I was in bed by 3amand heard some National news about Ottawa’s attempt to fight climate change. Apparently, I heard the oil and gas industry is being exempt from emission controls and the Government is concentrating on other industries like pulp and paper, that sort of thing. I stayed up for the 3:30 news to see if I heard right but Ched’s bottom half is abbreviated and more robust on the top of the hour so I waited until 4am. Still nothing. I needed sleep and past out. I woke up at 6:45 to do the cbi thing and headed back to bed. I slept okay until noon and got up to watch the news and nothing about this at all. Perhaps it was a story left over from Monday.

The other story is still about rent controls. The province’s answer to rent controls is to boost up minimum wage now set to $7 hour. Watch, they’ll raise it up to $8 and that’s supposed to make a difference? Meanwhile the Liberals and NDP will continue to put pressure on the Stalmach Government for rent controls. If minimum wage went to $12hour then fine but $8 doesn’t cut it. I can see the Tory’s rising minimum wage to maybe $9 possibly $10, but I doubt $10. Low income earners like my wife and I need subsidy.

These are the two main issues in my life right now. I’m worried about the economy and the fact that if it goes bust the office will be full and everyone fighting for a seat. It’s never been that way before according to some of the old timers I work with. It also seems that what I heard was correct because it was just announced this morning that a huge billion dollar refinery up grader will be built just outside the City employing some 5000 people. Also the price of oil/ barrel is climbing again. The economy looks good, for now. Now if we can just get those greedy gouging Property management firms to get off out backs. What low incomer earners need is rental subsidy here in Alberta not a $1/hour minimum wage increase. We have subsidy for health care why not for rents?

Anyways I’m going to post this and work on F. Not much going on beyond the above. 

 e. Jim