134 replies to this topic

[lanforod]

The MLAs made a big, big mistake tieing their own compensation to inflation. 

[Bernard]

When you look at the sources of inflation, wages are not a major source.   The economic research is tending towards wages rising as a response to inflation and not wages creating inflation.   And here we all thought inflation was a dead issue for academic research because it had been fixed.

 

I am on the fences of if the current inflation is sitational due to various world events or if it is truly the systemic inflation of the 70s and early 80s.    If it is not systemic we should see an end to the inflation in a year or two.

[lanforod]

I agree with that. However the government sure seems hesitant to tie their employees to inflation levels/COLA.

[Mike K.]

The rate of taxation on gas is high, but not quite that high. It is more like 45%ish

But whatever the reason for the high price, and the high price of many consumer goods and food, there are a lot of people that have gone form having money leftover each month to not making ends meet. Of course they are going to strike for more pay because they are seeing the standard of living fall

It’s just a tad under 70 cents per litre in Metro Van, if you add up the whole shabang: https://www.taxpayer...n-tax-in-canada

[Mike K.]

It also fluctuates as GST is taxed on top of the gas and taxes, so at $2/litre it’s double what it was at $1 per litre.

We have a marrying of great ideas (at the time) with the realities of the current market. High in-migration for the non-labour force (be it wealthy retirees buying or renting homes they are not adding back into the market when they sell or vacate a unit elsewhere, and very low income arrivals that are eventually housed by social housing), high in-migration by the labour force, who have to compete with the above for housing, then there are the locals. Meanwhile, we have politically cut off the supply of land, and are politically increasing the cost to build housing.

The high energy costs are also adding to the high cost of goods on the Island, and by the looks of it government wants even more taxation on energy, despite our region already paying the highest rates in North America.

How long before the Transit Gas Tax rises from 5.5 cents to 7.5 cents or more? It’s nearly 20 cents in Metro Van.

[Vic2Van]

Does anyone have a list of who is running so far for Council in Saanich? 

[Victoria Watcher]

Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch has announced plans to seek a second term in office. 

 

Murdoch said that in his first term, he tried to offer a different approach to good governance, addressing financial shortfalls and tackling housing issues. And despite the pandemic having an impact on council’s goals, the district’s financial health, services and transparency have improved, he said. 

 

“Now that we’ve dealt with a lot of the structural and systemic issues, there are more improvements in services and new initiatives to come,” Murdoch said. 

 

https://www.timescol...lection-5785642

[Mike K.]

I’m hearing the lane reduction on Tillicum north of Gorge is a dog’s breakfast now.

What was Saanich thinking here? It’s a major arterial, and they’ve reduced it to single lane. I can see a lot of frustration from residents over this decision.

[Nparker]

I’m hearing the lane reduction on Tillicum north of Gorge is a dog’s breakfast now...I can see a lot of frustration from residents over this decision.

Hopefully Saanich residents will respond appropriately on October 15.

[lanforod]

I’m hearing the lane reduction on Tillicum north of Gorge is a dog’s breakfast now.

What was Saanich thinking here? It’s a major arterial, and they’ve reduced it to single lane. I can see a lot of frustration from residents over this decision.

Someone in the CoV rubbed off too much. Same for Shelbourne. Why they don’t just appropriate some land to allow for 5 lanes plus bike lanes…

[Nparker]

Why they don’t just appropriate some land to allow for 5 lanes plus bike lanes…

Because it's more of an anti-automobile agenda than a pro-bike agenda.

[todd]

“..The nomination period closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 9, 2022…”: https://www.oakbay.c...october-15-2022

[Nparker]

Not really much of an election in Oak Bay. Hard to believe it's actually adjacent to the CoV.

[todd]

^Don’t judge a book by its cover.

[Victoria Watcher]

The current mayors of Sidney and Central Saanich will run unopposed in this year’s municipal election, while a trio of candidates will compete for the mayor’s chair in North Saanich, where residents will also have the choice of 13 candidates for the six councillor spots.

Respective incumbents Cliff McNeil-Smith and Ryan Windsorwill not face any opposition when running for mayor in Sidney and Central Saanich. Windsor also ran unopposed in 2018. Residents of North Saanich, on the other hand, will either elect Nancy Borden, Peter Jones or Murry Weisenberger to replace Geoff Orr, who announced earlier this spring that he won’t run.

__________

Voter turnout in the last municipal and school trustee elections topped out at 36 per cent in the province, 48 per cent in Sidney, just under 43 per cent in North Saanich and just under 33 per cent in Central Saanich.

https://www.vicnews....race-for-mayor/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 September 2022 - 10:24 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

https://www.saanich....candidates.html

 

 

I see Saanich does not show the candidates' home addresses, and those that have vouched for them have their house number obscured (you can see the street name).

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 September 2022 - 04:38 AM.

[lanforod]

Oy vey. Haynes and Murdock are essentially the same. Both spend way too much.

[todd]

[Mike K.]

Will Southern still appear on the ballot?

[Victoria Watcher]

Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre to host multiple municipal election forums

Forums also scheduled for North Saanich and Central Saanich

https://www.vicnews....lection-forums/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 September 2022 - 12:01 PM.