Posts
The Journalism in Alberta has been really good as of recent times, even excellent. No exception to this in Gordon Jaremko’s even handed article on the profits of the oil companies.
At the heart is what we pretty well all know is; if they get windfall profits, better than any place else on this earth, they will come and, they will stay. A no brainer.
My argument has long been we should be receiving at the very least, a royalty that is not less than 80 percent lower than the lowest royalty in the world!
Time for numbers! If we were to add an additional 1% (increasing to 2% the royality paid on deveoping projects and add 15% royalty onto all levels of the tar sands royalties it would increase by 10 times the amount of money received in this province!
Perhaps then the Conservatives could legislate standards of care for seniors?
Would the oil companies suffer? Not at all! It is not that they have to consider costs; it is all cost plus and, my figures will still leave this province with the lowest royalities in the world, bar none!
Their stocks would still pay more than that of banks or other leading industries. They will still have their windfall profits! Consider the high oil prices are expected to continue for another 15 years we have to ask ourselves why are we content with this sham of a program? Do we have to wait through 10 years of BS to get a proper dividend?
I would love to hear from the oil companies if they feel I am in error!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Difference between Liberals and Conservatives?
The Hon. Stéphane Dion, one of the leaders in the Federal Liberal campaign was very candid on TV yesterday. He said “We will do what they do in California; we will do what they do in Australia” and, a few more we will do points.
This is about Globalization. Australia has turned its health care over to private industry entirely and no one in Australia that depends on this service is happy with it. The larger US insurance companies have literally taken over the Auzzie health care! Just as they are finding their way into Canadian Health care.
California was first on board with Globalization. Having no social structure at all, they found it comfortable.
Mr. Martin told us Globalization was good for Canada. Mr. Martin was going head long into privatized health care.
Mr. Dion is simply telling us the way it is going to be under the Liberals. Not much different than the PCs as I read it.
Because provincial parties follow the Feds in most cases, it is time to ask your provincial parties where they stand on some of these issues rather than let them ride the wave of discontent to a cheap win.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
This is about Globalization. Australia has turned its health care over to private industry entirely and no one in Australia that depends on this service is happy with it. The larger US insurance companies have literally taken over the Auzzie health care! Just as they are finding their way into Canadian Health care.
California was first on board with Globalization. Having no social structure at all, they found it comfortable.
Mr. Martin told us Globalization was good for Canada. Mr. Martin was going head long into privatized health care.
Mr. Dion is simply telling us the way it is going to be under the Liberals. Not much different than the PCs as I read it.
Because provincial parties follow the Feds in most cases, it is time to ask your provincial parties where they stand on some of these issues rather than let them ride the wave of discontent to a cheap win.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Thursday, September 14, 2006
New Power line increases more than red herring
New power line hitting consumers hard is more than a red herring!
The Power line project is being spun as an outdated Calgary Edmonton corridor. In truth Edmonton is shipping all the power it can to Calgary now and, Calgary has enough; the lines are more than adequate.
Alta Link ownership is interesting. This used to be your inexpensive Alberta Advantage that the Conservatives thought was obscene.
US Electric Grid entering the end Game - the market you are paying the lines for.
The Oil Companies are bringing power on line to export to the US and to the Alberta market. Sherrittb Fording is going to build a Genesee sized plant at Brooks Alberta. Fording will build the plant, Sheritt will sell them the coal. This will allow Calgary more power than is presently being generated for both areas and, it dosen't need to be moved between Calgary and Edmonton!
ATCO is looking for EUB approval to build a power line down the east boundary of Alberta to Montana. The line to Calgary, charged to the Alberta rate payer will be used to export electricity to the US on lines being paid for by the Alberta consumers.
The costs of power lines like tar sands are not controlled. They are all cost-plus operations and the EUB allows the highest returns in Canada. The Conservatives say all power lines in the province are paid for by the Alberta taxpayer. Your will recall Ralph and Dinning took control of the power lines saying it was to properly distribute power line revenue to school boards.
No where is there a formula for how to charge the exporters for their use of the lines?
As to the cost; these power lines should have been upgraded 10 years ago. Klein turned off the entire infrastructure funding so, no upgrades. Meanwhile, China bought up all the steel stock and supply world wide. Ship salvages operations, scrap yards and mines.
The steel tire rim you bought for 2 bucks 5 years ago will cost you 40 dollars now! And, so went the price of the steel towers.
The oil companies are spending our money (cost plus) on the highest wages in Canada and we pay twice or three times because we have to pay the higher front end away from the tar sands.
The long and the short of it is that the program is going exactly as the Conservatives planned it and we, the taxpayer pay through the nose!
It will take a strong leader to reclaim even a portion of what we have lost.
On another venue;
The Conservative Government has a dog and pony show moving quietly around the country on meetings to find out if we are happy with our 1% royalty take and if we are happy with the environmental impact. They are reported to be using these forums as a platform for scare tactics. If we want a fair share, the oil companies will quit. Don't you believe it!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
The Power line project is being spun as an outdated Calgary Edmonton corridor. In truth Edmonton is shipping all the power it can to Calgary now and, Calgary has enough; the lines are more than adequate.
Alta Link ownership is interesting. This used to be your inexpensive Alberta Advantage that the Conservatives thought was obscene.
US Electric Grid entering the end Game - the market you are paying the lines for.
The Oil Companies are bringing power on line to export to the US and to the Alberta market. Sherrittb Fording is going to build a Genesee sized plant at Brooks Alberta. Fording will build the plant, Sheritt will sell them the coal. This will allow Calgary more power than is presently being generated for both areas and, it dosen't need to be moved between Calgary and Edmonton!
ATCO is looking for EUB approval to build a power line down the east boundary of Alberta to Montana. The line to Calgary, charged to the Alberta rate payer will be used to export electricity to the US on lines being paid for by the Alberta consumers.
The costs of power lines like tar sands are not controlled. They are all cost-plus operations and the EUB allows the highest returns in Canada. The Conservatives say all power lines in the province are paid for by the Alberta taxpayer. Your will recall Ralph and Dinning took control of the power lines saying it was to properly distribute power line revenue to school boards.
No where is there a formula for how to charge the exporters for their use of the lines?
As to the cost; these power lines should have been upgraded 10 years ago. Klein turned off the entire infrastructure funding so, no upgrades. Meanwhile, China bought up all the steel stock and supply world wide. Ship salvages operations, scrap yards and mines.
The steel tire rim you bought for 2 bucks 5 years ago will cost you 40 dollars now! And, so went the price of the steel towers.
The oil companies are spending our money (cost plus) on the highest wages in Canada and we pay twice or three times because we have to pay the higher front end away from the tar sands.
The long and the short of it is that the program is going exactly as the Conservatives planned it and we, the taxpayer pay through the nose!
It will take a strong leader to reclaim even a portion of what we have lost.
On another venue;
The Conservative Government has a dog and pony show moving quietly around the country on meetings to find out if we are happy with our 1% royalty take and if we are happy with the environmental impact. They are reported to be using these forums as a platform for scare tactics. If we want a fair share, the oil companies will quit. Don't you believe it!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Dinning needs to answer some questions.
Mr. Jim Dinning has held executive positions with both Trans-Alta Utilities (who dropped out of the Calgary-Edmonton power line bid) and for ATCO Industries who is waiting to pick that item up.
In both of these companies he would have received stock options and stock as part of his package; this is simply the way these things are done. Mr. Dinning is also the owner of a Old Age Home in Calgary as well as some medical companies.
How will Mr. Dinning separate himself from these companies should on the long shot, he become premier?
There will be much conversation about “Blind Trusts” but, I ask, what good will a blind trust do the taxpayer and, what is a blind trust when the person knows exactly what he has involved?
Further, how can an executive of a Government exempt himself from decisions on major programs of privatization such as Mr. Dinning has planned?
There are questions the conservatives should be asking Mr. Dinning that are not being asked.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
In both of these companies he would have received stock options and stock as part of his package; this is simply the way these things are done. Mr. Dinning is also the owner of a Old Age Home in Calgary as well as some medical companies.
How will Mr. Dinning separate himself from these companies should on the long shot, he become premier?
There will be much conversation about “Blind Trusts” but, I ask, what good will a blind trust do the taxpayer and, what is a blind trust when the person knows exactly what he has involved?
Further, how can an executive of a Government exempt himself from decisions on major programs of privatization such as Mr. Dinning has planned?
There are questions the conservatives should be asking Mr. Dinning that are not being asked.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Keep Foreign Nationals out of our Parliament!
John Clark
14815 – 123 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5L 2Y7
September 13, 2006
The Honorable Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Prime Minister:
I agree senate reform is over due and a good job of reforming should be undertaken at the onset.
In the interest of keeping foreign nationals from meddling in our political body I would very much like to see rules for running for parliamentary office to include the condition that foreign nationals, those people who enjoy dual citizenships between Canada and any other country should not be allowed to run for either parliament or senate.
I would like your assurance this proposal will receive your very serious consideration.
Yours truly,
John Clark.
14815 – 123 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5L 2Y7
September 13, 2006
The Honorable Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Prime Minister:
I agree senate reform is over due and a good job of reforming should be undertaken at the onset.
In the interest of keeping foreign nationals from meddling in our political body I would very much like to see rules for running for parliamentary office to include the condition that foreign nationals, those people who enjoy dual citizenships between Canada and any other country should not be allowed to run for either parliament or senate.
I would like your assurance this proposal will receive your very serious consideration.
Yours truly,
John Clark.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
The shape of America by Allan Dane-Worthwile read
As a electrical engineer who has been employed as both an employee of a large consultine engineering corporation and as an independent consultant to electric utilities I have a few insights to share with you.
Firstly, as you surely know, investor-owned utilities are struggling to obtain capital to construct new generating stations. This is not just in California: it is prevalent throughout North America.
Secondly, the large deficits of the USA from 1970 to 1992 required the individual States and the Federal Government to borrow huge amounts of money, largely from Japan, and interest rates soared, as a consequence, to 20% per annum or higher. No utility can afford such interest rates if it is regulated to 10% profit. As a consequence much-needed new generation was not constructed in the period 1972 to 1992. It is this much-needed new generation that is forcing some California utilities to request "others" to submit tenders to supply them with bulk power which they can retail to their customers.
Thirdly, the present Federal Government of the USA is borrowing about $2 billion each day. The utilities are being "pinched" again. Very little new generation has been constructed since 1992 yet the need for more power continues to grow as a result of increasing population and bigger industries.
Fourthly, you surely know that the automotive industry is virtually bankrupt. The USA soon will be faced with healthcare costs which will be impossible to meet.
Fifthly, the recent blackout in New York City seems to indicate that underground cables had failed. It is much easier to inspect overhead circuits because most of them are clearly visible whereas unerground circuits often require deliberate de-energizing of the circuit to determine if the insulation is in satisfactory condition. In other words, it is more expensive to install circuits underground and it is more expensive to inspect them, on a regular basis, than it is to inspect overhead circuits.
It is insanity to believe that significant percentages of the new service areas of American cities can be served by underground circuits: the capital costs will be too high and maintenance costs will be too high.
Finally, the NERC issued a report in 2004 in which they estimated that North America would need 70 gigawatts of new generation by 2013 and probably would have 68.2 gigawatts at that time. Judging from reported data in 1985, for every dollar spent on new generation there will be need to spend an equal dollar on transmission and distribution. Combustion turbine generation at that time cost about $500 per kilowatt and steam turbine generation cost about $1,000 per kilowatt. With the rapidly increasing cost of fossil fuels there will be a strong tendency to use steam turbines which have much better thermodynamic efficiencies and, of course, there has been inflation...
If North America is to have 68.2 gigawatts of new generation by 2013 investments of approximately $210 billions will need to be made in the next 5 years. The investor owned utilities will have great difficulties assembling that amount of capital in the next two years, make their plans, and execute those plans.... Frankly, I don't think they can do it and, at the same time, repair the damages that are happening....
Allan Dane, M.Sc.(EE)
adane@telusplanet.net
Firstly, as you surely know, investor-owned utilities are struggling to obtain capital to construct new generating stations. This is not just in California: it is prevalent throughout North America.
Secondly, the large deficits of the USA from 1970 to 1992 required the individual States and the Federal Government to borrow huge amounts of money, largely from Japan, and interest rates soared, as a consequence, to 20% per annum or higher. No utility can afford such interest rates if it is regulated to 10% profit. As a consequence much-needed new generation was not constructed in the period 1972 to 1992. It is this much-needed new generation that is forcing some California utilities to request "others" to submit tenders to supply them with bulk power which they can retail to their customers.
Thirdly, the present Federal Government of the USA is borrowing about $2 billion each day. The utilities are being "pinched" again. Very little new generation has been constructed since 1992 yet the need for more power continues to grow as a result of increasing population and bigger industries.
Fourthly, you surely know that the automotive industry is virtually bankrupt. The USA soon will be faced with healthcare costs which will be impossible to meet.
Fifthly, the recent blackout in New York City seems to indicate that underground cables had failed. It is much easier to inspect overhead circuits because most of them are clearly visible whereas unerground circuits often require deliberate de-energizing of the circuit to determine if the insulation is in satisfactory condition. In other words, it is more expensive to install circuits underground and it is more expensive to inspect them, on a regular basis, than it is to inspect overhead circuits.
It is insanity to believe that significant percentages of the new service areas of American cities can be served by underground circuits: the capital costs will be too high and maintenance costs will be too high.
Finally, the NERC issued a report in 2004 in which they estimated that North America would need 70 gigawatts of new generation by 2013 and probably would have 68.2 gigawatts at that time. Judging from reported data in 1985, for every dollar spent on new generation there will be need to spend an equal dollar on transmission and distribution. Combustion turbine generation at that time cost about $500 per kilowatt and steam turbine generation cost about $1,000 per kilowatt. With the rapidly increasing cost of fossil fuels there will be a strong tendency to use steam turbines which have much better thermodynamic efficiencies and, of course, there has been inflation...
If North America is to have 68.2 gigawatts of new generation by 2013 investments of approximately $210 billions will need to be made in the next 5 years. The investor owned utilities will have great difficulties assembling that amount of capital in the next two years, make their plans, and execute those plans.... Frankly, I don't think they can do it and, at the same time, repair the damages that are happening....
Allan Dane, M.Sc.(EE)
adane@telusplanet.net
Saturday, September 09, 2006
A lot of alert people are keeping track for you!
This is a very worthwhile link and an excellent read The Tyee
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Time to contact the PM friends. If we are going to change the senate and, I’m sure we all agree it needs changing; we should incorporate the rule that people holding dual citizenship (such as Alberta’s Senator elect who holds dual Canadian and US citizenship) should not be allowed into office.
We speak of too much US interference in Canadian matters, let’s make an effort to cut it off at the knees!
Quote:
Prime Minister Harper urges action on Senate reform
September 7, 2006Ottawa, Ontario In an unprecedented appearance today before a Senate Committee today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged Senators to join Canada's New Government in bringing long overdue reform to their institution."The Government is not looking for another report. We are seeking action. Action that responds to the commitments we made to Canadians during the recent federal election." said the Prime Minister. "The Senate is changing, and we will be the ones to make it happen.”The Government introduced Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate Tenure) in the Senate on May 30, 2006. It proposes to limit senate terms to eight years for new Senators. Prime Minister Harper urged Senators to pass S-4.The Prime Minister also informed Senators that the Government will introduce a bill this autumn to create a process to choose elected Senators. “This bill will further demonstrate how seriously the Government takes the issue of Senate reform,” said the Prime Minister. “And to Canadians, it will further signal that the Senate is changing.” The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list.
We speak of too much US interference in Canadian matters, let’s make an effort to cut it off at the knees!
Quote:
Prime Minister Harper urges action on Senate reform
September 7, 2006Ottawa, Ontario In an unprecedented appearance today before a Senate Committee today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged Senators to join Canada's New Government in bringing long overdue reform to their institution."The Government is not looking for another report. We are seeking action. Action that responds to the commitments we made to Canadians during the recent federal election." said the Prime Minister. "The Senate is changing, and we will be the ones to make it happen.”The Government introduced Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate Tenure) in the Senate on May 30, 2006. It proposes to limit senate terms to eight years for new Senators. Prime Minister Harper urged Senators to pass S-4.The Prime Minister also informed Senators that the Government will introduce a bill this autumn to create a process to choose elected Senators. “This bill will further demonstrate how seriously the Government takes the issue of Senate reform,” said the Prime Minister. “And to Canadians, it will further signal that the Senate is changing.” The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Re-Live Ralph's fireside.
John Clark
14815 – 123 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5L 2Y7
February 21, 2006
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Honorable Ralph Klein,
Room 307
Legislative Building,
Edmonton, AB T4K 2C6
premier@gov.ab.ca
Dear Premier:
In anticipation of your TV fireside tonight I offer up the following.
Alberta Research Council – Coal Research centre “There is no such thing as clean burning coal.”
Electrical debacle: EUB has approved cost plus operations. That is full cost of construction, research, transportation and entertainment plus a profit running 9% and 12%. There is no audit of expenses to speak of. This means the higher the private company forces up the expenses the more money is returned in profits!
This same plan is in effect in the Oil Sands contracts with various oil companies. Albertans are giving their resource away at fire sale prices and about to get raped on their water as they did on their electricity.
Your people claim they are going to privatize all the water in Alberta. This is thought to be less expensive than maintaining individual treatment plants. I ask you less expensive for whom? The oil companies while retail consumers die?
Your determination is to put all the potable water under the control private industry one way or another. Your first project will be that of centralized water system including pipelines built and maintained by ATCO or BECHTAL.
In bringing this to bear you have systematically cut off support for infrastructure programs including maintenance and improvements over the past dozen years. In addition Alberta Environment has coerced communities into going along by threatening them with no support for their water treatment facilities unless they join the pipe lines.
How long before pictures of Alberta show up on the world media with our water credit card waiting in line with a bucket? Pictures right out of Bechtel drinking water operations in Africa!
The cost of such utility will show directly on consumer’s utility bills which will probably double. Cost plus profit added to the price of water.
Mr. Lougheed of ATCO recently said he would not build power lines as the EUB was not allowing enough profit. They were at 9% profit allowed at the time. Instead he said he would go into the pipeline business where he could see 11% profits comfortably. Profits compounded onto profits. Wow!
Are you going to bring in legislation to tell the cities they have to divest themselves of water delivery systems as you did with Electricity?
I think it is time for Edmontonians, Calgarians and all other community interested people to contact their elected official and ask them where they stand in this scheme! If they are for it, make sure they are not elected again!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
14815 – 123 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5L 2Y7
February 21, 2006
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Honorable Ralph Klein,
Room 307
Legislative Building,
Edmonton, AB T4K 2C6
premier@gov.ab.ca
Dear Premier:
In anticipation of your TV fireside tonight I offer up the following.
Alberta Research Council – Coal Research centre “There is no such thing as clean burning coal.”
Electrical debacle: EUB has approved cost plus operations. That is full cost of construction, research, transportation and entertainment plus a profit running 9% and 12%. There is no audit of expenses to speak of. This means the higher the private company forces up the expenses the more money is returned in profits!
This same plan is in effect in the Oil Sands contracts with various oil companies. Albertans are giving their resource away at fire sale prices and about to get raped on their water as they did on their electricity.
Your people claim they are going to privatize all the water in Alberta. This is thought to be less expensive than maintaining individual treatment plants. I ask you less expensive for whom? The oil companies while retail consumers die?
Your determination is to put all the potable water under the control private industry one way or another. Your first project will be that of centralized water system including pipelines built and maintained by ATCO or BECHTAL.
In bringing this to bear you have systematically cut off support for infrastructure programs including maintenance and improvements over the past dozen years. In addition Alberta Environment has coerced communities into going along by threatening them with no support for their water treatment facilities unless they join the pipe lines.
How long before pictures of Alberta show up on the world media with our water credit card waiting in line with a bucket? Pictures right out of Bechtel drinking water operations in Africa!
The cost of such utility will show directly on consumer’s utility bills which will probably double. Cost plus profit added to the price of water.
Mr. Lougheed of ATCO recently said he would not build power lines as the EUB was not allowing enough profit. They were at 9% profit allowed at the time. Instead he said he would go into the pipeline business where he could see 11% profits comfortably. Profits compounded onto profits. Wow!
Are you going to bring in legislation to tell the cities they have to divest themselves of water delivery systems as you did with Electricity?
I think it is time for Edmontonians, Calgarians and all other community interested people to contact their elected official and ask them where they stand in this scheme! If they are for it, make sure they are not elected again!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Conservatives double postage charges
You hear of big spending for military police and the vancouver games. You hear nothing about increasing seniors pensions to cover the higher cost of utilities and services. You do hear of services cut and now a double hit on postage to the US out of consumers pockets. Bandits!
For Immediate Release
August 30, 2006
Canada Post Goes Ahead with Price Hikes Despite Public Outcry
Ottawa – Liberal Critic for Crown Corporations John McKay is once again calling on Conservative Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities Lawrence Cannon to stand up for Canadian small businesses that rely on Canada Post’s services to mail products to the United States.
“Despite the public outcry Canada Post is still going ahead with its plans to introduce a new “light packet” service for all light weight non-paper items, hiking its rates by up to 100% of the current letter mail service prices,” said Mr. McKay. “This kind of price gouging by a Crown Corporation is irresponsible and disappointing. It reflects a certain level of indifference towards Canadians.”
In a press release issued late last month, Mr. McKay drew attention to the planned rate hike, which would have seen shipping prices rise by as much as 230 percent. He argued that Canada Post’s proposed rate increase far exceeds both the rate of inflation and price increases introduced by US postal services, resulting in harmful consequences for Canadian small businesses.
For example, the cost of sending a 100 gram “light packet” from Canada to the United States will now cost $3.74, while the cost of sending the same packet from the United States to Canada only costs $1.40USD.
In addition, the new service will now require that sellers mail items from local post offices instead of their homes or businesses, resulting in added frustration for small business owners who mail several hundred items on a weekly basis.
Canada Post attempted a similar rate increase in early 2005, but public outcry at the time forced the company to listen to their customers, and retract the rate increase. Another price hike was attempted one month ago, and again, small business owners and eBay sellers responded, and succeeded in forcing Canada Post to postpone the introduction of the new service. The crown corporation is now again attempting to implement the same rate increase.
For Immediate Release
August 30, 2006
Canada Post Goes Ahead with Price Hikes Despite Public Outcry
Ottawa – Liberal Critic for Crown Corporations John McKay is once again calling on Conservative Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities Lawrence Cannon to stand up for Canadian small businesses that rely on Canada Post’s services to mail products to the United States.
“Despite the public outcry Canada Post is still going ahead with its plans to introduce a new “light packet” service for all light weight non-paper items, hiking its rates by up to 100% of the current letter mail service prices,” said Mr. McKay. “This kind of price gouging by a Crown Corporation is irresponsible and disappointing. It reflects a certain level of indifference towards Canadians.”
In a press release issued late last month, Mr. McKay drew attention to the planned rate hike, which would have seen shipping prices rise by as much as 230 percent. He argued that Canada Post’s proposed rate increase far exceeds both the rate of inflation and price increases introduced by US postal services, resulting in harmful consequences for Canadian small businesses.
For example, the cost of sending a 100 gram “light packet” from Canada to the United States will now cost $3.74, while the cost of sending the same packet from the United States to Canada only costs $1.40USD.
In addition, the new service will now require that sellers mail items from local post offices instead of their homes or businesses, resulting in added frustration for small business owners who mail several hundred items on a weekly basis.
Canada Post attempted a similar rate increase in early 2005, but public outcry at the time forced the company to listen to their customers, and retract the rate increase. Another price hike was attempted one month ago, and again, small business owners and eBay sellers responded, and succeeded in forcing Canada Post to postpone the introduction of the new service. The crown corporation is now again attempting to implement the same rate increase.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tar sands royalities.
1% of Gross
vis
25% of net
This from CAPP
Oil sands royalties are 1% of gross revenue until the plant is paid off. After that it's 25% (not 1%) of net revenue until the end of time. If you refer to the following brochure and others listed on the CAPP website under publications, you may be able to find more information. Another recommended resource for information pertaining to royalties is the Alberta Department of Energy.
http://www.capp.ca/raw.asp?x=1&dt=NTV&dn=90360
http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/
I hope this helps you out with some of your questions.
Regards
This from Alberta Connects; Energy.
Yes Mr. Clark the figures representing 1% of Gross and 25% of net can very well be the same number.
Consider the 1% is taken after all expences for the plant building are deducted.
where as the 25% is taken on the net a after all expences for operation are deducted and could very well return the same royality.
I still have trouble seeing the risk that the conservative buddies are taking.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
vis
25% of net
This from CAPP
Oil sands royalties are 1% of gross revenue until the plant is paid off. After that it's 25% (not 1%) of net revenue until the end of time. If you refer to the following brochure and others listed on the CAPP website under publications, you may be able to find more information. Another recommended resource for information pertaining to royalties is the Alberta Department of Energy.
http://www.capp.ca/raw.asp?x=1&dt=NTV&dn=90360
http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/
I hope this helps you out with some of your questions.
Regards
This from Alberta Connects; Energy.
Yes Mr. Clark the figures representing 1% of Gross and 25% of net can very well be the same number.
Consider the 1% is taken after all expences for the plant building are deducted.
where as the 25% is taken on the net a after all expences for operation are deducted and could very well return the same royality.
I still have trouble seeing the risk that the conservative buddies are taking.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Monday, August 28, 2006
Fraser Institute + Klein
Have a lot of catching up to do folks!
Klein is moving on from a regular member to a special spokes man for the Fraser Institute. This works nicely for a comment on the dual citizenship hype of a few weeks ago and the press recently pointing to Harpers pandering to the US agenda.
The Fraser Institute is reported as being a right wing think tank. That it is. Many of its members are US citizens pushing US industry objectives. Many more of these members have dual citizenship being Canada/US. Opening communication across the border is easier when you all belong to the same club.
Mr. Harper, Mr. Manning; the ex Ontario premier are all members of this club and support their views. The softwood lumber deal is a made in Fraser Institute dream as is the Conservative policy.
The globalization spoke of by this group is a thin veil meant to cover Americanization and American colonization.
In this circle Klein slight of hand and outright lies and manipulation of budgets covering the privatization of Alberta resource moves him to Hero status.
I have been advised Alberta's senator-elect also hold dual US Canadian citizenship should any of you wonder about the agenda or direction of this crew.
Klein is moving on from a regular member to a special spokes man for the Fraser Institute. This works nicely for a comment on the dual citizenship hype of a few weeks ago and the press recently pointing to Harpers pandering to the US agenda.
The Fraser Institute is reported as being a right wing think tank. That it is. Many of its members are US citizens pushing US industry objectives. Many more of these members have dual citizenship being Canada/US. Opening communication across the border is easier when you all belong to the same club.
Mr. Harper, Mr. Manning; the ex Ontario premier are all members of this club and support their views. The softwood lumber deal is a made in Fraser Institute dream as is the Conservative policy.
The globalization spoke of by this group is a thin veil meant to cover Americanization and American colonization.
In this circle Klein slight of hand and outright lies and manipulation of budgets covering the privatization of Alberta resource moves him to Hero status.
I have been advised Alberta's senator-elect also hold dual US Canadian citizenship should any of you wonder about the agenda or direction of this crew.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Electrical blackout report in as predicted.
The report on the blackout is in. As expected; no fault. No intentional rip off; just an accidental rip off.
Mr. Norris, One Conservative leadership candidate says he will order a full investigation into the Deregulation of Electricity even though we have proven rules are wrong.
A second Conservative says he will not run again but is going to work with a group to clean up corruption in politics.
What a day!
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Mr. Norris, One Conservative leadership candidate says he will order a full investigation into the Deregulation of Electricity even though we have proven rules are wrong.
A second Conservative says he will not run again but is going to work with a group to clean up corruption in politics.
What a day!
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Highway 19 a Klein personal disaster
Klein’s policies continue to kill people. In his mad rush to privatization he starved any number of infrastructure programs in the name of paying down the debt where in fact it was his normal plan of limiting funding to debilitate a service, and then privatize it as a means of “saving” us.
Highway 19 is one of these shelved projects. Now, with the employment at 110 percent of capacity and construction resources pinned to maximum, there are no men or equipment to do the highway. On top of that, the rates and costs are such that it may cost three times what it would have done, just 5 years ago.
Highway 19 is a symptom; a malady of a problem invented by Klein and, it promises to get worse as his attentions are spent in exploiting the tar sands in such a way that others who follow politically will face penalty if they try to fix the on going disasters.
Rogers, the Conservative rep for the area is trying hard to spin this as a battle for a spot in the construction tier.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Highway 19 is one of these shelved projects. Now, with the employment at 110 percent of capacity and construction resources pinned to maximum, there are no men or equipment to do the highway. On top of that, the rates and costs are such that it may cost three times what it would have done, just 5 years ago.
Highway 19 is a symptom; a malady of a problem invented by Klein and, it promises to get worse as his attentions are spent in exploiting the tar sands in such a way that others who follow politically will face penalty if they try to fix the on going disasters.
Rogers, the Conservative rep for the area is trying hard to spin this as a battle for a spot in the construction tier.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Friday, August 04, 2006
Ralph fixing it so no one can make it right. Not!
The Journalism in this province is getting better and better! Friday August 7th Edmonton Sun, Page 7 Author Darcy Benton, Legislature Bureau. (Link will be posted when one becomes available)
OILSANDS PLAN NOT IN THE CARDS!
This is a response to the Parkland Institute who has pointed out that the new oil sands projects will all but destroy this province. There is not sufficient gas nor water nor infrastructure to support the sales. Some wonder if there is enough money in this province to pay the advanced charges for living as the rush to grab freebies pushes the wages and rents off the map.
Mr. Klein leaving the podium at the last election debate said “I will fix things in this province so none of you guys will be able to change it.” I would hope this statement is enough that a court will view these changes as a mad man’s action and void a number of the lucrative contacts he has given out.
In point Ralph says “The Pembina Institute should keep heir noses out of anyone’s business, especially businesses that want to take risks,”
As far as a plan, he says “To have a long-range plan would be an interventionist kind of policy which says you either allow them or you don’t allow (to proceed). The last thing we want to be is an interventionist government."
No shit Sherlock!
He's a great one for labels.
What risks are the oil companies and power companies taking?
Their arrangement with the Conservative Government is all based on a cost plus operation.
They get a free ride on taxation.
They can spend what ever they want, on what ever they want and charge it off as a development cost. No one audits them!
Your money is sending them on extravagant vacations and buying them SUVs and sports cars.
What is left over after, Albertan’s get less than 1% regardless of what the price of oil is.
They get a free ride on natural gas it us who pay the premiums and go short.
The only risk they run is that a new party in provincial power will have a new judge in the court and that judge will say there is no common equity in these contracts therefore, they are void.
I hear nothing from any of the Conservative leaders to be that will change anything.
We need an election, tomorrow!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
OILSANDS PLAN NOT IN THE CARDS!
This is a response to the Parkland Institute who has pointed out that the new oil sands projects will all but destroy this province. There is not sufficient gas nor water nor infrastructure to support the sales. Some wonder if there is enough money in this province to pay the advanced charges for living as the rush to grab freebies pushes the wages and rents off the map.
Mr. Klein leaving the podium at the last election debate said “I will fix things in this province so none of you guys will be able to change it.” I would hope this statement is enough that a court will view these changes as a mad man’s action and void a number of the lucrative contacts he has given out.
In point Ralph says “The Pembina Institute should keep heir noses out of anyone’s business, especially businesses that want to take risks,”
As far as a plan, he says “To have a long-range plan would be an interventionist kind of policy which says you either allow them or you don’t allow (to proceed). The last thing we want to be is an interventionist government."
No shit Sherlock!
He's a great one for labels.
What risks are the oil companies and power companies taking?
Their arrangement with the Conservative Government is all based on a cost plus operation.
They get a free ride on taxation.
They can spend what ever they want, on what ever they want and charge it off as a development cost. No one audits them!
Your money is sending them on extravagant vacations and buying them SUVs and sports cars.
What is left over after, Albertan’s get less than 1% regardless of what the price of oil is.
They get a free ride on natural gas it us who pay the premiums and go short.
The only risk they run is that a new party in provincial power will have a new judge in the court and that judge will say there is no common equity in these contracts therefore, they are void.
I hear nothing from any of the Conservative leaders to be that will change anything.
We need an election, tomorrow!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Independent review of power rip off does nothing!
Word out today of an independent chair to look into the obscene profiteering of the Electrical industry in this province. The guideline as stated: Only if they have broken rules will there be a problem.
We all know that the 50 million dollar profit shown by LP Energy for their Alberta trade met with Mr. Kleins approval. “The deregulation is working fine” was his response.
If this rip off can happen under our deregulation rules then, the rules are wrong!
The only way to change those rules is to get the Conservatives out of Government!
On another front a new Eco group to take care of Wabanum like mishaps. It should be noted the oil companies had all the men trained and all the equipment to mitigate the circumstance and they never came forward. It was perceived as being a CN problem.
You will note no oil companies were penalized for not showing up. No good Samaritan laws in that business.
Keep track of the costs on this one folks it promises to be a major!
Cyberclark@shaw.ca
We all know that the 50 million dollar profit shown by LP Energy for their Alberta trade met with Mr. Kleins approval. “The deregulation is working fine” was his response.
If this rip off can happen under our deregulation rules then, the rules are wrong!
The only way to change those rules is to get the Conservatives out of Government!
On another front a new Eco group to take care of Wabanum like mishaps. It should be noted the oil companies had all the men trained and all the equipment to mitigate the circumstance and they never came forward. It was perceived as being a CN problem.
You will note no oil companies were penalized for not showing up. No good Samaritan laws in that business.
Keep track of the costs on this one folks it promises to be a major!
Cyberclark@shaw.ca
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Deaths and mayhem attributed to US Power Deregulation.
Submitted by Electricity expert.
Click on Power Outages Hit US Grid; Utility Deregulation to Blame As an electrical engineer who has worked in the electric utility industry for about 15 years, I couldn't agree more with what is in this article if I had written it myself. I add that I was an independent consultant to TransAlta for about 6 months and am holder of an American patent....
Allan Dane, M.Sc.(EE)
adane@telusplanet.net
Click on Power Outages Hit US Grid; Utility Deregulation to Blame As an electrical engineer who has worked in the electric utility industry for about 15 years, I couldn't agree more with what is in this article if I had written it myself. I add that I was an independent consultant to TransAlta for about 6 months and am holder of an American patent....
Allan Dane, M.Sc.(EE)
adane@telusplanet.net
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Enron-Smart Guys in the Room
Those of you who seen this program running Tuesday evening, you will have noticed the extreme similarities between the Enron scam and the rolling black/brownouts in Edmonton.
The Enron program detailed how the Traders coerced generation facilities into shutting down their plants; get inventive was the word.
Rather than the Enron board we have the elected officials of the City of Edmonton; the number of people whose identification is closely guarded by the Alberta Government and of course the Power Corp who own PPAs. These would be the equivalent of the Enron Board of directors.
We are up to our armpits in sleaze in this province thanks to the Conservatives.
I think it may help if you can contact your city elected member and your MLA and ask them just what in the hell do they think they are up to.
Don’t accept “oversights” or “untimely mishaps” or any other such mundane excuse.
It is time to do away with deregulation!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
The Enron program detailed how the Traders coerced generation facilities into shutting down their plants; get inventive was the word.
Rather than the Enron board we have the elected officials of the City of Edmonton; the number of people whose identification is closely guarded by the Alberta Government and of course the Power Corp who own PPAs. These would be the equivalent of the Enron Board of directors.
We are up to our armpits in sleaze in this province thanks to the Conservatives.
I think it may help if you can contact your city elected member and your MLA and ask them just what in the hell do they think they are up to.
Don’t accept “oversights” or “untimely mishaps” or any other such mundane excuse.
It is time to do away with deregulation!
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Monday, July 31, 2006
Think a moment, then go get your money back.
Until the power scam was blown on this blog, the attention was being spun to the inconvenience of it all. Media around the province went along with that and, helped to propagate that line of thinking.
Until this blog put up the numbers, EPCOR was ready to pocket the money and run. The city of Edmonton and those councilors took the same tact! I have been told by Edmonton elected officials they do not want to go back to the regulated system. They privatized EPCOR and it is bringing back a good profit for the city, thank you.
In fact, every one in the chain was happy to pocket the windfall profits no matter how questionable the practice was. No money went out of the system! One department paying another and charging us. Do you hear of any of these crooks saying they will give the money back?
I think we have to look long and hard at our elected officials. All of them seem to be more than happy to pick our pockets given the opportunity!
Why can’t we have the RCMP investigate? Well, the RCMP cannot investigate unless the Attorney General of Alberta gives them the go ahead. You can be very sure the Conservatives would not give such an approval unless they were very sure of a favorable outcome ahead of time.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
Until this blog put up the numbers, EPCOR was ready to pocket the money and run. The city of Edmonton and those councilors took the same tact! I have been told by Edmonton elected officials they do not want to go back to the regulated system. They privatized EPCOR and it is bringing back a good profit for the city, thank you.
In fact, every one in the chain was happy to pocket the windfall profits no matter how questionable the practice was. No money went out of the system! One department paying another and charging us. Do you hear of any of these crooks saying they will give the money back?
I think we have to look long and hard at our elected officials. All of them seem to be more than happy to pick our pockets given the opportunity!
Why can’t we have the RCMP investigate? Well, the RCMP cannot investigate unless the Attorney General of Alberta gives them the go ahead. You can be very sure the Conservatives would not give such an approval unless they were very sure of a favorable outcome ahead of time.
John Clark
cyberclark@shaw.ca
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