continued from above

It's too bad that David Suzuki and Zeporah Berman turned out to be corporate controlled EDITED FOR LEGAL CONCERNS - TYEE MODERATOR calling themselves "environmentalists" while planning for the destruction of everything "green" in the province for personal profit. They may be surprised at the sudden "lack of funds" for their little BC Liberal payoffs like "environmental roundtables". I and many others here will not be.

The MSM's spin reminds me of the "green shoots" stories that abound. There are no green shoots. All the actual economic data points to more pain and more economic destruction in the near and distant future. Billions upon billions of taxpayers dollars are flooding the banks and corporations. Interest rates are pretty much as low as they can go, and all this in response to a crisis caused by too much debt. The last time I saw someone paying their Visa bill with a mastercard and then paying their mastercard with their Visa, it didn't end well and this won't either. It is now common for the MSM to distort the reality of economic numbers for "the greater good" because if they didn't "consumer confidence would fall" and the overall economy would suffer...but wait...if you are telling me its raining out when its sunshining, you are lying. If you tell me to buy a house or stocks because things are improving and they are not, you are committing fraud and I don't believe for one minute that the MSM's handling of the run of rivers is any different. CanWest and their ilk are committing fraud and should be charged.

Thank-you for your continuing support and activism, Rafe. We need more people like you...

That link appears to broken,prp

But T'anks God for the Californians

that one worked

Hummmmm?
Rafe could be right and Can West may actually be forced to print something about it. We will see

Campbell's "decision".....

....will depend I suppose, on how many directorships he has lined up for his retirement.

@Herman

Wow,your worried about the GVRD airshed....Fireworks blasting carbon in the air for entertainment....A ten lane port mann bridge....Campbell selling off the ALR in droves....South fraser perimeter road ripping through burns bog......BC Rail sold that used to piggy back thousands of semi-trailers around the province,not no more....These forest fires put more carbon in the air in 3 months than what BCers put in the air a year.....Cruise ships belching gas in the air,oil leaks,after every dry spell when it rains the run off kills all the fish....2 major fish kills in GVRD this year alone.....Herman,have you ever heard up upgrading burrard thermal,sequestration? And if you actually read the BCUC report you would know they talk about adding turbines to all existing dams,plus the Ashlu comes on line soon,and many other IPPs are coming on line.....

And the BCUC states that the expected demand for BCers hydro needs are over exaggerated.....

Cheers

Bob Watts and Jeffrey J

I like Idea #2. I'd probably shred the cans and float off the cigarette butts and other detritis - people tend to use empties as ashtrays (sometimes they use full beer cans as ashtrays too but that's another story).
So hard would it be for Hitatchi to make a hand held can shredder? Have you seen their latest "Buck Rogers" battery powered drills?
I use these tools daily and Hitatchi makes some good stuff but why are they so streamlined and colorful? These are NOT toys. They are tools. Makita, Dewalt and Milwalkie are now getting in on the act. Let me tell you:
the worker on the receiving end is more interested in battery life and strength and cares very little about colour or flashy design.
Put a beer opener on the tool if you would like to sell it to those on the ground ('Course any construction worker can open a beer with his/her mollars) Had a girlfriend once who did that: gave me the shivers. I use any metal edge - not my fragile teeth. That was history: some could open a beer with their eye socket (and if we want to extend this "All Quiet on the Western Front" has an interesting account of how to pull a nail .)

Gwest

There are some of us who are quite happy to see major generators (if needed) set up on Granville Street.
The closer the better to the load. Last time I saw that place~two years ago it did not seem to me that anyone there would notice - coal fired or nuclear

Clean Air

Don't build a Natural Gas Generating Station on Vancouver Island. Keep the Polution to yourselfs!!! I live on the Northern Tip of Vancouver Island, we have some of the cleanest air on earth. I met a person here, who lived in Mission and had (past tense) a lung desease, she was told living east of Vancouver up the vally would kill her, from the polution. She has returned to a normal life now. I lived in Maple Ridge years ago and remember black dust on my car in the morning (not good). When on the ferry heading towards Vancouver you can see a dark red haze (not good) over the city from 30kms away. Sad some of us live longer by just living 500kms away from Vancouver. Oh yes another bonus here is that real estate is about 60% cheaper, eagles fly over the house, and I can watch the boats sail by while posting this comment and today we spend the day at the beach with a total of 6 other humans. No traffic lights, no parking meters, no line ups at any of the stores, and crime is about nil. You can fight polution from anywhere, but why let it kill you by having it in your lungs, pack your bags and run.

That's good for you, Bob

what about the folks stuck back there?
They do not have (or do not see that they have) a choice.

Thanks Rafe, you have stuck

Thanks Rafe, you have stuck to this story and informed a lot of readers, and now Thanks to the BCUC as well, for finally setting the record straight. It's time that someone in Victoria had their knuckles rapped. It is time that people in BC learned how to get together & protest the rape of our province!

nuke burrard thermal

There is no question that pirate owned power projects such a Plutonic's are an enormous ripoff engineered by crooked politicians and the BCUC was right to put an end to them. Given the current economic climate the commission concluded that buying power when necessary and running Burrard Thermal in really peak periods would get us well into the future.

Canwest/Gordo and his pack are of course going to talk about the import of dirty coal power from Alberta. But Alberta has all but announced it is going nuclear so BC will a few years in the future will be importing cheap clean green nuclear power from Alberta.

Scientists are telling us that there is some chance we are as little as 10 years away from falling off a climate precipice with permafrost methane emissions and ocean acidification forming the leading edge of a very steep slope.

70% of BC's total energy needs are non electrical fossil fuel based and that has to stop and very quickly. This throws the electric forecast model right out the window. The only way BC and any other jurisdiction can rapidly replace fossil fuels with electricity is nuclear power. There is no other way to do it in the less than 10 year time frame.

The BCUC should direct BCHydro to include the nuclear power models Alberta and Saskatchewan used in concluding that a nuclear power was the way to a green future.

Westinghouse has begun construction of four 1.2 gigawatt nuclear plants it sold China for 5.5 billion. If BC could get the same deal we could for less than twice the cost of the Port Mann bridge upgrade almost double BC's baseload capacity repowering Burrard thermal with nuclear steam.

This would get us well into the future with electric vehicles, hydrogen based synfuels and electric/geothermal/solar heat technologies replacing a big chunk of our fossil fuel requirements. Ten years from now we would be looking at fast breeder and fusion technology taking care of all our energy needs at a very low cost and cleaning up almost all the waste from previous generation reactors.

Not much time left to get going on this!!

To Doggone

No Choice to relocate Doggone? Do you know people that can't move? I don't. Bus tickets cost about $100 each one way to get to Northern Vancouver Island. We have a 50% vancancy rate here, rents start at $395 Welfare will cover the bus ticket I hear. A new 3 bed condo start at $89,000, a 3 bed 3 bath house start at $155,000 we have the sally ann and all services for the poor, so the well off, and retired have no real reason to stay in Vancouver other than being close to family, but in the summer this resort is full of family members who stay for weeks. When I planned on leaving Maple Ridge it took 3 years of planning but I have no regrets other than I should have not waited 3 years. If there is a will there is a way. Living in the city and breathing in toxic waste everyday is a little nuts. People walk here, lots of people bike here, Just met a 80 year old last week that rode his scooter here.....there is always a way, the only thing needed is a desire to up and move....

Hey Bob

you got room for 1.2 million people

A throwaway article

But a funny one. Thanks for the humour, all, especially you, Powell river perp.

My prediction? Campbell will bail out Canvas Goebbels. Unless he already has, and we're just waiting to hear about it.

Hmmmm.... did I just read Canvas Goebbels just moved their office to 555 Belleville St., Victoria?

Zalm.......

It`s Powell river persuader.....

I didn`t know I was being funny,you don`t like my theory,fine.........
I read Roubini,economics,USA has leveraged 20 trillion dollars on top of their 13 trillion dollar deficit,getting harder and harder for them to leverage their debt,tent cities forming in the US,including one in Rhode island,I don`t see a appettite for our hydro,especially when we can`t guarantee it all year round.
Cali,Arnie is laying off tens of thousands,even the slight uptick in house sales down south,60% of the sales are to investors,not families moving in...

Even the Pickens guy had to scrap his power plans,and he lost half his wealth...........

I`m glad I made you laugh,hope your not laughing at me,but I get that impression......

I was the first to claim the reckocnition/reconcilliation act was about olympic peace,now,months later,chief stewart makes the same claim......
Campbell was going to sell off the bc liquor branch,so he told private liquor,he backed off,....

Also,the Waneta dam purchase,over priced,but more power,and,look at the BC river levels today,no water,no power,Back of the envelope Campbell has made many foolish errors,do you really think Campbell has the balls to reject Plutonic? Do you really think the BCUC came to their senses?Something brewing.......Something changed,and please don`t mock me.

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

Burrard Thermal Genrating Station

Hermans hermits your out to lunch, What pollution at BTGS? Water vapor is now pollution along with the harmless inert gas CO2 that was politically made not scientifically made a pollutant? I work maintenance at BTGS so I at least know what I am talking about, the only thing that comes out of the stacks at BTGS is water vapor, and Rafe you have always been against business of any type as far back as I can remember even as a kid growing up in Smithers you were full of it. Hey Rafe this ought to tick you off BTGS has had shut downs on all six generators and boilers, all six are up and ready and will be operating a full capacity for the Olympics. I notice your supports are mostly AGW believers or idiots as I call them, too dumb to even debunk that grade school scam. No wonder that central BC is stuck with socialist NDP MPs.
Any of you brainiacs know how many hydro dams are on BC rivers? how many of those rivers are "destroyed for all time" LOL, NONE. You idiots have no idea. Of course if the same group of idiots had not stopped the Kemano completion project we would not need to dam more rivers now, bet you fought that too eh Rafe? that stoppage cost Pr Rupert, Terrace and Kitimat 10,000 10 yr jobs and the province untold millions.
So answer me this Rafe..Where are we going to get the power as the pop in this province continues to grow if not hydro? dumbass.

Bottom Line Durward

How are you going to eat/survive when Campbell is giving away this province on his own whims.
Your post is all over the place. Where in the article did Rafe dis the Burrard Plant? Cummon give us a break.
Oh, and what kind of maintenance do you do there? Be careful with your answer, I was a millwright.

Durward

If you'd quit wasting your allotment of electricity, there would be no need for extrta generation. It is a FACT that 60% of electrical generation is wasted through inefficient appliances and transmission. You are part of that.

Tighten up the waste to which YOU contribute, and we could double the population without needing to generate more. Dumbass!

gas

Who does BC Hydro buy its natural gas from?

What he usually does

It's true Campbell makes legislation to do what he wants to do when he doesn't like what the public thinks! I hope like hell he doesn't legislate the BCUC out of existence. If he does, it truly shows his colours as a dictator (minor scale). All the comments on Can west are so true: what a poor excuse for a "newspaper".

Need for electricity.

I am glad to see that the BCUC has branded PPP Run of the River projects as wrong headed. I do think, however, that BC is going to require considerably more electrical energy in the near future - next twenty to thirty years. Considerably higher oil prices and greenhouse gas emission reductions will predicate the increased consumption of electrical energy. The Chevy Volt and Ford's new electric car will go on sale next year. This province and the BCUC have got to get their act together to seriously plan for this increase in consumption. Hydro-electric projects are much cleaner than burning fossil fuels, but they are exceedingly intrusive and disruptive to the environment and ecological balance,in the region where they are installed. The challenge therefor, is to come up with a way to create electricity with the least amount of damage to the environment. I believe that after many mistakes and botched attempts, we will eventually settle on nuclear power as the best source for electical energy. It's interesting that Alberta is currently installing 2 nuclear reactors close to their northern border with BC. It appears the government of Alberta does not intend to keep burning natural gas to generate electricity. The Canadian Provinces that are best able to prepare for this 'new age' in clean energy production and conservation, will prosper. God help the rest!

WAC Bennett

Hey Raif.....you remember that guy....father of the premier you faithfully served under....how far do you think Bennett senior would have made it in terms of hydro generation if you'd been around with your current attitude?.....the lefties and greenies are all about the protest but have nada to offer when it comes to solutions and dont tell me your 'footprint' is smaller than anyone elses. Wind turbines, as suspected, cause serious health issues to those near them, solar power is inneficient and nuclear power, which is the real answer, is still tagged as the 'bomb'. Raif, you wouldnt have your nice fat bank account if it weren;t for hydro power in BC...what the hell is your altlernative?

seth - Nuclear Power

Ontario is considering two new nuclear reactors at Darlington with a price-tag of $6 billion.

The price-tag has now jumped through the stratosphere to $26 billion before construction has even begun.

Can you say OUCH?!

Paintsmear

I have never heard about health effects of wind power,except for birds,perhaps you could provide a link...........
Mccinnes(CEO of Plutonic)has stated in no uncertain words that run of river IS EXPORT POWER......

So how is that any kind of solution?

And,any private for profit IPP that gets approved,they can sell their power for what the market will bear,powerX can make a fee for this transaction,but no how no way should private IPPs be given price guarantees from BC Hydro backstopped by the BC tax-payer.

I would bet dollars to doughnuts that if that "Catch" was tabled that Plutonic/GE/Ledcore would scurry away with their tail between their legs!
Name one industry,one company,anything that is told build it,make it and don`t worry,we(goverment) will guarantee you make money no matter what your customers pay for your product?

This Campbell privitization scheme sounds a lot like SOCIALISM or CORPORATE WELFARE

And again the usual suspects try to divert the thread,why don`t you adress the BCUC decision,what part of "NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST" don`t you understand.........

You want to get off the thread,Campbell will have no clout left after the very revealing Emails come out and will be forced to resign,the HST will get stopped in its tracks and internal revolt implosion is coming to the BC Liberal party,relagating them to distant 3rd party status!

Tsk tsk....your bias is showing

Rafe, how convenient that while you lash out at the Liberal goverment, you forget to mention it was the NDP that opened the door to private power in BC, and used to award licenses for a period, of, oh, FOREVER - now that sounds more like the sale of a river than a 40 year lease that happens today.

This week, the very first wind farm in BC will begin operations, a very big deal we can be proud of, a diverse source that will help us create energy in the wintertime. Will you attack that company and their resource and partners as well, or are you just out to get Plutonic?

It's unfortunate that the BCUC wants to send us back to the dark ages by relying on a geriatric gas plant. Maybe my daughter can think now about starting an air purification company.

darlington nukes

Are expensive because Ontario Hydro needed to pay AECL to develop its APR-1000 for a 2 reactor installation.

If Canadians agreed to replace all fossil fuel generators and all new power growth with nukes that development cost would be spread over hundreds of mass produced reactors sold across Canada and world wide. Being the hewers of wood we are, we would likely just buy them from Westinghouse. We don't make fighter jets here anymore either.

The price I quoted is the actually what China paid two years ago - google it. Obviously a Chinese reactor doesn't require endless environmental assessments, hundreds of lawsuits, and a staff of 300 lawyers in its construction so the 5.5 billion is the actual cost of the four reactors.

Mr. Campbell is not a well man

As a psychologist I can tell you he is exhibiting delusions of grandeur, of omnipotence as the Supreme Being in this province, of a remarkable inability to remember what he has said from month to month, an inability to understand what a democracty means, let us say politely, a loss of contact with reality.

There is a history of mental illness in his family as his father, a doctor, committed suicide. Editor, please note: these are factual statements.

Plutonic

You seem to have neglected to mention that the BCUC decision was the subject of the front page of Wednesday's Business section of the Vancouver Sun.

Two words ...

so depressing.

winter wind power

At 12 cents a kilowatt hour compared to maybe six for site C. And when the wind stops blowing or fluctuates up and down 50% every three minutes do we shut off our computers because the harmonics are a killer. Do we turn off the heat or turn up low efficiency gas plants to smooth it all out.
Who pays for the massive power lines to cover the 20% load factor of wind generators.

Even good old boy T Boone Pickens has given up on wind power.

The PAB (Public affairs beaureu)

I see they had the long week-end off....Their back...
Same old pattern,attack the individual,bring up the past,obfuscate,oh it`s getting so tiresome......Anne James,the few NDP run of river projects would actually be considered Green energy by the California senate,unlike the Plutonic behemeth projects.
And no,Rafe is not against wind farms(enviromentally)--But if their profits are artificially back-stopped by the BC tax-payer then no,what part of free enterprise is that?

Run of river power

Over near Port Alberni,a first nations band has a run of river,small,but enough to eliminate any need for diesel generators for their little community.....
That is what run of river should be about,low impact,small micro projects that service or add power to towns around BC,we could have thousands of micro projects that really would be green,no need for thousands of mile of transmission lines....
Small projects that could generate power from a water drop from cliffs,there is where the future of run of river should be,real job creation,towns,cities could suppliment the grid in a enviromentally friendly way.....
That LOCAL contractors could get work,and I believe that BCers would be on board to this approach.......
The proposed ROR in the bute....Well,green,HA.......200 bridges,13 river diversion,20 powerhouse,500 miles of roads,thousands of miles of transmission lines,so big infact that they would be building a cemant plant nearby to provide concrete for this project...Does that sound green?

P.S. Monty,I concur,I can`t believe that people can`t tell just looking at Campbell that he is mad as a hatter.

No nukes

Look at the loonies now running this world -

Here.... over there..... and everywhere.

You would have to be half mad yourself to trust these deranged swindlers with nuclear power.

Nuclear power is for the highly evolved....and we have a long way to go yet on that score....and even then it would be wise to have serious second.... third.... and so on..... thoughts.

doggone

If you have a moment, drop me a line...

garthwest@hotmail.com

A modest proposal to solve the power needs of BC and CA

The solution is available and we've already done much of the preliminary work.

http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/07/highest-and-best-use.html

Gwest

it should be in your inbox.
I'd delete your above comment if I were you.
There some very reasonable folks on this thread.
But then again

My father, a carpenter also commited suicide

But I did not have any power over my fellows so I did not turn into a megalomaniac.
There is hope for politicians: In China (they say) the plutocrat is required to spend a certain amount of time each year tilling fields or digging ditches with the public common folk. It would certainly toughen up some of our examples to hear what my small crew had to say about them

inthepaint928

Another "dumbass"! The so-called "lefties and greenies" have been advocating biomass energy forever, along with the more enlightened scientists:
http://www.google.ca/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENCA339&q=biomass+energy&btnG=Google+Search&meta=lr%3D&aq=f&oq=
http://www.hemphasis.net/Fuel-Energy/fuel.htm
Put brain in gear before putting mouth in motion!

Great Article

Here is the title of another great article about this issue that was printed on The Tyee in 2006.

"BC Hydro's Amazingly Bad Deal for Ratepayers" by John Calvert

It will give some background to the issues raised here.

You could also read

"Run-of-river power projects concealed by a green curtain" by Craig Orr in the Van. Sun on Jan. 3, 2008

And Ann James, your bias is showing. You don't seem to mind that we will pay billions to the IPP's for this electricity that we don't need. And you don't seem to mind the damage that is being done to the environment to build and operate the projects.
If you can't open these articles, I can post them here.

No approval by the NDP

Ann James says, "the NDP that opened the door to private power."

A bit of info for you.
1996
Oct BC Hydro completes evaluations; Province stops IPP process - Ashlu Creek shelved
2000
Nov 17 Ledcor initiates discussions with Squamish Nation
2001
Apr 12 Begin aquatic (fish), vegetation and wildlife studies environmental baseline studies

There was no approval by the NDP!

Check this article

And check this article from Northern Insights

http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html

A great analysis of the press on this issue.

Ann James

But.....not in my back yard, eh?

Run of river power

Thank goodness for some uncorrupted people within BC!
Next up should be an ambarrassing attack on Harper, for screwing with the Navigable Waterway PROTECTION act, to wit, take out the PROTECTION! We NEED the waterways to be PROTECTED to prevent any corrupt form of government to get their clammy hands on OUR water resources. Who ever heard of changing a law or an act, for that matter, because it is too old??? Our forefathers had a whole lot more integrity and, above all, foresight! They knew, that if they did not make certain provisions, someday the world, as they saw it, would cease to exist because of greed. The love of money will ultimately destroy this planet!
So, if there is anybody still out there who cares, let's tell our elected(?) officials, where you draw the line! ... I did.

Powell river persuader

Sorry man, no offense meant. Your energy is phenomenal, and you often put your arguments in such a funny way that I can't help laughing at y our hapless opponents, but really, I have no beef with you. We probably don't see eye to eye but your horse is pulling in the same direction as mine so peace be upon your house, brother. Truth be told, I'm jealous of where you live.....

Thanks Zalm

Your always first class,although you seem to be getting a little testy,along with another 3 million of us!

Cheers

And a little more food for thought

Wow,what a coincidence,the Canada line grand opening happening on Monday august 17th,the same day goverment,Campbell included,and Kinsella have to turn over all those Emails to the courts.....

Maybe I`m suspicious by nature but.........

The golden ears bridge had a big party on a sunday,all the hoopla,hotdogs,music and then it opened up for traffic early monday morning.....

Now the Canada line,which was announced not too long ago that it would open for labour day(the end of august)......
But now it`s been moved up to the Monday 17th of august......Free rides,food,music,a big party,it`s not open early,it will be open from 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm...And the rides are free,every unemployed person is invited to come attend the grand opening,of course,to me,it would make more sense to have the grand opening on sunday the 16th of august,then even the working stiffs,families,everyone could attend,just like the golden ears bridge party,then they could open it up monday morning (august 17th) for regular commuters,on the normal hours(5.00 am to 1.30 am)

Now of course,if you were trying to say distract the media from EMAIL DAY at the BC SUPREME COURT....
Well,then I suppose it makes perfect Campbellian sense to have a party party party on the 17th of august during the monday afternoon period........

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

Powell River Person

What a coincidence! Good on you for pointing this out.Will write a memo in my diary for that day to head for Point Roberts to sit on the beach, view the Gulf Islands, pick up some cheap food, snack at Lighthouse Park, walk on the dikes, and forget that I live in a province that's become so bizarre. Of course, I'll remember to take my passport. Question for someone: will Lara Dauphinee be in attendance for this party? Or will Ms. Campbell show up looking pained (again?)

Stop Campbell!!!

Campbell and his captive media are obviously trying to keep this issue from the public. This is very news worthy but we have yet to see any coverage in the news.

By keeping the BCUC ruling under wraps, Campbell can quietly appease Plutonic's magnats and use his clout, and our tax dollars, to keep the company from going under. We have to ensure that Campbell is stopped and his shady shenanigans are brought to an end before he destroys the whole province. Who knows, it may already be too late (and the majority of media outlets will be excessories to the downfall).

This whole business...

The stench from this 'preference' fro Plutonic projects has finally been recognized for what it is by an agency with the clout to step in and say 'no'.

Thank you BCUC!!!

why run-of-river?

Why is the gov't so hell-bent on ROR electricity projects when our obvious best way to produce more electricity on our coast is tidal power? Tidal power is easily predictable, not weather-dependent, no major construction needed, locate near existing infrastructure, no need to deforest thousands of hectares for transmission lines. Its a win-win-win situation all around unless the moon doesn't want to enter into a contract with Gordo (there is always a stumbling block).
Speaking of transmission line corridors, why aren't we utilizing these for wind power and solar power instead of paying millions every year to brush cut them. There also has to be some simple technology out there to capture the lost power off these massive transmission lines which leak power like crazy. We need some fresh thinking that will benefit the province for generations to come, we need to think much farther ahead than the next election!

Cry Me A River!

Voter beware should also be Reader beware as citizens find themselves jewed out of the news, Canwest style, the propaganda specialists.
No amount of crying over the contaminated rivers and destroyed wildlife is going to change the destruction that is presently going on. Its like there are no tomorrows especially for British Colombians as Campbell's cohorts count on the blessing of media as big organizations go for mega profit as the futures of British Colombians are put on hold. Way to go BCUC, an organization without much of a future especially if Campbell and Canwest have their say.

Canada Line Party

Powell River Persuader supposes the advanced opening of the transit line to Richmond is aimed at pushing other news off the front page on the particular day. On the NW legislative report today, Baldrey ridiculed the possibility, saying it was more unbelievable conspiracy theory from the lunatic fringe. Palmer's statement right after was, "Of course, governments do this all the time." I guess we can take our pick of answers.

We gotta give somebody at Canwest credit for honesty. The Campbell River Courier-Islander seems on a different wave length that the big papers. Follow this for comments and a link:

http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/08/extra-extra-canwest-publishes-truth.html

BCUC Rocks

Norman, thanks for the link. Very informative and well researched article. I doubt if the editors of the Sun, Province or National Post would have printed it. Maybe this editor missed the memo from the crumbling Canwest empire.

Paul Taylor of Plutonic Power was on Christy Clark's show extolling the virtues of the HST. He stated that implementation of the HST would save his corporation, Plutonic Power, many millions of dollars in construction costs to them. Although he was of the opinion that companies would pass on their savings of the merged sales taxes because of competition, he sure didn't let on that his company would cut the price they expect to get from BC Hydro for the power they hope to generate. First the Liberals mandate BC Hydro to overpay for all this unrequired power, then they come up with a way to decrease their construction costs so that they may make even larger profits.

This is just another blatant example as to where the BC Liberals' priorities truly lie. Disgraceful!!!

HST saves big corps OUR money

For every $1 billion dollars they spend on building, dams, diversions, transmission lines, generators, etc., they will save the $70 million in PST they would have paid under existing rules. Think that will make any difference to the price for power charged by these boys and girls? If you do, then explain how BC Hydro's cost of production sets the rate it charges for exported power.

Notice how government policy penalizes businesses that employ people (through payroll taxes) and rewards those that buy machinery. Automating a sawmill is about to be cheaper but hiring two more guys for the green chain will cost more.