Suspect sought in $5,000 tire heist

The cops are looking for a man who stole $5,000 worth of tires in mid-December. The suspect, driving a truck, loaded set of all-season Kum Majesty 1/31 Solus KU50s from Kal-Tire on Norwell Drive. Security camera footage captured a man driving to the business and loading the tires before driving away. No further description has been provided.

Jump to the pump. Gasoline prices are forecast to jump five cents per litre on Wednesday in the Lower Mainland. We can't be far behind, so if you need a top-up today would be the day.

No surprise, the rural areas in the Regional District will need 2,810 more housing units over the next five-years. The Regional District was tasked to compile a housing needs reportby 2028, with an interim report this month. Deloitte Canada provided the report showing Cedar-South Wellington-Yellowpoint-Cassidywill need 387 single and multi-family dwellingsin the next five years. Gabriola and surrounding islands (Area B) will need 367 units,Extension-Nanaimo Lakes-East Wellington-Pleasant Valley (Area C) will need 216and Nanoose Bay (Area E) will require 472.In all, rural areas will need 2,810 units over the five-year span. MORE

It’s still winter but you can now reserve campsites for many BC Parks campground, allowing visitors to secure spots up to four months in advance. Reservations can also be booked for the May long weekend starting this week. MORE

Carbon tax rebates are going out to millions of Canadians this week, but not to British Columbians. The payments will go out to residents in eight provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. B.C., Quebec and Northwest Territories have their own carbon pricing systems. MORE

Christy bows out. Former Premier Christy Clark is not seeking the Liberal party leadership. She said there wasn’t enough time for her to mount a successful campaign. “While we have come a long way, in a short time, there is simply not enough time to mount a successful campaign and for me to effectively connect with Francophone Canadians in their language. I have worked hard at improving my French but it’s not where it needs to be.” MORE

Don’t be floored when your insurance notice arrives, premiums are expected to soar. Many Los Angeles fire victims were denied home insurance because of living in high-risk areas. In our province, many people also live under an increased threat of wildfires and there are concerns they too might soon be unable to get coverage. The insurance industry is dealing with record losses from extreme weather events, labour shortages in construction driving up replacement costs and wait times, and inflation. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says last year was the most devastating on record with $8.5 billion in insured losses, nearly triple the year prior. MORE

Get ready to switch to e-mail, Canada Post is raising stamp prices amid mounting financial losses. A 25-per-cent hike went into effect on Monday for domestic and international mail. It now costs $1.44 to mail a domestic letter, up from $1.15. Stamps in a booklet, coil or pane have climbed to $1.24 per stamp from 99 cents. U.S., international letter-post and domestic registered mail items – all experiencing an average price hike of 25 per cent.

QUOTABLE – Stay away from people who act like a victim in a problem they created.

Ladysmith RCMP member faces sexual assault charges

Ladysmith RCMP Const. Jason Sammoun has been charged with sexual assault and uttering threats. He faces one count of uttering threats and two counts of sexual assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm. The charges stem from incidents last April in Nanaimo and Victoria. Sammoun has been suspended with pay and his duty status is subject to continuous review. The arrest warrant and supporting documents have been sealed, according to the Nanaimo court registry. His first appearance is set for Jan. 20 in Nanaimo. MORE

Neck Point Park is getting paved parking. The heavily-used lot is gravel and requires steady maintenance. The park was established in 1996 after area residents banded together to save the property from residential development leading to the city and province buying 14.5 hectares. The size was expanded in 2009 and accessible washrooms opened in 2023. The plan calls for 32 standard parking spaces, eight small-car spaces and three accessible spaces. MORE

Canada is pitching in to assist California in fighting wildfires. B.C. Wildfire Service  crews left the province on Saturday as part of 60 firefighters from B.C. and Alberta co-ordinated by the federal government. Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan posted on social media that the U.S. asked for help to fight the wildfires and Canada approved the official request for help. MORE

Ottawa is getting out of the vaccine business; dumping it in the laps of the provinces. Funding for COVID-19 vaccines will stop this year and the provinces and territories will be responsible for buying them, as well as determining the timing of the vaccinations. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that seniors 80 years and older, residents of long-term care homes, and adults and children six months and older who are immunocompromised should get two doses of COVID-19 vaccine per year. MORE

QUOTABLE – If genders confuse you, try milking a bull.

What is the matter with some people? The cops are trying to find vandals who damaged the safety booms at Colliery Dam Park for the second time in less than a month. The safety barriers that prevent people and pets from entering hazardous areas near the spillway have been damaged. The booms also block debris that could otherwise obstruct water flow in the spillway. Without the barriers strong currents and rapid water flows create life-threatening risks If you know anything turn in the culprits. RCMP phone 250-754-2345.

Well there goes my chance. The Liberal Party apparently believes in inflation to solve part of its woes. Candidates for the leadership must pay an entrance fee of $350,000, a significant jump from $75,000 in the previous leadership race. Isn't that buying the leadership? The new leader will be picked March 9 and will have just two weeks in the new job before the House of Commons returns March 24. He or she could face a general election almost immediately, as opposition parties move to bring down the government at the first opportunity. MORE

QUOTABLE – This is who I am; what you see is what you get. You don’t have to like me

Good morning, we're heading into the weekend with a ton of items to address.

Will we get another Metral Drive, complete with traffic hazards? The city is upgrading Third Street between Howard Avenue and Pine Street this summer to replace water, sanitary and storm pipes. Those utilities have reached the end of their service lives. While they’re at it, the work will also add raised cycling lanes on both sides of the street. The bulk of the work is expected to last a few months at a tab in the $5-million range. MORE

Locals dialed the right tone when the RCMP Vulnerable Persons Unit put out a call for unused cell phones. More than 100 of you responded with phones, charging ports, and power cables. Cst. Sherri Wade of the VPU says giving someone a new-to-them phone is the best part of her day. It helps to know that the phone provides a little light in a very dark time. You can still donate any smartphones you have lying around. Just erase all personal data and drop them off at the Nanaimo detachment, attention: VPU

Pat yourself on the back if you were among the revellers celebrating New Year’s Eve without making as ass of yourself. R/Const Gary O’Brien says RCMP were relatively pleased with the behavior on New Year’s Eve. Most downtown nightclubs were only half full while some clubs did not open. No violent incidents or significant disturbances were reported and the majority of patrons had departed downtown by 3 a.m. via taxi, U-rides, designated drivers or on foot. On the negative side, five drivers were caught while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Immediate Roadside Prohibitions were issued for all five; one for drugs and the other four, for alcohol. MORE

In a real pickle. A Nanaimo couple has been judged guilty on eight charges for the illegal fishing and sale of sea cucumbers. Scott Stanley Matthew Steer, 47, and his wife Melissa Dawn Larocque Steer were convicted on all counts. Justice David Crerar ruled the evidence was overwhelmingly clear that Steer was actively orchestrating every aspect of the illegal operation. MORE

Hey, the Oct. 19 B.C. election is not over. Elections B.C. is reviewing a Conservative party complaint of irregularities in the election that gave the NDP a one-seat majority. Honveer Singh Randhawa, the Surrey-Guildford Conservative candidate, wants the B.C. Supreme Court to invalidate the result in the riding, where he lost by 22 votes to the NDP’s Garry Begg. Conservative Leader John Rustad also alleged improper mail-in voting at an addiction recovery facility and other irregularities including voting by non-citizens and non-residents of specific ridings, and he wants to make sure only Canadian citizens vote. MORE

The Philippine Mars water bomber just won’t go away. The historic plane took off in mid-December from Sproat Lake on its way to its final destination at an aviation museum in Arizona. However, it got only as far as Pat Bay. On Monday it was towed to Cowichan Bay where there’s more room. One engine is cracked, so Coulson Aviation engineers replaced it with a working engine from the Hawaii Mars which was earlier retired to a museum Sidney. Once that’s installed, the plane will make another attempt to get to Arizona.

The demand for Christmas hampers levelled off this season after huge increases in the previous two years. Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank had a slight increase in demand this year. Still, more than 6,200 people in Nanaimo and northern Vancouver Island got  hampers, says Executive director Peter Sinclair. That’s up of just over one per cent from the year before. During the pandemic demand was up more than 30 per cent, so this levelling off is a good sign. MORE

If you’re looking for a nurse in the next few days, the Vancouver Island Conference Centre might be a good place to start. The BC Nurses Union is formulating strategy ahead of negotiations with the provincial government later this year. It’s a regional gathering covering nurses from all parts of Vancouver Island. BCNU president Adriane Gear said Island nurses, like their colleagues throughout British Columbia, want immediate action on chronic staffing shortages and work place safety. MORE

Stick ‘em up. A firearms report at a Duncan school was a prop students were using for a video project. The school was put on hold-and-secure by RCMP. Students from the high school said they were filming a project at school and using a stick to show the act of shooting. It’s standard practice for police to treat firearms reports or bomb threats as real until proven otherwise, said North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP. MORE

Quotable – People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. 

Medical masks are back for staff and patients in health-care facilities, effective immediately. Patients and anyone accompanying them must wear a mask in emergency departments and waiting rooms. Staff must wear a mask in all settings where patients are being cared for. All long-term care workers must also mask in patient care areas. MORE

Three large retail women’s wear and clothing stores in Woodgrove Centre are targeted to be closed. Ricki’s, Cleo and Bootlegger are listed in court documents seeking creditor protection. The company has 75 Ricki’s stores, 54 Cleo stores, 20 joint locations and about 19 sites the brands split with Bootlegger, which has 53 standalone shops. The company has 2,056 employees in Canada. The company cited competition from ultra low-cost fashion retailers like Shein and Temu and supply chain and vendor issues. MORE

It’s time to celebrate, Nanaimo is 150 years old. The city has a long line up of activities to celebrate. The first is a celebration of light, art and community, a month-long winter arts festival at Maffeo Sutton Park. Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150 and Beyond includes temporary light-based art installations in the park beginning with a community celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the anniversary of Nanaimo’s first council meeting. There will be food trucks, children’s crafts, interactive community booths, live music, dance and light performances. MORE

The Vancouver Island University Mariners are not going to play against Columbia Bible College because they are mean to one of their players who is transgender. The VIU players claim they got verbal and physical mistreatment of transgender teammate Harriette Mackenzie and do not feel safe playing at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, adding they want a supportive and safe environment — including queer and trans athletes. Mackenzie claimed being targeted with verbal and physical mistreatment when the teams played in October. MORE

Port Alberni headquartered Coulson Group’s pilots and planes are at the centre of the aerial fight against out-of-control fires in Los Angeles. CEO Wayne Coulson said they had their Chinook fleet and S-76 working all day in the Palisades area. He said they had done several hundred drop on the fire and they fly at night as well. Three Coulson Chinooks were fighting the fire and one intel helicopter. Operations were delayed because wind gusts made it too dangerous to fly. MORE

Language evolution. Remember “new and improved”? Well, they are no longer the in thing. We have new ways of describing things each year, often making for a new buzz word applied to virtually everything. Looking at the latest Costco flyer they have advanced dental floss, advanced mouthwash, advanced tooth paste, advanced laundry detergent and advanced power dishwashing liquid. Goodbye “giant-economy-sized.

QUOTABLE – Hate speech is a deliberately all-encompassing term to silence any views we don’t like. Just because you disagree with someone does not make it hate.

The first involuntary care sites are set to open by spring on the Lower Mainland, 80 days after the provincial election. Mandated care for people with severe mental health, brain injury and addiction problems was among Premier David Eby’s campaign promises to address repeat offenders and public safety. Eby said facilities at the Surrey Pretrial Centre and the Alouette Correctional Facility in Maple Ridge will be the first to come online. The Ministry of Health estimates there are about 2,500 people in B.C. living with a mental health and substance use disorder along with an acquired brain injury. MORE

Two ferry sailings were cancelled today between Duke Point and Tsawwassen  after a passenger reportedly went overboard as their ship arrived at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. The person was retrieved from the water and brought to shore, to get care from BC Emergency Health Services. The 10:15 a.m. departing from Tsawwassen and the 12:45 p.m. departing Duke Point were cancelled.

A Duncan woman has been charged with manslaughter in the death of an infant more than a year ago. Ladysmith RCMP said the baby was born unresponsive on Dec. 27, 2023, at a private home, and died on Jan. 6, 2024. Mounties say Gloria Lemay, 77, was involved in the birth, and her involvement in the process led to the child’s injuries and eventual death. She has a long history in defying midwifery regulations and has a permanent court order issued in 2000, permanently prohibiting and enjoining her from performing midwifery services midwifery. MORE

We don’t have enough housing in the province and a shortage of skilled construction workers is delaying some projects. Almost three quarters of contractors says they have had difficulty finding trades people. The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association report comes at a critical time, as demand for construction projects is surging. Nearly 50 per cent of survey respondents expect work volumes to increase this year, with an average growth forecast of 19 per cent. MORE

A 21-year-old man died New Year’s Day due to a fireworks incident at Lake Cowichan. The BC Coroners Service confirmed that it is investing the death and RCMP said the person who died was a 21-year-old man. MORE

Canada post has reached full-service levels almost three weeks after a month-long strike. However, you should still expect delays for some mail. As of Monday it has reinstated on-time service guarantees and returned to full service levels for domestic parcels. Additional weekend hours have helped to process accumulated parcels across the country. MORE

Downtown Nanaimo will be in part of the spotlight as HBO’s science fiction series, The Last of Us, airs in April. The show is based on a video game about a fungal-borne pandemic which wipes out much of Earth's population. A trailer posted on YouTube shows scenes from Season 2 and concludes by stating episodes will be released beginning in April. Filming for the second season took place in Nanaimo last May. Commercial Street i was converted to a post-apocalyptic wasteland, complete with overgrown weeds and abandoned cars. MORE

Sixty five years ago, on a cold Manitoba winter day, Marge and I walked up the aisle to become Mister and Missus, into the world of the unknown. It’s been a great ride with four kids and eight grand children to show for it. Happy anniversary, Marge.

QUOTABLE – Success depends on how high you bounce after you hit bottom.

A campaign to provide overdose prevention sites at hospitals is spreading beyond our borders. A group of Island doctors and volunteers is pushing for governments and health authorities to provide overdose prevention sites at hospitals. Locally, Doctors for Safer Drug Policy continues to operate an unsanctioned pop-up overdose prevention site across from the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Dr. Jessica Wilder says they have received nationwide support. MORE

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

News of Trudeau’s resignation pushed the Canadian dollar higher on Monday morning in a move some experts say reflects higher confidence in Canada’s economy with new leadership on the way. DETAILS

Stock markets were not the only ones celebrating. A Langley Dairy Queen owner celebrated the news by offering $2 Trudeau Resignation Burgers and $4 Pierre Poutine.

They pulled it off. The schedule for the return of Parliament ensures that all members of Parliament who were on the edge of qualifying for a pension now meet the threshold.

The race is not formally under way but former B.C. Premier Christy Clarke is seen as a contender to succeed Justin Trudeau. Clarke has not confirmed whether she will enter the race.

Unsolicited advice for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Curb your enthusiasm, every word you say from now on will be used against you in an election campaign.

QUOTABLE – Stupidity is free and there are people waiting in line to join up

Trudeau steps down as Liberal leader

Starting the week with breaking news, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is resigning as Liberal leader. He announced this morning that he would step down but will stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen. Parliament will be prorogued until March 24, Trudeau added. “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader . . . ” Trudeau said. Former Bank of Canada and the Bank of England governor Mark Carney, 59, is thinking about seeking the Liberal leadership.

An aggressive cougar has resulted in the shutdown of Ammonite Falls Regional Trail. The Regional District said an aggressive cougar was seen on the trail on Jan. 1, and additional sightings reported the cougar guarding its kill between the Creekside trailhead and the falls viewpoint. Cougars are part of our natural environment so take precautions in the wilderness, including travelling in groups, leashing pets and carrying bear spray. MORE

If you’ve ever wanted to put in your two cents worth on development, the city is now accepting nominations for its Board of Variance. The board addresses appeals for minor variances where compliance with the Zoning Bylaw would cause undue hardship. You can submit a completed application form to the Legislative Services Department by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 17. Applications can be filled out online or picked up from Legislative Services in City Hall.  Online application

QUOTABLE – If your grocery store has a health food section, what does that make the rest of the store?

Canada needs to be ready

for mass U.S. deportation

Not many Canadians could have foreseen that a mass illegal immigrant invasion could become a defining issue in this year’s Canadian federal election.

It raises the question of how ready Canada is for the brunt of the deportation of criminal illegal border crossers by the United States. Rather than being sent home, those criminals could be headed to the Great White North.

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to deport known criminals from other countries. Many of those fear being sent back to their countries of origin because of their criminals records at home, the reason for many of them leaving in the first place.

That’s where Canada comes in. A number of American commentators have suggested that before they are deported many of those criminals will head for a safe haven in Canada.

The question is whether we are ready and capable of handling a large influx. For a number of years immigrants coming from the U.S. walked into Canada and were met by a welcoming RCMP delegation at the border to process them. It’s a different story now, many of those were families looking for refuge, not hardened criminals.

This also comes at a time when Canada has reined in its own levels of legitimate immigration, due in part due to over-burdening of our social services and limited employment opportunities. Those were legal immigrants, a far cry from those expected to come from the United States

Trump has warned Canada about our porous border allowing illegal immigrants and drugs to flow into the U.S. from our country. That flow may be reversed very quickly as Trump gets sworn in Jan. 20 and begins deporting the most dangerous of the illegal border crossers. That's now, not some time in the distant future. We’ll get the worst of the worst.

The numbers are unreliable, ranging from thousands even up to millions.

What is the status of our border defenses, is Canada ready?

Sunday mornin’ comin’ down. The extent of the drug problem is largely spelled out in the 7,507 medical aid calls to Nanaimo Fire Rescue in 2024. That averages to more than 20 a day. The department’s year-end report did not break down how many of those were overdose related. There were 664 burning complaints and the same for motor vehicle incidents and 546 other fire responses.
Medical aid, 7,507
Burning complaints, 664
Vehicle incidents, 664
Other fires, 546
Assistance, 306
Bush fire, 180
Structure fires, 161
Hazardous materials, 103
Downed powerlines, 70
Rescues, 23

It's not a firm rule, but the fact that that property assessments remained fairly stable should mean tax increases will be close to the city’s projections. Your tax bill includes more than the city budget, with Regional District Hospital, school district and other smaller jurisdictions so they have to be factored in as well.

Don’t try to be a good Samaritan when you’ve been into the sauce. A driver tried to stop another driver he thought was impaired, but tested impaired himself. Oceanside RCMP say it happened on New Year’s Eve after a call to the detachment to report a suspected impaired driver.It turned out the original driver was sober and having difficulty driving in the dark.MORE

Sunny side up, egg prices in grocery stores have remained stable despite more than one million laying hens being destroyed in B.C. due to avian flu. Eggs are being imported from other provinces, maintaining the supply and not affecting prices.

Shocking addition to education. Education Minister Lisa Beare is pushing ahead to install AEDs (automated external defibrillators) throughout the public education system. AEDs are used to restart a heart after a sudden cardiac arrest. Beare said 90 per cent of districts do CPR training and a number of those have AEDs. She has instructed her staff to identify the gaps are so they can be filled.

QUOTABLE – Canadian-made products do not get stuck on cargo ships.

Good morning, it really is Saturday, back to normal after a challenge the past two weeks of keeping the days straight with holidays in the middle of the week. It seemed every day was Saturday.

A man grabbed money from a teller and fled from the Bank of Montreal in north Nanaimo on Friday. First reports indicated the money was taken while a teller was handing it to a customer. R/Const. Gary O’Brien said the man and a woman were waiting in the lineup when the man suddenly grabbed the unknown amount of money and the two fled in a dark pickup truck. The male suspect is tall, dressed in black, wearing a black mask.  MORE

So here you are, you’ve taken all the decorations off the Christmas tree, now what? You can take it to Country Club Centre for shredding. Nanaimo Search and Rescue is shredding trees today and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. They expect to get rid of more than 500 trees. VI Tree Service is helping out with donations going to John Barsby outdoor education program. Make sure you take the decorations off before sending them through the chipper. MORE

A bargain awaits. The next time you complain about the cost of parking in Nanaimo, take a look at this one. If you’ve got a bundle of cash, an indoor parking spot in Whistler is on the market for $110,000. The Whistler Estates parking stall is just steps away from the base of the Blackcomb Gondola. CHECK THIS OUT.

Here comes the government gravy train. Federal payment dates have been set for benefits Canadians will get this month. So watch your mail box or online bank balance.
Jan. 3, GST rebates went out Jan. 3.
Jan. 10, Advanced Canada Workers Benefit.
Jan. 20, Carbon Tax rebate (not available in B.C.)
Jan. 20, Canada Child Benefit.
Jan. 29, Canada Pension Plan
Jan. 29, Old Security.
For those who have direct deposit, payments can be expected on the listed dates. For those who receive benefits by mail, cheques are sent out ahead of time and should arrive by the listed dates.

QUOTABLE – Have you ever agreed with someone so they would just up?

If you want to rub shoulders with the upper crust, Lantzville is the place to hang out. The village by the ocean has one property listed at more than $6 million at 6964 Dickinson Road and five assessed at more than $5 million. 6697 Dickinson Rd. is assessed at $5,919,000. In Nanaimo, no residential property topped $5 million with Stephenson Point Road having four of the top ten assessments. Tops is 5025 Hinrich View at $4,911,000, with 3372 Stephenson Point Rd. in second at $4,844,000. On the commercial front,  Woodgrove Centre remains at the top at $216,013,000, Nanaimo Forest Products-Harmac is $135,050,300. Country Club Centre comes in at $82,271,000 and  North Town Centre $78,682,000. DLX on Third registered $50,871,000 while Port Place Shopping Centre came in at $50,113,000. FULL STORY

A crash this morning on Highway 19 north of Nanaimo has claimed at least one life. RCMP is investigating the crash in the southbound lanes near Northwest Bay Road. Drivers are being told to expect major delays, according to DriveBC. MORE

RCMP are investigating for possible drug impairments after a driver crashed along the Nanaimo Parkway on New Year’s Day. They say the car veered off the road and crashed into a tree. The 25-year-old male driver and his 24-year-old female passenger were treated at the scene and then taken to hospital. “Members formed the opinion that the driver may have been impaired by drugs and are conducting a drug investigation,” R/Const. Gary O’Brien said. MORE

More of the same is in store weatherwise for our part of the planet. We should see milder temperatures and consistent rain in January, predicts Environment Canada. The average temperature was 1.9C higher than normal in Vancouver last month. Rain fell on 21 of 31 days, with total precipitation 15 per cent higher than normal. Meteorologist Chris Doyle says these trends are likely continue with generally warmer than average conditions, and somewhat wetter than normal conditions.

The cheque is in the mail – GST rebates from the federal government are being distributed today. These tax-free quarterly payments are meant to help individuals and families offset the GST they pay on a range of products and services. The January payment will be about a quarter of the yearly entitlement based on their 2023 tax return. The adjusted family net income for the 2023 base year should be no more than $70,000. The next quarterly GST/HST credit payment will be made on April 4, 2025. MORE

It's 50 years since we converted to Celsius from Fahrenheit to measure temperatures. The switch to metric on April 1, 1975 also did away with inches, feet, pounds, ounces and gallons. Even today, many older people have not fully adapted.

QUOTABLE – Rumors are started by haters, carried by fools and believed by idiots.

Talk about profiteering,

tax scam is a flippin’ crime

Jan 2, 2025 – It already looks like 2025 will turn out to be the year of the tax grab. It got off to a good start when governments learned new ways of double, triple and more layering tax schemes.

A case in point is the new real estate profit tax imposed Jan. 1 by the B.C. government. It targets real estate investors, taking aim at profits. Any property bought and then sold within a year carries a 20-per-cent tax on the profit. That’ll rein in the speculators, you say?

Take a look at an example of a property that the investor buys for $750,000. First off, in round numbers, he has to pay close to $10,000 in property transfer taxes. Then he sells that property for $800,000 with a neat profit, of $50,000. Not so fast, here comes the government demanding $10,000 for the so-called flipping tax.

But hold the phone, if he makes a $50,000 profit, he has to pay income tax, at a base rate of more than $10,000. All of a sudden that 50 grand profit has shrunken to $20,000. However, the long reach of government doesn’t end there. Now the buyer of that property has to pay another $10,000 in the property transfer tax, the second kick at the cat for the same property.

So the investor may walk away with $20,000, the various levels of government get to pocket $40,000, a full 80 per cent in taxes on that one property. Talk about affordable housing.

It makes our city council look like pikers with a tax hike in the eight-per-cent range.

Safe injection sites don’t cut it in our city if you read social media. One Facebook site with more than 125 postings shows the large majority want money diverted to treatment instead. Here’s one example: “I think that someone must be making a $hit ton of money on these prevention sites. It's the only reason I can think that an educated man would want this at our hospital.” Read more comments HERE.

B.C. Ferries continues to stagger along like a drunken sailor. For the second day in a row, sailings to and from Departure Bay were scrubbed due to a mechanical difficulty. It began New Year's Eve, when one trip in each direction was cancelled between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay.On New Year's Day, it was more mechanical difficulty with the cancellation of half a dozen sailings between Horseshoe Bay and the sunshine coast. A water taxi was brought in to provide service for foot passengers on the route.MORE

News outlets have been publishing their stories of the past year so readers can look back at what transpired. We do it differently. You can access our past pages on a month-by-month basis from the menu bar at the top of this page at any time throughout the year. Enjoy.

QUOTABLE – The best way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing and be nothing.

Happy New Year,

welcome to 2025

Good news or bad? That depends on how you look at it. BC Assessment has updated its online portal with the latest property assessments as of July 2024. Assessment notices will also be delivered by mail in the coming weeks. From the quick look at some properties I'm familiar with, the numbers are all over the ball park, some surprising high and some comparatively low.

Part of the Nanaimo Parkway was closed this morning after a vehicle crash just after 8 a.m. Emergency services responded to the site. The northbound right-hand lane was closed to traffic, with cars being redirected onto the left lane while police reviewed the scene. There was no immediate information on injuries. MORE

The cost of living is expected to continue to rise. Prices on fuel, housing, food and transportation are expected to increase in the new year. The 2025 Canada Food Price Report forecasts Canadians will pay between three and five per cent more for food. The province’s allowable rent increase is up three per cent while the average selling price of a home will climb by 3.3 per cent. Property taxes continue to increase across the province. The next carbon tax increase on April 1, will increase to 20.91, adding 5.4 cents per litre to the pump price. Global News has a comprehensive compilation of what will cost more this year. HERE.

An update fire that destroyed portions of a boardwalk in Telegraph Cove on Tuesday. Several buildings are a complete loss – the whale museum is no longer standing, nor are several businesses, including the Old Saltery Pub. Those were seen as the treasures. Firefighters had the flames under control by 11 a.m. and continued to snuff out hot spots throughout the afternoon. MORE

New Year’s Eve travellers were frustrated when BC Ferries cancelled two sailings Tuesday evening on the Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay routes due to mechanical difficulties. Two other sailings were in doubt but technicians addressed the problem. MORE

One hand giveth while the other hand taketh. Premier David Eby has promised a tax cut for middle-income British Columbians while at the same time increasing some taxes. The tax relief will come in the form of a rebate program with up to $1,000 for each household in the target demographic. However, a new tax goes into effect today to hit real estate resellers and the carbon-dioxide tax will rise again this spring. MORE

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s GST holiday stocking stuffer has turned out to be more like a lump of coal. The tax holiday to entice people to buy more over the past couple weeks did not spark a buying bonanza. Many businesses had a “bah humbug” view of the tax holiday which exempted a select number of items, including beer, cider, wine and some pre-mixed coolers from the GST. Also exempt are some children’s toys and all puzzles. The GST exemption continues until Feb. 15. MORE

QUOTABLE – Free advice for older people. Don’t eat health foods, you need all the preservatives you can get.

Dec. 31, 2024 – As we wave goodbye to the old year and welcome 2025 let’s take a jaundiced look at what lies ahead. I’m not a prognosticator, but there are some sure bets.

There is not doubt we will not have Justin Trudeau to kick around any more. The Liberals will lose the next federal election slated for October . . . or sooner. So we’ll have a new prime minister to complain about. The crystal ball also says Conservative Tamara Kronis has a 95-per-cent chance to become our new member of Parliament in that election. That's not my great insight, but the Canada 338 polling projection from Dec. 29.

You can safely bet that Nanaimo city council will raise taxes again, it’s just their nature. And so will the Eby bunch in Victoria, finding new ways of extracting money from us while dragging their feet on the promises from the last election. Remember those?

Housing costs are expected to rise five-per-cent nationally, likely higher here. Falling interest rates and new mortgage rules is supposed to make home ownership more attractive, but for how long? Real estate experts expect a busy market in 2025. Jumping in before prices rise could save you money. A five-per-cent increase on an $800,000 home would add another $40,000 to the price. And that extra 40 grand would be taxable again, adding even more. Ya just can’t win.

Reflecting on the year, 911 calls always make us wince. For example, one person called 911 to complain that the avocadoes he bought were rotten. Another called 911 about a neighbor having a new cologne, stinking up the place. One called to complain that McDonald’s was not open. Finally, someone whined about the street being clogged with snow and he was out of cigarettes, could 911 please deliver some smokes?

To wrap this up, there’s good news. Have no fear, we will not become part of the United States. Even President-elect Donald Trump can’t be serious. Turning our 10 provinces into 10 new states would add 20 new senators, and they would be mostly Democrats.

Happy New Year, and take it easy tonight. Don't mix alcohol with gasoline, take a taxi or a bus.

Find another way, the Bastion and Commercial Street intersection will be closed to traffic until late February. Drilling uncovered old mining voids which need to be remediated for the safety of work crews, underground utilities and potential future depressions forming in the roadway. Pedestrians can still use the bridge. Businesses are open as usual and there’s free two-hour parking on Commercial Street, as well as on levels 2 and 3 of the Bastion Street Parkade.

Iconic Telegraph Cove was going up in flames this morning. Parts of the boardwalk have been lost. The public has been asked to stay away from the fire scene to firefighters can do their job. Formerly a cannery and fishing village, Telegraph Cove has been a popular world renowned tourist destination for many years. The permanent population of the village and surrounding electoral area was 371 people as of the 2021 census.

I have proof that pigs fly, I just got a notice that 36 bucks had been deposited in my bank account, my share of the class-action lawsuit settlement with Facebook. I checked my account, and there it was.

We still have a housing crisis, so what does our provincial government do? They slap on another tax, the so-called flipping tax to curb buying and selling at a profit. That’s on top of the property transfer tax, income tax and countless other taxes and government fees driving up housing prices. It’s always someone else’s fault.

QUOTABLE – Right before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, raise you left leg. That way you’ll start the new year on the right foot.

Race for Liberal Party leadership turning into a turtle derby

Jan. 13, 2025 –

There appears to be no great rush of candidates to seek to become Liberal Party leader and new prime minister.  All we’re hearing is who is not running, including high-profile cabinet ministers. To date no one has tossed his or her hat into the ring, including or former Premier Christy Clark who was the only western hope. The deadline to enter the race is in about two weeks, a short period in which to raise the $350,000 entry fee and developing influential alliances.

We’re relying on the political rumor mill which lists two possibles – Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney. Whoever is declared the winner on March 9 will have the very short-lived title of prime minister until the opposition parties pull the rug and force a general election.

Unless there’s a miraculous turnaround for Liberal fortunes, someone else will then take over as prime minister. It’s not a sure bet that a new Liberal leader would become the Official Opposition Leader, the Bloc Quebecois and New Democrats will have something to say about that.

The good thing is we don’t have long to wait.

Trump is playing high-stakes

poker and hitting the jackpot

Jan. 13, 2025

From the top politicians on down, Canadians are soiling their underwear in reaction to incoming President Donald Trump’s goofy suggestion of absorbing Canada into the union. This is nothing new for Trump who authored a book titled The Art of The Deal. That’s what he is doing now, an opening salvo to the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement. He believes the U.S. is getting the short end of the stick and wants to renegotiate. First it was the threat of tariffs, followed by the idea of us becoming a fifty-first state.

Our politicians have been streaming down to Mar-a-Lago on bended knee, exactly the way Trump likes it.

There is at least a little logic to the idea in Trump's bravado. Both Russia and China have been making noises about international waters at the top of the world in our far north. Could that revive the old Distant Early Warning Line, known as the DEW Line, across our north, operated by both countries?

In the meantime, don’t sweat it. It’s nothing but bluster and we need to take a deep breath reminding The Donald that Canada is a much bigger land mass than his country clinging to our southern border. Let the bargaining begin. We’re dealing from a strong deck in the Great White North.

We can't 'fix' climate change,

we need to mitigate the damage

Jan. 12, 2025

The time for talk is over, the California fire debacle underscores the idiocy of the climate change religion. Los Angeles has been an eye opener on how not to operate in the present environment. The devastation shows how unprepared they were and other still are – 12,000 buildings reduced to ash.

The lesson is obvious – trying to change the climate is futile, it can’t be done, it’s been happening, up and down, for millions of years. No amount of emissions control babble will change that. Canada’s emissions are so low they hardly register, like a pee in the ocean, wiped out by in the blink of an eye by industrial countries like China and India.

I have not seen the Los Angeles figures, but the amount of carbon dioxide the fires have spewed into the atmosphere in a couple of days far outweighs any reductions by Canada is a year.

The Los Angeles disaster proves how not to address climate change. Instead of adapting to change, the state has been playing games with things like not filling reservoirs even though there’s a lot of water available. Fire hydrants in many cases are bone dry with no water supply. Instead the state is diverting that water into the ocean in order to save the smelt fish. The city cut its fire fighting budget by some $17 million.

But the smelts are okay.

Another major factor has been underbrush clearance. That strikes close to home in our province, where it is also not being addressed. One would think after all the recent fires the province would move full-steam ahead to reduce the fire risk. The province has acknowledged the danger but has done virtually nothing but pay lip service. In the name of saving the environment they're actually destroying the environment. In the name of saving lives they're actually destroying lives.

We’ll have to acknowledge sooner rather than later that all the windmills, solar panels and bike lanes are headed in the wrong direction. A bike lane may be great for 18-year-olds, but what good is it for a 25-year-old mother with two kids? It’s impractical.

What is the current impact, and how can it be addressed? That’s the question we should be answering rather than virtue signalling.

Indoctrinating present and future generations in the education system about the doomsday scenario of human-made climate disasters will leave them without the tools to address climate change in the long term.

Governments have been using the emissions argument to raise taxes for more than a decade, but we still have bigger and bigger fires here and abroad. No matter how much taxation, unless it is directed to reacting to climate change, it’s only another revenue source for government. The only way we will solve climate change is by making changes to mitigate the damage rather than trying to retool Mother Nature.

We’re not solving anything, so stick out your chest as you zoom your Tesla down a bicycle path with delusions of saving the planet.

It's seven years

and we're still Buzzing

Jan 1, 2025 – Today marks seven years since the Daily Buzz was born. Yes, seven years – 2,548 days – of news in brief every day, including when I was outside the province or the country at times, thanks to the internet. I felt like a foreign correspondent.

The idea of the Daily Buzz was to scan area news outlets, locally, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland and present them in brief with links to those stories so you wouldn’t have to go looking for news, and enjoy it in a compact format.

I added my perspective in an opinion format. Governments at all levels continue to provide fodder for editorialists. My friend, Former Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford, now a Vancouver Islander, has been so kind as to contribute his views without allegiance to any of the main political parties.

It is gratifying to hear the complements from readers in person, but there has been a lack of direct reader participation. Don’t be shy, let the world know what you think. It matters. You don’t have to agree with me, just give your side of any issue. Too many now rely on social media when they feel the need to pontificate.

The federal government ban on linking Canadian news sites on social media has made it more difficult but not impossible to get the word out to the public. I have a contact list for email reminders each morning – let me know if you’d like to get those morning awakenings via email.

Publishing endeavors rely on advertising to cover their costs, but I was never keen on knocking on doors looking for advertising dollars. There are expenses which I have absorbed because it has kept me busy in retirement. An idle mind is the devil’s playground, it is better to have a fair intellect that is well used than a powerful one that is idle.

The Daily Buzz attracted some revenue from a number of election campaigns over the years because it was the place to go for election coverage. Basically it’s been a labor of love. Non-profit and public service organizations have free space for their promotions.

The format and content have evolved, improving the product, I trust. I’m dangling a new feature for the new year for realtors to spotlight their property listings for just pennies a day. Most realtors have their own websites but so often buyers don’t know where to find them. It will be interesting to see how they respond to having viewers delivered to their sites. Drop a note or give me a call, let’s talk.

As The Daily Buzz enters its eighth year I hope to keep plugging along until my time runs out.