
Recent Comments
- By Everyman in response to "Vancouver's director of planning didn't stand a chance," says Fontaine
Steven, are you really that naive. Throw a green cloak over a cow, its still a cow.
- By Terry M in response to "Vancouver's director of planning didn't stand a chance," says Fontaine
"He is certainly a better alternative than Anton who was euqally in bed with developer"
Give yourself a head shake Steven.
How on earth do you know that? From your moles inside NPA?
Robertson is a JOKE!
He should kiss his backers feet before going to bed, every night, for they kept him with a purpose in life and employed when he was unemployable (still is).
Olga Ilich appointed as chair of his silly Housing affordability committee, gives you a clue. Your boy wasin a menage a troix with teh Dwevelopers from the start. So Steven, cut the BS.
- By Steven Forth in response to Regional economic development plan needed for Metro Vancouver
I have to agree with Greg's comment, we need a two-pronged approach.
And the data above are not granular enough to draw any real conclusions from.
But Mike's general point is right, Vancouver will only be a healthy and green city if we grow high-quality jobs. To do that, I believe we need to grow local companies, and this means we need to invest in local companies.
We don't need to attract external investment or companies. We need to grow local champions.
I spent the last two days at the Canadian Financing Forum. I did not participate in the Clean Tech track but I did have some interesting conversations with clean tech companies that are growing rapidly. According to a PWC analyst from the Bay Area, Vancouver is getting global recognition as a center for innovation in clean tech and green innovation.
Mike's comment that Vancouver has a market disadvantage when it comes to green tech is precisely wrong, and may come from a straw man definition of what green tech is. This has certainly been a problem with pronouncements by Jock Finlayson, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the BC Business Council.
- By Greg McMullen in response to Regional economic development plan needed for Metro Vancouver
Mike - this is a valid point, but we will not get to affordable housing with median household income increases alone.
Vancouver's median multiple - median house price divided by median household income - is 10.6, with a median house price of $678,500 and a median income of $63,800.The median house price in Toronto is $406,400, with a median household income of $73,600 (5.5, rated severely unaffordable).
If Vancouver had Toronto's median household income, its median multiple would be 9.21.
To get to the (still severely unaffordable) 5.5 without lowering housing prices, Vancouver's median income would have to be $123,363, almost twice what it is today. And that's assuming that house prices don't continue to rise.
Two pronged approach, please!
- By Steven Forth in response to "Vancouver's director of planning didn't stand a chance," says Fontaine
Or we do care and in general we support Robertson. He is certainly a better alternative than Anton who was euqally in bed with developers, including those backing the casino.
The real question is whether developers have to much influence in the city period.
- By Editor in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
"Flak jacket", not "flack jacket".
"By and large", not "by in large".
"rank and file Vancouverites who will rise up". Ha ha ha ha ha! Yeah. I hope you're not sitting there at City Caucus holding your breath while you generate inaccurate clichés, awaiting the great revolution.
- By Debra W. in response to "Vancouver's director of planning didn't stand a chance," says Fontaine
As I said earlier...
I too agree that Toderian's firing was shortsighted, wrong, and in the view of the massive amount of monies wasted on this Human resources exercise on the verge of "criminality". How on Earth then, could one call the systematic termination of the municipal bureaucrat?
Not to say that Vision Vancouver is probably one of the biggest threats tyo this once lovely city.
Ballem is a mean, wicked... you know, it sounds like the "beach"!
- By Debra W. in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Thanks, Dr. Unger for pointing that quote out!
I was right in the middle of getting out of here, before scrolling down the comments page, to Remmy's comment. Wow!
I too agree that Toderian's firing was shortsighted, wrong, and in the view of the massive amount of monies wasted on this Human resources exercise on the verge of "criminality". How on Earth could one call the systematic termination of the municipal bureaucrat?
Ballem is mean, wicked...
Glissando, you made my morning, today!
Berry tea and the Ten Little Managers was enough for me! had my laugh.
Thank you.
Mike, your assessment of the City of Vancouver troubles is right on.
Have a great weekend ya' all!
- By bobh in response to "Vancouver's director of planning didn't stand a chance," says Fontaine
Not the way to run a local government in my opinion. But the voters spoke once again and they said that they are happy with the Vision administration. So be it.
- By gman in response to Housing affordability discussed this week
"Lack of education"......mmmmm seems we just haven't been educated properly that we can be very happy living in a box with no parking no yard and hell we dont even need a living room because most of us go out for coffee,go figure.But dont worry,after you complete your education you will be way greener and understand the error of your ways.2+2=5 now do you want the red pill or the blue pill?
- By Dennis O'Bell in response to Housing affordability discussed this week
I've read part way through the action plan doc but then my attention wavered and fell off after seeing references to strategies for federal government involvement, while noticing the federal government in no way contributed or is represented on this doc.
I've seen my fill the past few years of empty vessel zero billion dollar ideas, especially from Vancouver and metro representatives talking all sorts of grandiose affordable housing objectives - suject to higher levels of government involvement.
I would like some indication that there is a 'buy-in' and involvement by the federal government, and not just 'this is how we think the federal government should be involved.'
- By Ned in response to Housing affordability discussed this week
He's not into reading, Julia! Not about homelessness, not about the 1994 Riots, not about the difference between a planner/ engineer/ city bureaucrat. Only thing he reads is his bi-weekly paycheck stub from the city, and it says "you fooled them twice!"... for reassurance.
HAS is a still born conference guys!
- By Julia in response to Housing affordability discussed this week
everyone should read the document- it is excellent. Wonder if Gregor read it.
- By Ned in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
"Vancouver will become an Open Air Casino for the Rich, sorts of a High End amusement park, only... with people, their main attraction being ... you.
That's my 'Longbet'."Mine too... unfortunately :-(
- By Jammie Halliday in response to Social media chosen as Newsmaker of the Year
We're a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with helpful information to work on. You've done an impressive job and our entire community shall be grateful to you.
- By Jeffie Ollhoff in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Price on the CTF & "diminishment" of government
You made some great information there. I did a searching on the subject and found plenty of people should agree with your blog.
- By Mira in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Oh Glissy,
:-):-O :-)"Three Little Managers walking in the Zoo
A big bear hugged Brent and then there were
Two"...Penny Ballem is treating the public purse as if it was hers. Disgusting. The process of firing, severance, hiring of a new employee is costly beyond someone's wildest dreams.
She was the one who needed to get fired! Unfortunately, for that the Mayor needed two balls! Oh wait, he didn't care much about how much the taxpayers will be on the hook for during his MLA catch and release... Mayor, my behind! Phew!
What a bunch of con artists.
- By Richard Unger in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
"It takes a Mayor to wear a Kilt, but it takes a Real Man to "wear" a Mayor... and his Costumed Administration."
Thanks for saying that Glissando,
as this could be the best description of the quality that's left at City hall, now that we know another seasoned professional was kicked out the door.
I don't know much about urbanism , design, cities, other than ... I lived in them, around the country for more than half of a century.
Penny Ballem administration is an classroom example for future generations, of what not to do to city.
She should have stayed in her previous profession, however, I have my reservations about that too.
I wish you well Mr. Toderian.Dr. Richard Unger, MD (ret)
- By Bill in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Both authors fail to distinguish between capital and operating costs and it is an important distinction. Capital costs reflect expenditures that are going to tangibly benefit future taxpayers and in the case of long lived assets, can result in nasty surprises when they need to be replaced. BC Hydro and water infrastructure are good examples where inflation means increased costs to replace the same capacity resulting in an immediate step up in costs.
And you were not quite correct when you stated we vote on a capital plan every 3 years. We actually vote to approve issuing debt which is less than the capital plan. In 2010 we spent $298 million on capital and the vote in 2008 totalled $222 million for the 3 years ending 2011. (spartikus was not aware of this really... makes one wonder)
- By Glissando Remmy in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
"Manufacturing will transform and become local in the next 20 years (happy to take a Longbet on this). Vancouver needs to keep land available for this."
Unless if 'they', manufacture overpriced Juice - "not from concentrate" & "organic"... then, they move to ... Burnaby!
Vancouver will become an Open Air Casino for the Rich, sorts of a High End amusement park, only... with people, their main attraction being ... you.
That's my 'Longbet'.
- By Glissando Remmy in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
The Thought of The Morning
"It takes a Mayor to wear a Kilt, but it takes a Real Man to "wear" a Mayor... and his Costumed Administration."
Brent, what I said before about you, and your leading tactics... fuhgeddaboudit!
They were for satirical purposes only.
Cannot say the same thing about Penny & comp. though.Looking back, and trying forward, from the POV of a Vancouver taxpayer, as a senior manager, you were the only one who drew an honest salary.
Now that you are gone, the City's higher echelon administration can start playing "Where's The Professional?" in the hope that they could, somehow,stumble over... Waldo!
The day this Vision Administration was born, Three Wise Men left Vancouver,so...
Good luck Brent!As for us... we have no choice, we have to stay, cause'...
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
- By Max in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Global BC this morning, the quote used surrounding this story:
"The Mayor said that he was no longer the right fit."
- By Everyman in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Best of luck Brent. I can't imagine the kind of tightrope walking such a job involves.
Like Steven, I'm concerned that the next holder of the job remain committed to maintaining industrial land for future use. I can see it being too easy to look at it as empty land to raid in a futile attempt to provide "affordable" housing.
- By Brent Toderian in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Hi Michael, thank you for your supportive and balanced comments. They are sincerely appreciated. Just for the record though, you know I always call it like i see it, and i don't agree with your comment regarding Telus and the Mayor.
The Telus application is completely in keeping with and supported by our Metro Core Jobs policies (a piece of planning work I'm very proud of). I know you're likely responding to some previous erroneous comment from our friend Michael Geller and a few others, but here are the facts. The portions of the site slated for job space is proposed entirely for such, and in the one corner where the planning lines cross into another "zone", which has always allowed and anticipated residential, that's what we've got, and I feel we've negotiated an exceptionally well designed residential tower. In fact, I've frequently cited Telus as one of the best example of the Jobs policy in action... clear direction for the market of where residential is anticipated (providing body heat and use mix for the area), and where its not (providing the clarity for land values that actually allow the office development to proceed). The developer Ian Gillespie has confirmed many times that if not for the clarity of the Jobs policy, the Telus proposal likely couldn't have happened in the way that it is. I've heard similar things from almost every office provider in the downtown.
I've worked on hundreds of development designs in the almost 6 years I've been at the City, and am proud of them all in some way or another. But among them, Telus stands out as one I'm most proud of my direct involvement in, one of my legacies perhaps, because of the right land-use policy clarity that enabled it, the amenities we negotiated from it (including a new much needed downtown park, and a significant landing of heritage density), and especially the quality of the designs that we achieved in partnership with an exceptional developer and architect.
- By Steven Forth in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
"Brent was a vocal defender of Vancouver's industrial and commercial zoned land."
Mike Klassen seems to get this and it is the main reason I supported him in the last election. From the outside both Vision & NPA seem to be too close to the development industry and it is the development industry that seems to drive the agenda in Vancouver.
Manufacturing will transform and become local in the next 20 years (happy to take a Longbet on this). Vancouver needs to keep land available for this.
- By Mike Klassen in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
I knew I should have checked the spelling! Thanks for the info, Victor.
- By Victor Lee in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Flak jacket. Flack could be overbearing public relations, but Flak ist Fliegerabwehrkanone, aircraft defence cannon FLeieger-Abwehr-Kanone
- By Higgins in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Absolutely right Mike!
Frank's comment was bang on... but... the previous Glissando Remmy's post, is way ahead of our time, three years ahead!
Vision Vancouver were so predictable, how did they manage to fool the electorate is beyond me. :-(
How terrible!
Glissy,
"Ten Little Managers" is a "must have" poem,around the City Hall water-coolers these days, ha, ha!
All Managers pay attention, you could be next!
- By Mike Klassen in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Wow, I had to cut/paste this comment by former city planner Frank Ducote, which I took from Frances Bula's blog.
I want to add to my comments above by wishing Brent well in his future endeavours and also offer my congratulations for leaving a situation that had to be untenable, from a top-down point of view. There seems to be very little emanating from Vancouver City Hall these days that makes it sound like a good place to work without undue interference, second-guessing and micromanagement from above, whether it be from the City Manager or Council.
It should be noted that not only many senior staff have left in recent years but also a great crop of younger staff as well. I’m sorry to say and I hope it isn’t true, but it certainly appears that yesmen and women are what is wanted there now.
As a citizen of this city I want the very best and brightest people to be attracted and retained here, and not chased away.
May be this is too much to hope for in the current environment.
- By Max in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Price on the CTF & "diminishment" of government
Richard:
Just a quick note; no one is tied to a job for life. If you don't like the wage, terms, benefits etc, you have the option of leaving and finding something else.
This seems to be lost on many public sector employees.
They expect the employer to bend to them. Or, that is what their union has led them to believe.
- By Max in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
Mike, your column is bang on.
The $100 question, which Hollyhuckster or Vision 'freindly' will be the replacement.
- By Glissando Remmy in response to Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
The Thought of The Day
“Dunno’ why, the Ten Little Indians poem comes to mind… again.”
I was so ‘young and naive’. Little did I know… :-) not!”
Completely forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me, you funny Vision guys. Looking back now, Reality beat Fiction out of sight!Here’s my interpretation of the New Order at the City Hell… after only few months in (March 2009)!!!
(On Francesbula – ‘City’s general manager of Olympics preparations “retires”)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
glissando remmy // Mar 13, 2009 at 11:15 pm
The original piece, then called “10 Little Injuns”, was written by songwriter Septimus Winner in 1868 for a minstrel show and was much more elaborate.
“Ten Little Indians” is a modern children’s rhyme (sometimes “soldier boys” or “teddy bears” is used instead of Indians to avoid offense). The song, supra, is usually performed to the Irish folk tune “Michael Finnegan”.The rhyme was notable for being the inspiration for Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”.
The disturbing events of the past months made City Hall insiders to cry in amazement and obliged me to revisit this beautifully crafted poem.
I felt a civic obligation to bring it back to life in a new adapted form in sync with the dry suffocating wind that blows mercilessly from the City of Vancouver’s third floor.Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please allow me the honour to introduce to you in premiere the new Vancouver adaptation
“Ten Little Managers”.Note:
(To be framed and hanged in a noticeable place in every Senior Manager’s office for future reference and as reminder of the times we live in)Ten Little Managers
Ten Little Managers going out to dine
Estelle choked her little self and then there were
NineNine Little Managers sat up very late
Judy overslept herself and then there were
EightEight Little Managers travelling to Devon;
Jody got left behind and then there were
SevenSeven Little Managers chopping up sticks
Dave chopped himself in half and then there were
SixSix Little Managers playing with a hive
A bumblebee stung (Your name in here) and then there were
FiveFive Little managers going in for law
Ark, got into chancery and then there were
FourFour Little Managers going out to sea
A red herring swallowed Tom and then there were
ThreeThree Little Managers walking in the Zoo
A big bear hugged Brent and then there were
TwoTwo Little Managers playing with a Taser gun
(Your name here) shot the other and then there was
OneOne Little Manager looked at herself in the mirror
Then, Penny apologetically yelled wheezy…We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy!
Of course I added Ark, Tom and Brent, for good measure.
"Today, it’s baggy shorts, a plaid shirt, sandals, and aviator-style sunglasses that protect his eyes."
YES it is. Perhaps for the summer too!"The local joke was that developers had a bounty on his head. “There were lots of people who tried to get me fired.”"
THEY sure followed through!"Good planning is not a popularity contest.
Being liked is not my priority"…
WELL, for once, you got that right!Now that he's gone, I have to say, I kinda liked the guy, sailing by himself inside a paper boat, on a turbulent, wavy, Vision Administration sea of shit. Hard not to get paper cuts and BS penetrations of some sorts.
I don't worry about him though, he'll quietly take his severance package, sign his non-disclosure agreement aka Ballem gag order, and retire quietly.What worries me is… his replacement!
But, I hope he/she comes from a good Hollyhock family, with a kosher background, preferably "American", because, you know, the same people who hired Ballem and Aufochs… cannot do worse.
I also worry that leaving $100+ million projects in the hands of a Vision Council and Mayor, hey, any Council and Mayor, would be idiotic.
You cannot put competency in incompetents.…
Brent Toderian, City Planner 2006 -2012 (barely) RIP… bench-presses Boeings, inside the City of Vancouver no more.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Read here:
http://twitter.com/glissandoremmyIt means that the Vision Civic cleansing is complete! Detox 100%. All Kosher... on the Western Front!
Now, here's the thing:
For our next civic chapter though… what I would like to know, is this:Who are you, Penny Ballem? We still don't know you (joke), who are you?
(thank you "gman" for the following video :D )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dranqFntNgo
Nobody in West End, Stratchona or DTES know of you (joke), and I want to know, who voted for you (joke), what your credentials are (joke), we never heard of you (joke), we don't know you (joke), and most definitely, we don't want you (not a joke)… eh?
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
- By skippy in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Price on the CTF & "diminishment" of government
Good point on capital versus operating budget. As a for instance, under the COV collective agreement with CUPE 1004 Parks & Recreation, a greenskeeper working at one of the three municipal golf courses earns $30.25/hr with full benefits and a defined benefit pension plan that adds about 10% to the hourly wage. By comparison, a greenskeeper at the Marine Drive/Meadow Gardens is paid a top rate of $21.25/hr, benefits are cost shared with the employer paying 70% and there is no 10% lopped on for the golden COV defined benefit pension plan. So the question is should public sector employees who work in these non-core services
earn a 50% premium above their private sector counter parts? And should the tax payer fund this economic rent?
- By Pat J in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Jordan, 2012: “I do strongly believe that any increase or project that carries the tax burden above the rate of inflation should be subject to a public referendum or significant consultation process to ensure the taxpayers are on board.”
Jordan, 2008: “I am committed to keeping taxes as low as possible. But we also owe it to Langley’s children to build the infrastructure that will keep them safe and healthy and to improve public safety. We must balance both the present and future needs of the Township.”
Gordon: 2012: “[There are] collective benefits that result from the way Canadians are prepared to tax themselves – the benefits which often cannot be measured, at least in dollars. We pay more taxes because we get more value for a collective good. Ourselves. Our community.
I call it a "tie" between Gordon in 2012 and Jordan in 2008. 2012 Jordan a distant third.
- By bobh in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
My suggestion is that you not be particularly concerned with what Gordon Price says. He was an ineffective councilor and now once again he is drawing a good salary from the public purse.. Has he ever had to meet a payroll?
- By Bill in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Good to see you weigh in on this topic, spartikus. Perhaps you would share with us your calculation that showed an average City of Vancouver employee earned about as much as an entire Vancouver family whose taxes pay their salary. Chris Keam doesn't think COV workers compensation is out of line and your calculation might cause him to reconsider.
- By Patrick in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
This one definitely goes to Jordan.
Gordon Price's rant about "de-legitimizing" government was way over the top.
- By R.Isaak in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Price on the CTF & "diminishment" of government
@ Steven Forth I quote you "I have found no consistent evidence that the private sector is more efficient than the public sector in delivering public goods".
This is the most erroneous statement you have typed on any blog in a long time. The notion that any building project (design & build) is better because it is a public sector project is pure nonsense. Just because most industry will not back projects put forward by your smarmy ilk does not make the private sector less efficient. Rather the decision of many private sector companies to stay away says far more than what a delusional blogger can ever attempt to. You are quick to judge one branch of govt. for taxation while backslapping another for exactly the same behavior.
- By Glissando Remmy in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Ooops,
"Czechs" not "Checks"!
- By Glissando Remmy in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Thanks gman,
That clip was a beaut!
I am familiar with Nigel outbursts and I applaud them!
FYI, yesterday 25 out of 27 European states,signed a preliminary... listen to this, it's called a "Budgetary Enforcement Pact", a super wicked proposal put forward by Germany.
UK and the Checks said to EU... "Up Yours!"
And for good measure, I may add.
Gr-eetings!
- By gman in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Did I say to the CTF, thank you so much for trying to keep them honest.Keep up the good work.
- By gman in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
I think GR you would appreciate this old cut. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dranqFntNgo Who do... these people think they are.And guess who has the chair now at the EU.
- By Glissando Remmy in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
The Thought of The Night
"Facebook, Facebook on the Stock,
Who's The Crook on our Block?"In Europe, the EU aka Eunuch Union, wants to impose grave precedents on numerous independent states; they want these states to alter their own Constitutions in order to better serve the Union... LOL!
And, who's behind all this? You guessed...or not, the big Banking Corporations, the International Loan Sharks, headed by the Head Crook of them all, the International Monetary Fund.In essence the idea is simple, force different countries, the ones more susceptible to become financial troublemakers, to accept all the shortcomings from their own bad governments, corrupt politicians, corporate fraud, misappropriation of public funds or banking disasters, at face value, as the home base/ template for future transfer of private debt incurred... to the general public, making in other words, whole countries, to become indebted for generations to come, to the big Banking Jackals.
From Private Mismanaged & Bankrupted Businesses to the Backs of the Unsuspecting Public.
Financial slavery, Twenty-first Century style.
The Destruction of the Middle Class have begun, all right!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ormc47x34U
All they need now is to make sure that the assets can be transferred through predicted default; you lost your job, or your job was off-shored, or you got sick... bam, the next thing you know that personal line of credit you took from your personal banker will make your family and your kid's kids, the "property" of the Corporation.
... it was transpired that the biggest BooBoo in the "social media" is going to go public, I'm talking about the Facebook - I Ponzi O!
Wow!Dunno, is it only me, that thinks that this social media portal is the biggest joke played on millions and millions of people/ investors around the world? Valued at 100 Billions of Dollars... say some. Really?
It could become interesting only if you are one of those owners of ground floor shares. The only product this company delivers is 'unlimited amount of ways' of how to waste your time, all while making your whole personal data available to the biggest bidder.
This is the instrument used to keep hordes of people around the globe... occupied, and... not working!
Good for the entertainment credits though, in case you need them.Why did I bring this angle in here?
Simply because, this is what I think... forget about CTF, what it does or it doesn't, when the shit will hit the ceiling in this country, and it will hit, right after will hit in the US, you'll not have too worry much re your taxes, as you'd probably be worrying on how to get a paying job.It started already in Europe. It will cross the Atlantic, it will cross the Pacific too, circumventing the globe, like satellite debris.
Why don't you... fill the rest of the story, now!?
And meanwhile, don't forget to update your Facebook account...
Hey, that will keep you occupied!
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
- By gman in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Remember this http://www.straight.com/article-438696/vancouver/debate-emerges-over-servicing-citys-debt Dont worry be happy. Interest rates are at a historic low,” Louis told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “If interest rates were to go up by even one percent in real terms, that would add approximately 25 percent—one-quarter—to the debt servicing. It begins to very quickly crowd out operating expenses that are not capital in nature.”
- By Macie Moncher in response to Media Viewpoint: The top city story of 2011
The statistics are really staggering, the stakes will most certainly be massive, it can be tricky to speak about and even more difficult to deal with it. Technologies, counselling, communication... all of them compete with human nature. Plus each and every circumstance is unique.
- By gman in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
Max its so bad in the EU now that Italy passed a law that says you can only withdraw $1000 dollars from your own accounts at one time.They have set up border checks at the Swiss border with cash sniffing dogs,not the kind of thing you will hear on the MSM in this country.Some US towns are so broke they laid off their entire police departments yet we have posters here that think the CTF is the enemy,all I can do is shake my head.Last night I was pricing property in Tonga and the south pacific and it looks pretty good to me.These people will bankrupt this city then sell it off to cover the debt,but thats just part of their agenda.And people think im the crazy one,go figure.
- By Max in response to The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
A friend of mine who has a business in Greece was telling me how expensive it is to have employees. Medical & dental are mandatory and that alone works out to roughly $350/month Canadian.
Wales, where the boyfriend is from - back in 2009, 770,000 unemployed 18 - 25 year olds. Lots of gang and crime issues due to unemployment in that age group.
Funny, recently I was reading an article in the Mail or Guardian, where the UK govt said they would ask or implement that people who had been on the dole for X years, do 30 hours of week in volunteer work or lose their benefits.
The number of people that stated they would give up their benefits before doing volunteer work was staggering. For me, that speaks to how hard they are looking for work.
- By Max in response to Housing is not the only thing that's really expensive in Vancouver
Did you read the recent column in the courier by Mark Hasiuk (sp?)
Australia has placed such a ban on foreign ownership.
- By Max in response to Housing is not the only thing that's really expensive in Vancouver
Those people still live at home in their parent's basement.....
and will be until they are 40 (+/-)
- By Isabel Twito in response to 24 Hours Vancouver: Post mortems on NPA & COPE have begun
This is a site which makes up crazy stories to post for laughs. They sometimes write about things like an alien and Bigfoot having a litter of babies and then selling them for top dollar to A-listers. I don't think that exact article has ever been written, but I've seen things similar to that before.
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- Regional economic development plan needed for Metro Vancouver
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- Housing affordability discussed this week
- Brent Toderian sacked by Vision. What does it mean?
- The Taxpayer Debate: Bateman responds with CTF position on 'balancing priorities'
- The Taxpayer Debate: Price on the CTF & "diminishment" of government
- Housing is not the only thing that's really expensive in Vancouver
- Taxpayer interests vs. union interests
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