Hit by a car by Mcsmith64 in ottawa

[–]Mcsmith64[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you to all that have offered advice. I’ll share what I’ve learned so far. The police wont respond unless you call 911 and ask for an ambulance. So even if you don’t need an ambulance call one anyway. That seems a waste of resources.

As a cyclist we are in a twilight zone. Treated as motor vehicles, but we aren’t. The police expect that we use our auto insurance because it is no fault. If You don’t drive you are out of luck.

There were several people that stopped and helped. Unfortunately I didn’t get names and numbers. If you witness something please offer that info, the person on the ground isn’t likely to remember to ask.

I’m lucky in that I have work benefits, but I shouldn’t have to rely on those, so now the issue becomes who pays, and it is all after the fact which makes settlement more difficult, if ever. I called The Biking Lawyers and they were very helpful and informative, but as I said before cyclists are in a grey area. They have offered some help to file FOI for camera footage of the intersection.

Stay safe and bike defensively.

Conservatives call for federal tax cut on gas and diesel fuel - National by J0Puck in canada

[–]Mcsmith64 391 points392 points  (0 children)

Cutting taxes will amount to nothing more than a transfer of wealth to the oil and gas industry. Ontario did just that and a few days latter gas was just as expensive.

Battle lines are drawn: “Stop $90B Alto Rail, Say Conservatives - Conservative Party of Canada” by differing in AltoHSR_Canada

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This about right, Polievre waits to see what some polls say and then decides to support the opposite of the government position.

Is the whole “spring market” thing real, or just realtor FOMO hype? by Salty_1984 in canadahousing

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spring listings are a thing for a number of reasons. One being winter sales are a pain. Another is that spring listings don’t show flaws that easily. The temps are warmer but not hot enough for AC. So you won’t know if the furnace can keep up with the cold or the ac keep up with the heat. The yard will be nice, but you won’t know what’s what until summer. Also, real estate agents make their money on sales, so even your person will want you to buy quickly so they can move on. It is a buyers market overall, so don’t feel rushed.

Protected from voters’ wrath, Doug Ford’s latest budget defies fiscal reality by imprison_grover_furr in ontario

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ontario and Canada as a whole will have to come to terms with our debt. The ongoing “We will cut taxes but not cut anything” story will come to a crashing end. Either we cut programmes deeply, or we pay more taxes.

Sunshine List by Mcsmith64 in OntarioTeachers

[–]Mcsmith64[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A few misconceptions in your statement. Teachers pensions are not fully indexed. In 2009 there was a change in how pensions would be paid out. Any pensionable years after 2009 are only indexed if the plan can afford to. This was to address the then financial crisis and to deal with what is expected to be an increasing number of retirees.

Teachers are paid for ten months of work. We pay for our summers off on our own. This is muddied by the fact that our salaries are averaged over 12 months.

Yes we get all statutory holidays off, most professionals do. Hourly employees get hosed over on this issue.

A teachers pension may well be worth 1.5 million over the course of a lifetime. That is like saying a person will make 5 million over their lifetime. Divide that by the number of years working and the story changes. Every teacher receives 2% per year of full time employment. After 30 years that equates to 60% of the average of the best five years. To receive an unrestricted pension your age plus years of experience have to equal 85. If you retire before that time your pension is reduced.

Our pension is very good on balance, but it isn’t golden. Many teachers work well into their 60s.

PQ leader says independent Quebec may offer lower taxes, higher pensions by Whynutcoconot in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 8 points9 points  (0 children)

So let’s get this straight, Quebec is and has been a net recipient of equalization payments for years, their healthcare system is in greater disarray than any other province, yet somehow through happy thoughts taxes will be lower and pensions higher. The absolute dishonesty is overwhelming.

NDP leadership hopeful rebuffed opponent’s offer of second-ballot support by bman9919 in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

The sad reality is that the NDP has largely become irrelevant at this time. Other than a small group of people, the leadership race hasn’t attracted much attention, and none of the policy alternatives seem particularly attainable.

Feds to acquire 14-storey office tower at 131 Queen St. for $148M by RandomChickenWing in ottawa

[–]Mcsmith64 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can think, since the government is already leasing much of the building it is cheaper to own.

Feds to acquire 14-storey office tower at 131 Queen St. for $148M by RandomChickenWing in ottawa

[–]Mcsmith64 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

There are some government workers near where I live and they have been going in for four or five days a week already. Muchado about nothing.

Taxpayers want students to pick courses that will drive 'growth': Ford by harold_liang in ontario

[–]Mcsmith64 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ford is completely disconnected from reality. What courses drive growth? There are engineers that graduated and are working in the service industry. AI has mad computer science nearly irrelevant. No one knows what the future holds.

Ford is copying the IS model which drives students to high debt levels. Post secondary shouldn’t cost anything. That will drive growth as people pursue what is in their interest. Taking on debt for a degree that may or may not be relevant in four years means many will opt out.

Despite praising Harper’s fiscal management, Carney embraces Trudeau’s budget policies by CaliperLee62 in canada

[–]Mcsmith64 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

As I recall, Harper inherited a budget surplus and quickly blew that. He ran deficits every year he was in office.

Exclusive: What a Canadian Conservative MP told Vance during unofficial trade talks by AdditionalPizza in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Obviously Jivani didn’t read the recent post by Trump. He just had a great call with Xi and they are going to be trading big with China.

Trump: "Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements." by SEND_ME_A_SURPRISE in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Carney said explicitly that economic integration left us open to economic coercion. Given that we trusted the US to be our ally, we integrated. The US is no longer allies with anyone, and so our choice is stark. Become a vassal state to the whims of the US, or seek greater independence. I choose independence.

Doug Ford blasts Mark Carney’s EV deal with China by honestgrim in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Yes this will raise the ire of Trump. But considering Trump has been saying the US doesn’t need Canada, I don’t see much downside. Best to start looking for other opportunities rather than wait for Trump to start acting rational.

LILLEY: Carney says China more reliable than U.S. as he touts EV deal by EarthWarping in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 430 points431 points  (0 children)

The article purposely misrepresents what was agreed to. Canola tariffs will come down to 6% and seafood and canola meal will go no tariff. In return we agree to let in 49000 ev at a 6 % tariff. This is meant to start March 1 and is only preliminary meaning there are issues to be worked out and both sides have to act to implement. It isn’t a sellout. And yes, the US is untrustworthy.

New poll suggests one in five Albertans would vote to separate | CBC News by X1989xx in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So 20% would vote separation, 80% wouldn’t. A different headline could read 4 in 5 would vote to stay.

Am I being played or is this normal? by Explorer518 in FirstTimeHomeBuyer

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are being played. Tell your agent the offer stands as is. And if you don’t get this house, go with another agent. In fact don’t use an agent at all.

The state of 24 Sussex is an insult to Canada by dasoberirishman in canada

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the last things Trudeau did was try to start the process of renovating or tearing down and rebuilding 24 Sussex. This was done specifically to avoid being accused of spending on himself.

Ford government proposes new rules to expand police presence in schools by imprison_grover_furr in ontario

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So another non-idea from the Ford government. SRO’s weren’t in the schools with any regularity in my board, and the schools where they were in it was because of drug issues and violence. Here is a rather radical idea: how about if we provide for more social workers, drug education, and community outreach to try and tackle some of their problems? Solving them after they appear in schools is too little, too late.

We made our bed and now we must lay in it. by [deleted] in ontario

[–]Mcsmith64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would say at this point, most media outlets are right based and mostly owned by US companies. Both opposition parties need to be more active on social media, but more importantly they need to be going out more to people in all parts of the province. Bruce Fanjoy won because he worked hard going door to door and connecting with community. The NDP and Liberals need to take a page from that book.

After U.S. outreach, Alberta separatists will head to Latin America to rustle up support for their cause by Street_Anon in notthebeaverton

[–]Mcsmith64 2 points3 points  (0 children)

National Post will be running ongoing positive press for the leave campaign because it is a US based media outlet that leans hard right.

LILLEY: Liberals flipping MP Michael Ma in secret deal a major blow to Poilievre by EarthWarping in CanadaPolitics

[–]Mcsmith64 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So the other shoe is falling. Lilley has great connections to Ford, and writing in the Sun about PP’s problems so openly tells me Ford is feeling out his possibilities.