New BC Political Discussion - POST BC Election 2017

[Sheba]

Judge finds written attack on climate scientist too ludicrous to be libel

A few climate scientists have found themselves in court in recent years. Generally, they've been the targets of suits, often by political groups filing Freedom of Information Act requests to fish through their emails. But in a couple of cases, fed-up scientists have taken their most vitriolic detractors to court for defamation and libel.

...

Canadian climate scientist Andrew Weaver is in a slightly different position, as he decided to run for office several years ago and is now the leader of the Green Party in British Columbia. In 2015, he won a case against the National Post for an article accusing him of scientific misconduct, though that decision was overturned by an appeals court last year.

A separate lawsuit Weaver filed in 2011 finally came to a decision last week. This one involves retired professor Tim Ball, who has a history of blatantly misrepresenting the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports and comparing such efforts to (you guessed it) Hitler’s Germany.

[WarrenC12]

If you're debating actual science with personal attacks and not other science, you've already lost.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

And they announced to increase the min wage to $15.20.

Now will begin the rapid automation of jobs and increased reliance of temp foreign workers and international students. All this while inflation and housing prices wipes out whatever gain anyone would have seen by then. I also think we'll see a gradual decrease in hours. Studies have shown productivity really goes down hill after the 6th hour of work.

Workers would have benefited by greatly improving the employment standards act over such an increase. My buddy runs a business and said he will now be cutting the paid breaks and lunch he would give his employees. One thing their business has done was reduce the working time from 8 hrs to 7.5 hrs.

I think we will see calls for base income or mass migration of the working class by 2030.

Australia pays fast-food workers $20 an hour and the sky hasn’t fallen

...Wages for service sector jobs tend to be much higher than in Canada, where the dollar currently trades at par with the Australian currency. Entry-level fast-food workers, for example, are paid $20.08 an hour as a base hourly wage. Pay goes up to $25.10 on Saturday, $29.12 on Sunday, and overtime hours are $30.12 for the first two hours and $40.16 for each hour thereafter. On top of this, employers pay 9.5 per cent of wages to every employee's nominated retirement fund. Workers who are non-permanent "casual" employees are generally paid a further 25 per cent of their wages on top of these amounts.

Has the economy crumbled under the weight of high wages? No. The Australian economy has fared quite well by international standards. GDP per capita is healthy at around US$48,000, compared with Canada's $44,000. The unemployment rate is low, at 5.4 per cent nationally. There has not been a recession since the early 1990s. This is arguably in part a result of the buoyancy of demand created by high wages.

Have these wages made life horribly expensive for the consumer? Not really. OECD price level indexes for 2016 place Australia at 125-per-cent OECD average and Canada at 107 per cent. Prices that are sensitive to the cost of labour, such as restaurants, do seem to be higher. However, where prices are higher, they can usually be met by well-paid workers...

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o...nd-the-sky-hasnt-fallen/article38026876/

[whatnext]

Homes for BC. NDP's 30 point plan from the budget:

http://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

[Pinion]

^I was a bit worried about selling this spring if they actually did anything... not worried anymore.

Originally Posted by whatnext

Australia pays fast-food workers $20 an hour and the sky hasn’t fallen

...Wages for service sector jobs tend to be much higher than in Canada, where the dollar currently trades at par with the Australian currency. Entry-level fast-food workers, for example, are paid $20.08 an hour as a base hourly wage. Pay goes up to $25.10 on Saturday, $29.12 on Sunday, and overtime hours are $30.12 for the first two hours and $40.16 for each hour thereafter. On top of this, employers pay 9.5 per cent of wages to every employee's nominated retirement fund. Workers who are non-permanent "casual" employees are generally paid a further 25 per cent of their wages on top of these amounts.

Has the economy crumbled under the weight of high wages? No. The Australian economy has fared quite well by international standards. GDP per capita is healthy at around US$48,000, compared with Canada's $44,000. The unemployment rate is low, at 5.4 per cent nationally. There has not been a recession since the early 1990s. This is arguably in part a result of the buoyancy of demand created by high wages.

Have these wages made life horribly expensive for the consumer? Not really. OECD price level indexes for 2016 place Australia at 125-per-cent OECD average and Canada at 107 per cent. Prices that are sensitive to the cost of labour, such as restaurants, do seem to be higher. However, where prices are higher, they can usually be met by well-paid workers...

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o...nd-the-sky-hasnt-fallen/article38026876/

This is exactly why I'm leaving Vancouver. Underpaid in a mediocre city that's getting worse vs $10+ more per hour in a truly world class city where the government looks after its people.

[cornholio]

Well what a budget. Absolutely nothing for the middle class. Zero. Natta. This budget is all about paying low earners and special interest groups and does nothing to address the issues the middle class is facing. Housing and child care is all for low earners and special interest groups. There are only insignificant savings for the low middle class that completely disappear at a family income of 50k + 50k. Basically low middle class. Also all those PR's and citizens of convenience that claim poverty get full access to all these benefits. Crazy stuff.

Honestly over the past few months I realised nothing was actually going to happen. Absolutely nothing for housing or child care for the middle class or to address the core issues in this region. Once again, like a broken record player. I am so happy I am gone, so much relief and less stress and higher quality of life (the justified stress of others around me really made things so much worse). As someone who is by definition middle class and who would get nothing out of this budget good luck to those in the same class who are still living in Vancouver.

[geotag277]

The middle class housing investment is the 2 billion for rental housing over 10 years. They said they already spent 200 million in 2017 to build 1700 new affordable housing units. I can only conclude that 200 million was woefully short of addressing housing issues in any meaningful way, so I struggle to see how the 2 billion over 10 years will make a material impact.

There does seem to be a lot of child care in the budget.

http://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/childcare/2018_Child_Care_BC.pdf

350$/month benefit for group toddler care.

[Sheba]

THE 2018/19 B.C. BUDGET AT A GLANCE

• A new child care program that makes care effectively free for some low-income families, and offers modest subsidies for others based on income. There’s no mention of when, or even if, government will meet its $10-a-day child care election promise.

• An immediate increase to the foreign buyer tax from 15 per cent to 20 per cent, and an expansion to Kamloops, Kelowna, Greater Victoria and the Fraser Valley.

• The elimination of Medical Services Plan premiums by 2020 to be replaced by a payroll health tax for businesses.

• $6.2 billion over 10 years to create 33,700 affordable housing units.

• A crackdown on fraud and tax evasion in the housing market, as well as a new two per cent speculation tax on those who don’t pay income tax in B.C.

• A hike on the property transfer tax on Feb. 21 from three per cent to five per cent on properties worth more than $3 million, as well as an increase on school taxes.

• A steep hike on tobacco taxes, as well as on taxes for luxury vehicles worth more than $150,000.

• $5.2-billion in new spending over three years, and $5.5-billion in new taxes.

• An estimated $219-million surplus in fiscal 2018/19.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by cornholio

Well what a budget. Absolutely nothing for the middle class. Zero. Natta. This budget is all about paying low earners and special interest groups and does nothing to address the issues the middle class is facing. Housing and child care is all for low earners and special interest groups. There are only insignificant savings for the low middle class that completely disappear at a family income of 50k + 50k. Basically low middle class. Also all those PR's and citizens of convenience that claim poverty get full access to all these benefits. Crazy stuff.

Honestly over the past few months I realised nothing was actually going to happen. Absolutely nothing for housing or child care for the middle class or to address the core issues in this region. Once again, like a broken record player. I am so happy I am gone, so much relief and less stress and higher quality of life (the justified stress of others around me really made things so much worse). As someone who is by definition middle class and who would get nothing out of this budget good luck to those in the same class who are still living in Vancouver.

I'm curious as to what your definition of "middle class" is?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by cornholio

Well what a budget. Absolutely nothing for the middle class. Zero. Natta. This budget is all about paying low earners and special interest groups and does nothing to address the issues the middle class is facing. Housing and child care is all for low earners and special interest groups. There are only insignificant savings for the low middle class that completely disappear at a family income of 50k + 50k. Basically low middle class. Also all those PR's and citizens of convenience that claim poverty get full access to all these benefits. Crazy stuff.

Honestly over the past few months I realised nothing was actually going to happen. Absolutely nothing for housing or child care for the middle class or to address the core issues in this region. Once again, like a broken record player. I am so happy I am gone, so much relief and less stress and higher quality of life (the justified stress of others around me really made things so much worse). As someone who is by definition middle class and who would get nothing out of this budget good luck to those in the same class who are still living in Vancouver.

I disagree, all the housing initiatives benefit the middle class, as does the MSP premium elimination. Similarly the daycare benefits will benefit the middle class, just not to the extent they do the working poor.

The rich got whacked, but I'm not crying over some guy having to pay 20% PST on his next Phantom!

[Xelebes]

BC Liberals accepted money from Chinese propaganda unit

https://thinkpol.ca/2018/02/25/bc-liberals-accepted-money-chinese-government-propaganda-unit/

The BC Liberals accepted money from a media outlet producing propaganda for the Communist Party of China, days after the mouthpiece was exposed as being owned and operated by China’s government.

On November 2, 2015, an exposé by Reuters investigative journalists Koh Gui Qing and John Shiffman uncovered how Beijing’s state-run China Radio International secretly owns 60% of a US company, G&E Studio, whose content is also broadcast in Vancouver, BC[1].

Just 18 days later, on November 20, 2015, the BC Liberals accepted a $5,000 donation from G&E Studio, Election BC’s Financial Reports and Political Contributions System shows[2].

The BC Liberals accepted the donation despite warnings by US officials.

[djmk]

the new payroll tax is scaring the shit out of me.

And how the gov't is spinning this new tax as "The elimination of Medical Services Plan premiums by 2020 to be replaced by a payroll health tax for businesses" but just bogus. This tax going to generate way more money than premiums will.

I can't see why any labour intensive companies will ever set up shops in BC

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by djmk

the new payroll tax is scaring the shit out of me.

And how the gov't is spinning this new tax as "The elimination of Medical Services Plan premiums by 2020 to be replaced by a payroll health tax for businesses" but just bogus. This tax going to generate way more money than premiums will.

I can't see why any labour intensive companies will ever set up shops in BC

I've never had a job in the existence of MSP where my employer didn't already pay my premiums. This is basically the same thing.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I've never had a job in the existence of MSP where my employer didn't already pay my premiums. This is basically the same thing.

your employer paying for your MSP is a taxable benefit. Therefore, you get taxed more for having your employer pay the taxes.

Besides, this is not a tax on income. this is a tax on expense. And it's expected to raise 2.5 Billion more over the next 3 years than the premiums did.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by djmk

your employer paying for your MSP is a taxable benefit. Therefore, you get taxed more for having your employer pay the taxes.

Besides, this is not a tax on income. this is a tax on expense. And it's expected to raise 2.5 Billion more over the next 3 years than the premiums did.

Taxable benefit - yes. So, I will get a net increase in pay. Woohoo! My employer's taxable income will decrease.

Not a tax on income, correct. It's a payroll tax like the employer's portion of EI, CPP, etc.

Not sure where you are getting your numbers on the revenue increase. MSP payroll tax is expected to generate $463M in 2018/9 and $1850M in 2019/20 when it is fully phased in. I expect it to increase with GDP levels from there.

In 2017/18, the last full year of MSP premiums, the revenue generated was $2264M. 2018/9, expected revenue is $1361, then $1033 in 2019/20, and 0 from then on.

All of this is available in the main Budget 2018 document. Remember, MSP was cut in half as of Jan 1, 2018 without an immediate revenue replacement.

[djmk]

I got it from here (plus some other sources):

http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bu...hikes-where-the-new-money-will-come-from

I really think it's a big deal and my office (I'm an accountant) is preparing for what we think are going to be unintended consequences such as a greater push for employers to treat their employees as subcontractors and to move desk jobs to Alberta.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by djmk

I got it from here (plus some other sources):

http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bu...hikes-where-the-new-money-will-come-from

I really think it's a big deal and my office (I'm an accountant) is preparing for what we think are going to be unintended consequences such as a greater push for employers to treat their employees as subcontractors and to move desk jobs to Alberta.

Hmmm, I'm not sure where they are getting their information. The budget spreadsheets don't seem to indicate that, but I haven't plugged everything in to a calculator.

How exactly do employers "treat their employees as subcontractors" without just hiring contractors? You can't just change the labour code.

My industry has a lot of contractors, but they are very well compensated, far beyond a traditional FTE.

Their may be some unintended consequences, but the MSP was a regressive joke of a tax.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by djmk

I got it from here (plus some other sources):

http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bu...hikes-where-the-new-money-will-come-from

I really think it's a big deal and my office (I'm an accountant) is preparing for what we think are going to be unintended consequences such as a greater push for employers to treat their employees as subcontractors and to move desk jobs to Alberta.

Well depending on what industry you’re in good luck getting employees who’d go for that. Employers don’t seem to have clued into that the labour market has shifted in favour of job seekers.

[whatnext]

To reinforce my point from the above post, this was in the Globe & Mail on the weekend, its subscriber only but this is the key point

Growing labour shortages, higher wages a pressing concern for Canadian businesses
After years of creeping recovery, Canadian entrepreneurs are ready to start investing more in their work force – but are finding it difficult to fill their vacant positions.

..Despite regional economic differences, a common theme has begun to emerge across the country. After years in the wilderness, wages for Canadian workers have finally begun to pick up. A boom in hiring in the past year or so, a symptom of the broad-based economic growth that has taken hold across a wide range of sectors and regions, has depleted supplies of workers and left many employers needing to step up their game to fill vacancies, especially in more specialized and skilled positions. Toss in recent minimum-wage increases in Ontario and Alberta, and the result has been evidence of the beginnings of building wage inflation in this country – the final ingredient that economists have long awaited in the long, on-again-off-again recovery from the Great Recession and subsequent oil shock..

..For the country's employers, the question of how to attract and retain skilled staff in the country's increasingly tight and competitive hiring environment – and what it's going to cost them, in terms of more generous wages – has moved from a non-issue a couple of years ago to a pressing concern today.....

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o...-for-canadianbusinesses/article38099109/

[djmk]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Well depending on what industry you’re in good luck getting employees who’d go for that. Employers don’t seem to have clued into that the labour market has shifted in favour of job seekers.

You'd be surprised how often it happens. Software, construction and the movie industry companies are notorious for it.

Not only are employers trying to escape EI and CPP, they also want to escape vacation and severance. And employees are often willing to take that risk because the employer often offers something like a 10% increase to the wage.


my experience for what that's worth.

I even see it in the accounting world. Basically anyone that can work from home, supply their own computer, and make their own hours.