B.C. Ferries rant number 3 · Friday December 14, 2007 by colin newell
The newest member of B.C.‘s ferry fleet arrived Thursday and the people who didn’t get to build them have a kink or two in their bulkheads.
And so do I.
They’re now urging Ottawa to use the $82 million in import duties to support the province’s shipbuilding industry.
The Coastal Renaissance is the first of three ships to be built in Germany by the Flensburger Shipyard, for a paltry $524 million.
Peter Julian, the NDP-MP for Burnaby-New Westminster, said “about 5,000 direct and indirect local jobs were lost by the short-sighted provincial government investment in the German shipbuilding industry, rather than supporting B.C. jobs.”
At a ceremony for the ship’s arrival, B.C. Ferries president David Hahn said “I am more concerned about lowering ferry fares for British Columbians than subsidizing the shipbuilding industry.”
Say what?
The Flensburger yard was a bankrupt shipyard and the reason it’s able to compete in the manner it does today is simply because the government invested in it. Sound familiar?
Yes, the shipyards of British Columbia are very busy, thank you very much. It is just that the optics of this situation do not bear up under closer scrutiny. For instance, B.C. shipyards were shut out of the bidding process – and that includes the Washington Marine group – current owners of the former Fast-Cat Ferries
So Ottawa. Give us the import duties back… and maybe the Gordon Campbell Liberals can restore the funding to the Women’s Centers in the Province that have faced budget cutbacks this year.
Take a Safe Boating Course and get your Boat License in BC from Boater Exam.
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On the CBC tomorrow · Friday December 14, 2007 by colin newell
Listen for us on CBC’s North by Northwest Saturday morning December 15, 2007 just after the 7:00AM (PST) News.
Head over to cbc.ca
and pick your Radio One audio stream – lower right column on the cbc.ca website or…
For the radio-one stream click here
CBC On the Island - Food bank day 2007 - On the CBC #2 · Friday December 7, 2007 by colin newell
Talking food banks with Ian McFarland
A long time hero of mine, Ian McFarland, was on the radio this morning. Ian worked at CBC’s Radio Canada International in the seventies and eighties – and I was a big fan of his programs.
At 13 years of age and glued to an old tube-type shortwave set, it was a joy to bring in radio stations from around the World – but not as much fun as hearing the voice of Canada coming in over the crackling airwaves.
Enough about me.
Ian and his wife Mary retired to Duncan around ten years ago and that is where we connected – and we have been friends ever since.
Ian’s work with the Duncan food bank has been an inspiration to me. Although retired, Ian works tirelessly to help those who need it the most – at the Duncan food bank; coordinating activities, shopping for groceries, cooking, and stocking the shelves.
Let’s let Ian tell his story to Gregor Craigie of CBC On The Island.Talking food banks with Ian McFarland
It is tough being Santa · Wednesday December 5, 2007 by colin newell
Consider the life of the Red Elf in the year 2007.
Saint Nick’s white gloved hands are always visible and he buys liability insurance, for good measure. He never asks where children live and he has no political stripe.
The man in the red suit endures criminal background checks like everyone else… and if you are Santa, don’t even try to get on an Airplane in North American air space – his instincts for being pilot are simply too strong.
Today’s Santa is poked, prodded and shaped to fit the 21st century. It’s no longer enough to show up at the mall, laugh merrily and balance children on his lap.
In shopping malls across Canada, Santa Claus is watching his back. Todays Santa is politically ignorant… neutral. Santa does not curse and is always Holly Jolly.
One would hope if there’s anyone in this world you can trust, it’s Santa. In 2007, however, Santa is verified by Verisign, MasterCard, EBay and Visa first.
Liability insurance, underwritten from the North Pole, spares Santa from unwarranted litigious grief. And with the question… “Is there Lead in this train-set Santa?” Santa had better answer correctly!
Imagine: A child is walking by and trips – not even near you – and gets hurt – Santa is sued as an attractive nuisance.
Santa shares the same choreographer as Madonna: each word and hand movement is tightly regulated. Tricks of the trade are passed down from Santa to Santa at places like The International University of Santa Claus.
Curriculum includes how to hold children correctly, managing tough conversations and proper care of hair, beard and hygiene.
Santa must never, ever make promises he can’t keep.
But what of the average pre-teen or tween? I picture a 9 year old whose Blackberry incessantly rings during recess… In the guise of Santa I approach with the caution of a seasoned alligator wrestler.
Hello. Excuse me young person… I ask. “Uhm – I am currently skyping, podcasting and social networking here Mister!” as I ask a supervised question – teachers and parents look on… The blackberry chirps again… “Excuse me”, the youngster says… “I have to take this…”
But what of the children?
In my day, lead was an active and prominent ingredient in virtually every toy. And Santa was more like Hulk Hogan than Mister Rogers. Any 300 pound man in a frilly red suit was meant to be scary – it built character and caution into the young ones.
But what of the children?
