Even More Stories

I told you they never stop

GOVERNMENT PRICING

An interesting Letter to the Editor in the Star:

• "In response to a reduction in revenue caused primarily by a severe downturn in our economy, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel -- the public sector --raised prices.
  
  In response to the same reduction in revenue, the Ambassador Bridge -- the private sector -- offers their customers a rewards card that provides for reduced bridge fares, $3 each way, up to seven cent reduction in the price of fuel at their duty free location and various reductions on products available at the duty free store. "

An interesting column by Anne Jarvis:

• "Rules for selling wine bizarre
  
  Colchester Ridge Estate Winery's 2007 Riesling was the official white wine of Queen's Park last year. It was served in the legislature's restaurant and at events and sold in the gift store.
  
  But you can't buy it at the LCBO. Colchester Ridge, in Harrow, doesn't sell wine at the LCBO.
  
  We have 14 local wineries...
  
  But only four of our wineries sell at government liquor stores. Most can't afford to.
  
  If Colchester Ridge sells a $10 bottle at the LCBO, it gets only about $3.30. That's a big hit -- too big -- for a small winery...
  
  Mastronardi Estate Winery of Kingsville is selling a new rose at the LCBO. It's a $12 bottle, and the winery will get about $4.85. Mastronardi is only doing it to introduce its wines to the public.
  
  Ontario just paid $47,500 to promote Essex County produce. So why does the government make it so hard to buy local wine?
  
  Maybe it's because of the $1.4-billion dividend that the cash-cow LCBO monopoly earned the government last year...
  
  The rules for selling wine in Ontario are bizarre.
  
  If John Fancsy of Viewpointe Estate Winery in Harrow sells a glass of his wine at his winery, he pays the LCBO a six per cent commission. It's like The Sopranos...
  
  Local wineries need a chance to sell their wine without being kneecapped. They need to be able to open shops outside their wineries or in grocery stores and markets."

And some people actually want a Government bridge!

WHO WANTED THE TUNNEL DEAL FIRST

DETROIT NEWS

• "Other items Bing touched on at the council meeting:
  
  He also said Windsor's mayor is interested in reviving a deal on the possible sale of the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel"

WINDSOR STAR

• "The two also discussed the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, Francis said...
  
  “The only reason we got involved was because the previous administration was prepared to dispose of the asset to the private sector,” Francis said. “We indicated in the future if they have discussions (about selling the tunnel) we are available.
  
  “Our priority is to keep it in the public sector. The ball is in their court.”

TAX REBATE

How many weeks has the City strike been over? Are City books in such a bad condition that financial information is not readily available yet?

If you want to see how the media can ask good questions, read the Toronto press.

From the Toronto Sun

• "The city saved a substantial amount of money during the strike, while taxpayers got nothing for their tax dollars.
  
  But Torontonians should not be handed refund cheques for the city's failure to provide the services we expected.
  
  Unfortunately, cash back fixes nothing in this situation. In fact, with the way our city operates, you can bet it would require a huge outlay of cash, mathematical and bureaucratic gymnastics, and enough staff time that the city would argue more staffers must be hired or more overtime would have to be paid to figure it all out.
  
  It won't teach anyone a lesson, either.
  
  And for what?
  
  In Windsor, Mayor Eddie Francis -- who promised refunds for that city's 101-day strike -- figures the amount handed back would be in the range of 1% of property tax bills, or an average of $50 per household."

Not too complimentary to Edgar were they. As the Sun then said:

• "Instead of refund cheques, we'd like to see an official accounting of how much the strike cost the city for everything from temporary dumps to management OT to security and more.
  
  And we want an accounting of exactly how much money was saved through the removal of services.
  
  That overall saving should be a separate line in the 2010 budget.
  
  Whether it's $2 million or $52 million, Torontonians should know exactly how that's being used next year. It must be used to bring down what's promising to be a large property tax increase.
  
  Don't fool us with our own money.
  
  Be crystal clear on how it's being used."

IS THERE A FUTURE IN AIR CARGO

Considering that half of the air cargo is already carried in passenger jets and Windsor has only a few Air Canada Jazz flights per day, will air emission rules further hurt this business making an air cargo terminal for Windsor a huge waste of money:

• "Planes 'to reset climate targets'
  
  The UK may have to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 90% by 2050 to make space for emissions from planes.
  
  That is the warning from the government's official climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee (CCC).
  
  It would mean even bigger emissions cuts than already planned for households and industry in Britain.
  
  But the committee also says global aviation emissions should be capped during the forthcoming Copenhagen climate talks.
  
  The committee was asked by government to advise on what should be done about emissions from aviation.
  
  In a letter to the Transport Secretary Lord Adonis and the Climate Secretary Ed Miliband, the committee says the aviation industry will have to cut emissions from planes back to their 2005 level by 2050."