More Tax? Yes, Please!

Who doesn't love more taxes? However this is exactly what the Toronto city council is mulling over to deal with the budget shortfall. Hmm, forget managing expenses just keep pushing up taxes, that will fix it. Don't panic ... yet. The city needs provincial approval before anything happens but I would be surprised if it happens. The city's spending is out of control. Unions are the cause but also are the dysfunctional city council that always argues over what to do and end up doing nothing.

Oh hey, more good news: TTC fare hike is coming. Guess it's just one of those things we can't avoid, taxes, death, swine flu, and zombies.

Farmer nixes Interweb, cites mutated garlic

A farmer in Nova Scotia has put the brakes on high speed Internet access. His reasons? Mutated garlic. Eastlink, the ISP for rural areas, provides Internet access via microwave towers transmitting signals. The farmer believes that the signals may be harmful to his crops and hence, mutated garlic. The local council so far has supported his objections, however Eastlink has appealed the decision to the federal government, which is expected to rule in their favor. Big business stomps on the local farmer yet again.

NDP to support PC?

Is this politics at it's best? Jack Layton of the NDP is contemplating supporting the Stephen Harper Conservatives and to avoid another election. Does anyone remember the last election and the nasty debate which was displayed on national television in all its glory? Remember the Jack Layton "sweater" comment which clearly hit Stephen Harper below the belt? What happened to all the rhetoric from the NDP about never supporting a Harper government?

My, my, how the tides have turned. Is this all just a scheme to get some EI legislation put through? However, in doing so the NDP would also have to support an attached bill promoting a trade pact with Columbia. How's the dirty politics feeling boys? Either way, the only party really prepared to begin an election campaign are the Liberals. (link)

CRTC slams CBC radio

Remember those offensive episodes of "Bye Bye" last year? Well the CRTC did. The Canadian regulator slammed the French radio CBC show for several violations. The so-called-edgy show is probably most known for it's Obama assassination commentary which resulted in several hundred complaints. Not only did they produce the offensive racist bit, they ran it again on January 1st before 9pm to expose it to a younger audience. Bravo, Quebec culture at it's best. To top it all off, your tax dollars pay to produce it. Outraged yet?

As punishment the CRTC ordered the broadcaster to apologize to it's audience, ooh, that will teach them. Does anyone get the feeling Canada is too tolerant?

Promises, promises ...

It looks like York University students will have to wait a bit longer for their rapid bus route. A project that was supposed to be done last year and then finally due to open next week will be delayed until November at the earliest. Promises, promises *tsk *tsk. At least it will EVENTUALLY get done so students have something to look forward to. If you're a former York University student who had to bus it to campus everyday, you know what I'm talking about. The ttc ride from the bus station sucks bigtime. Fighting the mobs, running to get into the next line, only to see the bus get full before you could jump on. Ahh, those were the days.

New subway line due to open in 2015. Expect delays.

Do Not Call List Warning to Telemarketers

Well it appears that "do not call list" is proving to have some teeth. 3 telemarketers were fined for violations. According to the CRTC the 3 organizations were notified and warned but failed to correct their actions. Yay, for the CRTC. They are actually doing something with that CRTC fee that comes on my cable bill. I don't what's more concerning, the fact that I haven't had these telemarketers call me or that there's many, many more companies still calling. Hopefully these fines will put those companies on notice and the annoying phone calls during dinner will lessen. Die telemarketers! Die! No I don't want a subscription to the newspaper! NO! I don't want to save on my gas bill! NO! I don't want to change my long distance plan!

Who am I kidding?

Now if only the economy would turn around ...

At least some good news. Canada's inflation rate has dropped to its lowest levels in 56 years. So relatively it's cheaper to buy stuff, that's good news. However it's hard to buy stuff when you don't have a job. Just look at the employment numbers, certainly not pretty.

Hyundai Canada is doing its best to kick up business by offering additional incentives to buyers to dump their old clunkers and buy a more fuel efficient car.

Now if only this economy would turn around.