Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Highway 19 Enough of the Political Lies and Engineering incompetence!

There is a plan for highway 19 alright!  It is not to be worked on until 2 other highways are fully  completed one being highway 53 into Fort McMurray which will take at least 10 years and cost twice as many lives in traffic on highway 19.  There is no budget for highway 19 in the Governments figures, that’s how far away things are.   All communities involved are aware of this. Between them they keep the ball in the air.

But, rather than mitigate some of the traffic disasters they chooses to turn a blind eye.  Considering these disasters were caused by stop lights that were slammed into place for a visual political plus and no thought put into how they were going to operate.  They have never been synchronized.

George Rogers the one time MLA for Devon did absolutely nothing for this town in regards to that highway when the opportunity was there.  I'm sure he's still treading water he is very low on the Conservative totem! 

The big screw up is the lights at the intersection of Airport Road, the 711 store and West jet parking.   2 sets of lights not synchronized at all. No thought given to traffic only thought being having a visual traffic post show they did something.

The results are horrendous if you have to drive it. 
The West Light starts red with a sold line of traffic waiting to go through it.
This string of traffic reaches back to the East set of lights.

At the East set of Lights there are people coming from Leduc, Nisku and Highway number two trying to get into a precious slot of any kind!  They have pulled across the oncoming traffic lane solidly blocking it waiting for a light change where, just maybe traffic that comes in on the light change will allow them to finish making the turn.  Traffic shut down 3 ways for hours at times.

If the vehicle happens to be a large truck it will take 5 changes of lights before it gets lined up behind a light to go straight ahead.   Traffic both ways are block solid for 5 changes and catch-up is a game of nerves.

If you happen to work at the Airport as many in Devon and Leduc do, it is a case of driving in the ditch to get into the Airport and looking for a 2 count break in traffic to crash through to get home. 

Because of this Governments absolute lack of commitment  for this area it is a death trap waiting to happen (still again).

The article would not be complete without talking maintenance on that extremely high traffic road.   The service roads (36 St Provincial jurisdiction) are not sanded.   The whole highway 19 is a sheet of ice at the best of times with only a the very minimum  of effort and material put in to make the drive anything other than a death wish.   Fresh snow make a windblown skating rink and no sanders are ever seen on that road!

Industry from Nisku  traffic from Calmar and Devon use this highway and, it is the route given to permitted truckloads by the Department of Highways compounding the risks!   This invites the use of the large high powered pickup trucks with one person singing along, owning the road at 30 km faster than the general 80 km/hr the road allows.   On the gas and on the brakes.  Ignorant bastards inconsiderate of any one else on the road and on a daily basis leap-frogging traffic; cutting off a dozen vehicles every trip to Nisku with every impunity.


Where do you go in this Government to find accountability of the maintenance contractors or the sloppy planning of engineers capable of better?  Or of the acknowledgement that is is the Government that is killing people on that horrible stretch of road, not the drivers.


Map:
One light problem is at the 635-19 marker (above highway 2 North).  This access loop from 2 rushes in to close this light and will stay immobile for 7 or more light changes if a large truck is in play. (This is the preferred route for Alberta highways to permit large loads by)  Because of no synchronization all lights are compromised!
To the left; Range Rd 251B intersects with 36 St E across highway 19
Morning traffic  from Calmar Devon etc are trying for 2 destinations.  The main batch being Nisku; now blocked  by the light above.  Traffic at this point may stretch 15 km west along highway 19.   Vehicles at this point, (usually larger pickups bought for that reason) travel on the shoulder, partially in the ditch in a crush to get to the 36st turnoff into the Airport.

 In the evenings people trying to get home risk their lives;  yes! Really! To get onto highway 19 westbound.  Beyond the split second timing there is the problem of very poor maintenance on this road so there is no grit on the road either 19 or 36 st to provide traction for a quick and controlled crossing.



Friday, January 10, 2014

Devon AB Trails

Before walking we enjoy some wild life in our front yard.

:Loki in his winter coat investigates.
Town Trails even in this extreme snowfall are cleared.  That adds Quality of Life.
Snowshoeing has become popular in and around Devon!  Snowshoe enthusiasts keep trails open for family walks and adventure in the outdoors.
Devon Town trails are all designated "Dogs on Leash"  or "Lead" as some of us say. This is one of the many poop boxes for recovered efforts.  The other side of these containers has a small attachment for dog poop pickup bags.   Now, that is really quality of life!

There must be 30 km of walking trails around Devon.  I don't know the figure but have never run out of somewhere new to go!  And, kept beautifully! Thanks Town of Devon.

Think family outings as you view these pictures.  This is the start of the "Creek Trail" and is designated Dogs on Leash.  The pictures following are a progression down this trail.(one of several trails)
The ever active snowshoe people have broken trail in places that is hard to imagine!

Here, Loki is curious about a beaver slide trail going towards the creek.


This snowshoe trail is leading into the den area of the coyotes!  This person should have had some protests from the little guys.






 Loki is a breed called  "Giant Decker"  He loves the snow but hasn't got the hair for it.












Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Redford goes to India-Theater!

Redford's trip to India is all political theater; part of an even larger venue.

India was obliged to shut down much of its nuclear electrical generation under pressure from the US. This left them with buckets of money which they loaded onto their power people telling them to get some petroleum generation going.

This crew came to Alberta begging to invest multi billions of dollars into the oil sands. 1 Condition; must have pipeline access guaranteed to west coast shipping.

Harper rigged the rules for the hearings. Consequently all environmentalists were knocked out of the conversation. They are doing the same thing on Kinder Morgan in the BC hearings.

Now we have Premier Redford in India on an extended stay under the pretense she is shopping when in reality she is telling them the fix is in the pipeline is a go! 

Her stay is extended; she is nowhere in sight for the shake down of the horrible record of kids who died while in Government care. She's nowhere in sight although the time covers her political tenure.  As Attorney General for many of these years involving deaths, Redford would have immediate and imminent knowledge and had every opportunity to change the system but chose to control the flow of information to its maximum.

Redford took office as Minister of Justice and Attorney General on March 12, 2008 to the end of Stelmach Government for those of  you who want to keep score.

This is part of the reason for her extended stay in India! 

This Government like no other is about self gratification, theater and their own personal rewards! 


The cost of shipping by rail is 10 to 15 dollar per barrel and the cost of shipping pipeline is 1/5th of that.
One doesn't have to be an accountant to follow the dots!

Christie is pushing it all onto the fed when in reality she is part of the original conception. 

Appropriate links can be found here The cost of shipping by rail is 10 to15 dollar per barrel and the cost of shipping pipeline is 1/5th of that.  Rail is a temporary shipping method until such time as the Pipeline is moving oil.




Saturday, January 04, 2014

Conservatives are so deep in trouble Ruters News Service will not put up Critical posts.

The prices of oil are no less than great!  They can sell every drop they can produce.  We have pipelines to handle everything we are producing.  What we don't have is sufficient west coast connection to keep India happy thereby attracting their investment.  Redford isn't over there for the fishing!

China is in the same boat but have committed to a great extent.

The point is, Alberta collects zero for royalty.  The next lowest royalty is Montana stuck at 17% by the Republicans as they were leaving office.
Post not allowed by Ruters:
Ruters Story :
Zacks stock news reports that it costs 5 times more to ship rail than  it does pipeline. Let's follow that.
Zacks tell us Alberta is paying between 2.50 and 2.00 per bbl of oil to ship rail That means Alberta is paying .40 or .50 cents a barrel to ship by pipeline. They allowed Kinder Morgan to rip off the industry with higher pipeline charges on their new line.

The point is Alberta's revenue is looking hundreds of billions of dollars a year simply because Albertans are stuck on a Conservative vote which has done nothing but rob them blind  (Over 700 billion ripped from the heritage Trust fund and plopped into General Revenue to be spent in place of tax money; hence the 10% flat tax of which the general public pay 40% of the total!   There are some real eye openers here.  Get rid of the oil companies personal politics that is  Wild Rose and Conservatives.   Oil put up the cash to pull the Liberals out of debt.  That means they are oil friendly.   Take a look at Sherman's ideas as they roll out.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Alberta Electricity highest priced in North America!

The new power lines are DC whereas the existing ones are AC. AC causes the electromagnetic disturbance people complain about. NIMBYs use it as an excuse to keep "unsightly" power lines out of their neighborhood and the DC has none; they will have to find new complaints.

The DC power lines are larger in diameter than the AC. This is because AC travels in the line and DC travels on the outside of the line. DC does not have the reactance problems (resistance) that AC has so power companies can more exactly meet the actual demand rather than over guess it to prevent outages.
Power companies are looking at a 20% savings in costs adding the same to their profit lines. This 20% would pay for the new power lines 3 times over! But the Conservatives are telling you your power bills are going to go up to pay for the lines.
This is compounded where the cities use the higher chargers either for the electricity or single line charges as a tax bases; this is indirect taxation! 

So long as this province is stuck on PC or WRP who are arguably worse, the middle class will continue to take a beating!

The Calgary Herald who authored the story will not allow posts that are contrary to both the Conservatives and the Wild Rose Party!.  Yeltsin's story sources are subject of another post.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

AutoStart

A holiday break away from politics.  Protect the consumers.
I  had the need to replace a tried and proven remote starter and by a series of defaults I ended up at "Visions".

I told the man what I needed; and he recommended the AUTOSTART  Model as-23TW-FM-V

This unit is said to have 3500 feet of effective communication.

NOT SO!

From the center of a store to the Handicap area- No Response.

From the Doorway of the same store to the rear (not back) of their parking lot.  NO RESPONSE.
There was a dozed snowbank in the area.

What is it good for by default.  From your living room to your street side!

VISIONs who guarantee the world said they should have recommended the unit that was good for 1 mile.  Good for a mile when 3500 feet wont cover a block?? And it would cost me another 700 dollars to fix this oversight!

Fast and loose with number I would say.

My recommendations:  Stay away from Visions for remote car starters.
                                 : Stay clear of AUTOSTART!


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Alberta Conservatives turn health care back still another notch!

Using industry figures 75% of people over 60 will develop cataracts!.  Up until very recently there was only one type of lens which could be used for optimal success.

Unfortunately if one has Astigmatism (35% of the population) that part of the treatment had to remain an eyeglass prescription.

Now, a new development is the ACR Sof  IQ  TORIC lens.

This sweetheart will also fix the Astigmatism encountered by 35 percent of the population.  However the patient has to pay 1000 dollars per lens to cover extra time and costs (procedure said to take 15 mins) Patient will still need reading glasses.

What the Conservative have done is eliminate 35% of the population from health care coverage for lens replacements for cataracts!.   This even though it is the only common sense solution to the problems.  This is not an "upgrade" of the service..It is now a common necessity.  Seniors take another beating again relegated to 2nd class citizenship; again.

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Alberta Update and; its really bad!

There is a Provincial Election just around the corner; even quicker if the Conservatives are successful in bringing up their sagging fortunes.

They have robbed the Heritage Savings and Trust fund of more than 700 billion dollars!  This was done by restricting growth at 5% and taking everything else out of the fund and putting it into General Revenues to be spent along with the other taxes and miscellaneous revenues.

Plus they have abandoned Alberta's royalty which was contracted, leaving it on the profit side of the oil majors.  Alberta producers have been robbed on going with the Brent oil pricing which was no where to be seen 10 years ago.  It is a pricing invention of the Conservatives and the Oil Industry; a tool to further reduce Alberta's fortunes.  Now, their press releases are reduced to "Alberta Looses Millions because of price drops etc. They are talking a projected number of taxes not collected or not available.

Like the Wild Rose Party who's election was run and funded by the oil companies they fully  believe the resources of this province belong to the oil industry, not the people of Alberta.  This is simply Conservative philosophy!

Add to this massive loss to the province the 10% flat tax which is designed entirely for the oil companies saving them more billions while robbing the province.

Now, with a leadership convention around the corner Redford is buying newspaper space to promote how busy and effective she is.

When Christie Clark was in trouble in the BC election she came to Alberta with a public posture that Alberta would pay a great deal before a pipeline would be allowed.  I said at the time the deal was already in place for the northern pipeline; it was all theater!  Now, Redford in the same boat heads for BC and bring back news of a pipeline which has been agreed upon since its conception.

The deals made on pipelines, health care, power lines and generation are all made at the VERY PRIVATE MEETINGS OF PNWER of which Saskatchewan has hosted meetings on more than one occasion.  It is at these meetings it is decided who will announce a "new" program and what press releases to make both sides of the border so that it looks like a large group of individual companies are on side when in reality it is a closed room leaving the party to pull favors from friends.

Total Summary of PNWER This is a club that is very private an attracts people from the Fraser Institute and represents the US Republican agenda far more than any Canadian agenda. 

PNWER is a US Republican Canadian Conservative private club!  Alberta his hosting this years get together   The party (venue) is set to run November 13th to 16th inclusive at Banff.

The papers are awash with news of pipelines and tar sands projects coupled with big money names from abroad and Foreign countries waiting on our doorstop to get a good deal. Its hard to open any paper without seeing something of that nature.

More often you are hearing of the high cost of real estate for schools and the high cost of maintenance for these often neglected schools.  This means  a longer travel for your kids.  It also leaves the opportunity for a private school to be built  closer.  Private schools get the lions share of provincial funding!   This creeping malaise "Conservationism" is forcing public education to the back shelf while pushing the private school concepts forward  as being better and cheaper if only because the public system is too expensive for them.
You are on the verge of loosing your public school system- it is the Republican way!

University funding cuts have been met with a Hummm. from the public.  So Sad.  They are frozen at 1986 levels much less than that now. Your kids are being forced into trade schools; when you sort out the costs and availability you will find you really don't have choice.  

Your high school curriculum is being further reduced to meet the demands of trade school entrance.  This while any number of secondary educators are calling themselves Universities and offering degrees based on this lower entry.  They say they are the same and if you want to go to a real university just pick up your books and walk over there.   

Nothing could be further from the truth!   To move from one of these store front universities to the U of A as an example, your kid will have to upgrade his courses.  That could take him/her 6 months or a year more in school!  And, it costs!  Thousands more!.   Take the time to find out who will employ your kid after they get one of these new degrees.  You will be very surprised when their prospective employers says "Who?" when they are given the name of the local  retail university.  Followed by "Sorry but---!"

I'm calling Bullshit!

Most of the parties mentioned have no exploration leases.  The ones who do have, have not made a step into the field for survey.   Most have not even seen the properties.  This means absolutely nothing is going to happen until long after the next Provincial Election! 

The citizens of this province are being duped. The only money moving is pension funds and without full disclosure that can only be a bad thing.

There will be no new tax income for this province for about 6 or 8 years; beyond still another election.

This document would not be complete without mention of the new power lines; Direct Current.  The new power lines towers and so on are all being paid for by the Alberta Consumers and most are being built by foreign labour forces.  There is no win win on this project for Alberta.  The contrary; its another bleed bleed bleed!

Why the push for DC power above our existing AC system?  Not so straight forward which makes it very easy to manipulate the truth in the news media and feed the public their endless appetite for lies.  They count on the population's greed to propel them into accept BS unquestionably.  They count on electorate ignorance in thinking their personal lot is the same as every ones and it is mystic, distant fortunes who has all but collapsed their incomes.

The DC power lines allow more of the produced power to reach the market place!  Up to 20% more power which means producers are on the cusp of a 20% increase in profits with very little proportionate overhead investment on their part.  No supplier has said they will pass this 20% on in rate reductions!  No!  They have said your power costs will double in the next several years.  

Your crash course in Electricity.
DC travels on the outside of the wire.  AC travels on the inside of the wire. The wire diameters in DC power lines are greater than in the present AC lines.  They weigh more!

Much of the power put on to AC power lines is lost though "reactance" AKA  micro "resistance".  OHM's law does not work on high power.  The electricity cannot be stored.  What is not used is brought to ground and dissipated.  This is also part of the loss.

DC power on the line does not have a resistance to contend with so how much to put on the line to get to the final destination so to speak is nearly finite.  Because the allotments are more accurate little is wasted though the bleed off.  More cash in the pockets of the producers.

DC does not produce and electrostatic field around the power line!  This puts the NIMBY arguments of irradiating their kids and other horror, nonsense stories out the window so to speak.  The DC power towers carry more weight in wire so are built lower and carry more strands.  Now it will be okay to park school buses under the DC lines where not so much under AC lines.

A point not to be overlooked; the power lines were there long before the houses were built.  Who should move?  And, real problems arrive at the door step or, are they playing us like a harp?  I think half a dozen of one and 6 of the other.

The Globe and Mail allowed until yesterday posts and open conversation in their comment section.  Not so any more.  Conservatives are really circling the wagons.  The dissent reports coming from the Calgary Convention are not about what you may think. They are about knowing they will not be elected again why won't Harper bang through the rest of his hate full policies.  On the Globe; one can speculate this is who Harper is going to hand off the CBC to!  Insiders advise me Harper is going to resign before the next election in hopes it will raise that party's image. 


The article starts out:

Saturday, November 02, 2013

OIL U.S. Gulf Coast crude prices are plunging to an all-time low against foreign oil as a flood of domestic production offers refiners a less-expensive alternative to cargoes from overseas.
Light Louisiana Sweet crude averaged $6.54 a barrel less than dated Brent in October, the lowest level on record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Refinery maintenance reduced demand while new pipelines and rail terminals increased supply from the inland U.S. and Canada. The Gulf Coast received the least amount of light, or low-density, foreign oil in September since the government began publishing data in 1986.

There has been trillions of dollars in total ripped out of this province; ripped out of your family and your kids futures.   If you don't get out and vote, nothing will change.  If you vote the same way each time you can expect to get the same result.
I said earlier I would be backing the NDP this election but their complete lack of positions on anything has made me re asses that idea.
The Alberta Liberals on the other hand have come forward with some really good policies. Do away with funding private schools!  That would fix 1000 problems!.   Move away from the 10% flat tax to normal progressive tax program.  Now, that is progressive and means billions more in the provincial coffers.  It effects oil a lot more than the automotive dealer or the store down the street!  In fact both of those stores will profit greatly by these policies.  
There is no doubt Sherman is Conservative but he is displaying a truly progressive line of thinking and is available to defend it.  Gotta like that!










Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Our economies not doing well; here's the test.

If you want to know what is going on in the US and Canadian economies and what your chances are of business growth; look to your news stand; not the TV!

You don't have to be a voracious reader! Look at the thickness of the Monday Morning "US Today" or any of the major Canadian Papers. 

In good, financial times the US Today can be an inch thick as it sits folded on the new stand. Canadian Paper, Monday AM will hold a pretty solid 3/4" thickness. 

These days however these same papers are as thin as a nickel for the most part.  That means the Economy is crap. 

The reason for this very accurate barometer of the economy is advertisement or the lack of it. Not only the pages it fills in a paper but the revenue it represents to buy articles from other organizations!

Become aware of the economies of scale between Canada and the US and/or other trading partners. Alberta and Canada's heavy discounts on our oil are skewing the fundamentals of economy! 

Example. 15 years ago when I was a lot more active than I am now I could look at the Monday morning news and pick up the exchange rate between Canada and he US my principal interest. 

If the exchange was 14% (representing the Economies of scale) I knew I was in for a good week, lots of freight moving both ways. However if the exchange dropped 1% to 13% I knew the week was a goner. That 1% meant the Canadian$ was 1% stronger and the buyers in the US shut down their purchases. This left no loads out of Canada and a sharp increase of loads into Canada as suppliers took advantage of the 1% 

We have been running on nickel thick sized papers for years now. The Conservatives discounting of the oil, our major export, has skewed the Canadian Dollar to an irrelevant position now no more than chewing gum for the mind. 

That said, we have to get up every morning and give it our all if for no other reason than something may fall into our cup.

Friday, September 06, 2013

Conservatives burning up the airwaves doing nothing. Panic Mode!

The Conservatives have lead Albertans into the highest cost of living state in North America.  They keep piling on the costs while cutting services.

The Conservative position is easy to understand!

1. Reduce corporate taxes and any other costs to their lowest possible level.  Cut grade schools to save money to foster the corporate welfare.

2. The only income Alberta receives from the oil  industry is the 6% Can$ announced by Loose Lips Liepert before leaving office.  Because it is Canadian dollar, we are at 5% or below US; the world standard for pricing oil.  The Alberta taxpayers pay for the  oil industries roads, water and power lines.  Our oil, conventional and tar sands oil  is still discounted so that rounds the figure of our take of 3% Canadian.

The only  way they can make money following their philosophy is through taxation on non audited profits.  Yes, taxes from workers and companies is the soul source of income that keeps this province running.  Some small bits of cash comes in on lease sales.

The citizens of Alberta are paying the resource companies to take the oil from the province!

The Conservatives are quick to tell us higher oil prices means windfall profits which, is nothing short of an outright lie.  They also tell us how well small business is doing because of the large amounts spent by oil employees.  Another outright lie!

Only 3 in 4 employees decide to live in Alberta;  25% of these employees commute because of the high cost of living in this province!  They use their home address (not Alberta) for filing taxes.  We loose again!

Here is a good read originating with Stats Can.

Booming oil sands industry not enough to keep workers in Alberta: StatsCan

Only 1 in 4 job seekers staying in the province permanently
      



CALGARY -- A Statistics Canada study suggests that the lure of jobs in Alberta's energy sector isn't enough to persuade out-of-province workers to make a permanent move.
The study found there were plenty of people moving to Alberta between 2004 and 2009. But only one in four who were coming for jobs decided to make Alberta their primary residence. They listed their home province on their tax returns.

"While some of the inter-provincial workers observed in this study subsequently made a residential move to Alberta, at least as identified on their T1 tax return, most did not," wrote the authors, Christine Laporte, Yuqian Lu and Grant Schellenberg.
"It is likely that factors such as family ties, social networks, organizational arrangements (e.g. daycare, school enrollment), home ownership and quality of life were important factors," they wrote.

"Nonetheless, the prospects of readily available jobs elsewhere had appeal. When weighed against the costs of moving inter provincially, the benefits of working inter-provincially was the option chosen by these individuals," said the report.

"Quite clearly, people react to employment opportunities in various ways,and, more broadly, labour markets adjust in various ways."
About three-quarters of the job seekers were men under the age of 35 from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada. Roughly half of those were employed in construction and oil and gas extraction. More than one-third of female inter provincial employees were working in accommodation and food services or retail trade.
In 2004, there were between 62,000 and 67,500 inter provincial employees in Alberta, accounting for about 3.8 per cent of provincial employment. By 2008, the number of inter provincial employees had increased to a peak of 133,000, making up 6.2 per cent of the workforce. The figures fell somewhat in 2009 following the recession.

Alberta's booming energy sector, tied largely to development of the oil sands in northern Alberta, has created a chronic shortfall of qualified workers in recent years. As a result, there has been an increased reliance on temporary foreign workers.

More than 330,000 workers live and work in Canada as part of the federal temporary foreign worker program -- a number that has nearly tripled over the last 10 years, with the bulk of those job seekers going west in search of work.

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/lure-of-alberta-s-jobs-likely-not-enough-to-get-workers-to-stay-in-province-statscan-1.1439949#ixzz2ehFo6SK8


The point is; This Government is robbing us blind at every level and lying about our fiscal positions.

They are down in the polls which show them as not being elected again.

Unfortunately, the Wild Rose Party who seems to be the second contender now is a lot more of a disaster than the present Conservatives.   Oil and Stephen Harper run their last campaign and, I suspect they will do so again.  Your situation will not be any better when them in office.

If you are one of throes people who feels fortunate because of a prospering business or career, think how well off you would be if you were playing with a full deck!

Don't be afraid of a "Left" wing party!  Absolutely no party could do worse or even as bad as what you have now elected!

Here's previous articles that are specific to our operational future and past.

http://albertathedetails.blogspot.ca/2013/01/province-in-rotten-shape-conservative.html

http://albertathedetails.blogspot.ca/2013/01/alberta-to-point-of-no-future-at-all.html
http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2012/08/alberta-losses-billion-due-to.html
and
http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2012/08/alberta-putting-aside-fear-what-do-we.html

http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2012/02/alberta-royalty-explained.html

http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2010/12/alberta-conservativs-pushing-us-style.htmlhttp://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/







Thursday, August 22, 2013

U of A getting special team of Government Auditors to ID cuts


The  Savaging of Alberta's Universities is an easy choice for the Conservatives.  Some campaign basics to explain how we got here.

1. When campaigning don't waste your time in walk up apartments; statistically those people don't vote!

2. When it's time to cut and slash start with the Universities as the people who attend for whatever reasons, statistically do not vote!

A little work by political parties may be able to turn these gold mines of missing votes around but, not soon enough to help now.
--
Alberta Conservatives took advice that they could not "grow big industry" because we were not graduating enough degrees.  The knee jerk reaction was to  freeze funding at Universities at 1986 levels and advertise around the world for degrees to work in Alberta. 

This came with promises of high paying jobs in a safe environment and a certain guarantee of citizenship and housing supports.

It was far cheaper to hire outside the country  than it was to graduate Alberta kids!

The idea caught on fast as did the success of the program.  With this combination of things the Conservatives see no problems in slashing universities to the bone; slashing to the point it ruins the university turning back in 1 year what has taken 100 years to grow.

After the Conservatives get finished with their micro management the U of A will be an "Also mentioned" university of no stature at all.  Gone are the days when a chemistry degree from the U of A is worth its weight in gold!   All thanks to Conservative ideology not a shortage in cash in the province.

The Wild Rose party is totally aligned with this thinking being the spawn of US Republicans.  To Sherman's credit while the Liberals job was to break up the left wing vote (not win any thing) he did suggest help post secondary students but under the logistical make up I don't see how that would be possible with the teaching staff decimated by private audits.

Our grade schools and Hi Schools will follow as they are forced into prioritization.  That will be sold as an act of necessity where in fact it is the cumulative of a long term plan!


Tuesday, August 06, 2013

The Eastern Pipeline Yes? Probably Not!

Consider first the Conservative Majority across Canada that see problems in getting elected again! Now, onto the phantom eastern pipeline and the hoopla surrounding it.  The last time they were in so much trouble they promised a royalty overhaul giving Albertans big profits.  It was a pie in the sky document on the eve of the election that was on analysis; impossible.  Royalty dropped from 16% to 6% and the funds were changed from USD to Can$ a to taxpayers of 18% at that time.

This brings me to the dog and pony show they are now pushing with hopes of winning another election. At Election time they will run out their fear and anxiety card; vote for us or loose a major pipeline.  If you do put them back in; it's my bet and, I'm seldom wrong; there will be no pipeline.  The excuse given; Quebec hold out killed possibilities.

India was obliged by the US to shut down a major Nuclear Generation facility because it could produce Weapons Grade Plutonium. This left India massively short on electrical power. India with lots of cash on hand, directed its Energy Department to scour the world for secure oil supplies to make up this shortfall.

One of the items India settled on was the Alberta Tar Sands and purchased a gigantic lease on which to build a new plant. Conditional; there is a pipeline to tide water to export the product to India. Hence the fumbled mismanaged northern pipeline fiasco that could have been done by now.  Since the original opportunity presented itself, much has changed.   In addition Australia, close to India has discovered huge deposits of shale oil.  One draw back for them Water to flood.

Trans-Canada's  gas exports to Eastern Canada have fallen drastically as has the natural gas reserves in Alberta for which we have received nothing for the provincial coffer. They (Trans-Alta) have been trying for more than 3 years to interest industry  into utilizing that line to ship East and for that same time it has been refused because there is no profit in doing so.

Now, in the latest oil theater a Conservative pipeline agreement has been released and construction of the Eastern pipeline is being seriously considered. It is not a done deal; only news speculation at this point.  It's time line takes it past the next election is the key point and I say again; a toss up as to whether it is done or not.

Alberta collects nothing for oil royalty so that is 30% of taxpayer revenue in the pot to help pay for everything. But; that has been the case for years so, where is the new money coming from?  

We are dealing with a Conservative Government and as Ed Stelmach said; "We are Conservatives; not like those other guys". 

Dig deep folks; you are going to pay for an eastern pipeline out of your household budget one way or another!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Edmonton Journal and parent Post Media Supporting Conservatives!

Hi John,

For the e-paper(replica of the print and you would receive email alerts) the subscription prices are as follows:

For each paper: $9.99/month or $99.90 annually
For Postmedia Library (All Postmedia papers): $24.99/month or $249.90 annually

For access to the website, which is where you can only access 10 free articles a month, the prices are as follows:

For each paper: $.99 for your first month then $9.95/month after that or $99.50 annually

Thank-you


http://www.journalexpress.com/signature/lines.gif
Donna M. Williams
Service Administration Clerk
Reader Sales and Service
P: (780) 498-5755
F: (780) 498-5718
E: DMWilliams@edmontonjournal.com
Edmonton Journal
10006-101 Street Edmonton, AB, Canada T5J 0S1


I can't afford the price needed to continue the wholesale fight for Canada.  Perhaps you would care to donate to the costs?


Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Alberta Heritage and Savings fund: GONE!

The Alberta Heritage and Savings Trust fund is done away with! .   The plan worth  20 billion  in 2006 which was the  remaining is a hold out out of  260 billion dollars not taken to lower corporate (oil taxes).
Now, to do away with public criticism they have renamed it the "Sustainability Account"; a free for all account to buy themselves the next election!   AIMCo are saying it has now dropped to 3.3 billion.  Hardly enough to buy them the next election!

Quote Aimco
Despite the double-digit gains for 2012, AIMCo’s total assets under management declined slightly to $68.6 billion, as the province continued to draw down the balance of its Sustainability Fund. The so-called rainy day fund, which reached a peak of some $17 billion in 2008, held just $3.3 billion of remaining assets at the end of March.
This is your schools, hospitals, health care and so on that there isn't enough money for!
They are picking your pockets clean as they clear the door going out!
History repeats itself.  The Alberta Conservatives put up a make work program for the oil industry that they say cost the "Alberta Taxpayer' 6 billion dollars. They figured this was needed as a large portion of the oil patch crew were illegal aliens and could not collect EI. 
At this same time, AIMCO who handle the municipal pensions, declared a 7 billion dollar loss (10% of their portfolio).  During this same period, others in the same industry declared a 3% gain!
Yesterday Redford tells the world she is going to put more than a billion dollars into flood relief. Now, a day later AIMCo are setting the world up for another loss.
Hardly an arm's length operation!
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