Eco-Fee = Carbon Tax
In the quiet of the night, the McGuinty Liberal Gov't passed another dasterdly piece of legislation. No, not the ability for Toronto Police to go after the violent hippy-freaks who trashed the G20. Its the carbon tax, also known as the Eco-Stewardship fee. These fees have been around since 2008 on oil, paint and so on. However on July 1st, HST day, they were applied on 13 new categories of items totaling over 5000 products. Have a look at the products listed, it includes things like dish soap, household cleaner, toilet paper(ya, toilet paper). Now compare that list with the Carbon Tax out in BC... The things listed are the same. While Gordon Campbell had the good sense when implementing the HST out west by not adding it to items hit with their Carbon Tax; not Dalton McGuinty... No... We pay HST on the Eco fee.
Welcome to Ontario, where the saying "I think, therefore I am" has been changed to "I am taxed, therefore I am broke!"
2010 predictions…
Yes, New Years is just a few days away so I have decided to jump on the bandwagon and predict a few things myself. Hey, even I have the tin-foil hat to match!
In 2010 (and in no particular order)...
There will be no Election Federally. The Liberal Party will continue to languish on the sidelines while Iffy remains predictable. Expect 2010 to be the last year of Iffy's reign.
Frank McKenna will again say he's not interested in the Leadership of the Liberal Party.
Stephen Harper will remain Prime Minister. Look for a reprise behind the piano singing "Day in a Life".
Bob Rae will still be Bob Rae (Socialist in Liberal Clothing) and all that that entails.
Provincially, Dalton McLiar's Liberals will win the two by-elections because Ontario voters are sheep.
Ontario will remain a "have-not" province.
Newfie Jokes will officially be renamed Ontario Jokes.
On July 1st, 2010 we will have the BST/HST/DST whatever you want to call it, because you can tax people into prosperity no?
Tim Hortons will raise the price of their crappy coffee again.
Canadian Tire will continue to have that annoying slogan and music on all of their commercials, and yet I still cannot buy just one bolt, I have to buy a package of 20.
I will finally finish the front deck to our house.
2010 will ring forth a new swath of celebrity deaths that will make people realize how empty their lives are by following these celebrities. They will be sad at their deaths and say things like, "Wow I didn't see it coming." Then these people will find new celebs to follow and life will be good again.
Tiger Woods will be divorced. Elin Woods will be rich.
Britney Spears will have another breakdown and shave her head again.
Another Twilight movie will come out boring millions of husbands, subjecting them to hours of mind-numbing stupidity.
Johnny Cash will still be dead. So will John Wayne.
Some unknown idiot with way too much time on their hands and no job will grab a video camera and upload something so stupid onto Youtube that millions will view it and love it.
Some new web site will come on the scene that will make Facebook and MySpace obsolete and yet be so stupid that people miss the time wasting site Twitter.
2010 will be the new 1985 with every one-hit wonder from 1985 being remixed by someone in 2010 because originality in music died around 1985.
On December 30th, 2010 I will write another blog posting predicting 2011 and seeing how wrong I was about 2010. I really hope I am wrong about 2010.
Happy New Years everyone, don't forget not to talk on your cell while driving, always eat your veggies and remember your manners. - Phil
"Maybe if I am looking down, they wont notice my tax grab..."The implosion of the ADQ, “Team Mario Dumont”
I am a political junkie, I admit it. Even though I live in Ontario, I do a lot of work in Quebec so I follow the political comings and goings quite a bit. I first learned of the ADQ in high school during the Quebec sovereignty referendum in '95 and treated them with a bit of distain. After all, the ADQ sided with the Bloq and PQ on the Yes side. After a number of years and the mellowing out of Mario Dumont (ADQ Leader), I started quietly rooting for them in elections. They were the third option for Quebecers, not the PQ and not the Liberals, they were the underdog, and I like underdogs. When they formed the official opposition in Quebec, I thought that was great, like cheering for the Ontario NDP in 1990; They didn't have a chance but pulled off a 'hail-mary'.
In hindsight, the election of Bob Rae's NDP to Ontario was probably the worst thing to happen to the province, second worst being Dalton McNutty. Back to Quebec, once the ADQ became the official opposition (do they call it "Her Majesty's Loyal"?) they fell apart, didn't know what to do. There were so many rookies that the ADQ MNAs looked like a bunch of two-year olds organizing a daycare!!! After getting spanked the next election, Mario Dumont left the ADQ to do TV shows spoofing off his image.
The fall-out has been something else to watch. Two "nobodys" run for leader, the winner is chosen by a vote that people call out the possibility of election fraud. Then finger pointing between the ADQ and the Reformatories' Quebec wing and one of their senators over fundraising money. Then the ADQ "cut ties" with the Reformatories saying that they wanted independence. Following that, the fingers get pointed back to the ADQ about missing money and now, their newly-minted leader quits with a napkin written resignation. And off they implode.
With "Stellar" people-power replacing Mario Dumont, it's appears very fortunate that Quebec never got an ADQ government. Imagine what would have happened in Quebec City if they had their hands on the public purse! You'd think it was the second coming of the Montreal City Government!
Pretty damn cool…
Not too often many get to perform with Yo-Yo Ma. Not too shabby at all.
A Case for Mixed Member Proportional Representation
Canada's current first-past-the-post is an OK system of electing members however there are instances that voters are left holding their noses when they vote. With the looming election this fall, I am faced with this instance and I think it is time that we have an alternative.
I am overall ok with how our Prime Minister has lead the country for the past 3.5 years (already that long?) but I am not impressed with our local MP. In order to keep the government that I think is ok or at least better than the alternatives, I have to vote for an MP who I don't think serves my riding's best interests. Conversely if I want rid of the MP, I have to vote for a party who I don't agree with the leadership of (Iggy & Co.).
What is a voter to do?
MMP would solve this as it would enable me, the voter, to vote for the party I sorta-kinda support while voting against the MP who I don't support.
I know many in different ridings who are in the same boat. Sadly most of those ridings are also Conservative Party held. Perhaps this reflects on the caliber of candidate they offer, or on the caliber of the voters who vote them in.
What is a voter to do?
Define the word “Idiot”
Websters defines the word as:
1: usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation
2: a foolish or stupid person
I would like to append the definition with the addition of:
3: US Vice President, Joe Biden
Why? For the lovely quote of the day from July 16, 2009:
‘We Have to Go Spend Money to Keep From Going Bankrupt’
WHAT?!? We have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt. THIS MAKES NO SENSE!!! If one does not have money (ei, US Government) then how can you SPEND MONEY?!?
This fiscal theory makes about as much sense as: "What do you mean I have no money, I still have cheques left!"
I doubt Websters will take my changes, but a lot of US Taxpayers may agree.
Finally people are getting it. Screw Toronto
First John Baird, federal Transport Minister tells Toronto to F-Off, now Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario does the same.
http://www.thestar.com/unassigned/article/661841
In the article it says that McGuinty has told everyone to solve their own problems. This from the man who knows how to say F-You to a lot of Ontarians (Health Tax, BST).
In this case, Rightly so. Toronto residents voted in David Miller and then re-elected the man. The guy is THE most left-leaning Mayor of Toronto EVER. He has given the unions everything in their demands when times were good. Now that times are not so rosy, he cannot understand why the Union wont cave on their demands.
Meanwhile Toronto Stinks! - Something I've been saying for years.
Message to Toronto Residents: Next year, DON'T put an X beside the name Miller.
Bet you wished you still had Mel Lastman around... NOOOOOOOooooOOOObody! 
Canadian Government buys million dollar properties in Buffalo?
From the Buffalo News : http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/707047.html
Let me lob the easy questions:
1) Why is the federal government buying million dollar properties in of all places, Buffalo, NY?
2) Why is the federal government doing this during the recession?
3) Why is the federal government, if they need to buy a new house for a diplomat, not buying a more cost effective house? One that cost less than oh say, 1.38 Million.
and lastly...
4) IF you are going to spend 1.38 Million US on a property, why the hell would you buy it in BUFFALO? If I had 1.38 Million USD and I wanted to buy a property, I'd buy in a place that is WARM all year around.
$500,000,000 does not equal $15,000,000,000
It was posted in several places including TSN and in the Toronto Star that Dalton McGuinty supports a third NHL team in Ontario. Great. Thanks McGuinty. As usual you spend lots of time dealing with stuff that DOESN'T MATTER and not deal with what is really important like the economy, jobs or oh... I don't know. How the Finance Minister budgeted for a $500M deficit and now we're heading for a $15B deficit.
Perhaps Mr. McGuinty should have paid attention in math class. $500,000,000 does not equal $15,000,000,000