Ontario Liberals creating further Eco Fee Ass Co.

Mulder

$5M of our money to keep Eco Fee Ass Co. going.

Why is everyone celebrating?  There was NO win for taxpayers yesterday when the Liberals put a 3 month moratorium on the new Eco Fee.   A fee that turns out to be the biggest tax grab in our provincial history which is a pretty lofty achievement considering the previous two biggest tax grabs were just put in by our Liberals with their health levy a few years ago and the new HST.

At the same time they announced this moratorium, they committed a further $5M out of our regular taxes until an assessment of this ridiculous tax grab is made.  I would go so far as to say that this is meant to appease complainers like me in hopes I will forget that in three months the moratorium will expire and the program will likely be slipped in under the radar again.

So now instead of taxing us at the till, we are being taxed from general revenues to fund a program that needs assessment.   Think about that.  They admit it needs assessment.  Yet they still continue to fund it.   Why do we always end up losing out?  Why can’t they just put a halt on the program outright?

OfficiallyScrewed … again.

ADDENDUM

Lowell Green on CFRA brings up a good point.  Why are we paying a further $5M while assessing this?  Stewardship Ontario has a reserve fund close to $73 Million invested in GICs, Money Market and Bonds which are part of their assets. From Stewardship Ontario’s own website financials.

Below is the Balance Sheet indicating how the assets. (note the comment on Investments)

Below is their statement of variance.  Note how much money they spend in a year and mostly on our Blue Box program.  I always thought my municipal taxes paid for blue box programs.

And now the kicker.  Where the $72+ Million in Investements are.  Completely liquid assets.  So instead of taking a minor hit on the interest and selling $5M of investments, the stinking Liberal McGuintyites are taking the $5M from our general tax revenue when they have completely liquid assets.

McGuinty Robbing Us Blind On Auto Insurance

Mulder

Christina Blizzard has the lowdown here.

Remember the Liberals promising to roll back insurance premiums by 10%? That worked out well, didn’t it? Have you checked your bill lately?

Two sets of numbers released last week suggest Ontario is still one of the highest priced jurisdictions in the country when it comes to auto insurance.

Kinetix, a company that provides on-line insurance quotes, reported Ontario insurance rates had increased 15.2% in the second quarter of 2010 over the same period last year.

Meanwhile, in Quebec, rates fell 8.2% in the same period.

In Alberta, auto insurance decreased 0.2%, the fourth consecutive quarter Alberta car insurance decreased.

OfficiallyScrewed by Dalton McGuinty … Again.

Furthur Part 7 – Mann Center in Philadelphia

Mulder

We’re here. Scene’s better than Mohawk or Ottawa.  Vendors abound.  I resist the temptation to buy a veggie burrito for old times sake.  We have pretty good seats in orchestra B row B just right of centre.  It’s not as hot as Ottawa and we’re in the shade which is nice.

Set 1:

Feel Like A Stranger
Shakedown Street>
Alligator
Money For Gasoline,
Magnolia Mountain
Lost Sailor>
Saint Of Circumstance
In The Midnight Hour

Set 2:
Mountains Of The Moon>
St. Stephen,
Blues For Allah
Terrapin Station Suite,
Let It Grow
Morning Dew,
Unbroken Chain>
The Wheel,
Not Fade Away

E: Brokedown Palace

Of note.  Three Phil tunes and his voice was great at 70 years old.  Kadlecik was simply smoking during Morning Dew.  Joe Russo was awesome during the Terrapin Suite.  Unbroken Chain was great.

p.s. I got my Philly Cheesesteak at a little brew pub called the Sly Fox.  Their Royal Weisse was a REALLY smooth wheat beer.  Kudo’s to their brewmeister.

Furthur Part 6 – Ottawa bluesfest

Mulder

Two Samosas and 2 beers later, I greet Mr. QMS. Two tapers behind me are grooving about shows and equipment. Nice chit chat. One sounds German and the other is from California. Both seem pretty nice.

A non head Halifax next to me was awkward. He was more cleancut than Ward Cleaver. There were two heads from BC staying in St. Catherines parked in front of me. They really seemed to enjoy the show and almost danced as much as I did.

The band comes on late. With bluesfest ending at 11, there seems to be some curiousity about whether they will play two sets. Probably only doing one big one and an encore.

Set list is below.

Alabama getaway
Don’t ease
Mama tried
Dire wolf
Hell in a bucket
Bertha
Truckin>
Smokestack lightnin’>
KCJonz>
Miracle>
Help>Slip>Caution (do not stop on tracks)>
New Speedway Boogie>
Wharf Rat> (a fave of mine)
I fought the Law>
Liberty

After the finale, Phil who is a liver transplant recipient came out which he does all the time and reminded people about being organ donors. I haven’t signed my card but will for Phil and I will turn to a loved one and say “I want to be an organ donor”. You should do the same.

Encore : On the Road Again>
Touch of Grey

The staples of Truckin’, Casey Jones and Touch of Grey for the non head in the crowd seemed to be par for the course.

That’s it, that’s all. I was right on the single set. But it was a long one.

See ya in Philly Boys right after a disgustingly sloppy cheesesteak.

Furthur part 5

Mulder

I’m in. I found a sweet spot next to the walkway where the fence bends so according to the couple next to me we would be protected from the beaten path.

They watch my chair while I grab a couple of pints.  The opening act is on. Sounds like some kick ads Mellon and Black Crowds style. It’s a young Ottawa band called Silver Creek.  (Either they are named after a beer or they could be).  Not bad.

An older man is wearing a QMS t-shirt.  I’m contemplating letting him know my ringing is QMS.  So is half the Officially Screwed audio for my videos.  What a dichotomy!  The dead and my right slant on politics.  But it’s the libertarian way that often straddles that centrist space Canada loves so much.

I need me a bite to eat.

To be continued…

Further parts 4 and more-Blues fest in Ottawa, Canada- July 7th 2010

Mulder

I’m going down the road feeling bad. I exit at Bronson to find somewhere to fill my 2.5 liters worth of empty plastic water bottles. My one vice representative of my conservative values I staunchly hold on to. (Truth be told I was going to bring a giant refillable but the Blues fest said there was no unsealed water bottles. I didn’t want to lose my trusty canteen at the door if even empty it constituted unsealed.

I park at the Museum and immediately lock myself in an emergency stairwell because of stupidity. But realistically the exit door was also locked but buzzed. After some paranoid banging a couple of nice ladies let me out. Breathe Steve breathe.

On site I see the Mill St brewery tents all over staffed by college kids. Cheap labor but it adds a c-note and a line to a resume.

So bottom line is that I am here.

To be continued…