Target

The Throne speech is a Target set at arms length with a dinnerplate size bull's eye.
The "Bulljet" will set the target at a thousand meters with a dime sized bull's eye.
You'll see the Corporate Liers with their bottom draggers seining up more money from the commoners to line the pockets of those who will claim "Repairman" status.
Nothing will change, "Profit" rules, Peons pay.

Liberal Math

On the radio a Liberal politico, stated that RAV/Canada Line would take 200,000 cars off the road daily.....really?

The most optimistic quote on ridership for RAV was 110,000 people, of which 45,000 would be former bus riders on all the bus routes affected. Subtract 45,000 from 110,000 and one is left with 65,000 riders! But remember that 110,000 is both in and out so really 65,000 translates into only 37,500 actual riders, so at the most optimistic ridership level only about 37,500 cars would be taken off the road.

I think Campbell throne speech is filled with like hyperbole.

This government survived on

This government survived on lies and misleading the public from day one.

This is just another PR scam to blind people and distract their attention. Look at the list of donors, and the amounts, to the BCLibs and start thinking how the pwners of the Party would allow any serious cuts into their wealth creating schemes ?

No point in wasting any more time on it.

Ed Deak.

RAV?

Come on Grumpy, put that one to bed. It is over. You are not getting your pet system.

Ed, times have changed. You have not.

Dead right Ed!

Campbell will tax us to death to put on an ecco show for his now good friend Arnold! Me thinks this is a tax and grab offering, but one of the most shaddy characters we ever had in office.

Workingman Campbell's shill

There are lies, damn lies and statistics, Campbell and his lot of shills combine all in one package.

Shareholders Movement

It's heartening to see this movement emerging in the US. Cdn. pension funds should do the same:

Investor group unveils climate blacklist

By Francesco Guerrera and Alex Barker in New York

Published: February 13 2007

A coalition of US institutional investors has stepped up pressure on corporate America to do more on environmental issues by accusing 10 companies of failing to address climate change and global warming.

The move by Ceres, a group of state pension funds, environmental and religious groups with more than $200bn in assets, highlights a rise in investor and political demands on business to do more to deal with environmental problems.

The publication of the blacklist – which names the oil group ExxonMobil, financial services group Wells Fargo and utility TXU – coincided with the filing of shareholder motions at more than 35 companies demanding action on climate change. The list also includes the oil group ConocoPhillips, retailer Bed Bath & Beyond and insurer ACE.

The issue will be a key battleground in the upcoming season of shareholder meetings after investors filed a record 42 motions urging actions ranging from reduction in greenhouse gases to better disclosure of energy efficiency plans.

The pension funds behind the black list, which include the states of New York, North Carolina, Connecticut and Vermont, say that they cannot “vote with their feet” and sell shares in the companies because they own mostly index funds.

As a result, they have to resort to “naming and shaming” and filing resolutions at shareholder meetings.

ExxonMobil said on Tuesday it “recognises and is responding appropriately to the risks associated with climate change”.

The 10 companies:

* Banking and financial: Wells Fargo
* Electric power: TXU, Dominion Resources, Allegheny Energy
* Coal: Massey Energy and Consol Energy
* Insurance: ACE
* Oil & Gas: ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips
* Retail: Bed Bath & Beyond
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/de35e08a-bb74-11db-afe4-0000779e2340.html

lies my government live on

When the government pitches green our way, duck!---a man convinced against his will if of the same opinion still. In other words, when it is a means of getting voted in rather than a sound moral conviction, the lie remains just that. Once in, all bets are off for any meaningful change from a government that has no meaningful morals.

Let.s not get too ready to

Let.s not get too ready to think Gordon is going to fix anyhting. Have the coal ideas died ?
For him to tell us his government has done wonders for the environment is really pretty cheezie. He is having another one of his visions.
Arhold got relected by being a Republican who went green in a state that is usually ahead of the others. Gordo will be taking body building courses next and doing B movies in his attempt to stay in power. Yep says Gordon, the poor are here. Any answers Gordon. Blame the municipal governments. The LG must grit her teeth as she reads that collection of words.

I guess I'm the new kid on

I guess I'm the new kid on the block. A few comments in no particular order of importance.

1. Most politicians lie most of the time. It's part of the job description. :)

2. If this is being done in order to help curb pollution and clean up the environment, why don't we go after those who pollute the most as a top priority? Why don't we start by looking at China and her pollution record?

3. The current round of hybrid cars are a joke of the first order as far as environmental concerns are concerned. To start with, a hybrid will only get moderate fuel economy when running on fuel. They are far too heavy to be economical. Either you are dragging around an engine [while on electric] or you are dragging around a heavy motor and heavier batteries while you are on fuel. Like most hybrids, they bring the worst of each to the mix and none of the best. In addition, performance is generally dismal [with a capital DIZZ].

4. Batteries. The current generation of car batteries are only good for about 5-7 years. After that, they need to be replaced and it is EXPENSIVE. The last I heard on the subject was that it will cost about seven thousand dollars to replace the battery pack on a Toyota hybrid. Are you prepared to pay that kind of money every five to seven years in order to feel good?

5. Also on batteries, it takes a lot of pollution energy to manufacture most batteries. Is the extra pollution on the factory floor worth the lack of pollution as Joanny Feel Good drives her little putt-mobile around? Battery waste is also fairly toxic when dumped into a landfill somewhere. And let's not be so naive as to think that ALL of the batteries are going to get recycled.

6. I think we are better off driving small efficient cars. We are also better off talking about fuel economy in terms of ton-miles/gallon rather than just MPG. It is more realistic.

7. So the premiere is going to basically outlaw all coal fired power plant construction in BC in the future. Good luck with that. Write if you find a source of energy to power your furnace fans and control systems and air conditioners and traffic lights. Don't try to rely on Alberta. According to you, we're the bad guys. We burn coal AND gas.

8. As you may have guessed, I do not have a soft spot in my head or my heart for the mindless drivel that masquerades for environmental concern. Wring your widdow hands and pretend that you are doing something to protect the environment.

Doesn't that feel better now?

T-man

Tidal Power for BC!

It was there, in the throne speech yesterday: "A new $25-million Innovative Clean Energy Fund will be established to encourage the commercialization of alternative energy solutions such as bioenergy, geothermal energy, tidal, run-of-the river, solar, and wind power."

I've said it here before and at the risk of repeating myself, I'll repeat that tidal (current) energy has enormous potential in BC to produce emission-free, FIRM, renewable and ultra-high density electricty for domestic use and export. Government just has to actually get behind it and provide some realistic support, as is happening in the UK which is dead serious about nesting tidal for energy use and to create a billion-dillar job-industry (think Boeing or Ford).

In Hydro's most recent Green Energy report investigating tidal current energy (2002), Triton Consultants reported that present (tidal) technologies could be meeting “up to 40% of Hydro’s annual generating capacity”, and that near-term pricing is expected to be cost-competitive with other utility-scale technologies!

In southwestern BC, the Campbell River region is blessed with abundant opportunities to generate hundreds and likely thousands of megawatts of emission-free energy from the tidal currents of Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage, to meet the island’s own rising energy needs, to generate power for export, and to seed industry. It’s also proximal to the grid and the largest population base in the southwest, so power would not require re-shaping, as would energy transported from Site C, for example.

Want a made-in-BC "Alberta Miracle"? We've got it, flowing under our noses every day.

For more info, check out the Ocean Renewable Energy Group (OREG), an industry association formed two years ago by BC-based developers, consultants and bureaucrats to promote tidal, wave and offshore wind: www.oreg.ca

Do what the Europeans do

If you really want to reduce emissions, you must reduce reliance on cars, period. Not going to happen.

The shrill cry of "let's take public transit", from many politicians and planners is nonsense. Fact is, public transit in the GVRD is an utter disgrace. We spent all our coin on two flashy automated metro lines that do little in attracting the motorist from the car.

SkyTrain, despite being driver-less, cost about 60% more to operate (Van. Sun) than LRT operations the same size and ridership. For the now $5 billion spent (yes $5 billion spent so far on SkyTrain)the metro has yet to show any kind of modal shift as it's ridership only increases with population. RAV/Canada Line and the proposed Evergreen hybrid light metro/rail line will be just more of the same.

We are stuck with some of the most inept transit planning around, yet our politicians don't get it.

Modern public transit philosophy is simple, build it cheap; built it to where people live; build it to where people want to go; build it so there is no transfer!

Modern LRT fits the bill and is the option knowledgeable transit planners plan for. The trick is keeping costs down. RAV is now exceeding $125 million/km. to build and the Evergreen line is now exceeded $90 million/km. to build! hugely expensive. In Spain a newly opened LRT line cost just under $6 million to build and in France LRT costs about $11 million/km. to build!

Now using the French example, for one km. of RAV, we can build just over 11 km. of LRT or just for one km. of Evergreen Line we can build just over 8 km. of LRT! By building with light rail we could build much more route mileage, penetrating into where people live and servicing where people want to go and provide the all important seamless journey.

As one expert in Europe said to me; "LRT is not only the transit system for the 21st century, it has become the transit philosophy of the 21st century. In fact, modern LRT is modern public transport philosophy, but not here, where Glen L. and his boys, still plan for hugely expensive subways, metros, and hybrid metros, forever trying to reinvent the wheel.

Europe is far more green than we and the reason in part, is successful public transport, that fulfills the needs of it's customers.

Coal out tidal in

A hint that coal-powered electricity might be out wasn't good enough. Coal out, tidal-powered electricity in, would have done it for me.

The "clean" electricity is out there. It's continued neglect, or bringing on at a trickle, points to a government more interested in running interference on behalf of fossil fuel interests.

Do as the European's do part 2.

My sister in-law is building a new house in Switzerland and part of the building code is solar panels and batteries. The electricity generated powers 4 outlets in the home and produces enough electricity to power her PC, or coffee maker, some lights, etc. The added cost, about $500 dollars. It is just to reduce power consumption as the hydro generated power may be in some doubt in the future due to global warming.

Hi new kid!

As a former resident of the coal and gas burning province, I used to see these issues all the time. I have tried to share with all of my good friends in Alberta, awareness of a few simple truths that they, like many others have been deceived on. Like the war on terror for example. My "redneck leftie" friends were all for it! Of course until people starting asking simple questions that our leaders refused to or could not answer. Bush speak for exampleis PPG. (PPG = Pure Prairie Gibberish) People were deceived and are still being deceived with this smoke screen of "War on Terror," just as they are with the "War on Drugs." Frankly, it's embarassing. Does the IMC think were are all complete morons to be played with, swallowing every wild lie they dream up and show on TV? Lone gunmen, yeah sure....
The closest thing to the truth around these parts, IMO, would be Ed Deaks body of life work and wisdom. AND!!!! He is willing to share with us here. You've come to the right place pardner.

Do as the Europeans do part 3

The German city of Karlsruhe, famous for their zwei-system LRT (trams that operate on mainline railways) is powering nine of their 18 city tram lines by solar panels mounted on municipal buildings.

Calgary's LRT is powered by electricity powered by wind turbines.

All we have is hot air from Victoria.

Well, first of all....

The actual 'meat' of the essay here is contained in two short paragraphs, which I'll quote for easy reference:

The first initiative, about hybrid vehicle purchases for government needs was announced last fall. You can look it up. It is nothing new therefore and while hybrid vehicles are efficient in stop and go city traffic, on the highway they are not especially green – and as tractorman accurately points out, there are other problems associated with battery replacement and cost. This is purely old stuff and nothing but green wrapping paper.

Therefore it isn't a "new" initiative anyway and can't legitimately be claimed as a change in government policy or direction.

The second item, relative to coal-fired generation is a red herring. There are no proven technologies for carbon sequestration available at the moment in any case - lots of theory and experiment, but a long way from practical. The Americans would kick and scream blue murder - especially after the abandonment of the Sumas gas fired plant, and, for anyone who’s missed it – that’s all part of the subtext behind Bill Bennett’s recent loss of discipline toward ‘Americans’. Moreover, most important, the future 'energy' plan for hydro generation is being 'set up' right now as the generating capacity of British Columbia's rivers is being transferred, as we speak, to private interests.

You can get a list of some of the players by visiting http://freespeechca.blogspot.com/

In addition, there some other interesting bits and pieces there as well.

Smoke, albeit 'green' smoke, and mirrors all over again. I'm surprised and shocked David Suzuki has been so easily taken it. Perhaps he is showing his 71 years.

The Sell Out continues.

Penner

Anybody seen our Environment Minister lately? You know, the one who was installed, but ordered to stay away from fish-farms, because it was somebody else's file? Guess he's out in the bush with a mouthful of Atlantic salmon, petting a squirrel.
It won't be long before Gordo does an Ambrose on him. He could muddle through as long as the environment was on the back burner (where Gordo truly wanted it), but now in the blinding light of Campbell's new-found priority - Penner won't last long.

David Suzuki

Isn't David Suzuki a Geneticist? Though he is a scientist and certainly been warning us about global warming, but I think he is a bit short of the mark on how to achieve it. I have my issues with some of his stands and perhaps, just perhaps, his support is more of hopefulness, rather than endorsement.

Gavin

Gavin - how did I know you'd be here trying to negate anything Campbell did. I'm sure you probably lost your job as a result of one of his cut-backs - but get your head out of the sand.

This is big. In fact, I think it is too big. Though, Campbell has a tendency to dive head first into things. Give it a break for once.

I have a project for you. List 10 good things Campbell has accomplished since becoming Premier. I think you'll come to find - he ain't that bad! You are so close minded and look for reasons to take away from him....

Action Now on Climate Change

We can't change the weather. Oh we could turn off your power and shut down gas stations today. Are we prepared to affect our standard of living because we think we can influence the climate?
Follow the money, and you will see it leaving our bank accounts and going into bank accounts in China and Russia, without any change to carbon output.
The new religion of Environmentalism is laughable. I guess blind faith reins in the green world vision.
I don't buy it.

Its the perpetual growth paradigm stupid!

I have my doubts, but you never know!

What bugs me is the media coverage and the political response makes it sound like we just discovered climate change yesterday!

And how does reducing emissions (from driving to actually manufacturing the car) have an impact if we still base everything on more. More cars, fridges, stoves, tv's and so on.

As we 'walk' our way to reducing green house gas emissions, we will face the cascade effects; where one change in a variable, affects other variables and so on. This effect may mean some shocking surprises in the (near) future.

And to keep on pushing the Gateway project is ludicrous - as someone has said before - its like giving an obese person bigger pants! - they still are obese!

Urban design and planning should be working to reduce emissions as well. Continued status quo suburban patterns will not help deal with climate change.

I have already made my contribution - I have no kids!

The crux of this article is

The crux of this article is summed up in one sentence: "Soaring concern about the environment means that politicians ignore this growing issue at their peril".

This announcement is about chasing polls, plain and simple. Campbell's "concern" about the environment is probably right up there with his newfound "concern" for Natives in our province. I suppose you can "fake it 'til you make it", but will believe it when I see it. I also fully agree with Mr. Deak's assessment of the issue.

Power Sales

GWest correctly identifies an issue that should be a major concern to all of us. This government is currently selling the water rights of our province to private corporations and signing 40year contracts with them to buy their power at $70/kwhr. BC Hydro currently generates power at ~$6/kwhr.

COPE is holding a forum on this very important subject this Saturday at the Vancouver Public Library. Are you prepared to pay 10 times more for your power and contribute to the welfare of yet another coporation?

10 good things from Gordon Campbell

Hmmm! Let me think:
Tax cuts to the people who really need them? Nope won't do, he did the opposite.

Increasing openness in government and easing access to FOI so the people actually know what "their" government is doing? Nope.

Preserving and enhancing the ability of BC Hydro to meet the province's power generation needs in the future at no profit because that's the best way to stimulate industry and keep our businesses competitive. Sorry. He gets an "F".

Enhancing health care in BC while preserving excellent infrastructure services like Tilbury laundry as the lowest cost and most efficient way to meet hospitals needs? He did just the opposite.

Increasing funding to UBC's health centre so that more doctors can be graduated now?
Again, he did the opposite and opened phony (but very costly) pretend medical schools in Victoria and Prince George.

I could go on forever. BC under Campbell is Bizarro world Cappy. You're the one with your head in the sand - or somewhere else. I've mentioned on Tyee several times I'm a self-employed professional with no union connections save one summer job pulling dimension lumber on a green chain when I was in college.

I know why you think Campbell is great. You've probably got a handful of CN shares....damn, I forgot to mention that other jewel of a BC asset that the premier protected so acidulously. You should read that report on transportation that was published in early 2001. And he sold it to CN as a tax writeoff.

You let me know when he does something good, okay!

I’m giving you a minus 5 on that comment Cappy, sorry.

Channel surfing:

Saw a Local Gov't meeting on TV the other day.

Discussions ensued of the OCP draft for the City Center currently undergoing a major densification envisioning .

Part of the arsty -fartsy ala carte polit-buro BS is these associated Gov't and Consultant minions tapping into the latest Public Zeitgeist.

Green buildings are all the rage...apparently " Green roof tops " as well.

One elected official pointed out that apparently INSURANCE COMPANIES are putting their 2 cents worth in on this...ie Many of the insurers apparently WILL NOT insure buildings with these GREEN ROOVES. They are foreseeing a major liability potential.

( FYI It is my understanding that via Court Precedent, Insurers must specifically list on an insurance policy what they will NOT COVER, ie exclude ...the contrary implication being that if it is not formally excluded on the policy then the insurers are legally obligated to pay out the claim )

The elected official concluded that there are more Net Benefits to look at energy savings within the building than there is in such airy- fairy enviro -groupie /nutzi inititiatives as " Green rooves".

It would have been interesting if a ByLaw had been passed demanding Green Rooves , then consequences of this ByLaw became increasingly evident( ie horizontal version of Leaky Condos ? ) and lawsuits become the norm...again.

Suggestion: Go GREEN on March 17 ( St. Paddy's Day )...all other days " be careful".

Just a question.

What are rooves?

G West

G West aka the Tyee SPELLINK and GRAMMER Pohlice .

(oops sorry...inadvertantly saw you changing from your secret identity in the Thesaurus section of Chapters after your lattes with Ms Reisman).

http://wwwthefreedictionary.com/rooves

doesn't really matter.

doesn't really matter. gordo just pulled another rug out from beneath the socialist hordes. not to mention the very green party.

What are rooves?

I think I'll get my spelling and grammar help from a source that isn't in the sales business if it's all the same to you.

It couldn't have been a typo since you used it 3 times in the same post, along with the correct term.

I may have to reconsider the mark I was thinking of giving you for one of your posts on education. I'd also suggest that you do some research on a project called Dockside Green and the way new ideas are being adopted in the regulatory and insurance industries as well as the construction and building trades.

Garf, you don’t know what?

Garf, you don’t know what rooves are? I would guess then, you wouldn’t know what a klack is for either.

determined to stay in the penalty box for serial irrelevance

Still not willing to actually engage and talk about things. Don't you find it lonely on the right wing all by yourself? Even noleftnutter had started to actually see that this isn't just a matter of them and us.

Soon, El, it'll just be you and cappy and Ron.

All the other dinosaurs are either extinct or they've evolved into birds and flown the coop.

G ' Stir

Geez G' ster

Check your own spellink n' grammer...just because you are anal about it doesn't mean everyone else is...Are you that bereft of something to bitch about ?

TYEE is offered to contributors gratis, the contributions are made gratis...if we gettink into everyone's spellink and grammer we takink up too muchs tyme and then only "Left -teese lefts over on the TIE YEE (Hmm??? scary)

PS . Why don't you submit "a link" on Dockside Green so we can peruse it.

because if you care

Because if you care about the sense and relevance of what you post and you actually want to be something other than the butt of people's jokes; then it's up to you to police your own stuff. And it's up to you to do the research. I already know that stuff and this is not school.

Adults educate themselves.

I'll push you gently in a useful direction if you evidence any willingness to do more than sit in the corner and strum your fingers against your lower lip.

Deal?

Otherwise I'll go back to ignoring you.

G.West-Alcibiades is beyond belief.

All of this mocking and ridiculing and laughing at other peoples' spelling and intellecutal capacity couldn't be from the same guy who asked me on the 'locusts eating' thread:

"Do you really think it's quite okay to poke fun at anyone you please anytime you want to?"

Could this possibly be the same guy?

Dockside Green

Dockside Green, A piece of real estate for only the pretty people to park their asses at, sorry Truman, no trailers allowed.

I don't think what I said to maestro

I don't think what I said to maestro is in that category at all. You need to read a little deeper into what people say, and mean, by their actions Truman.

For a clever guy, sometimes you don't seem to be able to see past your own nose - or remember what's gone on in the past.

I'd like to change the dynamic here at Tyee.
How about you?

Folks this is all about

Folks this is all about Gateway. The GVRD have recognized that the total Gateway project is a green liability. Gateway isn't about twinning the Port Mann so much as its about moving 5 times more cargo through the lower-mainland to the Walmarts' of the United States and eastern Canada.

This increased movement of commodities - due to globalizaton - will cause a dramatic increase NOx and SOx emissions and particulate matter (PM).

The Campbell green announcements are intended to put all of you on notice that you will have to pull up your green socks in order to accomadate more GHG's in the region. In other words you get to pay for it.

This public service announcment has been brought to you by the Port of Vancouver serving it up for you and your communities.

Good Environment = Good Business

I am not going to turn my head the other way. Why wouldn't we be better to this great planet.....

However, lets become a country that capitalizes on this great need. Let's work to develop technolgies and preserve our country. Soon, the polar bear will be a great tourist adventure! We don't need to compromise our great economic system in doing this!!

You have left-wing folks that are looking at this entirely wrong. They are trying to use this as a ploy to shut the economy - redistribute the wealth and increase taxes.

It is not one way or the other!!

hybrid -- inbred

Tractorman, worth repeating.

Tractorman I certainly agree with you, there is absolutely no sense economically or environmentally for the government to purchase hybrids, the sensible way to go, buy small fuel efficient cars. I suppose there is a bunch of outdated hybrids sitting some where looking for a deal to happen,of course the government gets drawn to these deals like a magnet to scrape iron.

Happy Valentines Day, Cappy

I suggest you read Marylee Stephenson's article entitled 'A Little Romance.' I think you're the one who has things entirely wrong but I'm tired of arguing with you. At least for today.

Cap to Gavin

Gavin - you are the biggest hypocrite at the Tyee and part of this dynamic you define.

You think I'm stupid. You wrote this to solicit a response from me and IAMC. There was absolutely no purpose to this. You are part of the problem here....though I often find your banter a bit of comic relief. You are so self absorbed - to put it bluntly - you've drank too much of your own kool-aid.

Yeah, Woody about batteries...

You got that right, Woody. All that crap about cars running on battery packs--as if the batteries were manufactured in factories that have zero C02 ratings. And if they're rechargeable by plugging them into 110 volt sytems, where does the electricity come from to recharge them--coal plants? Not every place has dams like BC or nuclear (nucular according to Dubya) like Iran (almost).

This has been sitting in some right hemisphere neurons for years now, but yours is the first comment I've actually heard on this little electric car contraindication. Thanks for bringing it up.

Weather report

Today's forecast: denial with a high probability of ignorance.

Perhaps with your head in the sand the weather appears unchanged, but we ARE changing the weather.

Really, does making such idiotic statements come naturally, or do you have to work at it?

What Is "Sequestration?"

"Victoria will now begin requiring all new coal-fired generating plants to sequester 100 per cent of their carbon emissions."

Be wary of this. "Sequestration" currently has no clear definition. It could mean paying money to rich dictators in poor countries for a promise to plant some trees.

If Gordo means "sin tax" when he says "sequestration," expect the coal plants to proceed full-bore -- albeit much more expensive (passed on to consumers), once he lines the pockets of dictators in poor countries.

"Sequestration" SHOULD mean: you take the CO2 out where it is produced. Anything less is just business as usual.

Spelling and Grammar

Google for Rogers and the two million dollar comma if you think sloppy grammar is without consequence. Keep up the bad spelling and worse grammar if you wish to give off the impression of being sloppy and inattentive to details.

So Few Ideas; Lotsa Personal Jabs

Perhaps this site should be re-named as the Pot Shot Club!

Seems more and more of the posts are personal attacks rather than sharing ideas or comments on articles!

Go ahead, poke fun at me! LOL!

freebear

freebear said,

OK FREEBEER, give me another 5 min.

Cappy

Did you read Marylee Stephenson's piece?

If you'd really rather I post some of your own words of wisdom, or Elliot's or Ron's, I certainly can. But I'm not feeling that way today so I'll just leave the evidence of your own lack of depth and unwillingness to engage without advancing any evidence apart from your own mean-spiritedness; adding only the following:

The people who actually read around here know exactly what's going on. You might want to check back into the 'health care conversations a la Gordo' thread for some of Ron's wisdom if you like - see for yourself.
It starts out like this, in the subject line:
DELETED DUE TO VULGARITY - TYEE EDITOR

Uncle!

OK, let me on board! Polluters are going to pay. Gasoline must double in price immediately and high-sulfur diesel is worse, so it must triple. Shut down Alberta. Shut down Hamilton unless they can reduce their emissions by 50% tomorrow. Shut down the auto sector in Canada completely unless they agree to build e-cars tomorrow! Evacuate and re-locate all citizens from Arctic and other-than temperate zones unless they can heat using solar energy. Wood-burning is not allowed! No more air conditioners allowed, period. Free bicycles for all. Save The Planet!

"Tories fail in last-ditch bid to kill opposition Kyoto bill"

News just out: OTTAWA (CP) - "The Conservative government lost a last effort to kill a Liberal bill that would require it to respect Canada's Kyoto commitments.

With the controversial bill up for a vote today, the Tories appealed to the Speaker of the House of Commons for the third time in less than a year to have Bill C-288 declared invalid. The Tories argued that the bill - which is supported by all opposition parties and is expected to pass easily - would force the government to spend money against its will." http://www.recorder.ca/cp/National/070214/n021447A.html

*********************************
From Tyee article; "Victoria will now begin requiring all new coal-fired generating plants to sequester 100 per cent of their carbon emissions."

We know the technology isn't there yet to accomplish this worthy goal, but (I hate to defend Gordo), the Libs may simply be saying:
The coal plants won't get built till the technology is far enough along that we know they can be built to emit zero C02

What's wrong with that?

bobb999

There is nothing "wrong" with that; if there were any need for coal fired generation to meet this Province's energy needs.

There isn't and this is just sleight of hand to mask what's actually happening on the rivers front. When these little side deals - being sold (and I use the word sold ironically) to groups most of whom I haven't yet had time to check out - are up and ready to produce power - at rates far in excess of what Hydro would have charged if it had remained in control of the province's energy needs the whole picture will begin to emerge. If you want further details of a disaster in the making, have a look at what’s been going on in Ontario since the complete failure of the Harris Government to split up and take much of Ontario Hydro private in the last decade.

At that point, if, God forbid, Gordon Campbell and/or the "BCLiberals" are still in power and there's anyone still in the province who can afford the electricity tariff - then there will be much made about how green the 2007 version of ‘rampant kleptomania’ was when it didn't go ahead with a couple of coal-fired generating facilities.

When you control the release of information and you have the key to the media's heart in your pocket, it's Valentine's day all year round for best Government Howe Street, the West Side and West Vancouver ever had.

B.C. will pay "up to 1/3 the cost of sewage treatment plant"

Strange Bedfellows 
Joel Connelly: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Word from the Throne - Clean up B.C. poop 
 
In a turnaround after 25 years of denials, the British Columbia provincial government acknowledged yesterday that raw sewage from Victoria "is contaminating the ocean floor, and polluting the Pacific." 
 
The province said it will pay up to one third the cost of a plant to treat the human and industrial waste that is currently dumped into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 
 
Announcement of the new sewage policy came in the government's annual Speech from the Throne. 
 
The Capital Regional District, comprised of Victoria-area municipalities, has long argued that its dumping does no damage to marine life in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, an international waterway shared by the U.S. and Canada. 
 
Victoria-area officials have resisted calls for sewage treatment since the 1970's, and outrage from the United States since the Seattle P-I began running reports on the problem in the winter of 1991. 
 
Scientists employed by the capital district argued that the Strait's fast-flowing waters quickly dispersed millions of gallons of waste dumped every day. The waste is discharged at Clover Point and MacCauley Point, sites flanking the entrance to Victoria's touristy Inner Harbor. 
 
Last year, however, an independent panel comprised largely of American scientists debunked the official claims. 
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency required cities on the U.S. side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca - Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles - to install secondary sewage treatment plants more than two decades ago. 
 
The throne speech marks the ceremonial opening of the British Columbia Legislature. It was delivered yesterday by B.C. Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo, the ceremonial head of government and representative of Queen Elizabeth II in British Columbia. 
 
But the speech was written by the government of Premier Gordon Campbell, which is preparing to host the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Winter Olympics, and promising that the games will be the "greenest" in Olympic history. 
 
The words of the speech sounded as if spoken years ago by local and international critics: 
"The new $150 million Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund will support green projects that improve water quality, wastewater, sewage treatment and public transit. 
 
"After years of denial, the evidence is clear. 
 
"Victoria's raw sewage is contaminating the ocean floor and polluting the Pacific. This is not acceptable. And it will be remedied." 
 
"Your government will fund up to one-third of the costs of a new sewage treatment facility for Greater Victoria." 
 
Posted by Joel Connelly at February 13, 2007 5:27 p.m. 
 

Mr. Floaty

And we can all remember how Mr. Floaty was going to run for Mayor in Victoria, and the fellow who ran against the mayor were of the opinion it was time to quit messing in the bay. The news media got involved and soon the mayor was talking sewer treatment. Then the minister ordered it to happen. Public opinion does count folks and never foget it. The 1/3 comes from us, as does the other 2/3rds. But as a Victoria tax payer I say it's about time we joined the real world.

Absolutely right DPL

But to bill this much needed treatment of a festering sore, which is of such long standing, and for which - as we all know - the die has already been cast for many months, as a new "green" initiative is just another example of the premier trying to make himself understood while talking with pebbles in his mouth.

I appreciate that our neighbours in Seattle are overjoyed with the news that the provincial capital is finally going to slink into the 20th century after most of the rest of the western world has been living in the 21st for more than six years.

They have a right to be pleased. The rest of us B.C. citizens, cognizant that the Campbell Government is more interested in manipulating opinion than actually treating sewage, will recognize this green initiative ain't the slightest bit new.

Freebear;

No problem...

Every so often ,ie most of the time, the Lefties stumble out of the Saloon of Reality rather punchdrunk.

G West once claimed he was "oblique"

What's that mean .......possessing a perma- dunce cap " pointed head "?

They tend to take what one has said and play little stick poking games. My previous comment was based on what was said as our City is buying into this "go-green vision religion" ...drafting Official Community Plan (OCP)policy that may have far reaching implications.

I thought Gov't wasn't supposed to mix itself up with religion...maybe they should be reminded.

It is no sweat off their backs , right OR wrong...( much like the Leaky Condo fiasco ) while they, Gov't, are all being baptized in this new religion we will ultimately pay into the collection plate.

My point was that much of what we do in life has Insurance implications, hence perhaps one should perhaps see the Insurance policy prior to submitting building plans.

If someone wants sod , goats and holsteins on their roof or rooves....go ahead...just don't ask for a bucket nor do an ICBC on moi or many others .

The fact G West (aka the SUUPPERRR LINK MAN )doesn't want to submit a link is more than likely indicative it probably doesn't exist. G West is more and more into some " here is the one -way funnel " ...G ster seems to have permanent possession of the wide end...

PS Given the usual condescending know -it- all drivel it is more and more likely G West and STUMP are One- and -the- Same...trying to " play God " yet turning tail and glug glug on the water walk front.....somewhat inconsistent.

At least Coyote often had something to add and contribute...

Now you're accusing Stump and G West of being joined at the hip

C'mon maestro.

That's not even funny.
G West = Alcibiades = Gerhardius = Stump + not so long ago I remember Nana threw 'you' into the mix as well.

That is a conspiracy theory...

The whining has started.

The whining has already started, read the story at the link below.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/02/14/3617470-cp.html

hey gwest; you think your

hey gwest; you think your verbose blather amounts to anything here? dream on buddy. you're a joke, and as far as i can tell you don't have a job or a life b/c you're here almost 24/7. wake up and smell the fair trade cappuccino buddy.

Still at it El

I'd really like to hear if you actually have a thought about anything except shovelling your way out of the holes you're constantly digging for yourself.

Keeping abreast of you doesn't even require one one hundredth of my time. Too bad you're not a multi-tasker.

This is probably the longest shut-out in Tyee history.

nice retort al. i've read

nice retort al. i've read enough of your garbage to realize how much effort and energy it took you. take a break now and have a lovely lefty evening. maybe you can share a cup of that coffee with the gidiot.

As long as any government

As long as any government subscribes to the nonsense of measuring efficiency in monetary terms, and economics with the rest of the fraudulent accounting forced on by the neoclassical theory, there's absolutely no hope for any improvement.

Or even any hope that they have the slightest idea of what they're talking about?

As much, if not most of the damage is caused by commuting, the collectivization of production and the separation of producers from the users, there's again no hope for improvement, until economic activities are reorganized and brought back to the community levels.

Most of the damage is caused by high tech to replace the only energy neutral production system, which is human labour.

Automation automatically increases costs and environmental destruction, because the displaced workers must find new energy/resource sources for their survival, which increases the demand and consumption.

I'm using the word "consumption" with the caveat that there's no such thing, but it is commonly used.

There's a tremendous difference between technologies used to enhance human activities and make life easier, and overcapitalized systems designed to deprive humans of their livelihoods and divert the benefits into the pockets of the artificial entities of corporate shares.

Ed Deak.

Getting a bad buzz on..

"...Hargrove said proposed federal restrictions on greenhouse gases emissions would further hurt the industry.

"If you brought in anything near to the California standards, firstly it would be unfairly weighted against GM, Ford and Chrysler, " he said, noting they're the major suppliers of jobs in Canada.

Additionally, 80 per cent of the engines produced in Canada are V-8s and none are four-cylinder power plants, Hargrove said.

He said North American automakers are getting an "unfair rap" when it comes to hybrid and fuel-cell development, citing several new models in the works.

"But the demand has not been there. Up until now the people aren't willing to pay the price for the hybrids," he said, adding that fuel-cell and ethanol technologies aren't as far advanced as many have hoped. ..."

Is old Buzz still hugging Liberals? Will Buzzy boy vote for Stephane and his new-found Liberal buddies?

Proves exactly what I wrote

Proves exactly what I wrote above. We're the victims of a fraudulent economic theory that's endangering the human race.

Ed Deak.

Seems like you're out past bed time

Keep it up Elliot. The ice is getting pretty bad in that rut you're in. If you don't keep your head up you're going to end up getting checked over the boards.

Sorry I missed you earlier. I was busy making a living.

Hargrove should look at the numbers.

The writing had been on the wall for Ford and GM for ages. Did Hargrove think that Chrysler's results would be that different?

If you can't make a product people want to buy and you refuse to address the realities of the way the market is changing, I don't see how there's any way you can blame someone else for your failures. There are whole parking lots full of new hummers parked in the woods in upstate New York.

Toyota and Honda are actually addressing the desire of consumers to make some kind of positive gesture, through their purchases, toward being environmentally responsible. It may not be completely rational or even the best way to solve emission-related issues. Nevertheless, the efficacy of offering something positive, rather than blaming the lack of demand (as Hargrove does), is a better strategy, both for the economy and for the environment.

It's for precisely that reason that the Throne speech underlined an old commitment - it was announced last fall - to buy and lease only hybrids for provincial vehicle needs here in BC. Campbell is a disaster for the people of this province, but like many ceos outside the automobile industry, he understands mass psychology a lot better than Buzz Hargrove does.

In addition, he knows the media won't point out the obvious hypocrisy of what he's up to.

Hargrove, on the other hand, will have his motives questioned ruthlessly, no matter what, simply because he's a union leader. It’s not a fair world. Campbell’s job is a lot easier than Hargrove’s.

consumption and sacrifice

"consumption", and how do we control it? Simple, particularly gasoline consumption, all the government has to do legislate in rations and coupons.
At this point in time, if I had control over gasoline and diesel distribution, I would immediately curtail the refining process to 50% and watch the price of this commodity climb 50%-75% within a couple of weeks. I would be returning a larger profit margin to the stock holders and contributing 50% less green house gasses almost over night. Sure there may be a fuel shortage, a lack of fresh vegetables, long line ups at the fuel station,but what the hell all you greens said your willing to sacrifice in order to lower green house gasses, can’t you just see Suzuki with his bus waiting in a 1 km long line up in pan handle Manitoba at -30. Another green tip, which maestro pointed out awhile back, we presently utilize only 50%,of our toilet paper, therefore next time you do the paper work try to use up that “other” 50%.

Quote:doesn't really matter.

Well said. I wish the left in Canada could actually do something to be an effective opposition or actually form a government more than now and again.

Of course, the point is completely lost on them. They will continue to lose and whine.

But is not their fault!

The Buzz

This is the guy who sold out the NDP to support the lib's. Now that the lib's are going to promote Kyoto, he is John Baird's best friend.
He wants Alberta to pay, not Ontario auto workers. Everyone wants someone else to pay.
I say stop this BS and admit we have been sucked in to a no win situation, whereas the wealth transfer from us to Russia, China and India, is paramount to the left-lib enviromush movement that we should all be fighting to our death. This enviro-fraud agenda is worse than terrorism.
Bring it on lib's, let's fight an election on this. Try to explain to Canadians that rather than trying to improve our economy, our standard of living, our great unemployment rate, that your Liberal Party is going the opposite direction, for no reason.
Explain to pension funds that become worth far less. Explain how when you affect the share prices of energy company's that you hurt regular Canadians investments and savings. Explain how it helps to increase the cost of a trip to the pump, your BC Hydro bill. All to trade emission credits to China. Yes, bring on a federal election. Let's fight it out.
I will tell you that if this enviromush prevails, Alberta will leave. And what about Alberta's contribution to our revenues?
It's obvious there are many enemies on this sight that must have a terminal disease, and no family, because they are threatening our hard fought for standard of living, and you had better prepare yourself for the firestorm soon to be unleashed upon you leftist-lib enviro-frauds.
Bring it on.

i'm laughing my head off at

i'm laughing my head off at these latest 'green' initiatives of gordo and harpo. brilliant politicking when you take an issue that's even simple enough for the lefties to understand and then make it your own. the socialist hordes will be whining in opposition for many, many years to come. i'm loving it. carole james will be history soon, and after the next election layton will go back to selling used cars where he belongs. meanwhile stephane the fart's most useful task will be walking kyoto.

Still upset by the crisis in the US economy Ron

Did you say you were leaving, Alberta?

Please translate the above into English.

I guess you're just a fraud.

Oh Wow, a bamboo politico

Mitchell Anderson writes, "...Future governments of any stripe can no longer ignore the environment, and that is a major accomplishment.

While Campbell deserves some credit ..."

Imagine; a politician that listens, and acts, on the will of the people they represent. Isn't that what they're meant to do?

wrong again

Not true. I hate to burst your bubble but there's lots of folks looking for an alternative to capitalism's race to the bottom.

The real and ideologically

The real and ideologically correct expression is "eco terrorists".

The people who're destroying the Earth, as IAMC points out, are the real "wealth creators", but those who want to save it for future gemerations are "eco terrorists",
"eco thugs", now "enviro-frauds".

Any more of these brilliant slogans ? I would like to include them in my collection with the rest of the nazi and communist propaganda junk.

Ed Deak.

Nothing but names; no ideas; no analysis; no logic

Still nothing but invective El? I'd say you're pretty close to being in violation of the Tyee's rules as well.
You might want to refresh your memory of what they are.

I hope someone's watching.

Stephane's telephone call to Buzz,

"Allo Buzz, don't you worry my friend. You just support us again and we'll do the same as we did for years. We will talk a lot and do zip, OK?".

"Well, shucks Stephane. I guess maybe I spoke too soon. Come done to Oshawa, talk lots about subsidising hybrids and we can hug for the cameras. Deal?".

Stephen's call to Buzz,

Hello Buzz, don't you worry we can be friends. If you'd like to support us we'll grab another Liberal plot. We'll talk a lot and do zip, OK?."

"Well, shucks Stephen. I guess maybe we should speak soon. Come done to Oshawa, talk lots about subsidising hybrids and we can hug for the cameras. Deal?".

you make my day g. you're

you make my day g. you're too easy though. i feel kinda bad for you and alcy. must be tough.

This isn't hockey

Like someone said up above, it's been a complete shutout. You never even get out of your own zone. It's suicide. Whatever reputation for intelligence you had has long ago been frittered away on beer and popcorn.

Jack's call to Buzz,

"Hi Buzz, wanna be friends again? Support us again and we''l fight like hell to get the best severance packages possible for your workers, plus I'll throw in special federal funds for displaced workers and their families. I can get this using leverage and a bargaining chip for some bill Harper want's to pass, OK?"

"Well, maybe that could work Jack. Are you in Oshawa again soon?".

Elliot

Why do you keep coming back for more? You must have a no-cut contract. I'd let you handle the water bottles for my team, nothing more difficult though. I can understand why you'd like the Premier though - he has pretty much the same relationship with the ciphers on his team.

Carol James hasn't done much to recommend her but at least she understands what it is to be a team player. With Gordon Campbell there is no team, just the capo.

Alci = Gavin = Stump

I actually disagree. Scary enough, I believe there are actually three "loonies" in this province!

Gavin believes he is Batman and Alci is like his squeeky, pimply-faced Robin. As sad as Gavin is, I must say that Alci might actually be worse.

realisticman

Did you not hear about the severance packages the laid off Chrysler workers are getting?

You should check it out. Buzz and the union haven't done that badly by their members after all. They'll survive, despite the rhetoric...and so will Buzz.

As for Stephane, he is in trouble. But I think they've got a possible non-confidence vote lined up for April on this KYOTO defeat that Harper was so foolish to permit. Had he been smart he could have turned that to his advantage – it’d only require a few more lies about what he’d said in the past. He’s actually getting pretty good at it.

It may well come back to bite the conmen after all.

Would have been so much smarter to agree to Kyoto - which is international law - and then do a world tour about how he's changed his stripes.

I'm surprised John Howard didn't show him the script, aren't you?

What time is it down there?

I doubt Howard has had the OK from GWB to call.

heh, heh

23 hours ahead in Sydney, I think. My son spent 8 months down there a couple years ago and that's my recollection.

This whole environmental gambit is a dangerous one for both sides - politically, I mean. I thought Harper's objective was to take it off the table but this business today has done just the opposite.

Interesting...

2020

2020 looks about right.

I suspect the Kyotologist hysteria has, in fact, peaked. The Kyoto shark has jumped.

Projecting from the downward slope of the trends in the IPCC reports it is pretty safe to say that in 2020 the range of temperature rise attributable to CO2 will be roughly .01 degree celsius to .5 in the event that the IPCC "world population of 40 billion" scare scenario is met. Sea levels - well, by IPCC 7 I suspect the sea level boys will have it around a centimeter a decade with floods of Gorian proportions predicted for 2800 when the world population is 168 billion.

All of which will become increasingly clear as we head towards 2020 and the "climate scientists" are forced by, er, evidence to walk back their positions.

Right this instant cynical politicians everywhere are tossing the worried/guilty middle class costless bones. "We're green." "Not as green as us." "Green, hell, we're chartreuse."

There are fabulous arguments for improving energy efficiency - Kyoto compliance is not one of them. But it's fun to manage to entertain the mutually contradictory notions of CO2 driven global warming and peak oil at the same environmentally terrifying time. Very scary...very.

Pathetic

Gavin believes he is Batman and Alci is like his squeeky, pimply-faced Robin. As sad as Gavin is, I must say that Alci might actually be worse.

That's pretty typical Cap. When you haven't got the evidence or the intellect or the firepower to stay in the ring, stand outside it like Elliot does and throw garbage.

Nice

'Would have been so much

'Would have been so much smarter to agree to Kyoto - which is international law'. nice try g, but there isn't really such a thing as 'international law'. it sure does make you sound smart though gav.

Kyoto

Once Russia signed Kyoto it became International Law Elliot. And Canada is a signatory too. Backing out was a big black eye for this country internationally; but I know you could care less.

I don't try to sound smart el. I just avoic trying to sound foolish.. Not so hard, you might try it - after you've managed to get your skates laced.

'Backing out was a big black

'Backing out was a big black eye for this country internationally;' what a bunch of bullshit. where you getting your info g, coop radio?

hey g; i hate to break this

hey g; i hate to break this to you, but i bet i'm not the only one getting tired of this ridiculous hockey analogy. sounds like you just learned about them in your community college english course.

Yeh EL

Well I'm really tired of you too Elliot. For someone with a brain and probably a small amount of knowledge you come across as a man who can't get his skates on or off.

I'm happy to talk to anyone who treats me and the subject matter with a modicum of grace and manners. Start doing that and you'll see a real change in how I deal with you.

Until you post something worthy of my time and attention, don't hold your breath. You're just like the bullies I encountered on the ice when I was a kid. But I grew up and you haven't yet.

And that point about international treaty law – you just don’t know what you’re talking about. It may not have the force of jus cogens but it is binding upon its signatories – of which Canada is one. There used to be a time when we were willing to try and lead the world in such things as laws against land mines – the fact the outlaws in the United States didn’t sign that law didn’t seem to scare us off. Now, not so much. We seem to relish the thought of playing wolverine to the American ‘bear’ rather than standing up for what we’ve agreed to and keeping our commitments.

The only news you could break to me Elliot is the news that you're going to smarten up and try to actually defend whatever it is you think you believe in.

In fact, I don't think you even know. Bullies seldom do. They just strike out wildly.

good stuff g. you're on to

good stuff g. you're on to baseball now. think i'll do some more yawning...

Funny elliot!

You might want to look at some of the non-sports meanings for 'strike'. Oops, sorry, I forgot, those are the only analogies you DO understand.

Thanks for proving my point.
G'night.

I have a contract to finish tomorrow. Happy Valentine's Day.

Hybrids have regenerative braking, gasoline doesn't.

a hybrid will only get moderate fuel economy when running on fuel.

A hybrid gets significantly better fuel economy than the equivalent non-hybrid vehicle.

Most engine power is used for acceleration, not cruising - regardless of whether we're talking about gasoline or electric. An electric motor of a given weight can produce far more torque for acceleration than a gasoline engine of the same weight. A properly designed hybrid will provide a gasoline engine that is just big enough to satisfy average power requirements while letting the electric motor take care of peak power requirements for acceleration, hill-climbing, etc.

A hybrid combination of a small 3-cylinder gasoline engine plus an electric motor can provide the performance of an 8-cylinder gasoline engine. Since a 3-cylinder gasoline engine obviously weighs a lot less than an 8-cylinder gasoline engine, the difference in weight compensates for the weight of the electric motor plus some batteries.

In your rant against hybrids, you have completely ignored one of the most important advantages of hybrids: regenerative braking. When a hybrid drives up one side of a hill, the chemical energy in the battery is converted into potential energy as the car rises higher above sea level. As the hybrid car goes down the other side of the hill, the electric motor becomes a generator, and much of the potential energy is converted back into electrical energy to recharge the battery.

When you drive up a hill with a gasoline-powered vehicle, some of the chemical energy in the gasoline is converted into potential energy by increasing the altitude of the car. But most of it is turned into heat which is discarded by the radiator. When you go back down the other side of the hill, the potential energy is turned into yet more heat which is discarded by the brakes this time.

A similar concept applies in stop-and-start traffic. When you step on the brakes of a hybrid, the motor becomes a generator, converting much of the kinetic energy of the car back into electricity to recharge the battery. When you accelerate, that stored kinetic energy is used to get the car moving again. When a gasoline-powered car comes to a stop sign, the car's kinetic energy is all converted to heat in the brake disks. When you accelerate again, all the energy for acceleration has to come from burning more gasoline.

Can you point to a gasoline-powered automobile that is able to turn the potential energy of vehicle weight back into gasoline when it goes downhill instead of discarding that energy as heat in the disk brakes? Can the same gasoline-powered automobile recover the heat dissipated in the radiator and turn that back into gasoline when the car goes downhill? Can your gasoline-powered automobile turn the kinetic energy of the vehicle back into gasoline when you come to a stop sign, or does it turn it all into heat in the disk brakes?

I don't have "widdow" hands. I'm almost 6 ft 2 and I have pretty damned big hands. Those hands have done most of the mechanical and electrical/electronic maintenance/upgrades/customizations on my own cars as well as a lot of maintenance on friends' and family members' cars over the years.

News Release: Green Initiatices

Effective Immediately:

1. Pulp Mills will only operate on Mondays.
2. BC Ferries schedules will be amended to one trip only between the Mainland and other points.
3. Personal Vehicles are only allowed to operate on Fridays.
4. All businesses will only operate on Fridays, and Saturdays, workers will fulfill a 24 hour work day.
5. Emergency Vehicles will only operate on alternate days. For those that have a problem on off days, tough luck.
6. Radio and Television may only tranmit on Sundays,
7. All Churches who use electricity or petroleum products are herewith denied operation.
8. Telecommunications shall only occur on Wednesdays and Thursdays,
9. Provincial and Municipal operations may only do so for one week of each month.
10. Schools, Colleges and Universities shall only operate one day a week.
11. Operation of Recreational Vehicle/Boats is prohibited.
12. Use of both electrical and internal combustion engines for lawm/garden care is prohibited.
13. Cutting of trees of any size for any purpose is prohibited.
14. Use of aircraft for any purpose is prohibited except on Fridays.
15. Use of gas fired or coal fired barbecues is prohibited.
16. Street lamps may only be operated from Dusk to 9PM of any day and from 4am until 7am when applicable.
17. All entertainment centres; pubs, theaters, and any activity of like nature, may not operate on other than Fridays but only between the hours of 4PM and 9PM.
18. No person shall use any electrical appliance between the hours of 6PM to 6AM.
19. Use of desktop or laptop computers at home and in any business is prohibited.
20. Heating devices may only be turned on if the temperature is 0C or less.
21. All sports activities through out the Province are prohibited as a result of the increased co2 output.
22. NO person shall cause to make or initiate a open or enclosed fire of any kind.
23. Gas, diesel, LNG prices are set at $50 per litre.
24. COL sllowances are exempt of any effect of energy transportation cost increases.
25. Job loss as a result of these measures do not qualify for social assistance.
26. Loss of educational opportunities are not subject to any charter grievances.

If you do not like the above measures, move to Asia.

6 cents per km for electric car battery replacement.

The current generation of car batteries are only good for about 5-7 years.

Your 5-7 years figure applies to ordinary, non-deep-cycle lead-acid batteries. Hybrids don't use lead-acid batteries. Most use Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. Some use Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries, similar to cellphone and notebook computer batteries - except a lot bigger.

With many types of batteries, the significant figures are not so much years of use but the number of charge-discharge cycles the batteries can withstand and/or km driven before capacity declines to the point where it is unacceptable for a specific application. Ni-MH and Li-Ion batteries are generally good for a lot more cycles than lead-acid batteries.

A taxi company in Victoria, BC has been using a fleet of 40 Toyota Prius hybrids for years without any major problems. Some of these hybrid taxicabs have racked-up over 300,000 km of hard driving without needing new batteries. How many people put more than 300,000 km on their cars before trading them in?

Lead-acid batteries ARE used in some electric-only vehicles. For example, the Dynasty Motors Neigborhood Electric Vehicles manufactured in B.C. use lead-acid batteries. See http://www.itiselectric.com

The Dynasty website doesn't provide a breakdown of battery cost per mile/km, but there's an excellent explanation of lead-acid battery costs on the website of the Tango Electric Car in Spokane, WA.

From: http://commutercars.com/specifications.html#costPerMile

"Battery replacement is the largest portion of the cost-per-mile for an electric car. To demonstrate how this works, we use Optima's cycle life vs. depth of discharge graph ( http://commutercars.com/downloads/batteryCharging/YTCycleLife.jpg ). This graph applies to laboratory-controlled charge and discharge cycles, yet is quite indicative of the effects of driver habits. If the Tango were driven to 80% DOD (depth of discharge) or more (approximately 64 to 80 miles regularly between charges), the pack will only yield 250 cycles. This works out to approximately 16 cents per mile with current Optima Yellow Top prices of $100. However, if discharged to 25% DOD (20 to 24 miles between charges), the chart shows 4,000 cycles can be achieved yielding 80,000 miles (almost 130,000 km) with a cost of only 3.1 cents (US) per mile."

So lead-acid battery replacement is only expensive on a per mile/km basis if you always take the battery to 80% depth-of discharge before recharging it. Most people drive less than 30 km to work. For many people it's less than 15 km. The overall battery cost is less than 6 cents (Canadian) per km for a Tango type electric vehicle with lead-acid batteries if your round trip is 30km and you recharge the batteries at home every night. It's still less than 6 cents if your round trip is 60km but you are able to find a place to plug-in your car and recharge the batteries at work.

A properly-designed battery does not experience catastrophic failure. Instead, the useful battery capacity slowly declines to the point where the vehicle can no longer travel as far as you would like before needing to be recharged. In the case of a plug-in hybrid, this is not a super big deal because the gasoline engine can kick-in a little sooner to recharge the battery for the last few km on the road before you reach your home or workplace to plug it in for a recharge.

If hybrid battery capacity ever declines to the point where the gasoline engine is running too often, the purchase price of new batteries can be offset somewhat by selling your old battery pack to someone with an offgrid cabin and solar panels who is looking to increase their battery storage capacity. In a stationary application such as this where weight and size of batteries is not important, what matters is the cost per kwh stored. When an off-gridder buys a couple of used electric/hybrid car battery packs with 60% of new capacity remaining after 130,000 km of use for 20% of their new price, they're getting the storage capacity they need for 1/3 the cost of a new battery pack of equivalent capacity. The car owner is getting 20% toward the cost of a new battery pack.

Certain lead-acid deep-cycle batteries sold by Canadian Tire are specified as being good for up to 20 years. Some off-gridders have purchased used forklift batteries and gotten an additional 30 years out of them. A lot of extra life can be obtained from lead-acid batteries by using an electronic charger that creates a pulse-type waveform for completing the charge cycle.

The cost of the electricity itself is only a couple of cents per km. The electricity cost is lower still in areas where electric utilities offer cheap off-peak power and a timer is set to initiate charge only during the lowest cost off-peak electricity periods. Either way, the combined cost of electricity plus battery pack replacement is still far less than the cost of gasoline plus frequent gasoline engine maintenance.

Electric motors are much, much simpler and more reliable than gasoline engines. Electric motor maintenance costs are practically zero, which is most definitely not the case with complex gasoline engines! The chances of a plug-in hybrid vehicle ever needing to be towed are a lot lower than the chances of a gasoline-only vehicle needing to be towed. This is something to keep in mind if you ever drive along low-traffic back roads during the winter.

Toyota hybrids

Cycling commuter. Many of your points about hybrid cars are well taken. However, the advantages and savings of the current generation of hybrids (Toyota Prius primarily) are not especially applicable on long trips because they rely, at highway speeds, upon very small displacement gasoline engines which operate at high rpm and, in many cases, better mileage (given the power/weight ratio) can be got from pure gasoline or efficient diesel engines. I know of people on cross-country trips who get better mileage with a Jetta Diesel than with a Prius – carrying similar loads.

Some of the government's vehicles are required for service cycles and driving conditions for which the currently available hybrid models are not well suited.

In the end, especially since this announcement is just a rehash of a previous decision, I think it's hard to claim that it represents anything new apart from opportunistic symbolism given the timing.

That being said, using hybrid cars in many government applications is a good idea.

great opposition

I wonder when the premier will bend to the terrible tongue lashing from the leader of the opposition on his plans to curb global warming all by himself.
The pressure on the government must just be unbearable.
What's her name was just so relentless in her demands of "more teeth" in Campbell's plans.
I did hear Gordo say, "We'll have to make her happy"...
Then I woke up.

Oh, by the way....what's a "maestro"?

Vote for SDGreen

I know (s)he was making an attempt at humour, but some of those ideas, when approached with some common sense, have real merit.

Do we really need cities lighting up the night sky with unneccessary streetlamps burning when no-one's around? Let's put switches on the poles at either end of the block so one can turn them off and on as you walk down the street.

Why are large transport trucks fighting with traffic during business hours? In the interests of efficiency it would make much more sense for deliveries and shipping to take place in off-peak hours freeing up road-space and decreasing travel times.

Does anyone really, really, really need their car seven days a week? As a city dweller with a bike I use a car on average once or twice a month, with taxis, buses, my good old two-wheeler, and Shank's Mare getting me where I need to go most of the time, and usually in about the same time as it would take to drive and park. In fact travel by bike or bus is probably faster if you include the amount of time it would take to earn the money to operate a car.

Lawnmowers and weed-whackers needn't be gas powered. There's enough overweight, unemployed teens in the country to mow and weed the nation's backyards with hand implements. Parks and public spaces don't all have to be manicured lawnscapes. Hey, I'll even be magnanimous and make an exception for a few natural turf athletic fields (but not golf courses... those abominations of water, fertilizer, and wasted space).

Those are a couple of observations off the top of my head. I won't bore with a point by point expansion of some of SDGreen's radical and thought-provoking ideas. I certainly thank him/her for taking the time to think outside the box... and put those thoughts out into cyberspace where more workable variations on those concepts may provide food for thought and change.

I would encourage one and all to consider what price we are comfortable with our children paying for present-day convenience and waste, especially the people who post to this board who tout the necessary nature of capitalism and consumption uber alles.

It is interesting to read

It is interesting to read the silly attemtps of humour by the ideologically faithful.

You poor people would have been and would be very happy under any dictatorship.

Like I've heard from many of the Reform crowd when Manning first raised his head: "We have too much freedom! What we need is some benign dictatorship and Preston is going to bring to give it to us!"

Campbell and Harper and their followers definitely heard the message.

Ed Deak.

Go and play outside!

Energy gluttons like indoor ice arenas will have to close. Swimming pools too.

All illuminated or mobile commercial signage has to be switched off.

Refridgerated sugared pop or beer should not be available. Retail establishments should have no more than 5% of area space for refridgerated items.

No more smelly school buses. Children will make their own way to school, as they used to.

Where's Mr Beer n' Hockey?

Hey "man," it's "unrealistic" to think you can stop hockey and beer by stopping artificial refrigeration. We'll take it outside to the frozen ponds and rivers, you will never stop it. You, you.... you bastard!

Dion & Layton insist.

We have to meet out Kyoto obligations. In fact, The Libs and the NDP want all smelly buses off the roads too; we're going back to horse drawn carriages.

Realisticman

You need to listen more to Incremental Change Man and less to Hyperbolic Overstatement Man.

Further to turning off the lights

I came across this article while on a different website

---------

Skyscraper 'Lights Out' is for the birds, in a good way
A proposal to reduce late-night glare from tall buildings during migrations could save millions of birds a year, experts say.
By Darlene Prois, Star Tribune
Last update: February 14, 2007 – 12:28 AM

Scientists say urban lighting can throw migrating birds seriously off-course. And on overcast or rainy nights, lighted skyscrapers can confuse the nocturnal travelers, causing them to circle in the glow until they die of fatigue.

In the Twin Cities, a group of avian advocates plans to ask high-rise building owners to turn off unnecessary interior and exterior lights from midnight until dawn during spring and fall migrations. Their goal? To ensure a safer passage for millions of birds along the Mississippi Flyway.

"It's hard to know how many birds we can save," said Mark Martell, director of bird conservation for Audubon Minnesota.

"The Mississippi flyway is a huge flyway, so the potential could be high, but we don't know that. But in a way it doesn't matter. Turning out these lights will not only save birds, it will save energy," Martell said.

The "Lights Out -- Twin Cities" program is based on similar campaigns in Toronto, New York, Chicago and Detroit. In Minnesota it's being promoted by experts from Audubon, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the University of Minnesota and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota.

The group, working with building owners, hopes to have the program in place by mid-March, just as the first robins, ruby-crowned kinglets and other colorful migrants begin to arrive.

"We're open to the idea," said Kent Warden, executive director of the Greater Minneapolis Building Owners & Managers Association. "But we're waiting to hear more. Surely the success in other cities does give it credibility."

Glass also is a problem

Birds are more likely to crash into reflective glass on a building of any size during daylight hours than at night, said Daniel Klem Jr., a biology professor and ornithologist at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Penn. But Klem, who has studied bird-glass collisions for more than 35 years, said lights-out programs help mitigate that by not attracting birds to the dangerous urban environment in the first place.

"Anywhere from 100 million to a billion die each year during the daytime strikes," Klem said. "It's lights that can bring them into the danger zones."

Actual numbers of birds killed are hard to determine, said Michael Mesure, executive director of Toronto's Fatal Light Awareness Program, or FLAP. Last year, a small number of volunteers in the 14-year-old program collected 5,500 dead or injured birds from Toronto's downtown area.

"Wherever you have glass, you're pretty well guaranteed you're going to kill birds," he said. "If you take a conservative estimate that one to 10 birds will die each year on any human-built structure, that's up to 10 million birds in the Toronto area alone. But Toronto is a little dot on the horizon of North America. If you take all the human-built structures, the numbers are mind-boggling."

Scavengers also take a toll on exhausted birds that land and are too weak to resume flying, Mesure said.

"They're cleaned up very quickly by gulls, crows, raccoons, squirrels or other birds," he said. "Scavengers in any urban area have learned about this alternative food source."

Since 1993, when FLAP helped Toronto become the first city to embrace a "Lights-Out" program, urban areas across the continent have begun their own programs. Economic benefits help convince skeptics: Last year, Toronto officials saved more than $200,000 by turning off lights at the city's municipal building, one of more than 100 buildings that voluntarily participate. The city recently implemented a migratory-bird protection policy that regulates light from existing buildings and develops guidelines for bird-friendly design in new construction.

Humble beginnings

Minnesota's program began when Joanna Eckles, a former bird trainer at the Minnesota Zoo who now works for the World Parrot Trust, decided to research the problem. For several days during last fall's migration, she checked the bases of downtown buildings for injured and dead birds. She found more than 300.

"It wasn't scientific research," she said. "I have another job and young kids at home, so I just did what I could."

Alarmed, Eckles met with Audubon's Martell in October, and by November, other agencies had joined the cause. Groups in Bloomington, Duluth and St. Cloud have expressed interest in bringing programs to their cities, Eckles said.

Human safety concerns aren't dismissed -- Eckles said street-level and aviation lights would not be affected, for example.

Building owners would be asked to turn off their lights from midnight until dawn, March 15 through May 31, and then Aug. 15 through Oct. 31, the peak migratory periods for birds in the Twin Cities.

"The great thing about Lights Out is that there are so many additional benefits," Eckles said. "Energy savings, and a reduction of CO2 emissions. But our primary focus is saving birds, because that's what we love."

RM do you have any idea how

RM do you have any idea how much the fuel consumption of a vehicle goes up with 15 km/hr speed increase, especially at higher speeds?

We have now huge, semi, logging and other trucks traveling at 100 km/hr. and faster and we have to keep up with them, or have a huge radiator on our tail.

In the early '70s when there was an oil crisis, we used to go down to Portland from Vancouver to see my wife's parents. The speed limits were reduced by 10 mph and I wasn't stupid enough to risk a ticket in Washington State, so I drove my 1963 Econoline van accordingly. In the approx 650 mile return trip the 10 mph lower speed reduced my fuel by 10 gallons, or about 40 litres.

Now, instead of writing silly remarks you may consider funny, how about considering the obvious of reducing speed limits, and enforcing them.

By the way, I have very long motorsport competition experience, in long distance car rallies, so I do have some idea of the subject.

Ed Deak.

PS to my previous, I forgot

PS to my previous, I forgot to add that the 10 gallons saving was about 30% of the total.

Ed Deak.

Hybrid/electric battery recycling.

it takes a lot of pollution energy to manufacture most batteries.

Most of the manufacturing pollution is created while mining the metals used in batteries. But the metals only have to be mined once. Metals from old rechargeable batteries can be melted down and used to make new batteries over and over again forever. The raw material never runs out this way. With oil from tar sands, you have to constantly dig up more of the stuff every year until eventually it's all used up.

Let us know when you've figured out how to make your tank of gas last 10 years and then re-manufacture it into a new tank of gas over and over again forever.

Large hybrid/electric battery packs are far less likely to be improperly dumped than ordinary car batteries for several reasons:

1) Old hybrid electric batteries that still retain 60% or more of their original storage capacity are useful for stationary storage of small-scale solar/wind energy or as household backup power.

2) The amount of scrap lead in a single car battery is currently worth less than $5. Some people illegally dispose of them in landfills since they can't be bothered to take them to a scrap dealer or recycling depot for that amount of money. But scrap Nickel and scrap Lithium are worth a lot more than scrap lead. An old hybrid battery pack is likely to have a scrap metal value up to hundreds of dollars. It would probably be a good idea to print labels all over the battery packs stating as much.

There are not many people stupid enough to throw-away hundreds of dollars. It's pretty scary to think someone who is that clueless would be allowed to have a driver's license. All the same, for every person who really is that dense, there will be thousands who are smart enough to retrieve an improperly disposed-of battery pack and cash it in.

Dumpster divers fish-around for pop cans worth 5 cents. They'd be thrilled to find a discarded battery pack worth hundreds of dollars! Even discarded lead-acid battery packs from electric-only vehicles would be worth $25 to $50 as scrap metal, which is a whole lot more than a 5 cent pop can.

Slowing Down

Ed, no question, you are correct. Recently, during a heavy rain I was driving on the Highway 99 freeway. The traffic was flowing at 110 kmh in the 100 zone. A truck with a trailer hauling a bulldozer, a biggie, zipped over to the inside HOV lane and passed us all. He must have been doing 125 kmh. This is not unusual.

I use humour because that's what called for when opposition parties in the House force through a completely unrealistic bill simply to grandstand. That's what happened yesterday. All commentators that I've read in the press, on-line or seen on CBC's national panel seem to agree, that were these obligations to be met the wholesale closing down of the country would be necessary. The Liberals & the NDP know full well that it 'ain't gonna happen. They're playing to score points and giggling at their win. They're using humour too.

Election season is back in Canada and it will be interesting, and fun, to see if the Liberal and NDP plan backfires. Nothing like seeing a smart-pants politico receive their comeuppance.

Imagine, if you will, that we were instead experiencing a global cooling. (If T'ronna and Montreal gets whacked with a bunch of storms, like the present one, there might be calls to that effect.) Would the opposition parties be calling for more power stations, big ice-breakers for the St. Lawrence Seaway, Halifax and Vancouver harbours, soldiers driving salt-spreading trucks on standby year round, faster oil-sands development, etc., etc.

One thing is sure, if Harper

One thing is sure, if Harper gets any majority, we can kiss Canada and democracy goodbye, so I will support any opposition against him.

Ed Deak.

Hybrids' highway performance.

while hybrid vehicles are efficient in stop and go city traffic, on the highway they are not especially green

On a flat highway the advantages of an ordinary hybrid are diminished, but a plug-in hybrid can still offer huge advantages. Provided the distance driven is less than the range of the battery-only mode, and depending on speed, wind resistance etc., it may not be necessary to burn one drop of gasoline during a highway trip in a plug-in hybrid.

On a hilly highway, if the electric motor is not big enough, the gasoline engine may have to kick-in to assist with steep uphill climbs. But on the downgrade, the regenerative braking aspect of hybrids offers a considerable overall efficiency advantage.

Third-party upgrade kits are available to convert ordinary Toyota hybrids into the plug-in variety. These kits will not work with most other hybrid brands because the other brands don't have an electric-only mode.

There's also a photovoltaic roof kit available for Prius plug-in hybrids. I initially thought it would be mostly a show-off thing offering little practical advantage. But it can make a significant energy contribution in a case where the vehicle is driven to a workplace where no recharge receptacle is available, then parked in the sunshine all day. The economics are not too bad. The last I checked, the cost of generating photovoltaic electricity was about 70 cents per kwh and dropping, the cost of generating electricity with a huge diesel generator was about 70 cents per kwh and rising, and the cost of generating electricity with a smallish gasoline generator was $1.00+ per kwh and rising. Not only is the car roof photovoltaic electricity displacing $1.00+ per kwh or so gasoline-generated electricity, it can also substantially extend battery life by reducing overall depth of battery discharge. As photovoltaic costs continue to drop and 4-layer cells with 40% efficiency are commercialized, this approach will become even more practical. 3-layer cells with efficiencies exceeding 30% have been in production for some time now.

Most of what Tractorman has to say is completely inaccurate. He clearly has no knowledge whatsoever of the various battery technologies. He doesn't seem to have the vaguest clue about significant differences between ordinary lead-acid batteries, deep-cycle lead-acid batteries, Ni-MH batteries, Li-Ion batteries, cost per km, power-weight ratios of motor types, regenerative braking issues, etc., etc.

See rebuttals of Tractorman's comments at:
http://www.thetyee.ca/Views/2007/02/14/GlobalWarmingPitch#comment-104540 and
http://www.thetyee.ca/Views/2007/02/14/GlobalWarmingPitch#comment-104546

Absolutely no argument on the plug in point

Agree with your statement about plug-in hybrids completely. Seems to me I read a lot of Californians are having their hybrics converted to permit plug-in charging - at a cost of, correct me if I'm wrong, about a thousand dollars US.

I think the next generation of Toyota hybrids, Camry's and Lexus models, have much larger gas engines that do not have the high-reving characteristics of the small Prius gas engine. How efficient they will be, on varied terrain and over long distances, I've heard little testimony.

I know that the Camry hybrids are starting to appear as Taxis to join their many Prius cousins in Victoria.

errata

pardon the damn apostrophe on what should have been Camrys...

How much

Cycling Commuter

How much does regenerative braking contribute to the fuel efficiency of a hybrid vehicle that has it installed. What percentage of total energy consumed will it provide under practical circumstances?

Re cycling Commuter's contribution

Thank you Cycling Commuter for the considerable effort you put into your very informative comments re hybrids.

I have copied them for future reference.

I could have quite easily have done without the childishness displayed by some others on this thread, though.

Over on the Help the Planet, Buy a Car,Site.

Over on the Help the Planet, Buy a Car,Site.

Taking into account the 20% pollution factor I would venture to say this number would exclude the hybrids, due to the cars requirements ,batteries, extra components, generators, etc, the pollution factor for hybrids is probably 30% or more. I recently seen an ad for a used 2001 Toyota Prius hybrid it has 195,000 km, price $14,500, myself I wouldn’t touch this car with the Cycling Commuters 10 foot pole. Makes no sense when you can purchase A brand new Toyota Yaris for $14,600, it gets terrific gas usage, has very low deprecation, in fact looking at the above mentioned Toyota Prius in 10 years the resale value of the Yaris will be higher, and sellable, why purchase a used potential high tech night mare such as this, one further point, with a Yaris there is no need for looking around for a hill to recharge its batteries, as required with the Prius, is this not what you said Cycling Commuter?

Only 10?

1] On their first day in office, the Campbell liberals announced a 25% tax cut - giving people earning $250,000 a year a $23,000 cut, while the 24% of taxpayers making less than $10,000 a year received an average tax cut of just $6 a year.

2] The Campbell liberals rolled back wages and benefits for health care and community social service workers by up to 15%, and exposed clients to unstable care arrangements.

3] They eliminated class size restrictions in K-12 and college classes

4] Lowered the minimum wage for young people to $6 an hour and allowed 12 year old children to work up to 35 hours a week with no monitoring for abuse.

5] Slashed overtime protection, allowing employers to force employees to work up to 80 hours a week in some cases, with no overtime pay.

6] Gutted the ferry workers collective agreement, privatized BC Ferries and exempted the employer from many BC Labor Relations Code provisions.

7] The International Labor organization ruled that the Campbell Liberals’ labor legislation violates the United Nations labor agreements that ensure the protections of workers’ rights.

8] Twelve hospitals have been closed, while remaining hospitals have suffered major reductions in service.

9] Waiting lists for surgery have increased by more than 20%.

10] Cut Pharmacare funding by $150 million. The average cost of a prescription has increased by $10 to $25. At least 17 drugs are no longer covered.

11] They have cut more than 4,000 acute care beds across the province without providing space for those coming into the system and have created a backlog causing immense problems in hospital emergencies.

12] "This self-inflicted deficit has forced the Campbell Liberals into spending cuts and staff reductions beyond anything attempted previously in this province" Vaughn Palmer, Columnist, Vancouver Sun, Nov., 21, 2001.

12] The misguided "Disability review" not only caused needless stress for thousands of people, but also cost taxpayers $5 million to cut just 46 people off of benefits. Way to go.

13] Black Thursday - announced the biggest cuts in Canadian history - slashing more than 8,700 family-supporting jobs in the public service.

14] Closed 113 schools uprooting some 20,000 students.

15] Refused to fund legislated employment contracts, resulting in more than 2,500 full-time teacher positions being eliminated.

16] Eliminated student grants, allowed massive tuition increases, and introduced the $6 per hour "training wage" - making it difficult for student to pay for a college education.

17] Raised medical premiums by 50% and increased Pharmacare deductible costs by $200 per year.

18] Cut the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management budget by 44%. Ministry staff cut by 33% from 1,520 to 972 employees. We now have the fox guarding the chicken house.

19] Funding for the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, who enforce environmental regulations, is cut by one third in 2002.

20] Funding for the Ministry of Forest is cut by one third.

21] Funding to the Ministry of Children and Families is slashed by more than $170 million including: $50 million cut to child care, and forcing child care centres across BC to close or drastically reduce their services.

22] Ministry of transportation staff, who oversee highways construction and safety, to eventually be cut by 62%

23] A Consortium of Telus, Accenture and Sierra Systems were awarded a contract to provide payroll services for the provincial government, affecting approx 100 members and 30,000 employees privacy.

24] Medical services like eye exams, physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy and podiatry, are de-listed.

25] Privatized health care workers wages have been reduced from an average of $19 per hour to an average of $9.50 per hour for doing the same job which most people admit they wouldn’t or could not do.

26] Reduced education funding by $19 million in their first two years even though they said they would not.

27] Promised to increase apprenticeship training, then eliminated the Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission - replacing it with a non-representative body - and lowered training standards to benefit their friends in industry.

28] March, 2004 they announced they were cutting $740,000 from the Native court worker program, without consultation, potentially leaving less than 20 workers to service nearly 14,000 clients annually.

29] Oct, 2004, they passed Bill 68, privatizing Land Title services under the Land Title and Survey Authority of B.C., as part of their agenda to privatize a large portion of public service employees in B.C.

30] July 2001, they announced $790 million in corporate tax cuts, as part of their plan to cut the public service by one third.

31] April 2002, announced health restructuring plan, which will see $567 million in budget cuts and at least eleven community hospitals closed.

32] Have eliminated more than 550 corrections jobs since 2001, closed facilities and doubled inmate to staff rarios (20 to 1 to 45 to 1), threatening worker’s safety.

33] After agreeing to halt the plan to privatize BC liquor stores after strong public opposition, On Oct 29, 2004, they announced plans to close 11 BC Liquor Stores, clearing the way for private liquor operators to replace these community outlets. Which happened pronto.

34] Budget cuts forced the closure of Skeleem, Recovery Centre in Cobble Hill - the only facility of its type in BC, that offered unique recovery services for brain injured patients.

35] Have closed regional office of the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services in Courtney, Duncan, Vernon, Prince George, Nelson and Cranbrook.

36] Announced closure of Forest Service offices in Clinton, Creston, Fort St. John, Grand Forks, Hgensborg, Hazelton, Horsefly, Houston, Invermere, Likely, Lillooet, McBride, Nakusp, Nelson, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Sechelt, Smithers, Stewart, and Williams lake, affecting 550 employees.

37] After campaigning on the importance of a merit-based public service, the Liberals appointed former BC Liberal Andrew Wilkinson as Deputy Minister, and turned all government communications staff into political appointments.

38] Sept 2003, The latest round of staffing cuts began in the Ministry of Children and Family Development, with the elimination of almost 100 full-time positions in the Victoria headquarters - a 23% cut.

39] Campbell’s New Era platform promised to focus on reducing BC’s youth un-employment. So far they have cut 22 youth employment programs including: Job Start, The Pubic Sector Youth Employment Program, Youth Community Action, and Summer Student Works.

40] Tuition fees for university education is rising faster in BC than anywhere in Canada - with an average increase of 67 % in two years. Colleges are implementing even sharper increases, according to a CCPA study.

41] The Janus Centre, a Vancouver emergency residential program that assists troubled youth in reuniting with families was scheduled to close its doors in August 2003.

42] Closed 24 court houses across the province

43] Cut funding for Legal Aid by 40% over three year, and closed almost all Legal Aid Offices, denying many low-income BC citizens access to the justice system.

44] Bill 37 rolls back te wages of hospital and facility workers, imposes a retroactive 15% wage cut and provides no job protection - leading the province to the brink of a general strike.

45] They are rushing its plan to shut long-term-care facilities and shuttle residents off to cheaper "assisted living spaces" with less care and little planning. That’s a shameful way to treat our seniors, many of whom have no one to fight for their rights. (Michael Smith, Province, June 6, 2002)

46] Eliminated Crown-based Victim Services - leaving victims of crime without adequate resources.

46] More than 200 jobs have been lost at Willow Clinic and other psychiatric facilities.

47] They promised to expand home care services for seniors and the chronically ill - but have cut the number of home visits and workers, leaving frail and elderly people alone for up to a week at a time.

48] On the Island [several documented cases & places] in an effort to save money, VIHA went into a seniors facility and removed a patient’s oxygen without notifying the staff or family. Many seniors who need this have been cut off.

49] They promised to reduce waiting lists but since they were elected, people are waiting an average of 21.2 % longer. In some categories, such as urology and orthopaedic surgeries, the increase has been more than 40%.

50] Eliminated the BC Human Rights Commission - the only government in Canada to do so - and shortened the time limits for filing human rights complaints.

51] Cut funding for Women’s Centres by 100% across the province by March 31st, 2004, even though BC has the highest rate of violence against women in Canada, at 59%.

52] Eliminated the Ministry of Women’s Equality, eliminated employment equity for women, and restricted eligibility for early childhood development and special needs children.

53] Cancelled the $15.6 million Universal Childcare initiative, eliminated before and after school care programs, and forces single moms on welfare with children over the age of 3 to search for work, while reducing their support by $51 per month

54] Cut $152,000 day program for homeless women at Sandy Merriman House in Victoria, denying women access to showers, laundering and counselling.

55] Slashed wages of early childhood educators, and cancelled subsidies for man working families.

56] On Dec 3, 2000, Campbell told the HEU Guardian Newspaper that, "we are going to end government feel-good advertising." In the fall of 2004, the gov’t launched a multi-million dollar ad campaign proclaiming BC as "the best place in the world to live".

57] Have closed 46 parks, cut interpretation programs, introduced parking fees at provincial parks - resulting in an almost 25% reduction in public attendance since 2001.

58] Axed the Environmental Auditor, weakened pesticide protections, and reduced protection for air and water quality.

59] Lowered standards for pulp mill pollution, allowing private companies to monitor their own compliance with environmental regulations.

60] "7 out of every 10 government employees who dealt wish fish, wildlife, parks and habitat protection programs in the late 1990's will be gone by the time the BC government completed its downsizing program in 2004, a retired provincial biologist says." Vancouver Sun, march 8, 2002.

61] "Scientific research into the effects of the BC government’s new fish farm rules is being headed by a man whose company produces drugs and chemicals for fish farms>" Vancouver Province, Feb 13, 2001.

62] The government continues to support the reckless expansion of the salmon farming industry.

63] Cut $460 million from the budget of Ministry of Children and Family Development, and they eliminated the independent office of the Child, Youth and Family Advocate.

64] Almost 1,500 jobs are being cut from the Transportation Ministry, as the government privatizes the building, ownership and operation of BC highways - including the sign painting and line marking operations.

65] Pledged not to sell or privatize BC Rail. In 2004 they privatized the provincial railroad by leasing the line to CN Rail, in a leasing arrangement that spans 600 years.

66] Promised not to off-load costs on to municipal governments, Now they are sticking municipalities with greater costs for drinking water, policing, access to justice, and maintenance to jails.

67] Nov 2004, they signed a 10 year contract with EDS Advanced Solutions Inc., privatizing revenue collection services for the provincial government while placing British Columbians’ confidential information at risk to the U.S. Patriot Act.

68] March 2004, they signed a 10 year - $324 million contract with US - based Maximus Inc. to privatize MSP & Pharmacare, despite the Privacy Commissioner ruling this would jeopardize BC resident’s privacy - an in spite of Maximus having worked for the US Dept. of Homeland Security.

69] Promised not to cut funding to education. Then, he cut funding and imposed a three-year funding freeze - forcing school boards to cut programs, close schools, increase class sizes, and lay off 1,000's of teachers.

70] Tried to privatize the Coquihalla highway

71] BC Ferries awarded contracts to a German shipyard, exporting thousands of BC jobs overseas, not to mention money.

72] Broke up BC Hydro, made a secretive deal to privatize one-third of Hydro’s opertions, and allowed private corporations to produce and sell electricity into the provincial grid.

73] Despite the claims to be the most open and accountable government in Canada - they have shut down or reduced funding for independent offices like the Ombudsman, the Information and Privacy Commisssioner, and Elections BC. They have also restricted the flow of public information and increased fees for public access.

74] Increased fees for everything from tuition, day care, tolls, electricity, physiotherapy, eye tests, ICBC, Pharmacare, camping, fishing, hunting, ferries, sales, property taxes, gas taxes, parking fees.

75] "They were forced to abandon the Robert’s Bank portion of the BC rail privatization scheme, after "RCMP" warnings that the bidding process for a BC Rail spurline...might be rigged. " CTV News., March 12, 2004

76] Since 2001 they have tripled the number of slot machines, to more than 8,000.

77] Changes to the Foresst and Range Practices Act removes scrutiny of logging plans, eliminates oversight of bio-diversity objectives in forest planning, and cancels requirements for management plans after logging has taken place.

78] They had a divisive racially charged referendum on treaty rights that placed limits on aboriginal title and subjected minority rights majority rule. Even though 65% of voters boycotted the vote, the government legislated its result into law.

79] In May 2004, the government released and audit of the Doug Walls scandal exposing nearly 1.2 million in questionable contracts to Walls. Minister Gordon Hogg was forced to resign because of the scandal, and his deputy minister fired.

80] In 2002 the Campbell Liberals issued a cabinet order allowing a massive increase in raw log exports to the US. A CCPA policy brief estimates that up to 1,500 BC jobs and $306 million in wages may be lost in three years due to this policy.

After that long list of

After that long list of Liberal transgressions, I almost hesitate to return to the topic of the environment, but it seems to me that environmentalists are wasting their time telling people in the suburbs to stop driving their cars and take public transit. The structure of those communities is constructed around the car. The first priority should be to replace existing cars with low-emission vehicles, of whatever design. Then turn to designing communities around less reliance on cars. What about other innovations? In some European countries, builders have to put gardens on the roofs of their new buildings equal to the footprint of the structure. Do we have any idea of the costs of solar power in this region? Can Hydro tell me how long it would take to recover the cost of solar panels on my roof? How much does windpower cost? With these data, maybe the debate can focus on achievable steps to help the environment.