Winter Is Coming

Officially, winter won't be here until a few more days. I don't know what you think, dear reader, but it has been so cold for me that I think that winter has arrived early this year. Fortunately so far we have not received very much snow at all. I am hoping that we won't receive too much this year but who knows what will happen once winter has arrived on the calendar.

I must admit that what is going on for me outside the house walls is a bit strange for me. All those years before, when I had a formal job, I spent most of my time in the office where I worked for many hours each weekday and extra time on the weekend. After I started working for myself, I developed activities that took up a good part of the day as well. Even then for many years, I rarely experienced what was going on outside because I just had too much day-to-day work to do. And so I carried on my life.

This is the month of December after all and by now I am certain that you know, dear reader, what happened to me at the end of this month in 2014 and the start of 2015. The reality is that my life has changed quite dramatically and I have so much more free time where I can enjoy what is going on around me. Oh sure, I had this time period after December, 2014 where I was able to effectively enjoy a complete "New World." In other words, I wasn't "working" anymore but enjoying my life in a different manner. But even until this year, I did not seem to have the freedom I have now. I still had a lot to do to overcome my illness and get back to a much more normal life. That was what my work was all about at that time. Now, thankfully, I have achieved a lot to get back to "normal" and can try to take a look at what the world is now and to live it.

I am sure that I will be writing about new and different matters as time goes on based on the new way that I am living. However, I still enjoy setting out my opinion about the news events that are taking place now. Here are some of the stories on that subject.

OUR MEGA-HOSPITAL PROJECT

Seriously, do you really think that we have accomplished anything after the announcement by Eric Hoskins, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that we are getting a new hospital many years from now. Oh sure, there was an announcement from him but here is what I thought was rather funny that came from Windsor's Mayor:

"Whatever they need to move forward, we’ll be there to help,” Dilkens said. “Now we know we probably have nine years before that (necessary support infrastructure) will have to be built. We’ll go after provincial and federal funding.

“We’ll work out the details over the next eight or nine years.” (Dave Waddell, Windsor Star, December 1, 2017)

9 years!

In other words, more political games can be played for so many more years before anything is done. At the least, before the next provincial election that is coming up relatively soon, the Government will be able to say that they accomplished so much for this area that their candidates ought to be elected for office. It just seems to me that, if there is a need for a new hospital, it ought to be started relatively quickly.

And speaking of $2 billion which is supposed to be the cost of the new hospital, how much will it cost years from now? Just take a look at how high the costs for the new Government Border-crossing Bridge have escalated if it ever gets built. One wonders if the money is even available to pay for this hospital project. I thought I saw in one of the articles that the costs for the new hospitals that are supposed to be built will be around $20 billion. I wonder from where all that money will be found.

Oh well, we are going to see all kinds of interesting things happening with respect to this project that will fill up space in the media outlets for so many more years. Who knows what the final solution will be.

MORE MASSE RE-ELECTION EFFORTS

Good to see how much work MP Brian Masse is doing these days to try to make sure that he will be re-elected. That is, if he is re-elected in the end.

In case you did not notice, Brian had a very nice dinner set up for a cost of a mere $125 per person on December 1, 2017 for the hours between 6 PM and 11:59 PM. The new NDP leader attended as well:

"BRIAN MASSE MP 15th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION on December 01, 2017

The Windsor West Federal Riding Association will host a dinner on Friday, Dec. 1 celebrating Brian Masse’s 15 Year Anniversary as Member of Parliament for Windsor West. Brian was first elected to the House of Commons in 2002 and is now Dean of the NDP Caucus…

Brian Masse MP (Windsor West), Cheryl Hardcastle MP (Windsor Tecumseh) and Tracey Ramsey MP (Essex) will host Leader Jagmeet Singh’s visit to Windsor and Essex County." (OttawaCommunityNews.com) 

How lovely I am sure.

But here is what is even more exciting. Another project that the MP has concluded. He just works so hard doesn't he for the good of his riding. Another one of his awesome letters:

"Given the price already paid by the community of Sandwich due to hosting border traffic and thousands of big rig trucks rolling towards the Ambassador Bridge, funding support to offset the impact should start flowing now, said local MP Brian Masse (NDP — Windsor-West)…

Masse wants to see funds flowing now and remain ongoing, he said in a letter to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority which oversees the Howe project." (Dave Battagello, Windsor Star, December 1, 2017)

Here is what the MP did:

"conducted a recent survey and hosted a town hall meeting ."

What an accomplishment!  Here is how it was described in a bit more detail:

"Masse will be asking residents and community leaders in Sandwich — including a rally at MacKenzie Hall he will host on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. — for feedback on how they would like to see the funds allocated to best help the community. He will report the results to the federal government." (Dave Battagello, Windsor Star, November 11, 2017) 

With that  "feedback," I bet that is a pretty tough letter that was written that should really scare the Government, right!  I can just imagine how much work that they will do so soon to make sure that MP Masse is satisfied. I suspect that you, dear reader, can also figure out what the Government will do. Or not!

SHOULD THERE BE ANOTHER BID

CGC Concessions won a bid with the City of Windsor for the supply food at City arenas. The bid was long-term either 5 years for most arenas or 3 years for just one. Unfortunately, here is what is going on now:

"With the ink “barely dry” on contracts between a private firm and the city to run food concessions at arenas and  the downtown aquatic centre, that firm is warning it will walk away unless it gets a better deal.

CGC Concessions is asking for a reduction in the fees it pays the city, from a total of $80,000 annually to $36,000, citing lower-than-expected revenues. Without the reduction, city administration believes the company will “likely cease to operate,” according to a staff report going to council Monday that  recommends agreeing to the price reductions." (Brian Cross, Windsor Star, November 28, 2017) 

I have to admit that I found these comments strange:

"Executive director of parks and recreation Jan Wilson said that maybe Razaiy was “overly optimistic” when he originally bid on running the concessions. But she added: “We know this is a challenging business and we didn’t think his request (for reduced fees) was unreasonable…”

The preferred option of reducing the fees for CGC by more than half is “a bit of a drop,” said Andrew Daher, manager of arenas and the WFCU Centre. “But our position is it provides the least financial impact for the city and allows (CGC) to stay financially viable and continue to provide those goods and services to our community users. So that’s the most important.”

I must admit that I don't understand how the City can renegotiate the winning bid. I would be upset if I was with one of the companies that lost out because of a higher bid. This seems to me to be the biggest problem for CGC not one for the City. Why aren't the City officials saying that the contract should be terminated and a new bid started immediately if new rates are being asked for? 

If this is not done, then perhaps bidders in the future on multiyear agreements will learn that all that they need do is to just provide one rate for the first year of a long-term agreement to become the winner and then renegotiate it later to get more money.