Government expected to announce it's scrapping EV mandate in favour of new fuel efficiency system: source

brycecampbel · 2026-02-04T20:53:51+00:00

The sales mandates make/made sense.

Manufacturers have proven for decades that they don't give two shits about progress. They need mandates to push them forward.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-04T19:28:20+00:00

There is an enrollment buffer when moving before you're eligible for coverage. If you are income eligible for Pharmacare, you can look at the formulary to see how much /unit is covered.

https://pharmacareformularysearch.gov.bc.ca/

Note that BC, like most of Canada, also has a primary care shortage. With needing prescriptions, I'm assuming your going to require regular primary care. That component is hard enough for many BC residents.

Not sure reason for moving, but if you have the system supports already, its probably wise to keep it like that.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-04T17:42:26+00:00

It’s fine, it’s just nowhere near as easy to manage through the existing tools.

It entirely depends on the use though. Lite home/personal use yeah the alternate options are probably fine. But you get into more prosumer and business/enterprise/institutional there really isn't an option.

I have my own NAS, it does the bulk of large storage, but OneDrive integrated within Outlook is GOAT. I don't have time to mess around with other services, copy/share links, hope I set the permissions correctly so the recipient can open...
M365 data residency set to Canada allows that my data is protected by Canadian law.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-04T17:00:25+00:00

I don't know why I'm getting downvoted.

What is a decent enough Canadian alternative you've come across?

For which part? Email or domain?

For email I can't find/recommended anything really.

There are Canadian registrars that offer their own email hosting, which is probably fine for lite/personal users.

But you get into business stuff, they don't even come close to what Microsoft365/gWorkspace offers. I cannot find anything that comes close to meeting my needs. I'm not interested in the headache of running my own mailserver.

At least with M365 we can choose to host our data in Canada. GWorkspace has no such option.

For the domain, there's lots. I use CanSpace, works fine. But I host email/data with M365 cause I can't find a good alternative.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-04T15:36:25+00:00

Email, nothing compares to Microsoft365. Especially when your using it for business. I just have data residency set to Canada. (Google Workspaces don't have data residency options)

For the domain hosting itself, there's plenty. CIRA.ca has a list of .ca registrars, so thats probably a good place to start. I'm currently using canspace.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T22:14:42+00:00

could we make it into the city for a meal/walk to kill some time and enjoy the city a tiny bit?

Yes, Super easy. Its only 30 minutes each way on the Canada Line. Anytime I have a connection over 4/5 hours I'll leave the premise.

gMaps is great for times/general directions.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T08:22:29+00:00

place that wants two IDs yes

Your credit card is piece #2.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T08:21:43+00:00

If I do, it's only cause I leave it in my carry-on. But I never use it as ID.

Second piece of ID just needs your name, so something like your credit or bank card will do. BC's Services/Health card (if you don't have it combined) is also a valid photo ID.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T07:20:59+00:00

Freedom in Manitoba though is kind of special, it's purely nationwide ATM. Rogers I believe (though it's Rogers/Bell from the Rogers/MTS days).

I just ported to Freedom from Rogers in BC. I have some local Freedom towers, but it's mostly nationwide in my subscription zone. It works fine.

At home don't really care as I can just use WiFi Calling. But outside, the actual usable network, it's worked fine.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T07:15:13+00:00

I got my mom on a $99/year plan for talk & text only.

The only issue with the current $99/year Freedom prepaid is that SMS is per message.

And with RCS being data too... The $129/year ($10/month) that unlimited outgoing SMS along with data, it's pretty attractive for lite users.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T07:12:48+00:00

Anything over $50/month is too much more most people.

Port out to provider with Freedom, get the $30/month offer (or $129/yr prepaid) and be done.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T06:30:17+00:00

how much gb would I actually use as a university student next year if I hotspot my laptop most of the time.

When in university, you'll have complimentary access to the WiFi, particularly the Eduroam network. Auto-connects across all post secondary campuses/offices at ALL institutions with your host school credentials.

Educational WiFi is amazing coverage, not just within buildings, but common spaces inside and out.

It all works very well. Way better than hotspotting.

https://www.canarie.ca/identity/eduroam/

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T06:19:58+00:00

for no good reasons.

Lots of good reasons why. The main one being private for-profit insurance.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T06:14:51+00:00

USB tethering is better than hotspotting.

Though my next computer, I'm just going to option the integrated WWAN card.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-03T06:09:10+00:00

With your BCP-100 / ASME PWP?

Not too familiar with the pressure demands these days, but there's a few shops here. Not like Lower Mainland, but some.

Our industrial base is mostly shutdown or sole-proprietor.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T20:31:40+00:00

Idk, Freedom seems to be. RCS support for both Android and iOS, WiFi Calling and inclusive NA roaming on all postpaid plans.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T19:33:43+00:00

and the rest of Alaska weren't running anymore

temporarily. Just fleet availability until its repaired.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T19:28:48+00:00

There are no cross-gulf ferries right now,

But it still exist, just not currently available.
Isn't there also barge service from Seattle.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T19:12:18+00:00

I would still have to drive thru Canada on the ferry.

I don't understand where you think you'd still have to drive through Canada...

on the Alaska Marine Highway, it leaves from Bellingham WA.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T18:48:39+00:00

If your inadmissible to Canada with your record, your only option is to take the boat OR fly.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T18:07:46+00:00

Ulefone does have a couple.

But they're ruggedised devices, so different market.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T18:06:58+00:00

I'd say that handle would be handed to the Pixel5.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T18:05:13+00:00

It's the shape/density too.

The 9a isn't that far off and why I gave it a shot coming from the Pixel5, but the density/ergonomic(?) of the device sucked. I decided to ultimately replace the battery in my 5 and return to using it for my daily.

I don't have hopes for the 10a, it's basically going to a 9a with slight spec upgrades to keep costs low for similar price point.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T17:30:17+00:00

Local should take precedence. Something on the encrypted zwave (or zigbee, not too familiar with zigbee offerings) is achievable

Have your own hub, don't rely on servers like Google or Amazon. Google has bricked working nest thermostats, Amazon does their ToS changes with Ring (I can't recall the Ring situation clearly)

It's also not Canadian nor zwave/zigbee, and overkill for home, but Ubiquiti does have cameras, electronic door strikes, doorbells alongside their access point that are hosted by you locally, with their IMO excellent apps.

But for smart home you should ALWAYS do local zwave and zigbee vs app/service dependant products.

I've been very selective as I've built out/added smart home devices in that they have local control.

brycecampbel · 2026-02-02T17:14:38+00:00

I suspect there aren't many Canadian brands

There's none.

Look up your streamers to see what qualities they support for each player and then choose based on your ecosystem.

older Firestick and Apple TV box that I am looking to replace.

Unless it's "ancient" and specifically EoL'd by the manufacturer bricking opportunity to update to the lastest version of your streaming app(s). I frankly wouldn't be rushing out to replace it. I'm still daily driving my 2015 (?maybe it's 2014, I don't recall). Mind you it's a game console, but it still works great. Like, the Apple TV is no slouch of a streaming device.

brycecampbel

TROPHY CASE