11/23/2012

Big Stink Over Gas Prices In Kamloops/Merritt

Let me start by saying that a few months ago, a friend of mine got tired of businesses in 100 Mile House complaining that the people here were doing their shopping in Williams Lake.

He wrote a letter to the Editor of the 100 Mile Free Press telling people that it was no wonder they were going elsewhere as the high prices (especially the gas prices) were driving people to save money by going to other places.

At the time there was a 6 cent a liter difference in gas prices between here and the "Puddle". Williams Lake being lower.

But the letter didn't have the effect he was looking for. What happened was that the prices in Williams Lake jumped by a full 10 cents while Hundred Mile remained the same.

What he didn't mention was that there was a difference of at least 15 cents a liter with Kamloops. Kamloops being lower.

Fast forward to Yesterday.

The Kamloops news is reporting that the Local Conservative MP in Merritt, Dan Albas, is filing a complaint over the difference in prices between Kamloops and Merrit to the Competition Bureau.

Now I was going to predict that the same thing would happen here as it did in the South Cariboo but it looks like the gas companies  monitor these situation fairly closely. The Gas Prices in Kamloops have already spiked up by 10 to 10.5 cents per liter. They didn't drop in Merritt. see http://www.bcgasprices.com/GasPriceSearch.aspx

Chevron is still using the standard bullshit about transportation , blah, blah, blah.

As far as the local MP goes I allege that he is only playing politics. Actions speak louder than word and the local MLA, Harry Lali, states that he tries not to buy the high prices gas in Merritt. AND HE LIVES THERE.

I believe that as with everything else that is going wrong in this province we need to flod the emails of the
Prime minister, the Energy Minister, The Opposition Leader. and all the MP's in this province objecting to this ripoff.

Don't stop there. Email the premier, all the MLA's, Mayors, Regional Districts, and News Media.

They have gone too far and with the fact that we are about to export out oil for less than we the Canadian Consumer are paying for I believe it's time to grab these elected (except in Clarks case) by the cajones and keep up the pressure until we get the prices we deserve as an Energy Producing Nation.

Time constraints for the next few days are preventing me form posting email sites for MP's and MLA's today. But I'll try to get them over the next few days.Watch for an update here.In the mean time Look in the Blue pages of your phone books. Some adresses can be found there.

Get on the emails folks it works for the likes of Alex Morton, it can work here.

11/10/2012

My Letter to Canada Trade Agreements Secretariat

My main opposition to FIPA  is that it will hold Canadians Ransom to the bidding of foreign powers and companies. Thirty-one years is more than a generation and my descendents don't deserve this type of treatment. This Federal government has never asked for permission of the people to sell out our country in this manner (by way of a election platform or other means.

IN MY OPINION THIS TYPE OF DICTATORSHIP AMOUNTS TO TREASON.

You are insuring that the environment will be destroyed. And for what? Extra money in the pockets of the already filthy rich at the expense of those who really count. The Voter.

The link for writing this type of letter can be found at Leadnow.ca  

We have until Monday Morning to again flood these idiots with letter in a  attempt to stop this madness.

Please go there and write something. Anything. \they have to be stopped.

10/24/2012

Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett Unaware ofd Harpers China Agreement

     At the 100 Mile House protest against the Enbridge Pipeline and Tanker traffic on our coast one of the people engaged Donna Barnett in a conversation about Harpers Canada/China Giveaway BC trade deal. Unbelievably, when aske what they (the Liberals were doing about it because time was running out, Donna responded that she was unaware of it. When it was explained to her basically what it was about her response was "that's not right" meaning she didn't agree with what was being done.

     Now Donna is only one MLA in this province and my first thought was "how many others are not aware of this Grave situation?". And is the Premiers inaction because she doesn't know either?

     Please folks get on the emails and phone right now and get your MLA's into action.

     I believe that the way Harper is going about this is against our constitution. He doesn't have a mandate to give away our province. And he sure as hell hasn't got a mandate to pass laws and agreements that tie our hands when it comes to stopping this Environment killer. Although Donna is on the record as a fence sitter on the Enbridge situation that should not preclude her from getting all the facts.

     This trade giveaway is to me akin to the Giveaway of our beloved BC Railway. And I am at the point right now and will go on record as saying if Harper slides his bullshit on the pipeline and China through the House I will be all for Separation from this country. I've had enough. It appears to me that the only way to protect ourselves and the environment is to get the hell out of Dodge.

10/23/2012

Best Response I've Seen For The Liberals Lies About The NDP In The Nineties

 The Kamloops News has run an article  on Todd Stone the new Liberal candidate taking over loudmouth Kruegers' Kamloops-South Thompson Riding.
Stone appears to be following the Liberals BS on the NDP in power in the 90's. One of the comments in this article puts him and the Liberals in their place. Just by doing the math. The following comment is copied and pasted from that article.

"Mr. Stone please don't embarrass yourself by saying that "We were dead last (in job creation) in Canada” under the NDP. You know the NDP came to power in 1991 and were defeated in 2000. They were in power 9 years. In 1991 average number  British Columbians working was 1,557,500. Campbell took office in 2001. Last full year of the NDP was 2000. In 2000 the number of British Columbians working was 1,930,800. Now Mr. Stone simple subtraction. 1,930,800 - 1,557,500 = 373,300. So Mr. Stone that is how many jobs the NDP created.

In 2010 under the liberals the average number of jobs was 2,256,500. How many jobs did the Liberal create. Simple math again Mr. Stone 2,256,500  in 2010 - 1,930,800 in 2000 under the NDP = 325,700. Now Mr. Stone which number of jobs is bigger 325,700  under the liberals or 373,300 under the NDP?  Let me do the math for you 373,300 -325,700  =47,600. What do you know NDP created 47,600 more jobs  in nine years while the Liberal job creation was over 10 years. Let's do a bit more math here. Divide 373,300 by 9 = 41,500, now divide 325,700 jobs created by the liberals by 10 that =32,600. Now a bit more math 41,500 NDP - 32,600 Liberal  = 8,900 less jobs per year  under the Liberals.

Let's take this math a bit farther. "The 373,300 new jobs created under NDP governments in the 1990s represented a total increase of 24.0 per cent over nine years -- or an annual average increase of 2.7 per cent. The 325,700 new jobs created under BC Liberal governments in the 2000s represented a total increase of 16.9 per cent over 10 years -- or an annual average increase of just 1.7 per cent."

The shameful thing here Mr. Stone is your math not the NDP job record  in comparison to the Liberal record.

You also write that you are concerned about small business The 1990s under the NDP saw B.C. top Canada in the number of new small businesses created and both union and non-union workers enjoyed the highest or second highest hourly wages in the country.
Not once during the New Democrats' tenure did British Columbia record negative economic growth. That's in contrast to the sharp downturn in 1982 with Social Credit, and the current recession under the BC Liberals."

Just by doing the math this commenter has  shown readers just How Bad The Record is for the BC Liberals

.For my readers: the past two years have been very trying for myself personally. Things are beginning to smooth out and I hope to do more posting here. As I will certainly be bashing the Liberals, make no mistake, if the NDP screws up they will also feel my wrath.

My thre main areas of interest are saving our salmon, preventing the construction of the prosperity mine in it's present form, and stopping the Enbridge  pipeline as well as the Kinder Morgan expansion in our Province.

I urge everyone reading this to gather in fron of your MLA's office tomorrow at noon (Oct 24,2012)to link arms to Stop The Pipeline and Tanler shipment in BC.

5/27/2012

Liberals Not Following Letter Of The Referendum On HST

     In fact I believe they are playing more games with us. It appears that the delay was solely for the purpose of adding new taxes and not exempting others. Pure and simple.

     The referendum question reads: "Are you in favour of extinguishing the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) and reinstating the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) in conjunction with the GST (Goods and Services Tax)"

     While we were conducting the waiting (during the unprecedented stalling) for Craig James to start the referendum I looked long and hard at this question and came to the conclusion that it didn't say exactly what we wanted. So I contacted Chris Delaney and had him ask James whether this wording meant that we would return EXACTLY to the way it was before Campbell and Hansen decided that they wanted to be dictators after proving themselves liars. The answer was YES. We would be returning to the old system EXACTLY the way it was.

     Now I have been following this lack of progress pretty close. Bill 54 was introduced. And all of a sudden something jumped out at me. Specifically that there was going to be a new tax on autos. That pissed me off. Not only was Phil Hochstein getting a early break after spending millions of his associations money (not sanctioned by all its' members) fighting the referendum, but now there are NEW TAXES coming and many previous exemptions will not be there.I allege this is illegal and challenge anyone to prove me wrong. I still have all my correspondence on the Recall and the Initiative Petition.Further reading shows a lack of the previous exemptions that were under the PST. As David Schreck says this leaves the government open to adding taxes whenever they want. So prove me wrong.

     Because the opposition is in a minority I believe there is nothing they can do short of stalling the vote on the budget. And if they try the government will just invoke closure.Our system sucks.

     So again it is left up to us. Write or email your MLA and ask that they vote against the budget. Especially the lapdog Liberals. The threat of recall still hangs over them if we feel they are not doing the bidding of their constituents. The upswing of the recall is that we can do it on our own and don't need to follow specific timelines. Just pay the $50 get the package, contact your crews and start collecting signatures.






5/24/2012

It's Time To Fight Back British Columbia

  Working without a mandate the Government of BC is attempting to muzzle it's citizens. After giving away our railway illegally, butchering the Ferry system, emasculating BC Hydro, overriding the utilities commission by politicking with hydro prices, Raping our rivers, and forcing polluting mines through the environmental review system by rubber stamping, they now have put this bill (Bill 37-2012) before the legislature.

 

Protected information

16  Except as permitted under section 17 [duty to keep information confidential] or 18 [personal information], a person must refuse, despite the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to disclose the following:
(a) information that would identify the person responsible for an animal or an animal product or byproduct;
(b) information that would identify an animal or an animal product or byproduct that is located at or in a specific place or on or in a specific vehicle;
(c) information that would reveal that a notifiable or reportable disease is or may be present in a specific place or on or in a specific vehicle;
(d) information that would reveal that an animal or an animal product or byproduct affected by a notifiable or reportable disease is
(i) located at or in a specific place or on or in a specific vehicle, or
(ii) owned, or in the custody or control of, an identifiable person or body, or that an identifiable person or body is an operator in relation to the animal or the animal product or byproduct;
(e) information that is derived from a sample taken under this Act or that is submitted to the ministry of the minister or a laboratory identified in an order of the minister.

     Now, I allege that without a mandate any bills or laws put forth by the (not) Premier Photo op- Flip flop are not legal. I further allege that this particular Bill (now being called a gag law) under this regime is being put forth to protect the infected fish farms on our coast.

     For these farms, too much bad press has been given out both within and outside the Cohen Commission. It must be causing hell for their bottom line. I don't know anyone in my area who is purchasing these infected invasive fish.And if everyone stops buying their fish maybe they will listen to us. Now I am asking that everyone in the province refrain from buying farmed salmon as long as we don't get full disclosure on the health of their fish..

     If the salmon farmers can't tell us what is wrong with their product then don't buy it.

     If the government tries to muzzle us then I hope every person in this province writes their MLA (several times a day) no matter which party they support and demand they kill this legislation NOW.

     We got rid of the HST (and I'll have more on that in a  later post) and we can stop this Bill. If your MLA won't listen to you then try picking up the recall where you left off. Do it independently and do not involve any prominent party members. You are the voter. The boss. and there is no need to involve politicians. Politicians don't want recall to succeed. Once it's successful they know it can be done again. It's time to set these politicians straight. They aren't doing our bidding if they are forcing bills like this through.


5/10/2012

What Do We Owe Our Soldiers?

     At 5:30 PM tonight May10, 2012, Dawna Friesen ask the question on Global National "What do we owe our soldiers?"

     My first thought without hearing the report was EVERYTHING
     Yes Everything. We owe them our our own god damn lives


     These men and women of our armed forces put themselves in harms way for us. To protect us on the orders of our government. Our chickenshit elected officials. Some gave their lives, others were wounded and severely maimed.

     And what do they get from these chickenshits in Ottawa? They get  basically nothing. They are ignored. Unable to possibly find gainful employment. reduced or cancelled pensions and medical help. They should be paid the same amount they were earning as soldiers indexed to the cost of living with all medical bills paid by the government forever

     I'm calling here for everyone in this country to stand up and demand this government resign. Resign immediately and call an election. Never, ever in my life have I been so outraged. Demand that all the governments pay above the basic be shifted to Veterans affairs or get the hell out of government.

     I'm so upset right now I had better quit typing before I say what is really on my mind.

3/24/2012

Iskut River Fuel Spill

Where were the Provincial Government, The Federal Government, and the Media on this spill.

http://www.terracedaily.ca/show9524a/FUEL_SPILL_NEAR_THE_ISKUT_RIVER__-_NORTHWEST_FUELS

This spill happened on November 16, 2011 and we are just hearing about it now. And I am willing to bet the MSM doesn't pick up on this story.

What are the two upper levels of government going to do? I predict , nothing. Not a god damn thing.

5000 litres coverts to 1l00 UK gallons which is the unit of measurement we used to have before the government converted us to metric so they could jack the price of fuel through the roof and it wouldn't look too bad a litre at a time.

3/19/2012

Toronto-Danforth By-election

     The NDP have at preliminary results garnered 60% of the vote in the by-election in Jack Laytons riding.

     Now, the fact that the NDP won was no surprise but what I found interesting was that the Harper cons only got a few more votes than the Greens. And I'm almost sure that the Greens may surpass the Cons in the final tally.

     I wonder if there was any Robo Call Monkey business during this campaign?

3/17/2012

Fishing on a Holiday

      I'm out on the ice today enjoying a cloudy day and catching a few fish. I notice a machine coming down the

ice and they turn towards me. As they aproach I notice it's someone from another area. Well he comes up to me

and asks why am I not wearing green on St. Patties Day.

My reply; " When was the last time you heard of a Welshman celebrating an Irishmans Holiday."

3/04/2012

BC Mary: Simply The Best

     BC Mary has passed.
     Our hearts go out to her family and close friends.

     It is because of BC Mary that I started this blog. I had been attending the Basi-Virk trial in Vancouver whenever I was down there and I had a lot to say. Every time I read a comment of hers in the Tyee I had something to add. I was commenting on her site when I left the courthouse but there was some kind of a glitch and she wasn't getting the comments. Mary had been suggesting that I start a blog of my own as I had much to say with a different angle. It wasn't until February 2008 that I found help in setting up this blog.
The first person to welcome me was BC Mary.

     As with many others we corresponded through e-mails and she would always remember what I was working on and sent emails and attachments. I didn't post them all but I certainly saved every one of them.

     I found that Mary was as passionate about the Campbell crooks paying CN Rail to take our railway as I was. It was theft of the worst kind for the people of BC and BC Mary never let anyone forget it. Even after the payoff and quick shutting down of the court case she was relentless.Never letting us forget what the Campbell hoards did to the people of BC.

     BC Mary you may be gone but you will not be forgotten. Rest in Peace

     Gary Edwards

2/28/2012

Question Period For Questions and Answers?

     Or is it for manipulation by Christy Clark, our NOT Premier.

     I would expect that if a question is asked it should be answered. Christy is clucking away trying to change the question in question period. She's baiting the opposition. So far they aren't biting.

     And we all know why she wants the opposition to ask about education.

     Government is scrambling to try to turn the tables on the opposition. Nothing else has worked and now they want to control the question.

      Before Question period there were accolades for Jim Green who passed away today at the young age of 68. Most prominent among the speeches was that of Jenny Wai Cheng Kwan. Her tearful eulogy was moving even for me. RIP Jim.

2/18/2012

Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional Votes Down Tankers

The MSM has ignored the Terrace Councillors turning down the Enbridge Pipeline. Now lets see id they can ignore what the SQCRD has done.

Merv Ritchie has the story Here

Just to let you know what damage the MSM is doing by not informing people of these rejections here's a little story.

I was on the ice this morning (caught 4) and was having a conversation with a fellow from the coast. Although our politics differed we have the same views on poisoning lakes and polluting the environment. He is dead set against the pipeline. But here's the rub. He knew absolutely nothing about Terrace Council coming out against the pipeline and is he ever pissed about them not reporting that fact.. I can hardly wait till tomorrow to tell him this great news.

2/14/2012

Where Is This Piece In The MSM

I awoke this morning and read my primary online news at the Terrace Daily online and they had a huge item at the top of the page. Some say that Terrace council has done a 360 on their position but I believe that it is only about 90 degrees as they had not committed either way.

Read it HERE  .http://www.terracedaily.ca/show9364a/TERRACE_OFFICIALLY_DECLARES_OPPOSITION_TO_TANKERS_PIPELINE

After searching until about 11 AM I was unable to find anything in the MSM . But remember when it took a Micro Second for them to announce the Elmer Derrick illegal signing?

Merv Ritchie remembers too. For he wrote this twelve hours later.

I am reminded by Laila Yuile that we may be a small voice in the wilderness but I believe that we can get louder.

If you are a blogger please cross post this article by Merv. If the blogosphere goes viral then the MSM may wake up.
If you are not a blogger then copy and pate the email to your emails and send it to your friends. Let's put a stop to the Big media bias in this province. Get the word out.

Gary E

2/13/2012

(not) Premier Photo Op Has Become (not) Premier Ho Hum

     Fishing is  little slow right now, so I came in early to listen to the great news station do their pimping for the government. I took my time and didn't get back till it was over so I went to the vault.

     What I heard made me glad that I stayed on the ice longer. What I heard gave rise to the title for this piece. The (not) I believe was first coined by The Gazetteer, Ross K. Correct me if I'm wrong Ross K.

     Ho Hum is a understatement for the drivel I listened to this morning. But primary to my thoughts while listening was how The Great Ones Blatantly pimped for the liberals in that they ran the full add that the government spin doctors brought out against Dix. It was so obvious what they were doing that I actually choked on  my coffee.

     All of the first half hour was taken up by slagging the NDP and claiming the Libs had their own polls that said differently from what we now know.Then there was some more Ho Hum.

     Bring up the HST. Ho Hum laid the whole mess on the Feds. While I believe the Federal government is PART of the problem  there is no way they are all of the problem. And if you believe that Ho Hum wants the tax gone in a week then I have a new Port Mann (don't ever name it after Campbell) Bridge to sell you.

      There was a discussion about home owners not buying and She believes that as they get closer to resolving the HST issue people will have a sense as to where they are going.

     I'll tell you where they are going. When the HST was brought in this government added taxes to things that should never be taxed. Especially Perishable foods in restaurants. So now this government is trying to figure out how to keep those taxes so that we are still screwed. They still think we are bent over. The referendum SPECIFICALLY asked if we wanted to return to the way it was. They have no mandate to change it. They can only put it back the way it was in June 2009. So I don't want to here anymore god damn  rhetoric on how complicated it is. It's very simple. Return the old tax structure, and the employees and have done with it.

     Then, somehow Wannabee Bill started asking why we can't toll more bridges and the Sea to Sky. Our friend Laila Yuile will be bristling at that. After an extensive investigation she broke the story about SHADOW TOLLS ON THE SEA TO SKY. Which the MSM has conveniently hidden or glossed over since Laila broke the story. And Premier Ho Hum feigns shock and asks the tall one. If he would want tolls on the Sea to Sky. That question and answer had to be scripted. Period

I finally got fed up after  a caller asked her to give her thoughts on Enbridge which fence she appears to be straddling  Ho Hum came up with the statement to the effect that she believes in the Environmental Review Process.. OH Really. Then if that is the case then please tell us where you hid the Rubber Stamp for the Prosperity Mine. Friends have told me that the government didn't even look at their own reports on this mine.

     In summary, today was as much of a waste of time as Campbells phoney address before he finally left.

2/06/2012

An Open Letter To Donna Barnett

Dear Donna Barnett

    After fighting the draconian HST set in place by Gordon Campbell,
for two years, at great personal and financial expense I am today
informed that your party is appointing a (political) panel to see how
you can tweak the PST.

    For starters the referendum was set in such a way as to have the
PST returned in it's original form. Not to be messed with . I see this
as a further delay in restoring our tax system the way it was. We
expect nothing less than what we fought for.

    You, yourself had misgivings about this tax in the very beginning
but within days did a complete turnaround. You said you would follow
the wishes of your constituents. You did not do that and as such set
yourself up for recall.

    Every day seniors in this province are losing much of there
disposable income and that situation is brought on by this tax. Small
Businesses and restaurants  are being affected as well as the
construction industry.

    My question to you is: "What, if anything,are you doing for the
majority of your constituents to expedite legislation to return us to
the norm?" The system wasn't complicated to change to HST and took
about three months, and therefore it can't be as complicated to
reverse it as Minister Falcon states almost daily. That is what the
referendum was for.To revers the legislation.

The answers I require will not have anything to do with your party
line. I want to know what you are doing about this. What Daily fight
are you putting up for your constituents?

    I have written a couple of emails to you with only the standard
response that you received them. So I must advise you that this
letter, which I deem as "very important" will be posted on my blog How
Bad Is The Record as an open letter.

Sincerely

Gary Edwards
Deka Lake

1/19/2012

100 Mile House Gas Price Gouging

 After a Letter to the Editor written by some friends  about 100 Mile House being ripped off for gas prices, 100 Mile Free Press ran a story on the gas price variations in the Cariboo and Interior. I commented on this article because the responses given, especially by our MLA Donna Barnett, were just rhetoric and government script.

The story can be found HERE

Here is my  comment which the Free Press hadn't posted by the time I wrote this piece. Before posting I went back to check and the comment was there (16 hours after I submitted it)

Anyone wanting to check around for prices can do so here: http://www.gastips.com/GasPrices/7/british-columbia

As far as the supply and demand statement goes, that is patently false. Prices are set wherever the gas companies think they can gouge you. 100  mile area can consistently get cheaper prices at the 108.

Years ago when Flora Macdonald was the energy minister for Canada she had to defend prices when they jumped at the pump immediately after a rise in barrel costs. But they were never lowered for weeks when the wellhead price went down. The oil companies in this country  are lying to us for the sake of the almighty dollar. Just like Enbridge and their pipeline.end  


I think the price gouging is a valid argument and it doesn't just apply to this area. Two years ago because of the prices here in town I made the decision to shop in Williams Lake or Kamloops. I take all my Jerry Cans with me and purchase all my gas for things like my snow blower or Skidoo,  my log splitter and emergency generator. The money I save on that volume more than pays for my trip.

1/18/2012

Well It's 40 below......

I got up this morning (at 5 AM because the fire was getting low) stoked the fir and went to the thermometer. It  was minus 38C and that's pretty close to 40 below. I remembered back in the day when I actually worked outside in these temperatures. -45C was the coldest I worked in. The secret is you work 20 minutes then get in the truck and have a pull and a toke, warming up for a half hour, then back out for 20 minutes.

You dress for the cold and don't exert too much energy. And ALWAYS make sure the fuel truck arrives on time. If it doesn't come you shut her down and go inside a building. Then you order another truck because you aren't going to get that one running unless you warm it up, inside.

Anyway. In those days a song came out that caught my attention and I post it here for the benefit of the language cops and their headmaster the Kamloops vet. And a little levity for you.




The good thing about these temperatures is that I don't have to go outside in them anymore. I don't get paid for it. The downside is that I won't be icefishing until it drops to about -20C