Quite A Cold Winter

Quite A Cold Winter

I don't think that there is one day so far this winter that I have gone out for a long walk. In fact, I cannot remember even going out for a "short" walk. It just seems that the temperature this year has been so low all of the time. It is quite unlike what has happened in the temperatures over the last couple of years when I have been able to go out a few times for a nice stroll.

To be honest, I don't know whether this should be viewed as a good year or a bad year from a weather perspective. From my own point of view, it is not really all that bad notwithstanding my inability to go out for a walk. Oh sure, we have had a few snowstorms but they have not really been all that horrible. In general, the roads have been cleared quite quickly and quite well also.

I must admit that I don't really expect that much of a better winter this year. That is just the way it is I guess. What I do hope is that spring comes earlier and is warmer earlier as well. I expect that the summer will be warm based on the experience of the last few years but I also expect that we will not get the terribly hot summer we have experienced before.

What is most interesting to me is that the Weather people from different sites really have not told us so accurately what the weather conditions will be. I don't keep track of their accuracy numbers but it just seems to me this year that they have made a lot of mistakes in projecting what our weather will be like. How many times have even the "same day" forecasts not been right nevermind the weekly ones which change so dramatically!

No matter, it is fun for me to follow the weather forecasts to try to figure out what will go on around here so that I can make the appropriate plans on what to do a particular day.

Of course, considering what is going on with what we are experiencing outside now, I spend time writing articles like the ones that are about to follow.

BORDER CROSSING FEES INCREASE

I see that the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel fees have increased. The new rates are:

"For cash-carrying customers, the price is being bumped from $6 to $6.25." (CBC News, February 1, 2018) 

Interestingly, it is the same fee now as at the Ambassador Bridge.

I wonder if that helps pay for the cost that the Tunnel company is paying these days for all the work being done to fix it up.

HOORAY FOR THE TOWN OF TECUMSEH

It is great to see that taxpayers are still so favourable but what is going on in the Town that I have moved to just a few years ago. A Survey was recently taken here and here is a key result:

"The survey, designed and conducted by Probe Research Inc., was conducted through telephone interviews with 400 people between Nov. 9 and Nov. 29. According to the survey, 98 per cent of Tecumseh residents are satisfied with town services." (Trevor Wilhelm, Windsor Star, January 31, 2018) 

ARE WE IN TROUBLE IN CANADA

I will just draw your attention, dear reader, to a comment by the chief economist of the Bank of Montréal:

"Doug Porter was in Leamington on Wednesday to provide a snapshot of the Canadian economy, and pointed out Canadians have surpassed Americans in at least one respect.

“We now have a $1.70 in debt for every $1 of income we have,” said Porter. “That’s an all-time high, it’s above our American counterparts, and that’s not normal.” (CTV Windsor, January 31, 2018) 

I have to admit that it troubled me considerably when I read that comment. It suggests strongly that many of our debtors could face serious trouble if our interest rates keep going up as it seems to be doing now.  Can you imagine then what would happen to house prices and how far they could fall if people can no longer afford to pay the bills.

BRIAN MULRONEY SPEECH

You might want to take a look at the former Prime Minister's speech at the U.S. Senate Committee Hearings on Foreign Relations a short while ago. I thought that his comments were quite well done.

All I am going to do for you now, dear reader, is give you the reference where you can read the speech for yourself: "Brian Mulroney: NAFTA isn't just another trade deal. It's a model for the world." (http://nationalpost.com/opinion/brian-mulroney-nafta-isnt-just-another-trade-deal-its-a-model-for-the-world)

I'm sure that he had a good reason for delivering that speech. Here is what he said right towards the end of the speech:

"I have always believed that the United States of America is the greatest democratic republic that God has ever placed on the face of this earth. Canada is privileged to have the United States as a neighbour and friend and the U.S. should thank its lucky stars every day that it has Canada on its northern border. This is the most successful and peaceful bilateral relationship in world history and one that must be cherished and enhanced by our leadership in a manner that is thoughtful, understanding and wise."

He was also very fortunate that the National Post provided his speech to its readers.  Hmmm, I wonder though if there was another reason why he delivered the speech. Back in August, here is what was written:

"Caroline Mulroney announced this morning she will attempt to follow in her father's political footsteps and run in the next Ontario election for the Progressive Conservatives.

The daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney had hinted she was interested in making a career change to politics and in a YouTube video she confirmed she will seek the nomination for the riding of York–Simcoe. The riding is north of Toronto." (Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News, August 2, 2017) 

She won that nomination in September, 2017. However, after the former Ontario PC Leader, Patrick Brown, shockingly resigned his position, there is talk about what she might become even though she has not yet run for office:

"But the urge of a suddenly leaderless party to turn to a woman who has never held elected office is a reminder that the tribal instinct to pick leaders from a ruling dynasty remains alive in the third century of Western democracy. And Canada is no exception.

Caroline Mulroney ran unopposed for the PC nomination in the Toronto-area riding of York-Simcoe. She has a solid resumé in the private sector and philanthropy, but it's hard to believe that being the daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney wasn't a factor in the minds of Tories who urged her to run." (Evan Dyer, CBC News, January 28, 2018) 

Now won't that be very interesting if she wins the leadership of the Party, especially to see what her father will do.  

EXTRA COMMENT:

Who knows, maybe she is actually going to run now.  I just saw this:

"Less than a year later, Mulroney is not only a candidate for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in the June 7 election, but a timely opportunity presented itself for her to run for the party's leadership — and sources tell CBC News she's in." (Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News, February 2, 2018)  

UPDATE:  She is now running for that position!!!

US PRESIDENT DID VERY WELL 

Here are some very interesting statistics provided after the American President delivered his first State of the Union speech. President Trump has to be very pleased with the results that he received:

"Three in four Americans who tuned in to President Trump's State of the Union address tonight approved of the speech he gave. Just a quarter disapproved." (Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus, Kabir Khanna andAnthony Salvanto, CBS News, January 30, 2018)