crs1026
Superstar
The Federal Government is delivering a budget later this month - March 22. That will tell us enough.
- Paul
- Paul
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The timing of that poll seems exquisite v. the impending budget. It may not be coincidental. Hopefully it's emboldened the FedLibs to 'do what's necessary' to see this nation on a healthy, sustainable course. And a huge part of doing that is knowing the majority nation backs it.The Federal Government is delivering a budget later this month - March 22. That will tell us enough.
- Paul
Do you own your car? Your house? Did you pay cash for your education? Your children's?They needed a poll to know that a nation of borrowers (that is what we have become) supports their government borrowing more and more?
Do you own your car? Your house? Did you pay cash for your education? Your children's?
"Debt" and "deficit" can mean very different things, not only from each other, but other forms of borrowing. Most investments are borrowing. Are you against investing in the future? So if you don't, who does?
Your furnace is wasting massive amounts of heat and is very inefficient. You can pay on time to have it replaced, and even with interest on installments, it pays for itself in two years. I'd say that's a very reasonable investment.
And most of all, are you aware of the difference between *secured* and unsecured debt?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...-canadian-securities-in-2016/article34065660/Foreign investors bought $10.23-billion worth of Canadian securities in December, sealing a new annual record for purchases of bonds, stocks and money market paper, Statistics Canada said on Friday.
Net securities’ investment from outside Canada in 2016 totaled $161.28-billion. The previous yearly high was the $127.69-billion seen in 2010.
Do you own your car? Your house? Did you pay cash for your education? Your children's?
And your reason against borrowing to save, TO? And for the record:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...-canadian-securities-in-2016/article34065660/
They obviously feel Canada is very secure. And they'll feel even more so if the investments show gain, both for them and the nation. In the event, the Infrastructure Bank and the form of investment in terms of government investment v. private, and especially as how that relates to projects like HFR is yet to be finalized, but projection is for it to be on a ratio of 1:5....gov. investment being multiplied five times. That has pros and cons, the obvious pro being beneficial infrastructure being built now to affect a savings now. For some reason, most likely other nation's (like the UK) making an abysmal mess of PPP and PFI, that hasn't worked out. Canada's experience has been far better.
Where did I say that lending to Canada is not very secure? It is.....but that does not mean we should just keep borrowing either....two separate issues.
But we have taken this off on an awful tangent....all because you took offense to the simple observation I made about the poll. I regret making it (not because it was wrong though...because it wasn't)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...billion-dedicated-track-plan/article24814969/VIA Rail looks to private investment for $3-billion dedicated track plan
Eric Atkins
The Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Jun. 04, 2015 6:38PM EDT
Last updated Thursday, Jun. 04, 2015 8:03PM EDT
The head of Via Rail Canada Inc. brought his pitch for private investment to Toronto on Thursday, promoting a chance to reshape the money-losing passenger-train service.
Yves Desjardins-Siciliano told a room full of bankers, pension-fund managers and developers the $3-billion proposal to buy and build dedicated passenger train tracks in the busy Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor could bring double-digit returns to a consortium of investors in the Crown corporation.
“We are striving to make Via Rail more relevant to Canadians … while not over overburdening Canada’s taxpayers,” Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano said. “A corollary to that may be a way for the private sector to put its shoulder to the wheel.”
Most of Via Rail’s trains travel on rails owned by freight carrier Canadian National Railway Co., leading to congestion and delays that drive away customers. Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano said passenger trains that travel at 110 miles an hour are incompatible with much slower cargo trains. He pointed to Via Rail’s on-time performance of 63 per cent in the first quarter, compared with 71 per cent a year earlier. In the first three months of 2015, Via Rail’s operating loss was $86-million.
Dedicated tracks and more frequent service in the key Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor would help the company boost ridership and revenues while capitalizing on a demographic shift that is fostering an interest in train travel, he said. Younger people care little about car ownership, one-quarter of Canada’s population will be more than 65 years of age by 2040 and many immigrants come from countries where trains are dominant modes of travel, he said. [...]
But you made a brash statement on how VIA is to be financed, without even knowing what the upcoming budget will state. A reminder of at least how the
Which is exactly what I detailed. Speaking of "trolls", you can't read.I am actually all for more private and more privatized infrastructure.
They needed a poll to know that a nation of borrowers (that is what we have become) supports their government borrowing more and more?
Because of what came before your comment. The string was about Morneau potentially making an announcement on VIA financing. I would presume that you could have followed the lineage, but alas.Show me that? I made a statement that we should not have needed a poll to know that Canadians are comfortable with the government taking on debt....that's all....show me were I commented on how VIA is to be financed? I am open to discussion...but not if you insist on putting words in my mouth.
Thank you. I'll be quoting Morneau, so we'll all be further ahead.Am now taking the advice of @kEiThZ
http://calgaryherald.com/business/energy/yedlin-via-rail-operations-still-stuck-in-the-pastYedlin: Via Rail operations remain stuck in the past
For many, the prospect of train travel conjures up a relaxed, civilized experience.
Published on: February 9, 2017
But those images are challenged when it comes to travelling aboard Canada’s national rail carrier from Toronto’s antiquated Union Station, as I recently experienced.
Long in need of an update, the station is reminiscent of a bunker, lacking natural light or modes of passage to accommodate those less nimble or able bodied; the presence of elevators to get passengers from the boarding line to the tracks not immediately obvious.
Then there is the boarding experience.
In recent times, Via Rail has decided it needs to weigh bags coming on board. Anything over 40 pounds in a single is subject to an extra charge — for safety purposes, they say. But that doesn’t make sense.
Unlike aircraft that require careful weight and balance calculations, the same logic doesn’t hold true for train travel.
Hands up if you’ve seen the mammoth pieces of luggage loaded onto trains in Europe being weighed to make sure they are safe. The only possible explanation is that there are restrictions on how much weight Via Rail employees are contractually permitted to lift.
If that’s the case, it’s about worker safety – fair – not passenger safety.
What’s to stop a passenger from figuring out how to redistribute the extra weight among a carry-on or two, and then stuff everything back into the offending bag when they board the train?
Nothing.
To illustrate Via’s dated approach – and how they could easily capture that extra $20 – is this example: Suppose the bag is determined to be overweight and the passenger is willing to pay an additional $20. Do Via employees handling bags have a wireless, point-of-sale terminal to process the transaction?
No.
Passengers must go to another counter to pay, heavy bag in tow. Not exactly efficient. Airlines have point-of-sale terminals functioning at 35,000 feet, but not Via.
This approach continues on the train.
Want to buy something on board? The options are cash or credit, with a manual machine used to process the transaction. For those of a certain age, it’s reminiscent of those Chargex commercials of the early 1970s.
When it comes to cash, who needs the headache, much less the risk of the float disappearing or the administrative costs?There’s a reason airlines have dispensed with using cash on board.
A modern exception is Via’s app, which, according to one millenial, is actually quite good. However, that same millenial wondered why he couldn’t use it to pay for something on board.
Via Rail employees are also frustrated with the outdated operating methods in place. A purser I spoke with about my recent experiences said staff are also discouraged that the company is so behind when it comes to having automated processes and procedures.
Rail is – and should be – a viable travel option for Canadians.
It is less stressful than flying and it’s a great way to get cars off congested roads and decrease the carbon footprint. VIA touts that very statistic on its website.
It’s one reasons it should be considered as one of the areas where road infrastructure dollars should be spent in Alberta – connecting Calgary and Edmonton to create an economic powerhouse, but also decrease the risks of travelling on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway.
It also has to be reliable and a pleasant experience.
Via is missing the importance of a brand and what it means to develop, market and nurture that brand. It’s not enough to be the only regularly scheduled option for rail travel in the country. The caveat here is that you can’t get on a regularly scheduled train out of Calgary – just Edmonton — but that’s a column for another day.
It also seems to have missed the memo that an automation revolution is underway. The Internet of Things is changing how business is done. It’s all about looking for efficiencies to boost bottom line profitability by using technology, either to better service customers or gather data to make them more efficient.
Hunter Harrison, the former chief executive of CP Rail, is about to apply his approach to profitability and efficiency at CSX or another railroad. He should take a whistle stop at VIA and offer some pointers on what they need to do to increase customer service, efficiency and ultimately, ridership.
VIA Rail should be part of Canada’s transportation infrastructure and network – but it’s in need of a re-boot.
Much like Air Canada and CN Rail, which were once Crown corporations and now are successful, publicly traded entities, it’s time to privatize VIA and take it out of the Dark Ages.
Deborah Yedlin is a Calgary Herald columnist
dyedlin@postmedia.com
I am doubtful that VIA will attract any big handouts in this budget. But the HFR/public-private idea has been under study long enough. If the government declares that the study is still in process, that's code for it isn't going anywhere. We can take the hint. The budget will have to say something about the infrastructure bank idea - again, if the Liberals are committed to this, they will want to announce some prime candidate projects. If HFR isn't on that list, again, we can take the hint.
I am hopeful that the equipment purchase will still be on the agenda. It benefits two provinces, is likely to be aimed at the issues that Ottawa has with Bombardier - certainly a more palatable option than outright subsidy - and is likely cost-beneficial considering that the existing equipment is at end of life.