#43

Yes dear reader, it is that date coming up again. January 26, the date that is so important for my wife, Marsha, and me. This day is our wedding anniversary. This year it is our 43rd year of marriage! 

I cannot believe that we have been together for so many years. It just does not seem that way to me. Even now it just seems that we have been together for a short period of time. We do not bore each other. We just get along so well with all of the great things that we do together!

I have told you so many times, dear reader, how well she has treated me after the serious illness that I had a few years ago. She had to change her life in a very short period of time in order to deal with our new situation.

Notwithstanding how desperate my circumstances were in the Hospital, I have learned from her that, as my condition improved, she was feeling more relieved about my recovery. Thanks to her, that happened magnificently. 

I am not going to discuss how we have carried on together for so many years. I am sure that you have read about many of the circumstances in what I have written in my various writings. You will know from what you have seen how important we are in both of our lives together. That is what makes me so thrilled about our relationship. 

I hope that you too, dear reader, have found a partner for you so that you both can have a situation which is so like the one that Marsha and I have experienced for so many years. 

Happy anniversary my dear Marsha! 

Now here are some stories that I am posting for you to consider.

NEED A HOSPITAL BED 

If you do need one these days, dear reader, you might be experiencing some trouble in getting it. Without going into a lot of discussion about the subject, here is the story to which I am referring:

"Windsor Regional Hospital sees sudden surge in patient volumes

…staff President and CEO David MUSYJ noted that they are seeing an increase in patients suffering from flu symptoms, and respiratory issues.

The Met Campus is currently at 118% capacity and the Ouellette Campus is at 104%." (CTV Windsor, January 23, 2018) 

Can you imagine what the situation would be like a dozen years or so from now if our new hospital was built? You know as well as I do how bad that would be.

Why then are we still considering building a Hospital that may only have 500 beds in it when we know already that number is too small for a population that is supposed to be larger and have many more elderly people living in it!

HERE WE GO AGAIN

In all honesty, I cannot believe this nonsense anymore.

I had promised that the number of articles I would do on the border issues would be minimized. My reason for saying that obviously is that there is no reason for me to do more articles because the Ambassador Bridge Company is going to build their new second bridge crossing and I doubt if anybody else in the Governments is going to build a new Government one. It just seemed so dumb to me for the Governments to spend $4-$5 billion, or way more, on building a bridge that was not necessary.

However, here is what I saw recently that annoyed me but not enough by itself for me to write an article about it:

"Howe bridge 'No. 1 priority,' construction starts this fall, federal minister says

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is the nation’s “No. 1” infrastructure priority and construction will begin this fall as scheduled, the federal government’s top minister on the file said in Windsor on Monday.

“We are working toward September for the conclusion of signing the contract with the selected proponent,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “I have every confidence in the ability to put the shovels in the ground (at that time) and proceed with construction.

“When it comes to building a crossing between the United States and Canada, this is a very high priority for us.” (Dave Battagello, Windsor Star, January 22, 2018) 

Of course, it is so ridiculous that I am surprised that a Minister of the Government should embarrass himself, and his future career, by making such a statement. Here is some information about himself that I saw on his own personal website:

"Prior to being elected Member of Parliament, Minister Sohi was a three-term Edmonton City Councillor. This experience taught him the importance of infrastructure as the foundation for citizens to create strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities."

However, here is what is more troubling to me because of the amount of money that he has under his control and which he is involved in spending.  It is why I am writing this article now:

"Since assuming the Infrastructure and Communities portfolio, Minister Sohi has overseen the design and early implementation of a more than $180 billion plan over 12 years – the largest infrastructure investment plan in Canada’s history. This plan invests unprecedented amounts in public transit, green infrastructure, clean water and waste water, affordable housing, trade-enabling infrastructure, rural and northern communities, and more."

You will understand my concern I trust after you read some more information that I am going to post on here.

I just saw information provided by the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association (BTOA) dated on January 22, 2018. What it demonstrates as clearly as I can believe is that it is absolutely ridiculous for the Government of Canada to believe that a Government bridge should ever be built here in addition to the new one being built by the Ambassador Bridge Company. Especially at the huge costs they have claimed already that they may have to pay which is about 10 times more than the Bridge Company has to spend now on its project ie around 10 times more than the new $500 million Ambassador Bridge cost.

Of course, the Ambassador Bridge Company numbers for border crossings in 2017--- 6,875,030 cars and trucks--- are greater than those of any other crossings in Ontario. In particular, greater for the number of trucks. Why should that be a concern you might ask. Here is the obvious explanation:

"Overall cross border traffic in 2017 was 35.4% lower than in 2000 when 52,367,401 vehicles traversed the border."

There it is. The reality of what is happening at the border. Traffic has not gone up as expected and as predicted by the Government people previously. It may well explain why the Government people today do not reveal what they think the border crossing numbers will be in the future. If they are this bad now, not only in Windsor but across Ontario, then how the heck can they afford to spend money on a new border crossing in an amount of the so many billions of dollars predicted already.

Here is what I also saw:

"attached document entitled “2000 – 2017 Comparative Traffic Volume Analysis of Bridge & Tunnel Operators Association (BTOA) Crossings.”  

Let me just set out what has happened to date on border traffic numbers and why the previous Government predictions about what would happen with respect to crossings in the future are so ridiculous that it is no wonder that they are not releasing their numbers today.

Auto pic decline shows a total decline of 38.35%

Truck pic decline shows a total decline of 20.32%

Total traffic decline pic shows a total decline of 35.42%

Above is the pic showing the total decline in a very simple form. (Note, I am not including in a separate picture the crossing numbers for buses in my article)

Of course, the Canadian Government will not explain why what it is saying is so absurd. In my opinion it all has to do with negotiations with the United States with respect to the border crossing, especially with respect to the NAFTA relationship.  

Oh well, enough of this absurdity for today.