So the CRTC has set out to ask Canadians what type of television they would like to have in the future. Finally. It's actually not that hard, just take a poll. Do you want to watch whatever you want to watch, whenever you want to watch it, or not. Seems pretty simple but for some reason this required two whole weeks of hearings, pulling in "experts" and "media analysts" and "consumer representative organizations." Two weeks of people parading themselves in front of the Commission to stake out their positions and all arguing as to what would be best for all of us. Again I refer you to the simplest of simple poll questions: Do you want to watch whatever you want to watch, whenever you want to watch it...or....not.
I understand from our Canadian media outlets (especially our friends over there at the CBC) that this is too simplistic of a question, what about Canadian content, Canadian writers.... What about our Canadian stories? What will happen to our country if we lose those pieces. We may in fact lose ourselves. (insert patriotic music and teary eyed Trudeau lover here) This is Bullshit. I am Canadian because I live in Canada and subscribe to the society in which I exist. I am defined not by stories of the Toronto Maple Leafs, or the Montreal Canadiens or Stompin Tom, or a red headed girl playing the fiddle. But rather my contribution to the society that I live in. My contribution, may be irrelevant, unimportant or simply background noise to the larger discourse, but I am defined by that contribution nonetheless. It is my piece, the thing I do as an individual who lives in a collective. This is the main point that seems lost to these "content providers" who continually lament the fact that without CanCon laws we would be lesser of a Confederation. Just because you make something no one wants to see or hear, does not mean that your contribution to the fabric of our nation is meaningless, it simply means that you are just like the rest of us who post things to YouTube with varying degrees of success (and I do mean varying, see example Beiber, one extreme, and my neighbours cat video, the other extreme) If I were to paint a portrait of some random Canadian, and everyone thought it sucked, why would it be required to be hung in a Canadian art gallery full of other far better works of art from around the world? Because I am a Canadian painting another Canadian? Because it is important to feature my crumby item so as not to have anyone think that a Canadian couldn't paint as well as anyone else? At best this is charity, not country preservation.
I know this is really going to inflame some lovers of books about canoeing and the great wilderness of the North, but if the books are so good, and the content is so wonderful and it so closely relates to the Canadian identity, then why would it need any help? We should just get it, right? Like a great song that just clicks into the collective consciousness. Are we not capable of that? Why do we need government to tell us what should be popular, or worse, subsidize things that people do not find worth while? Particularly cultural content.
If the debate was truly about Canadian content and supporting Canadian values, we wouldn't have continual fights about funding matrices for public education or post secondary institutions. These are where our children and young people should be supported in their exploration of Canadiana. No, this debate is solely about money, and who gets to make it.
You getting to watch what you want when you want, is a terrifying thing for some Canadian Media Companies, who have spent the better part of the last decade mimicking their southern neighbours television programming, and reproducing it here north of 45th parallel wrapped tightly in the Canadian flag. They bet heavily that the Canadian consumer while frustrated with our lack of choice, would ultimately feel comfortable with them producing similar content (ie Amazing Race Canada, Storage Wars Canada, Canadian Idol) and then buying up the rest and re-transmitting it here in Canada. Unfortunately much like the dinosaurs themselves, they have not kept up with the coming shift that will ultimately undo them.
The internet has democratized content acquisition. With a few clicks, you can essentially get what you want when you want how you want. And while our Media Companies have tried to keep up, (CTV and Global essentially stream all your favourite, CBS, ABC, NBC Shows) it's still not enough. People are circumventing the restrictions that are in place and finding the content somewhere in the cloud. People don't watch, they stream. PVRs are decimating traditional advertising content (Pauvre pauvre Trivago guy)
This poses quite the conundrum. Who to go after and how. Well if I were a media baron, I'd use my influence with the Canadian Regulator, and have them target, the largest upcoming threat to my empire, Netflix. I'd point out as many times as I could that Netflix isn't even really a Canadian entity. I'd appear to back Canadian content producers; writers, actors, directors, and have them come out and say nasty things about how Netflix and their ilk are ruining the fabric of what it is to be Canadian, I'd lament the non contribution of Netflix, to a Canadian fund that is used to provide Canadian content (that no one really watches) and I would do this while at the same time attempting to launch my own streaming media service. I would call it something I think is catchy, something that sounds like I am mocking my customers with a whiny tone: Sho-mi. I would do all this and hope like hell that it works, that no one notices that our country is not about to fall apart. That we are still a unified confederation built on similar values, and not flimsy television programming.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
The current State of the Best Place on Earth
Remember the days of Gordon Campbell, and how ticked everyone on the left side of the spectrum was with him? Recall the days of full on pissing matches with the BCTF, BCGEU, progressives and social service agencies? But also recall that there was a sense of purpose to his movements. You may have not always agreed with Gordon Campbell's politics, nor his government's direction, but you understood that it was a part of a larger policy context. Focus on business growth in the province, decided and consistent approach to environmental policy (not enough for some admittedly but the carbon tax was a leading idea in the country) A focus on establishing an Olympic Legacy which would be the new standard (check) And a new way forward for Aboriginal Governance in the province.
Fast Forward to the current Liberal Government. The one elected decidedly by the people of British Columbia in what was determined as one of the greatest upsets in Canadian political history. (Though I am sure that there is something more surprising somewhere) The one that promised us a focus on the family (pun intended) and a plan to bring job prosperity to the province under a non nineties style of politic. Understand that I am admittedly a card carrying member of the NDP, (a choice that since made has only served to disappoint) so there is a salt lick that should be taken with my commentary.
Having said that, I miss the good ole days. In the current environment, you get the impression that Christy Clark and the Liberals are now being advised by insiders of the NDP, which I would state if I felt that the NDP were capable of such a coup at this point. Too many fires and not enough buckets.
We can start in the current tense, with the loss of the court case resulting in the BCTF walking around proud as punch, or the ridiculous referendum that's being peddled or rather back peddled by Minister Todd Stone. We can look in the distant past, (at least it feels distant) to the ridiculous fake fight with the Premier to our East and the solidly obtuse "5 conditions" that our province is requiring in order to proceed with an inevitable pipeline. Frankly we can jump to the future and look at the (I am projecting here) massive screw up of the Liquefied Natural Gas export process, which will inevitably see British Columbians paying a fiscal and environmental cost yet to be determined. I haven't even mentioned the bungled Worksafe investigation at Babine, which leaves the northern communities of Burns Lake and Prince George fuming. Nor the "Spin the Wheel Build a Bridge" Infrastructure project that is replacing the George Massey Tunnel.
To say this current Liberal Government is governing from its hip is to give too little credit to old west gunslingers.
There doesn't seem to be a plan, and when the Premier is pressed for one, we are given a great, yet somewhat tired: "British Columbians deserve better....I expect better... Global Economy....children are our future....look at the big picture..... blah blah blah...."
I know it sounds as if I am being a tad political here (card carrying member of the party of "no negative ads" Seriously?!)
But as I said in my open, when Campbell was running the province I never got the impression, that he or the government didn't have a concrete vision. At this point, I'd like to see A vision. Or even Some vision. But alas there doesn't appear to be one forthcoming.
And the missed opportunities are flying by. The most current of which would seem to be the taxation level that is supposed to be set on the development of LNG. This was supposed to be out this spring. But looks to be delayed till fall. In terms of the importance of this, the BC Liberals campaigned on the idea of the magical $100 billion dollar prosperity fund. A great sound bite and a wonderful idea. It's a lot like my idea of purchasing a 2014 Audi S6 (just love the look) a wonderful idea. Win win really. Save for one small part. You see, in order for myself or the BC Government to achieve our goals, we would need to set some money into an account. And a way to do that would be through the taxation level on LNG (and me to set aside $100 a month forever) yet, no discussion. No Christy in front of the cameras, no front page of the province. Swing and a Miss!
A perfect opportunity to remind us out here that that is the point. Prosperity fund, lower taxes, etc etc. Work to solidify your base and expand into the middle. But no. Better let Mustachioed Mike announce it's delay and quietly wait around until no one notices that the actual taxation/royalty/price per litre levels will be nowhere near what was promised (what with the global economy and whatever....)
Another missed opportunity is to let the road pricing happen. There are a ton of ways to do this, but they all result in the same thing. People who use the roads, pay the cost. I, like most people living the lower mainland, don't love the idea, but I understand it. I'm not an idiot. I know these things cost money. And I also know its not fair for someone in Armstrong, or Houston, to pay for infrastructure cost that they don't actually use. Another opportunity to lead, piss off some but have a larger vision, and move the province forward. Like the last guy did, you know, the drunk one. (I can't let that go....as I said card carrying member here)
In conclusion. Though really, this will just go on and on, I am seeking some guidance here from my government, some order or vision. Something I can point to and say that while I don't agree, I understand. And that whatever that vision is, is the mandate handed to the BC government by the populace.
And just one more thing. Can you please stop having Pamela Martin appear in government/campaign ads appearing as though she were still a reporter? We all get that she isn't... it's just annoying now.
Fast Forward to the current Liberal Government. The one elected decidedly by the people of British Columbia in what was determined as one of the greatest upsets in Canadian political history. (Though I am sure that there is something more surprising somewhere) The one that promised us a focus on the family (pun intended) and a plan to bring job prosperity to the province under a non nineties style of politic. Understand that I am admittedly a card carrying member of the NDP, (a choice that since made has only served to disappoint) so there is a salt lick that should be taken with my commentary.
Having said that, I miss the good ole days. In the current environment, you get the impression that Christy Clark and the Liberals are now being advised by insiders of the NDP, which I would state if I felt that the NDP were capable of such a coup at this point. Too many fires and not enough buckets.
We can start in the current tense, with the loss of the court case resulting in the BCTF walking around proud as punch, or the ridiculous referendum that's being peddled or rather back peddled by Minister Todd Stone. We can look in the distant past, (at least it feels distant) to the ridiculous fake fight with the Premier to our East and the solidly obtuse "5 conditions" that our province is requiring in order to proceed with an inevitable pipeline. Frankly we can jump to the future and look at the (I am projecting here) massive screw up of the Liquefied Natural Gas export process, which will inevitably see British Columbians paying a fiscal and environmental cost yet to be determined. I haven't even mentioned the bungled Worksafe investigation at Babine, which leaves the northern communities of Burns Lake and Prince George fuming. Nor the "Spin the Wheel Build a Bridge" Infrastructure project that is replacing the George Massey Tunnel.
To say this current Liberal Government is governing from its hip is to give too little credit to old west gunslingers.
There doesn't seem to be a plan, and when the Premier is pressed for one, we are given a great, yet somewhat tired: "British Columbians deserve better....I expect better... Global Economy....children are our future....look at the big picture..... blah blah blah...."
I know it sounds as if I am being a tad political here (card carrying member of the party of "no negative ads" Seriously?!)
But as I said in my open, when Campbell was running the province I never got the impression, that he or the government didn't have a concrete vision. At this point, I'd like to see A vision. Or even Some vision. But alas there doesn't appear to be one forthcoming.
And the missed opportunities are flying by. The most current of which would seem to be the taxation level that is supposed to be set on the development of LNG. This was supposed to be out this spring. But looks to be delayed till fall. In terms of the importance of this, the BC Liberals campaigned on the idea of the magical $100 billion dollar prosperity fund. A great sound bite and a wonderful idea. It's a lot like my idea of purchasing a 2014 Audi S6 (just love the look) a wonderful idea. Win win really. Save for one small part. You see, in order for myself or the BC Government to achieve our goals, we would need to set some money into an account. And a way to do that would be through the taxation level on LNG (and me to set aside $100 a month forever) yet, no discussion. No Christy in front of the cameras, no front page of the province. Swing and a Miss!
A perfect opportunity to remind us out here that that is the point. Prosperity fund, lower taxes, etc etc. Work to solidify your base and expand into the middle. But no. Better let Mustachioed Mike announce it's delay and quietly wait around until no one notices that the actual taxation/royalty/price per litre levels will be nowhere near what was promised (what with the global economy and whatever....)
Another missed opportunity is to let the road pricing happen. There are a ton of ways to do this, but they all result in the same thing. People who use the roads, pay the cost. I, like most people living the lower mainland, don't love the idea, but I understand it. I'm not an idiot. I know these things cost money. And I also know its not fair for someone in Armstrong, or Houston, to pay for infrastructure cost that they don't actually use. Another opportunity to lead, piss off some but have a larger vision, and move the province forward. Like the last guy did, you know, the drunk one. (I can't let that go....as I said card carrying member here)
In conclusion. Though really, this will just go on and on, I am seeking some guidance here from my government, some order or vision. Something I can point to and say that while I don't agree, I understand. And that whatever that vision is, is the mandate handed to the BC government by the populace.
And just one more thing. Can you please stop having Pamela Martin appear in government/campaign ads appearing as though she were still a reporter? We all get that she isn't... it's just annoying now.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Is Essential Really Essential?
Are we really surprised by the current situation with the BCTF and the provincial government? Did we not see this coming months ago? Of course We did, we knew.
Whatever your feelings about the teacher dispute: too much too soon, they're overpaid already, everyone else is belt tightening, children are our future, BC place roof! (not sure about that one but have heard it a lot) I am sure that most would agree that the manner in which this whole episode has shaken out is like watching a car crash in slow motion.
There seems to be a great deal of debate on TV and radio as to whether or not the collective bargaining process in BC between public sector unions and government is working at all. Negotiating any agreement is a pain staking exercise full of mundane details and excruciatingly slow processes. One which I am sure the average BCer (or at least myself) would not like to engage in at the best of times. A net zero mandate is a great starting point, as is a 5,10,15,20 percent in wage increase (depending on who you are listening to) on the part of the BCTF. Unfortunately these positions result in an impossible middle ground, if you divide any number by zero, your calculator blows up.
Setting the political and the financial aside, I think that the larger issue in our province around this debate and the public sector as a whole, is perhaps the definition of what is deemed an "essential service." When the BCTF decided that they were going to proceed with strike action, they first needed to go to the Labour Board and ask permission. Ask permission, for a strike.
Now I cannot be the only one who is lost in this, I mean, it seems a little counter intuitive does it not? I understood the point of striking was to demonstrate something. Primarily that we (the public who utilize/purchase the product/service) may actually need the service/product that is being made/facilitated by the striking party. Thereby proving the value of the very service/product that has been suspended. I would point to the postal strike last year, as evidence. Yes, they were legislated back to work, but they were compliant in that process as we all discovered something amazing. We don't really use the mail all that much. If we did, you can bet that CUPW (Canadian Union of Postal Workers) could have walked away and held out and we all would have collectively demanded the Government provide a little more to them. The same could be said of the Air Canada strike, answer there: there are other airline options. The Strike back east of the Caterpillar employees response: we can get our machines put together in Mexico for cheaper as people don't want to pay more.
Police, Firefighters, Ambulance: Any service that I would call 911 for, I think we can all agree should be defined as an essential service. If I call upon them and they do not come, I could die. That is essential, death, life... essential. School for my child? Well.... maybe not. If in this province I can choose to home school my son, or hire some nutjob to come by and tutor him in Wiccan (so long as he meets the standard testing prescribed by the province) I would not necessarily deem this an essential service. Now I (like many across the province) have a job that occurs during the same core hours as school, as does my wife. Neither of us make enough money so that we could afford the luxury of one staying at home to teach our son (nor am I confident in our skills to do this) This then presents a conundrum if (should read when) the teachers go on strike. While it is a pain in the ass, and causes us financial hardship, I will not die when the teachers are on strike. I will continue to live and breathe.
Unfortunately for government this poses a problem. They cannot enact: "Pain in the ass and financial Hardship" Legislation. Nor can they simply cede to the demand of teachers every time they sit down at the bargaining table. What to do?
A smart government would start by deeming the service teachers provide as core to the being of their citizenry, and make grand gestures to this effect, indicating support and singing the praises of the education system as a bedrock for the "future of our province." That would be a start. Teachers would then need to ask permission to strike, and even when granted would need to give notice to that effect. Then a smart government would be in a position to negotiate in a more advantageous environment, as teachers would not be likely to walk out all the time, (given they could simply be legislated back to work) a smart government could ensure education costs and wages do not spiral out of control. Teachers are not the type to commit illegal action, once a law is enacted, they would grumble but likely return to the job. Pure genius on the part of a smart government.
The downside of this is not immediate or obvious. The public, doesn't get the opportunity to decide for itself what the worth of teachers are, whether or not they're an "essential service." And over time the teachers themselves become more and more dissatisfied and frustrated. The culmination of which is simple. One day (and not to suggest that it is at all on the immediate horizon) back to work legislation is simply not going to work. And we as British Columbians will have to decide whether our public education system is actually essential, or simply unimportant. I would suggest that the actions of the BC Liberal government have demonstrated that they know the answer, and are clamoring to ensure it does not get out.
Whatever your feelings about the teacher dispute: too much too soon, they're overpaid already, everyone else is belt tightening, children are our future, BC place roof! (not sure about that one but have heard it a lot) I am sure that most would agree that the manner in which this whole episode has shaken out is like watching a car crash in slow motion.
There seems to be a great deal of debate on TV and radio as to whether or not the collective bargaining process in BC between public sector unions and government is working at all. Negotiating any agreement is a pain staking exercise full of mundane details and excruciatingly slow processes. One which I am sure the average BCer (or at least myself) would not like to engage in at the best of times. A net zero mandate is a great starting point, as is a 5,10,15,20 percent in wage increase (depending on who you are listening to) on the part of the BCTF. Unfortunately these positions result in an impossible middle ground, if you divide any number by zero, your calculator blows up.
Setting the political and the financial aside, I think that the larger issue in our province around this debate and the public sector as a whole, is perhaps the definition of what is deemed an "essential service." When the BCTF decided that they were going to proceed with strike action, they first needed to go to the Labour Board and ask permission. Ask permission, for a strike.
Now I cannot be the only one who is lost in this, I mean, it seems a little counter intuitive does it not? I understood the point of striking was to demonstrate something. Primarily that we (the public who utilize/purchase the product/service) may actually need the service/product that is being made/facilitated by the striking party. Thereby proving the value of the very service/product that has been suspended. I would point to the postal strike last year, as evidence. Yes, they were legislated back to work, but they were compliant in that process as we all discovered something amazing. We don't really use the mail all that much. If we did, you can bet that CUPW (Canadian Union of Postal Workers) could have walked away and held out and we all would have collectively demanded the Government provide a little more to them. The same could be said of the Air Canada strike, answer there: there are other airline options. The Strike back east of the Caterpillar employees response: we can get our machines put together in Mexico for cheaper as people don't want to pay more.
Police, Firefighters, Ambulance: Any service that I would call 911 for, I think we can all agree should be defined as an essential service. If I call upon them and they do not come, I could die. That is essential, death, life... essential. School for my child? Well.... maybe not. If in this province I can choose to home school my son, or hire some nutjob to come by and tutor him in Wiccan (so long as he meets the standard testing prescribed by the province) I would not necessarily deem this an essential service. Now I (like many across the province) have a job that occurs during the same core hours as school, as does my wife. Neither of us make enough money so that we could afford the luxury of one staying at home to teach our son (nor am I confident in our skills to do this) This then presents a conundrum if (should read when) the teachers go on strike. While it is a pain in the ass, and causes us financial hardship, I will not die when the teachers are on strike. I will continue to live and breathe.
Unfortunately for government this poses a problem. They cannot enact: "Pain in the ass and financial Hardship" Legislation. Nor can they simply cede to the demand of teachers every time they sit down at the bargaining table. What to do?
A smart government would start by deeming the service teachers provide as core to the being of their citizenry, and make grand gestures to this effect, indicating support and singing the praises of the education system as a bedrock for the "future of our province." That would be a start. Teachers would then need to ask permission to strike, and even when granted would need to give notice to that effect. Then a smart government would be in a position to negotiate in a more advantageous environment, as teachers would not be likely to walk out all the time, (given they could simply be legislated back to work) a smart government could ensure education costs and wages do not spiral out of control. Teachers are not the type to commit illegal action, once a law is enacted, they would grumble but likely return to the job. Pure genius on the part of a smart government.
The downside of this is not immediate or obvious. The public, doesn't get the opportunity to decide for itself what the worth of teachers are, whether or not they're an "essential service." And over time the teachers themselves become more and more dissatisfied and frustrated. The culmination of which is simple. One day (and not to suggest that it is at all on the immediate horizon) back to work legislation is simply not going to work. And we as British Columbians will have to decide whether our public education system is actually essential, or simply unimportant. I would suggest that the actions of the BC Liberal government have demonstrated that they know the answer, and are clamoring to ensure it does not get out.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Dear CRTC and Broadcasters.... times UP!
I am so frustrated with the Canadian broadcasting outlets! Why is my online content restricted "al a" Chinese Communist Government.... I have googled video from missed programming a number of times and I am told that I am restricted by my geographical area (Canada) and I am unable to view as such.
The argument as it appears to me in my layman's eyes is thus: It is not fair that Canadian Broadcasters have to compete with US stations and that if we were allowed American television unfiltered (meaning without our more often than not useless Canadian ads) broadcasters would lose money, but more importantly Canadians would lose their capacity to understand that they were Canadian and the border would be erased and we would all become the 51st State.
Seriously, I am Canadian and while I am sure it was a relevant paranoia during the establishment of Canadian content legislation, it is hardly something that I or my fellow Canadian citizen worries about on a regular basis. I am not going to turn Yank, just because I see an ad for carpet detergent that is only available in Washington State. I could see the point in creating local Canadian television. However Road to Avonlea went off the air a number of years ago, and I haven't seen anything worth watching that was Canadian made and viewed in a very long time (if any Canadian show were successful, Broadcasters would not be in the pickle they are correct?) Purchasing series from the US hardly constitutes any Canadiana, and passing off US series in Canadian versions (So You Think You Can Dance CANADA) does not have me singing O Canada any louder.
I know I won't win the sim subbing argument. (subbing a Canadian signal when an American Station is showing the same program) However could some one PLEASE answer me how seeing that idiotic man getting crappy signal in the Rogers Ad one thousand times during the Super Bowl, is equipping me to stand on guard for anything!?
If broadcasters are attempting to make an argument for consumers (or cable companies take your pick) to pay subsidies to keep them on the air, not providing online content, sim subbing and providing knock offs of American Programming is a heck of a way to make their point.
Monday, September 7, 2009
HST
I am not a hater of the HST. To be honest I would consider myself somewhat of an advocate, if (and I must infer a large underline beneath that if) Government were to spend the money on what the citizens need. We in British Columbia are an odd bunch, we have a series of competing values. Business friendly, yes. Social safety net, yes. Environmentalism, yes. Pro Forestry industry, yes. Pro Fisheries, yes. Pro Fish farms, yes.
The trouble is that the BC Liberals have been trying to appease too many of our competing values, so much so that it has left the cupboard, to paraphrase Colin Hansen: bare. Whenever someone tries to give all the people everything they want, invariably that someone ends up in some trouble
Gordon Campbell and the Liberals subscribed to a system, however you feel about the parties politics or ideological principles, we can all agree that they followed a plan. Decentralize big government, increase opportunities for businesses to grow, and ensure that social programs are community based. This all would have been great had the Liberals lost the election to Carol James. If that had been the case, the NDP would have swooped into power right around the time the financial world's meltdown really started to have a significant impact on Federal and Provincial Governments. That would have given the Liberals a perfect opportunity to blame virtually all the province's ails (primarily its money troubles) on the NDP and their spend happy, tax heavy ways. They would have been a fantastic opposition, and I would almost guarantee they would have come out of the next four years with another Liberal majority, free and clear of all the financial and social misery that British Columbians would have ascribed to the previous NDP government. Yes this all would have been lovely, had they lost. Unfortunately for Mr. Campbell and his party, they won.
They won just in time to see all their policies pay off. Health authorities clamoring for more money, same with Translink. Up to the point of the financial crisis, the government had done a good job of handing of the governing to others and Translink and the Health Authorities are good examples of this. By creating these entities, the government could provide funding to them and abdicate their responsibility as to how that money is spent. We heard about it all the time on the news, the appropriate minister would come out and state: "the government has provided X millions of dollars, perhaps you should speak to the head of the authority to see where they spent the money." Perfection, a wonderful political move, in that the government was able to remove themselves from the debate. If people were concerned with the closing of healthcare facilities or the increase in their transit rates, they could simply goto the appropriate authority and let them know. Not (you see) the government's issue.
Unfortunately for the BC Liberals, the world changed around them. After the financial crisis in the summer/fall of 2008, governments around the world began shoveling money out the door to prevent a "great depression." The motto of even the most financially conservative, business friendly, free market governments was "spend! Spend Now!" As a result British Columbians were inundated with constant talk of government bail outs and government job creation plans. The BC Liberals had gotten out of that business. They had bet the farm on the private sector being the panacea to all the ails of the world. P3's (private public partnership) was the language of the Liberals, unfortunately in this new economic reality, there is no Private P. Leaving the Public to foot a great many bills.
In BC, people began losing their jobs. The Real Estate market began to tank. People had bought into developments that were not being built, or if they were built, people couldn't afford to live there. Things began to slip and so British Columbians began to ask, what is my government doing for me aside from the Olympics? Where is my bail out? The Liberals at this point are at best, slow to answer, at worst scrambling for a way out. The introduction of the HST, (and the billions of dollars from Ottawa as a gift for implementing it here) and the announcements of cuts to various programs is the immediate plan. Their long term plan seems to be: wait it out, this too shall pass. Which I am not sure is the best idea. They are hoping that we forget this last year and are betting that the next three are going to be fruitful and prosperous. For their sake I hope so.
Until then I suppose I have no choice, HST is coming and I will have to pay more. That's all that I or any average BC'er hears. Sure Minister Hansen, has charts and graphs and can explain how in the long run I win, but I am not sure how that translates for me.....at the cash register... paying more. Other than that money is headed to cover off the debts left behind from failed businesses who are no longer able to afford to the be the other "P" in the P3 equation.
So as I said I'm not a hater of the HST to be honest I would consider myself somewhat of an advocate....IF
Monday, May 19, 2008
Frustrated
If you're like me, you're frustrated by Canadian politics. You can't stand the smug attitude of Prime Minister Harper, you want to put your head through the wall whenever Dion steps in front of the press and Jack Layton brings your blood to a very quick boil.
In my home province the liberal government has conveniently abdicated itself of all provincial responsibility (save the flag waving and constant public money hemorrhaging towards the upcoming Olympics) The Provincial Opposition is absolutely pathetic in their constant whining, to the point that now the only thing that is clear regarding their position is that it is directly opposite to whatever the government says.
It's difficult as a Canadian to look south and see Americans embrace their leaders with an almost rock star enthusiasm. The PM visited my city a few times over the past few months and I could hardly care, the visits barely made the local papers.
What is happening?
I don't consider myself overtly conservative, nor liberal, nor progressive, nor socialist. But it doesn't seem that there is anyone out there who is a representative of me, and further to that, there doesn't seem to be a politician out there who is willing to even attempt inspiring myself or my fellow citizens in any sort of reasonable or responsible manner.
Why?
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