Occupation Vancouver

What message did the occupiers send out to us in Vancouver? It is certainly not very clear whether they knew themselves what they wanted to tell us. We did hear in a garbled way that they were protesting the economic inequalities that exist in our society. But did they present any solution to these inequalities? I cannot remember any solution presented by the occupiers.What we saw was people camping on the steps of the Art Gallery and being fed and cared for free of charge. I wonder if they were there because they had nothing better to do. Were these the people who received welfare, but were not looking for work?

The reaction of the Mayor of Vancouver was in it self questionable. While the majority of the population were becoming incensed by the lengthy occupation of the Art gallery,the Mayor was in no hurry to end the occupation. Since the municipal elections were about to take place, did he see this as an opportunity to gain votes?

BC Mayors vote for gas tax increase

How little imagination do the BC Mayors show about financing the needs of Translink and building the Evergreeen line. Don't they realize that any increase in the price of gas brings about a corresponding increase in the cost of living. Families in BC are already finding it hard to find the resources to pay for the high cost of food and housing in this province. BC is the most expensive province in Canada.

Isn't there anything else that can be taxed to bring in the funds needed for public transportation?This is the only place in the world where you can walk on to a skytrain without showing that you have paid the required fare. I have been in Paris, London, Barcelona, Montreal and New York,and in all these cities I had to show that I bought a ticket before I could get on public transport.

What else can be taxed ? I suggest that we tax luxury items such as liquor, tobacco and other items that cause disease and conduct that leads to crime. We recently saw the effects of liquor during the hockey cup final. Why don't the Mayors suggest an extra tax on tickets to view these events?

Smart meters beneficial to whom?

Smart meters will cost the BC taxpayer $930 million up front. BC hydro claims that they are safe and will save you money. There is no proof that these meters that emit wireless radiation are safe.

David Carpenter, director of the University of Albany's Institute of health and the Environment, says there is evidence that the exposure to radiofrequency radiation at elevated levels for long periods of time increases the risk of cancer and damage to the nervous system.

Why is the BC government still insisting on this misuse of public funds for something that is of no benefit to the BC taxpayer.? What is certain is that they are benefiting a select group of BC Liberal Party-connected insiders who have been awarded lucrative smart meter contracts.

Former BC Hydro engineer and two term Vision Vancouver councillor, George Chow, questions this program. He does not see how typical residential users will benefit from these meters. The Union of BC Municipalities is also urging the government to suspend this project.

Smart meters is the dumbest idea from this government, a $1-billion waste of money with no benefit to the BC taxpayer.

Unfair taxation

Taxation is usually based on income. The more you earn the higher your rate of taxation. The imposition of the HST in British Columbia is the attempt by the Provincial government to change this method of taxation. Instead of taxing income, taxation will be based on consumption of goods. Taxation will be moved from the wealthiest, and spread over the whole population regardless on how much you earn. Politicians can thus claim that they are lowering taxes on corporations and rich individuals, by making even the poorest section of society subject to taxation on everything that they consume. They claim that the tax savings on rich corporations and individuals will lead to the creation of more jobs.

Are we to believe that wealthy corporations and individuals will use the new found profits for the benefit of society instead of paying out their savings in taxes to themselves and stockholders? There is no proof that the adoption of the HST in other provinces has led to the creation of new jobs.

The HST is an unjust tax that spreads taxation from the richest to the poorest.

Example of too little spending on Seniors

I am working with a group of seniors called the "expansion Committee", who are worried about the current overcrowding in the Cameron Seniors Centre. I have studied the historical reason for this current lack of sufficient space in the building. This study has led me to believe that the local authority responsible for this Seniors Centre and three other centres has not given the financial funding that this centre should have received from the very beginning.

This Seniors Centre was not the product of planning by the city planners. It came about by the work of some senior women, who were convinced that Cameron needed a Seniors Centre. Their hard work resulted, as their numbers grew, in recognition by Victoria of their efforts, by approving

a constitution and Charter. At first, they operated in a room that the Recreation Centre did not need, and today they occupy the entire upper floor of this centre.

The seniors have kept on growing in number, and can now count about 1000 members. In fact the

modifications to the Rec centre have been made by the seniors funding 1/3 of the cost of these

improvements. Now they need more than a few modifications to the building, if their activities are not to stagnate. They are presenting a petition to the City of Burnaby to expand the building.

If you , my blog readers, can use whatever influence you have to help these seniors get what

they want from from the Burnaby City Council, I ask you to do so.

New Premier with new promises

This evening BC Liberals chose Christy Clark as their new leader and Premier. She speaks of a new beginning in BC, with an emphasis on "family". But Gordon Campbell's old guard still surround her, and will they welcome change? She will have to be very strong willed to resist their influence.

When she speaks about family, I hope that she remembers that grandparents(SENIORS) are

the foundation on which families are built. Gordon Campbell was not very kind to seniors in this province. When she goes to the polls in the next election, she will have to convince seniors that she is different, and this really a new beginning for the Liberal party.

Seniors ballroom dance group

This evening I attended the Chinese New Year session of the Cameron seniors ballroom dance group. It was a brave attempt by Lisje to organize a dinner for her group of sixty at the lowest possible price of $5 each. That she managed to provide a plate for everyone is to be applauded. If anyone complains, I would say to them that they got more than they paid for. It was interesting to see the organization of the group. She has a great number of willing volunteers. there were glitches that were not their fault. Some outlets in the kitchen did not supply the necessary power for the rice cookers in the small kitchenette whose equipment needs to be overhauled. The more up to date kitchen equipment was in the room rented to the Baptist church.

This is another example of the lack of space in this Seniors Centre. Seniors have to curtail their activities to manage with the limited space at their disposal.

BC leaderless political parties

The political scenario in BC is a very interesting one at the moment. Some people may even find it very amusing. We have the two main political parties in the provincial government without aleader. Both leaders, Gordon Campbell of the Liberal party and Carole James of the NDP party resigned shortly one after the other. Gordon Campbell recognized his unpopularity with the BC people, and Carole James was pushed out by 13 dissidents in her own party.

We now have a number of politicians contesting the empty leaders' seats. On the NDP side we

have the spectacle of a party at odds with its own constitution the demands that one of the three top posts in the party be occupied by a woman. On the Liberal side, we have ex-ministers of the Gordon Cambell government, disclaiming having had any part in the sale of BC Rail.

Christy Clark is the only outsider, who was not in Gordon Campbell's government when he resigned. I do not believe that Ms Clark had any part in the sale of BC Rail. It is quite clear that she supports a referendum on the HST in June, earlier than the September referendum supported by her political opponents. She is the only one who has taken up a clear-cut position. PersonallyI would give my support to her in her quest for the leadership of the BC Liberals.

Too little spending on Seniors Centres

Demographic studies show that in the next 9 to 12 years seniors in BC will grow from 14 % of the

population to 23% of the total population. Yet the majority of Seniors Centres were built at

least 30 years ago to accomodate a senior population that numbered about 10% of the BC

population. Centres for seniors are being squeezed and as a result activities for seniors are

unable to expand for lack of physical space.

Our local governments, who are the major players in creating Seniors Centres, have neglected

spending enough, in response to the growth in the senior population. Their excuse is lack of funds.They must realize that they cannot sit back, and hope that some miracle will occur to

help them cope with a burgeoning senior population who will be quite different from the older

generation. Younger seniors will be healthier, better educated, and their financial situation

will be superior to older seniors. They will need more activities corresponding to their better

health. The days when seniors will be happy sitting down playing card games are over.Local

governments had better wake up to the more active needs of younger seniors.