objectivity is a critical aspect of professionalism.
visit my website
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
NHL Lockout
So there is an NHL lockout. Damnation eh. I am trying to generate some internal emotion but for me the lockout is more more like Snooze City. Out of curiosity I looked on StubHub website for the price of Vancouver Canuck tickets for the December 2, 2012 game with the Anaheim Ducks. If the lockout ends in time for this game to be played you can buy a resale ticket on this particular website for prices ranging from $77 (upper deck of course) to $595 (lower bowl). As these are resale I have no idea what the original ticket price was, I couldn't find any ticket prices on the Canucks' website. Assuming I wouldn't find any $77 tickets available - I'm never that quick - I would be looking at probably $100 to $200 each for a pair of nosebleed seats in the upper deck, if I actually wanted to go, which I don't. By the time you add in $20 or so for parking, and another $20 to $30 for snacks to relieve potential boredom we are up to a minimum of $250, and more likely $350 for a game which may or may not be entertaining. I don't dislike hockey, just the ticket prices. At those prices I would feel ripped-off, especially if they decide to lay an egg that particular night. Way back when, during the Canucks first season in the NHL, I had 2 season tickets in row 36 straddling the centre line at the Pacific Coliseum for the princely sum of $3.50 a seat. The row directly in front of us cost $5 a seat and the top price in the lower section was $6. Back then we had Orland Kurtenback, Andre Boudrias and Dale Talon instead of Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler and the Sedin Twins. The current crop are undenably more successful, but not necessarily more entertaining. In any case I don't care if the NHL season is cancelled. I am getting sick of overpaid jocks and over-inflated ticket prices. You can always go watch the Vancouver Giants junior team, a local Pee Wee team, or ...gasp... read a novel.
visit my seniors website
visit my seniors website
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
BC Ferry Profits
Last night I listened to televsion news (I don't remember which station) talking about the BC Ferries not making a profit on most of their ferry routes. So who cares? Why do the ferries have to make a profit? They are part of the transportation system. Do the Lion's Gate Bridge or the Ironworkers' Memorial Bridge have to make a profit? Imagine the North Shore without those bridges. Try to guess how many people would live in West Vancouver or North Vancouver without the transportation infrastructure presently in place. Knock out those bridges and you can largely forget about the North Shore as a viable place to live, work or run a business. You can also forget about the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and the Sea-To-Sky Highway to Whistler. Bye-bye Whistler. Okay, I am being a bit facetious. But not too much. Back in my childhood, our far-flung province was opened up to growth and development by the provincial government (mostly W.A.C. Bennet and the Social Credit party) building and improving roads all over the province - and hydro-electric dams. I can still remember riding in my parents' car down the Fraser Canyon Highway and going over narrow wooden trestles that seemed to dangle in thin air overtop a precipitious three-hundred foot drop. The government made that highway immeasurably better - perhaps to facilitate our former Minister of Highways, Flying Phil Gaglardi, racing at breakneck speed down to the coast from his home in Kamloops. Whatever the reasons, it worked. The highways did open up British Columbia, and the ferries were an integral part of the highway sytem. That is the point. The ferries are part of the transportation infrastructure in the province and should be viewed in that light. When you talk about user-pay policies keep in mind the ferries do not just benefit the ferry passengers. When a freight truck loaded with produce, industrial products or consumer goods uses the ferry to take its cargo to Vancouver Island, who is the beneficiary of the ferry service? The trucker, the producer or manufacturer, the end user of the products, the intermediary wholesalers and retailers or all of the above? The answer is obvious. Perhaps if we stop viewing the ferries as a potential profit centre we can also stop thinking that we need to pay the BC Ferry Corporation executives such ridiculously high salaries.
visit my seniors website
visit my seniors website
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Importing Foreign Workers
News Item - Vancouver Sun October 15, 2012
OTTAWA --- A major B.C. labour organization denounced on Monday the “mass importation” of Chinese workers to mine coal in the northeast part of the province, saying it is “preposterous” to suggest British Columbians don’t have the skills to fill close to 2,000 full-time jobs destined for foreign workers.
“We want to register our grave concerns about the uses and abuses of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program as it relates to projects in British Columbia,” the organization told Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Christy Clark in an open letter.
It was issued by the Bargaining Council of the B.C. Building Trades Unions, made up of 15 unions representing 35,000 craft construction workers, including underground miners.
“We believe this mass importation of labour is completely unnecessary and is simply a strategy to employ lower-paid workers who are compliant with the culture of coal mining in China,” wrote BCBCBTU President Mark Olsen.
“The coal mining in that country is patently unsafe and the industry there shows little regard for the life, health and well-being of the workers in that country.”
The organization was reacting to the disclosure in The Vancouver Sun that a consortium of companies, mostly Chinese, are planning to bring anywhere from 1,600 to just under 2,000 Chinese nationals to B.C. in coming years to work in four proposed underground mine projects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Comments
I often disagree with the big unions, but not this time. If Chinese owned or backed companies are going to import most of their workers when there is high unemployment in Canada, it would seem to be a good reason for the Canadian government to block Chinese takeovers in our natural resource sectors. It seems to me that the Canadian government's issuing of the permits under the TFW program in this case demonstrates a callous attitude towards organized labour in this country. The government seems to forget that a healthy domestic economy needs decently paid workers who can afford to buy food, housing and consumer goods.
visit my seniors website
OTTAWA --- A major B.C. labour organization denounced on Monday the “mass importation” of Chinese workers to mine coal in the northeast part of the province, saying it is “preposterous” to suggest British Columbians don’t have the skills to fill close to 2,000 full-time jobs destined for foreign workers.
“We want to register our grave concerns about the uses and abuses of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program as it relates to projects in British Columbia,” the organization told Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Christy Clark in an open letter.
It was issued by the Bargaining Council of the B.C. Building Trades Unions, made up of 15 unions representing 35,000 craft construction workers, including underground miners.
“We believe this mass importation of labour is completely unnecessary and is simply a strategy to employ lower-paid workers who are compliant with the culture of coal mining in China,” wrote BCBCBTU President Mark Olsen.
“The coal mining in that country is patently unsafe and the industry there shows little regard for the life, health and well-being of the workers in that country.”
The organization was reacting to the disclosure in The Vancouver Sun that a consortium of companies, mostly Chinese, are planning to bring anywhere from 1,600 to just under 2,000 Chinese nationals to B.C. in coming years to work in four proposed underground mine projects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Comments
I often disagree with the big unions, but not this time. If Chinese owned or backed companies are going to import most of their workers when there is high unemployment in Canada, it would seem to be a good reason for the Canadian government to block Chinese takeovers in our natural resource sectors. It seems to me that the Canadian government's issuing of the permits under the TFW program in this case demonstrates a callous attitude towards organized labour in this country. The government seems to forget that a healthy domestic economy needs decently paid workers who can afford to buy food, housing and consumer goods.
visit my seniors website
Thursday, October 25, 2012
BC Housing Staff Lavish Expenses.
News Article -Vancouver Province October 25, 2012
According to a shocking and secret audit of company credit cards, B.C. Housing workers blew taxpayer dollars on flowers, booze and celebratory restaurant meals. Moreover, the amount spent by B.C. Housing credit-card holders jumped almost 50 per cent between 2009 and 2011 while some users violated basic credit-card rules.
The organization is tasked with providing housing for the province’s most vulnerable populations.
The 30-page audit report, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, was conducted by B.C. Housing internal auditors and targets so-called purchasing cards — also known as p-cards — that B.C. Housing employees use for travel, meals and entertainment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My comments
The solution to the above abuse must start with eliminating the purchasing cards entirely. Let the staff use their own cards and submit receipts for reimbusement of any eligible expenses. Right away the onus for justifying the expenses would shift to the staff enjoying the meals and booze. And by the way, why the hell should I be buying lunches for government workers unless they are on travel status or their booze under any circumstances. This extravagance must grate no end on the needy folk that BC Housing is tasked with helping. Probably most of them could eat for a month for what it costs the taxpayers for a couple of BC Housing lunches with booze. Ms. Clark, perhaps many more audits are in order.
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According to a shocking and secret audit of company credit cards, B.C. Housing workers blew taxpayer dollars on flowers, booze and celebratory restaurant meals. Moreover, the amount spent by B.C. Housing credit-card holders jumped almost 50 per cent between 2009 and 2011 while some users violated basic credit-card rules.
The organization is tasked with providing housing for the province’s most vulnerable populations.
The 30-page audit report, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, was conducted by B.C. Housing internal auditors and targets so-called purchasing cards — also known as p-cards — that B.C. Housing employees use for travel, meals and entertainment.
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My comments
The solution to the above abuse must start with eliminating the purchasing cards entirely. Let the staff use their own cards and submit receipts for reimbusement of any eligible expenses. Right away the onus for justifying the expenses would shift to the staff enjoying the meals and booze. And by the way, why the hell should I be buying lunches for government workers unless they are on travel status or their booze under any circumstances. This extravagance must grate no end on the needy folk that BC Housing is tasked with helping. Probably most of them could eat for a month for what it costs the taxpayers for a couple of BC Housing lunches with booze. Ms. Clark, perhaps many more audits are in order.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Feds Ban Expiry Dates on Prepaid Credit Cards.
News item - Toronto Sun
OTTAWA - Prepaid credit cards must have its fees clearly displayed and can no longer expire, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced Wednesday.
Under the new regulations, prepaid cards must fully disclose any fees and conditions, must not expire and eliminate any unused balance, and also can't have maintenance fees for a year after card activation.
"We want to be sure Canadians understand what fees and conditions apply to prepaid products so that they can continue making informed decisions in the day-to-day lives," Flaherty said.
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Thank you Mr. Flaherty. It is about time. too bad we have to rely on the government to keep major financial and business institutions from screwing consumers. We all like honest profit, but there needs to be a return to ethical business practices.
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OTTAWA - Prepaid credit cards must have its fees clearly displayed and can no longer expire, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced Wednesday.
Under the new regulations, prepaid cards must fully disclose any fees and conditions, must not expire and eliminate any unused balance, and also can't have maintenance fees for a year after card activation.
"We want to be sure Canadians understand what fees and conditions apply to prepaid products so that they can continue making informed decisions in the day-to-day lives," Flaherty said.
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Thank you Mr. Flaherty. It is about time. too bad we have to rely on the government to keep major financial and business institutions from screwing consumers. We all like honest profit, but there needs to be a return to ethical business practices.
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Diamond Jubilee Medals
Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott of Saskatoon-Wanuskewin, Saskatchewan recently awarded Diamond Jubilee Medals to anti-abortion activists, Mary Wagner and Linda Gibbons. The medal was struck to commemerate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accension the to the throne. One of the criteria for awarding the medal is that the recipient has made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada, or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada. There was a big stretch here.
How inappropriate. What happened to Stephen Harper's quote, "As long as I'm Prime Minister we are not re-opening the abortion debate." Although it seems that Mr. Harper is not noticably pro-life, he is not publicly opposing abortion. Obviously he doesn't control his backbenchers on certain issues.
Mr. Vellacott also made the news last May when he called for a law against bullying fetuses.
I think that Mr.Vellacott using his government position to promote and reward people who try to prevent other people from exercising their lawful rights is tacky. Perhaps Stephen Harper should take a public position on this issue so we all know where he stands on this.
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How inappropriate. What happened to Stephen Harper's quote, "As long as I'm Prime Minister we are not re-opening the abortion debate." Although it seems that Mr. Harper is not noticably pro-life, he is not publicly opposing abortion. Obviously he doesn't control his backbenchers on certain issues.
Mr. Vellacott also made the news last May when he called for a law against bullying fetuses.
I think that Mr.Vellacott using his government position to promote and reward people who try to prevent other people from exercising their lawful rights is tacky. Perhaps Stephen Harper should take a public position on this issue so we all know where he stands on this.
visit my seniors website
Monday, October 22, 2012
Scientists Convicted of Manslaughter in Italy.
So people, an Italian court in L'Aquila convicted 7 scientists and seismologists of manslaughter for not properly warning residents of a coming earthquake and sentenced them to six years in prison -what a joke. If it was not so sad it would be laughable. Is it any wonder that many Italians do not trust their government or the systems of ..ahem..ah.. justice? Last time I read about the Italian courts they were overturning the ludicrous 2009 murder conviction of Amanda Knox. Let us all hope we don't ever get hauled in front of an Italian judge. And no, this is not a third world dictatorship. Italy is a democracy and traditionally ranks in the top 7 largest economies in the world, although it slipped to number ten in 2012.
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visit my seniors website
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Alice Wong And Shark Fin Soup
Delighted to see my MP from Richmond BC, Ms Alice Wong, eating shark fin soup - NOT. Even less delighted that she invited only Asian news media to watch the show. I like to think my elected representative is there for all her constituents - not just the Chinese residents. To make matters worse, Ms Wong is a junior cabinet minister in Mr. Harper's government, Minister of State (for Seniors.) I am not only a Richmond resident, I am a senior and beginning to feel a little bit disenfranchised. Let us hope that with this sort of tacky behaviour Ms Wong doesn't get elevated to a senior cabinet position.
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visit my seniors website
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