0315 –

Trade wars are

not winnable

The escalating trade war has evolved into a pissing contest in a wind storm, everyone is getting sprayed.

The most obvious example in our neck of the woods is the showdown over trucking through our province, from Washington state to Alaska. At first it appeared Premier David Eby had a sure-fire idea with no kickback, but the Americans were quick to respond with a threat to completely destroy the cruise ship industry for our province.

The Jones Act of 1920 mandates that all shipping between American ports must include a stopover in a foreign jurisdiction, thus cruises between the Lower 48 and Alaska must stop over in Vancouver and/or Victoria, or other smaller B.C. ports like Nanaimo and Prince Rupert. Changing the Jones Act would be little more than the stroke of a pen through the U.S. Congress.

It's difficult to determine what spurred U.S. President Donald Trump into slapping tariffs on virtually everything his country imports. His first term as president may yield some hints on what set him off because he was dangling tariff threats was back then. It’s based on his commitment to the dairy industry in Wisconsin which has been dealing with Canadian tariffs for years. Canada has targetted tariffs up to 270 per cent on U.S. dairy products to protect the high-priced Canadian dairy industry, specifically in Quebec.

Skip across the border any time and you’ll quickly see that dairy products, especially cheeses, cost much less in the U.S. and that’s rooted in how we do business. We have a supply-management system that controls how much producers can produce in order to keep prices up.

So-called marketing boards in Canada cover dairy, poultry and beef among other products. In simple terms it is price fixing with Canadian consumers paying the price. The system protects all farming in Canada but Quebec is most affected because of its huge dairy industry.

The U.S. is the biggest buyer of Canadian beef at $4 billion annually making it a big ticket item in trade. It’s a similar story with other produce with McDonalds one of the biggest consumers of both beef and eggs.

The next time you head to your grocery store or classy restaurant you will see why steaks are beyond the price of many Canadians.

That’s the long explanation of tariffs and why tit-for-tat won’t solve the trade war. It’s punitive taxes put on imports and reciprocal get-even taxes applied to the other side. Another level of that was Ontario’s threat to put export taxes on hydro sold in the U.S. The U.S. quickly trumped that with the threat to double the tariff on Canadian Steel and aluminum sold in the U.S.

These are two areas that stand out, but it’s much more tangled than that. It's David and Goliath, and this time the giant has the upper hand. It’s not a winnable war.

Eby blurs line between ideology and governing

0313 –

It’s difficult to remain optimistic when ideology takes over the agenda.

Premier David Eby can't help himself, using tax dollars for partisan politics by cancelling rebate programs for Tesla electric vehicles. Not all electric brands, just Tesla.

The reason? Tesla’s developer and owner Elon Musk has been rooting out fraud and tax abuse in the United States, hitting hard at numerous left-wing causes. People who have been riding the gravy train are being held to account.

Eby pulled the same partisan stunt earlier when he banned liquor from certain states – the ones that voted Republican in the last election. Politics and governance go hand in hand but there must be a limit on how far you stretch that. Eby and his NDP government are crossing that line. It's a form of censorship. It boils down to the idea that if you don't agree with them you must be punished. 

Election promises are a shell game

0311 – We’re being fed a diet of bullshit and we’re expecting dessert. Not every day language, but that's the only way to describe it.

The shell game has begun for the federal election, whenever it’s called, and the carbon tax will be in the spotlight. New Liberal leader Mark Carney floated the issue in his acceptance speech at the Liberal convention on Sunday, appearing to say he would eliminate it.

The federal Conservatives have focused on the tax for a couple of years, vowing to completely eliminate it.

Premier David Eby also promised something similar, among other promises that were flushed down after the election.

This is where it gets confusing. If all parties offer the same thing, what’s the issue? Move on.

There’s a word that gets tossed around in political jargon and that’s transparency. What they’re all promising is not the same thing, you have to read between the lines for clarity, if you can.

What Carney and Eby are offering is not the same as Pierre Poilievre’s elimination of the carbon tax. So what’s different with the other option? It’s a word game, what Eby and Carney are floating is the elimination of the “consumer” carbon tax, not the whole shebang.

Under that curveball, consumers would no longer pay the tax up front at the cash register but it would be hidden in the cost of items we all buy, passed down to the consumer through the commercial sector. Grocery stores would still pay, truckers would still pay when buying fuel to deliver groceries. Homebuilders would still pay, and so on.

You see where this is going? It’s still a pig in a poke, but only of a different color. Check both sides of the coin before making change.

Time to stop election smearing campaigns

0310 – The date has not been set, but the federal election campaign is under way. Lies are flying like a prairie grasshopper plague, attacking party leaders with misinformation and outright untruths.

It appears to get worse with every election cycle, coming not only from the parties but organized outside supporters and special interests who depend on the outcome for their own selfish benefit.

“(Candidate) will destroy health insurance, bringing in American-style care.” That assumes it hasn’t already been destroyed. Or “(party leader) will take away your pensions.” There’s also the accusations that flow like a river claiming certainly candidates or parties support something they have never even mentioned. “(Party leader) is a Nazi or a fascist.”

That goes beyond freedom of speech, it’s outright lying.

There needs to be accountability. One suggestion would be to empower Elections Canada to call politicians to account for their false accusations, but that would be a stretch since it would take politicians to vote for such accountability. Don’t hold your breath on that one.

Somehow the lies and liars have to be called to account with heavy penalties, even to the point of disqualification from election.

Take it to another level, to promises made during election campaigns that never see the light of day after the votes are counted. You know, offer $1,000 bribes in return for votes. Or a catheterization laboratory or a hospital patient tower with no completion dates or funding commitment. Then dismissing them as though they were never promised. They were promised but as I pointed out at that time, the promises never included a start and completion date.

That leaves those promises on the shelf until the next election when they can be dusted off and offered again.

0310 –

Hudson’s Bay may close half of its stores as it works to stay alive. The department store company is looking at closing about 40 of its 80 stores. The number that will close will be decided as creditor protection proceedings wind their way through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in the coming weeks. MORE

All U.S. alcoholic beverages will be removed from B.C. liquor stores. After taking drinks from Republican states off the shelves, Premier David Eby has now banned all drinks. Eby said additional U.S. tariffs have been placed on the dairy industry and an investigation into lumber has raised possible higher tariffs and President Trump threatening to redraw our borders and pursue Canadian water. MORE

A man who viciously assaulted a mall security guard has been sentenced to five months in jail followed by two years probation. David Richard Patrick, 39, pleased guilty to three events in Nanaimo and Campbell River. Patrick severely assaulted a security guard at University Village Shopping Centre. on Jan. 12, 2022. MORE

Canada is sending $272.1 million in foreign aid for projects in Bangladesh and other the Indo-Pacific countries. The funding will focus on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls, inclusive education and skills training. And, of course, climate change is included. The U.S. recently halted all such funding through the United States Agency for International Development. MORE

QUOTABLE – Keep smiling, it drives others crazy trying to figure out what you’re up to.

Hudson's Bay seeks creditor protection

0309 –

One by one our retail icons are falling. Canada’s oldest retailer, Hudson’s Bay, has filed for creditor protection and intends to restructure the business. The company is exploring options to strengthen its business. They won’t make promises but is committed to preserving jobs where possible. The company has 80 Hudson’s Bay locations that sell everything from apparel to housewares, cosmetics and furniture. MORE

There’s nothing better than the most challenging conditions when you train to join Nanaimo Search and Rescue. Ten trainees are braving the perfect conditions beginning Saturday for a 24-hour field challenge. SAR president Carly Trobridge said it demonstrates the grit, determination and the skills that they’ve developed, and they get to put it to use and spend 24 hours in the field. The training is being overseen by 20 Nanaimo SAR members. MORE

Nanaimo’s Olympic hammer throw champion Ethan Katzberg was named Senior Male Athlete of the Year at Sport BC's 57th Awards. Katzberg's coach Dylan Armstrong was also recognized by Sport B.C., taking home the Male Coach of the Year award. MORE

The tax season is upon us and that brings out the scum trying to take advantage of you. Canada Revenue Agency says scammers try to get confidential information during tax season when you expect to be contacted. Lisa Ko of CRA, recommends being alert for calls asking people to pay taxes through prepaid credit or gift cards, or getting a text or email containing a link to claim your refund. CRA does not operate that way, if you’ve got a refund coming they’ll mail it to you, no tricky scams. MORE

QUOTABLE – Just before I die I’m going to swallow a bag of popcorn kernels. My cremation is going to be epic

Health care promises not in budget

0306 –

Beware politicians bearing gifts. Tuesday’s provincial budget was a huge kick in the head for Nanaimo’s health care community. A catheterization lab and a patient tower at NRGH were not funded in the budget despite being promised in last fall’s provincial election. Donna Hais, Chair of the Fair Care Alliance, said they are extremely disappointed that promises made were not addressed in any way in the budget. It shows short-sightedness moving forward, she said. MORE

Every once in a while you come across a real head scratcher. City council is looking at prohibiting the sale of invasive species, like Scotch broom and daphne. The question should be why has that been allowed until now?  Coun. Hilary Eastmure said in Colliery Dam Park you'll see the trees being choked by ivy and the forest floor covered in daphne. Those are both items that are for sale at garden centres. MORE

Snuneymuxw is hitting the road with its own transportation company to serve the Vancouver Island supply chain. Sarlequun Transport will haul general freight, forestry, construction and mining industries, offering export and import from the Island to the world, with transportation, documentation and logistics, under the Snuneymuxw economic development arm, Petroglyph Development Group. It has a 2.83-hectare property on Maughan Road with trucks, forklifts and a warehouse. MORE

Chantal Suzanne Lemay, 28, was given a conditional discharge by Judge Brian Harvey after pleading guilty to threatening MP Lisa Marie Barron last year. Frustration with Barron’s response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip led to her drastic action. “You are horrifyingly disgusting and an absolute disgrace to the entire Canadian population. I hope you choke,” Lemay wrote in an email. “Assassinations will come for you and all you world f***ing leaders. Count your days, World War 3 is about to begin and you are one of the first f***ing targets.” MORE

QUOTABLE – Every time I think I have my ducks in a row, some of those little fluffies wander off

Snuneymuxw vote to settle land dispute

0305

The long-running land claim may soon be settled after Snuneymuxw First Nation members voted to accept a $42-million offer from the federal government. The vote was almost unanimous with 99.5 members voting in favor. Snuneymuxw has sought a settlement for more than 20 years. MORE

The city is on track to hit its target for new housing. Planning director Jeremy Holm reported the city approved development permits for 582 units during the second half of 2024. He said the city is achieving the first year' target of 782 units. Interest rates, tariffs, supply chain challenges, the labour market, and other factors  affect developers going ahead with projects, he said. MORE

The Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s success is getting better by the year, posting its best financial results. The City gives the centre close to a $1 million budget and the centre refunds money left over. Oak View Group refunded nearly $310,000, nearly $50,000 better than last year. The facility hosted  40 conventions and nearly 30,000 delegate days in 2024. The economic impact on the community is at more than $11 million. MORE

District Developments Corp. proposes an 80-unit townhouse development off Lost Lake Road. Lost Lake Hills, on the four-hectare steep-slope property on Tanya Drive, south of Lost Lake Road will have 20 townhouse-style fourplexes, with a mix of 32 one-bedroom, 570 to 592 square feet; 40, two-bedroom, 850 sq. ft.; and eight three-bedroom, 1,012 sq ft. MORE

Highway 4 near Angel Rock will be closed on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. to clean up a rockslide on Feb. 26. The debris was intercepted by the rock-fall mitigation barrier and fencing, but the catchment that trapped the debris needs to be repaired. The highway will reopen when the work is complete. No further closures are planned. MORE

QUOTABLE – Everyone agrees with free speech until they hear something they don’t like.

0304 –

How much would you like to pay? 

Lantzville residents are okay with a two- or three-per-cent tax increase. That came out in a survey conducted by the village – 63-per-cent want some increase after the village brought in a no-increase budget. 44 per cent favoured three per cent and 19 per cent supported two per cent and one third wanted the no-increase option. MORE

Fire fighting crews central island fire departments will engage in a day of specialized engine boss wildfire urban interface training. The training on Saturday is part of a provincial program to train municipal and regional firefighters on skills and knowledge needed to be an engine boss. That role leads a single fire engine and attached personnel, responsible for crew safety on wildland urban interface fires. That includes reporting to and co-ordinating with upper command levels and firefighting units at a wildfire. MORE

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools are conducting a program to boost the number of education assistants in the district, and how to recruit and retain staff. The mentorship program will offer up to 25 people the chance to learn the ins and outs of being education assistants  for classroom support, including students with development disabilities. Recruitment is a long-standing problem, said Kerri Steel, director for instruction and inclusive education for elementary. 12. MORE

QUOTABLE – For my age I have a lot going for me. My eyes are going, my knees are going, my back is going.

The theme for the 2025 Street Banner Design Program is ‘Metamorphosis And Change’ and Nanaimo artist Aiym Samay-Sampson’s unique design was chosen for its creative take on transformation. Artists were asked to consider themes of metamorphosis, change and transformation in the world around us, and Samay-Sampson’s design reflects the idea of change with the image of a butterfly in an abstract, fragmented form. Vibrant shapes come together. FULL STORY

0302

Switching chairs. Coun. Janice Perrino is the new head of the regional district hospital board, switching roles with Coun. Ian Thorpe who becomes the vice chairman. Perrino is the former CEO of the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation. The board is taxpayer-funded to oversee funding for capital facilities, equipment and and. It’s funded minor capital grants, major capital project support as well as municipal tax levies from Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach. MORE

Deena Beeston will be the new Mayor of Ladysmith after she handily won Saturday’s byelection. The former health care and social services worker got 854 votes in the race to replace former Mayor Aaron Stone who resigned to take a job in Victoria. Preliminary results showed a 22.93 per cent voter turnout. MORE

The school board is looking ahead by projecting an additional 236 students in the next school year. Those are the figures submitted to the education ministry in February to form the basis for budgeting. Staff said elementary student numbers remain relatively flat, but a number of Grade 7 students will move up to high schools, and coupled with a small number of graduating students, translate into an increase in enrolment for Grades 8-12. Secretary-Treasurer Mark Walsh said the number is far from final, with much that could change. MORE

Somebody may have a well-dressed girl friend after a mannequin named Guava Girl was stolen in a smash-and-grab last week at Guava Apparel downtown. It was the second smashed window at the store in a month and a half, and the ninth since the store opened there in 2019. The loss was $1,800 for the window, $400 for the mannequin and $265 for the dress Guava Girl was wearing. MORE

QUOTABLE – How come there’s enough asphalt for speed bumps but not enough to fill potholes?

0301 – Construction continues unabated in our area with three more projects. A 116-unit affordable housing complex has been approved on four lots on Prideaux Street near Comox Road. Another residential-commercial development is coming to the north end. It will be an 86-unit multi-family building and a separate commercial building at the intersection of Uplands and Turner Road. Construction has begun on a three-storey mixed-use development in Lantzville. Coastline Station will have residential on the top two floors and commercial on the bottom.

Smile, you are not on candid camera. City Council has banned independent video or audio recordings in council chambers. Homemade signs are also verboten. Council supported the staff recommendation 7-2. Mayor Leonard Krog said there have been incidents where there’s been disruptive behaviour. He said meeting videos are already posted on the city’s website. Couns Hillary Eastmure and Sheryl Armstrong opposed the ban.

The city will flush drinking water mains in select areas. You may see short periods of low pressure and water may be discoloured. Discolouration is temporary and is not a health hazard. Water Main Flushing

Aiming high. City council has approved an 11-metre height increase for the new cancer centre. That allows for the building to be 25 metres high. Mayor Leonard Krog said the city has been waiting for a long time and it’s a great step forward. MORE

Buckle up and stash the cell phone or you'll pay. Police are cracking down province wide on distracted drivers and seat belts and won’t hesitate to write you a ticket during the campaign. Distracted driving has become almost even with impaired driving for the number of fatal collisions in the province every year. The month-long campaign will be education through enforcement, says BC Highway Patrol’s Cpl Michael McLaughlin. MORE

0228 – Utter garbage is what the Nanaimo Community Hospice Thrift Store is having to put up with as people continue to dump junk on their doorstep. The end-of-life care society continues to get that at their thrift shop on Bowen Road and it costs a lot of charity money each time.Thrift Shop manager Tiffany Lang says volunteers work hard to raise that money. MORE

Let’s hear it for the Wellington Secondary School’s jazz program after students tuned in a list of honours at one of the longest-running jazz festivals in Canada in Surrey Feb 21 and 22. Director Camella Luvisotto said her students performed exceptionally well with 1,500 competitors from 40 secondary schools. Five students excelled in the Saturday evening showcase event. Take a look at the individual winners HERE.

Come rain or shine, more than 150 people are expected to bare all at the naked bungy jump this weekend. It’s all in the name of raising funds for Mental Health Recovery Partners. It’s the 19th annual jump and goes Saturday and Sunday at WildPlay south of Nanaimo. MORE

QUOTABLE – We were all born ignorant, but some people work hard to stay that way

0318 – Some numb brains are targeting Tesla EV chargers – two charging stations were set on fire at Woodgrove Centre over the weekend. Nanaimo Fire Rescue loss prevention officer Alan Millbank said other charging stations had been vandalized at the same time. MORE

You’ll pay more for electricity for the next two years, thanks to a 3.75 per cent annual rate increase. Energy Minister Adrian Dix attributed it to rising demand and economic uncertainty. The government is submitting a rate stability direction to the B.C. Utilities Commission for approval of the rate increase. That still makes the cost of power among the lowest in North America. BC Hydro needs the increases due to rising demand and to complete the Site C dam. MORE

As I keep repeating, there is no free ride. With the hated carbon tax about to disappear the B.C. government’s revenue flow will have a big hole in it. That has to be made up in some other way. One thing is sure, you and I will pay more to make up the shortage. The province will bring in legislation before March 31 to end or replace the consumer level of the tax which was forecast to generate about $2.8 billion with about $1 billion of that being rebated to consumers. MORE

Haven Society is operating 30 second-stage and 17 transition beds in Nanaimo for women and children at risk of violence. "Ensuring women and children leaving violence have access to secure and affordable housing is crucial to keeping them safe and supported as they take their next steps," said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. Creating nearly 230 new spaces across the province is a fresh start, said Kahlon.

QUOTABLE – None of your problems are because someone else is a millionaire.

0317 –  It’s down to serious business for the Salvation Army’s new building on Nichol Street. Ground was broken last week on the four-storey building will replace the old Salvation Army Red Shield Centre, built in the late 1890s and torn down more than a year ago. Executive Director Vern Muller said a lot of work was done here over the years and a lot of people have been impacted in big ways. He said they are looking forward to a time to continue that significant impact moving forward.” MORE

The school board will spend $250,000 on exterior walls of NDSS this year even though it flies against their better instincts. The Education Ministry grants money to maintain and repair school facilities. Our district expects more than $3.5 million for 2025-26. The  stucco finish has lost its adhesion and needs to be replaced due to the building's age, said Gillian Robinson. Stucco will be removed and an alternative product will be applied this summer. In total the district will spend more than $790,000 on replacing roofs and close to $800,000 on mechanical system improvements. MORE

QUOTABLE – The reason facts don’t change most people’s opinions is because most people don’t use facts to form their opinions. They use their own opinions to form their own facts.

The rent is over due

0316 – Woodgrove and Victoria’s Mayfair shopping centres are owed $861,085 by Hudson’s Bay which is likely to shut down as early as this week after applying for creditor protection. The filing shows the company has $3 million on hand, but $95 million in debt. A number of other Island businesses are owed smaller amounts under $50,000 each. MORE

You might be able to assuage your taste for American booze by going to private liquor stores. I don’t know whether local private stores have any stock remaining but it’s worth a try if that your tantalizes you palate. Government liquor stores pulled all American alcohol from the shelves in response the ongoing trade war. Some private liquor stores say they’re seeing a rush of customers as they sell existing stock. MORE

QUOTABLE – Figure out why pizza is made round, packed in a square box and eaten as a triangle, only then will you be able to understand politics.

0315

Forecasting the weather for the weekend is always easy, it's going to rain.

British Columbians are waiting with baited breath for news about when the carbon dioxide tax will be permanently put to rest. We may not see the full benefit as it applies only to the consumer portion of the tax. Big polluting industry will still be hit. Premier David Eby vows to do the same thing but legislation is required and it’s not known when that will be. We should expect a drop of close to 20 cents a litre at the gas pumps, but this is where the shell game begins. Oil companies are big polluters so the new tax grab may simply be shifted to the retail pump price by the oil companies. You can’t win.

Hudson’s Bay could be shutting down all operations as early as next week, wrapping up in June. A closure of the entire business, which is planned pending a court appearance on Monday, would mean job losses for 9,364 employees the company has in Canada. Despite that bleak picture, the company remains optimistic it can find capital and solutions with its landlord partners, to avoid a full shutdown. Hudson’s Bay is the oldest retail store in North America, dating back to 1670. MORE

Nanaimo Special Olympic basketball players’ hard work has paid off with a big tournament win recently. Ten players and four coaches from the Nanaimo Timberwolves participated in the North Shore March Madness basketball tournament taking home first place in their division. Point guard Alex Rogers was the tournament MVP. Check out their great story HERE.

Still on a sports note, the Tier-2 BC Hockey Championships are on this weekend at the Nanaimo Ice Centre with seven teams coming to town. Putting on something this big is no pleasure skate. Matt Hughes, director of operations for Nanaimo Minor Hockey, says it’s a big challenge, involving many volunteers and parents. It provides amazing opportunities for players. The tournament open the gate for Island teams to compete at the provincial level. MORE

QUOTABLE – The invention of the shovel was ground breaking.

0314 –

The maple leaf, our emblem dear. Patriotism is riding high with Canadian flags waving in the breeze at Maffeo Sutton Park. It’s a colorful response to Donald Trump who wants to make us another Ukraine by taking over our country. The International Folk Festival Society usually flies the flags of members’ countries during the summer, so hoisting the maple leaf was the natural thing to do. MORE

If there’s such a thing as good news in the drug plague, Nanaimo had only two overdose deaths in January, a huge drop from previous years. Nanaimo’s average number of fatalities per month was between eight and 10. The rest of central Vancouver Island had eight fatalities, down from 21 in January 2024. Fraser Health and Interior Health both increased, while Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria had the highest number of fatalities. MORE

They asked for it. After two years with a zero property tax increase Lantzville is instituting a a three-per-cent hike. That will result in about  $93,000 put into reserves.  That’s on top of a three-per-cent hike in water rates and 6.9-per-cent increase in sewer rates.

0313 – 

A security guard may have thwarted a robbery at the Country Grocer store on Bowen Road Wednesday evening. Initial reports stated a gun was brandished.R/Cst. Gary O’Brien said two people ran from the store, but stayed in and adjacent parking lot where they were arrested at gunpoint. RCMP not find a firearm and the Police Dog Service was called in but did not find a firearm. MORE

Be aware when it comes to safety in bars. Bar owners, RCMP and Crime Stoppers warn patrons protect themselves against spiked drinks. It comes on the heels of several reports of drinks being spiked or tampered with in recent months from people who said after consuming a beverage they immediately felt unwell and had difficulty breathing or became nauseous and light headed and had to seek medical attention. MORE

More weaving and bobbing. Health Minister Josie Osborne says new guidance on involuntary treatment is not intended to round up more people and treat them against their will. Dr. Daniel Vigo, Premier David Eby’s top advisor, concluded that the government does not need new legislation, instead issuing guidance to health authorities about how to apply the existing Mental Health Act. Osborne made it clear this is not about making it easier to apprehend people, it’s about correctly identifying people who will benefit from involuntary treatment. MORE

Quote - It's easy to change $20 into $200. Simply put it in your gas tank and go find a job.

0312 –

Nanaimo consumers appear to be sold on the idea of buying Canadian products. Mayor Leonard Krog has endorsed the Buy Canadian concept of buying items made in Canada. "It is a real movement, and it is serious and it's being reported on across the country," Krog told the News Bulletin. "It's there and people are doing it. I expected a vigorous response, but the response has been much more vigorous than even I expected and I'm an eternal optimist about this country." MORE

There’s more to fishing than the salt chuck. Rainbow trout are being introduced into lakes across the mid Island this week. Diver, Green and Brannen lakes got about 4,000 rainbow trout this month, while nearly 5,500 will be added to Long and Westwood lakes. MORE

Hey, have you filed your Speculation And Vacancy Tax declaration to claim your exemption. They’re due March 31 and you can do it online. Every homeowner in the locations where this tax is imposed has to fill it out every year or you will be taxed.

There’s still a heart beat, if ever so weak, for the Nanaimo hospital patient tower despite not being in the budget. The province assures that the work is still taking place. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma met with the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District board president last week, assuring that the project will continue over the course of this four-year mandate of the government. There are a lot of bureaucratic hurdles still to overcome before it goes into a future budget. MORE

QUOTABLE– Wisdom has been chasing you, but sadly you have always been faster

0311 –

The Telegraph Cove Resort rebuild is set to begin, lasting through the summer. Resort owner Gordie Graham said everyone understands how important it is to get the place built back up again. The major fire erupted near the east end of the boardwalk on Dec. 31, destroying the pub, restaurant, Tours office, Prince of Whales office and the Whale Interpretive Centre. MORE

Bottoms up! Booze consumption by British Columbians has gone down since the pandemic. The Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research shows per-capita sales across the province in 2023/24 were equivalent to 469 standard drinks per person over the age of 15, nearly 15 per cent lower than in 2020/21, the number was 554 drinks per person. MORE

QUOTABLE – For the elderly, a sound night's sleep is the snooze between pee breaks.

Provincial budget

awash in red ink

    250305– Tons is being written about Tuesday's provincial budget. The budget met my expectations. The government had a scapegoat to justify an almost $11 billion deficit without any real solutions to the province's biggest problems, health care, drugs, crime and homelessness.

The finance minister listed those topics as priorities but there's nothing in the budget to take a serious approach to those topics.

There will still be houseless people on our streets, drugs will continue to be handed out by government and hospital emergency rooms will continue to be closed.

Nanaimo's NDP MLAs have a lot to answer for with local supporters after health care promises who left out.

Civility is gone, we're hateful and intolerant

25-03-03 – We used to be able to disagree but respect each other. Now reaction to diverse opinions and ideas draw venomous responses.

We even hate some cars. People in both Canada and the United States disrespect each other’s national anthem at sporting events.

The deep-seated hate extends to individuals we don’t agree with. Most recently some Canadians began a campaign to bar U.S. President Donald Trump from attending a G7 conference in Canada this summer. A Canadian member of Parliament supported a petition to cancel Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship.

All because of political differences. Some have gone to the extent of demonstrations outside Tesla dealerships because Musk owns the company. Musk is targeted for exposing government waste and fraud, which you would think would be popular.

The way we treat our own politicians is despicable. We vilify them personally rather than their politics. For years the Liberals and NDP have smeared Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre tagging him with names like Nazi. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been a target to such a degree that he stepped down. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has been maligned after he kept the unpopular Liberals to keep them in power while trashing them.

Social media is responsible to a large part but the political parties themselves are largely to blame. They run advertising campaigns targeting the leaders rather than the issues. And that rubs off on the public, as is intended, so it spreads far and wide, doing more harm than good.

We’re early in the life of the present B.C. government but to date there has been more attention to issues than the leaders, though there’s been some of that. It may be explained that there are so many issues that need attention that they don’t have the time to attack each other. This mandate is young, so things are most likely to change.

Even here in our city, groups of people who have not been able to get their own way have targeted city council members, specifically Mayor Leonard Krog.

You don’t have to hate Poilievre, Singh, Eby, Rustad or Krog, Trump or Musk, your focus should be on actions.

Crossing the line, Trump is a rude, loud-mouth bully but the polls show he still has solid support. It remains to be seen what comes out of that approach or whether it’s just The Art of the Deal. Not agreeing with him should not ban him from Canada.

Your comment HERE

Conservatives have some learning to do

Feb. 27, 2025

That political stunt in the Legislature this week did not engender a lot of confidence in the B.C. Conservatives. Calling a non-confidence vote only days into the session, without a single piece of legislation tabled by the government, was crass politics.

John Rustad and his group, many of them first-timers, need to take a serious look at why voters gave them such a big mandate to serve in the Legislature, coming up just short of forming government. They need to remind themselves that they were not sent there to score political points but to work on behalf of the citizens of the province.

They have a bunch of neophytes, some who have not learned how to play in the sandbox tpgether, but they better put on their big girl and big boy pants in a real hurry. There’s going to be enough to hold the government to account for and they need to act like they know what they’re doing.

Here's just a sample. The drug problem continues to get worse, there are so many houseless people on the streets, health care is an utter mess. That would be a great place to start. There’s more.

Boycott of U.S. products is little

more than symbolism

25-02-25 – Here we go, groups left, right and centre are clamoring to teach those nasty Americans a lesson with one-day boycotts of  U.S.-made products. The old “getting even” idea.

Made-in-Canada is great, but why have Canadians not supported local business and industry all along? Why now all of a sudden?

The first cheapo bargain they see will have them zooming back to Walmart.

A one-day boycott means zero, nada, nothing. What they don’t buy one day they’ll buy there the next, so what’s the sense of it? Buy local all the time whenever you can, even if the price tag might be a penny or two higher.

With a large portion of discount store products coming from Asia, how would Canadian tariffs be applied? Made-in-China could become a hot ticket.