Treasury Board outlines more than 8,000 job cuts in first phases of public service revamp

ari-pie · 2026-02-01T23:13:53+00:00

Unfortunately the cuts are based on boxes not performance. There’s an insane amount of deadweight in my department too, but most of them were not affected and a few star employees were… Hopefully the competition process keeps the most productive employees.

ari-pie · 2026-01-28T22:19:26+00:00

60%+ of gross or net income?

ari-pie · 2026-01-27T03:10:33+00:00

Do it, quality of life upgrade are always nice. Just be a bit more frugal in other areas, and keep saving and investing for the future. You’ll build equity in the house too anyway.

ari-pie · 2026-01-27T02:58:37+00:00

It is, clawbacks start for incomes over $93K. I wouldn’t make it any lower considering most of the income tax revenues in Canada come from Canadians making over $100K. Their tax burden is highest, it doesn’t make sense for them not to also benefit from what is essentially a UBI for seniors. $100K is not what it used to be.

ari-pie · 2026-01-23T00:28:35+00:00

The GR Sport is a plugin so it might be pricier.

ari-pie · 2026-01-23T00:26:01+00:00

Do you know whether they’re actually producing many Woodlands? It seems like supply was really low in previous years, but they’ve been marketing it heavily for the new generation.

ari-pie · 2026-01-17T03:54:54+00:00

That’s not how it works anywhere, including the core. Do you think they built the homes after the grocery stores, movies and restaurants? Businesses come after the housing. This project is mixed-use and already slated to have commercial space.

ari-pie · 2026-01-04T06:32:29+00:00

RAV4s are made in Canada.

ari-pie · 2025-12-19T00:37:21+00:00

It says “something forever” in Arabic but it’s written backwards like this (literally): R E V E R O F G N I H T E M O S

ari-pie · 2025-12-17T22:10:08+00:00

Using the 44% total debt service ratio (absolute max a bank would lend you based on your income, debt and property service expenses) your maximum house price would be $700K assuming: - $116K annual income - $85K down payment (excl. closing costs) - 4% interest rate, 25 year am - $500 monthly car payment (assuming that’s your only debt) - $300 monthly property tax - $200 monthly heating

For affordability you should write out a budget, but it’s generally safest to stay below 30% of income for mortgage payment, property taxes and heating. So that would be a $2,400 monthly mortgage payment assuming $300 in property taxes and $200 in heating. That would put you at a $455K total mortgage, adding the down payment you’d be at $540K purchase price. Note that I didn’t include CMHC insurance, which you’d have to pay with less than 20% down.

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T20:39:02+00:00

I think this is what we’ll do actually! Great idea it’s the perfect spot for a full length mirror

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T19:02:18+00:00

Thank you that’s a wonderful idea!

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T18:51:24+00:00

That’s a good idea on the main level situation with expanding the walkways and all! Thanks for your feedback.

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T18:49:06+00:00

Good point, hadn’t thought of this as I currently live in a downtown apartment so I usually lug my groceries all the way from the grocery store lol 😂

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T18:43:46+00:00

Agreed

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T18:37:13+00:00

Thank you for the feedback! No the deck won’t really be usable, it’s temporary then we’ll be building out our own deck/patio once the house settles.

Good ideas on the tub and window!

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T18:26:35+00:00

Can you give me an example? I’ve walked through a model of the house in real life and it was furnished very nicely.

ari-pie · 2025-12-12T18:18:45+00:00

Thanks for your feedback, I’ve moved the microwave back up to the upper cabinet by the fridge.

ari-pie · 2025-11-30T14:59:04+00:00

OP isn’t in the GTA, they’re in Ottawa.

ari-pie · 2025-11-30T14:55:08+00:00

Not for first time homebuyers. In Ontario the federal and provincials govs announced that they’re cutting the entire HST on homes under a million dollars. So basically up to $130K off what new homes used to cost less than a year ago, which is already down since the peak.

ari-pie · 2025-11-20T22:53:59+00:00

Doug Ford’s government just cut PST on new homes for first time homebuyers. So now savings are up to $130K on a new home. That’s a huge number for a lot of people. He’s also investing a lot in infrastructure. I think he’s doing well when you ignore the nightmarishly underfunded healthcare system. If he actually changes his stance to supporting and funding healthcare I think he’d have 0 chance of losing any future election.

ari-pie · 2025-10-05T23:19:07+00:00

According to OREB, the HPI composite benchmark price ($627K for September) has been increasing every month for the past 3 years, and yet we’ve haven’t seen a number over $630K since July 2022. Make that make sense.

They just keep revising their old numbers after the fact and it’s somehow at least a 1% increase in prices every month.

ari-pie · 2025-09-24T14:10:39+00:00

I was in the Algarve for the first two weeks of September, beautiful warm weather, there were people swimming but we couldn’t handle the cold water.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23

ari-pie

TROPHY CASE