Comments on: Hall talk http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/28/hall-talk/ Current political events, business, real estate, financial and economic news, trends and, above all, the Future. Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:53:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ruth G http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/28/hall-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-6370 Ruth G Thu, 02 Mar 2006 03:59:10 +0000 http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/28/hall-talk/#comment-6370 Dear Mr. Turner, Congratulations on being elected as an MP! We need some ethical people in Government who are willing to take action in areas directlly relevant to the general public. My husband and I read your articles each week in our Peninsula Review newspapaer and are pleased to be given the opportunity to respond. 1. We have long wondered why the use of Solar heat has not been promoted. It is available all daylight hours, is free and the technology to engage it for heating water for home use is not over-complicated or costly. (I know, because my friend in South Wales, U.K. had solar panels put into her roof many years ago now and it is obvious that most of the populated areas in Canada get much more sunlight than does South Wales!). We feel that solar panels should automatically be built into every new house. We would not then be so dependent on the Asian countries for oil! 2. Another idea for saving energy is to have small tanks of water sited above kitchen sinks, connected to a gas line, which fires up as the tap is turned on. (I saw this system operating in England when I was a child, so the equipment and expertise for it is available.) Both of these ideas would effect a tremendous saving in many ways. If the Government were to offer a subsidy to homeowners willing to invest in such appliances, as they do here in B.C. for low-flush toilets and water-saving shower-heads, I suspect many homeowners would take advantage of them. 3. We strongly agree with your comments on Property tax credit. As you must be aware, the cost of housing in Victoria, B.C. has risen dramatically over the last few years and it seems grossly unfair to have seniors being forced to sell the house they may have lived in for over 20 years because they can no longer, with a limited pension, afford the taxes as they increase in huge leaps from year to year. 4. We most certainly support the use of hybrid vehicles and feel the Government should be supporting both the production of these and offering some incentives to the public wishing to purchase them. Why has production of the electric car been suppressed for so many years? I believe such a car would be ideal for a 'town' car, leaving the gas/electric model for longer distances. (The 'smart' car is certainly a step in the right direction.) 5. We also believe more emphasis should be put on Automated Light Rapid Transit in areas where this would be feasible. (Pat. Bay Highway in Victoria would seem like an ideal place for this, for example.) I realise you will probably receive a great deal of input from readers to your article. I hope this response hasn't been too 'wordy'! Again, many thanks for the opportunity to respond! Ruth in Victoria Dear Mr. Turner,
Congratulations on being elected as an MP! We need some ethical people in Government who are willing to take action in areas directlly relevant to the general public.
My husband and I read your articles each week in our Peninsula Review newspapaer and are pleased to be given the opportunity to respond.
1. We have long wondered why the use of Solar heat has not been promoted. It is available all daylight hours, is free and the technology to engage it for heating water for home use is not over-complicated or costly. (I know, because my friend in South Wales, U.K. had solar panels put into her roof many years ago now and it is obvious that most of the populated areas in Canada get much more sunlight than does South Wales!). We feel that solar panels should automatically be built into every new house. We would not then be so dependent on the Asian countries for oil!
2. Another idea for saving energy is to have small tanks of water sited above kitchen sinks, connected to a gas line, which fires up as the tap is turned on. (I saw this system operating in England when I was a child, so the equipment and expertise for it is available.) Both of these ideas would effect a tremendous saving in many ways. If the Government were to offer a subsidy to homeowners willing to invest in such appliances, as they do here in B.C. for low-flush toilets and water-saving shower-heads, I suspect many homeowners would take advantage of them.
3. We strongly agree with your comments on Property tax credit. As you must be aware, the cost of housing in Victoria, B.C. has risen dramatically over the last few years and it seems grossly unfair to have seniors being forced to sell the house they may have lived in for over 20 years because they can no longer, with a limited pension, afford the taxes as they increase in huge leaps from year to year.
4. We most certainly support the use of hybrid vehicles and feel the Government should be supporting both the production of these and offering some incentives to the public wishing to purchase them. Why has production of the electric car been suppressed for so many years? I believe such a car would be ideal for a ‘town’ car, leaving the gas/electric model for longer distances. (The ‘smart’ car is certainly a step in the right direction.)
5. We also believe more emphasis should be put on Automated Light Rapid Transit in areas where this would be feasible. (Pat. Bay Highway in Victoria would seem like an ideal place for this, for example.)

I realise you will probably receive a great deal of input from readers to your article. I hope this response hasn’t been too ‘wordy’! Again, many thanks for the opportunity to respond!
Ruth in Victoria

]]> By: Adam http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/28/hall-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-6368 Adam Thu, 02 Mar 2006 01:36:45 +0000 http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/28/hall-talk/#comment-6368 Glad to see SH finally get involved diplomatically with the tragic deaths in Mexico...Hopefully the government can exert some pressure on this case to get it moving. http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060301/ca_pr_on_na/mexico_cdns_harper Glad to see SH finally get involved diplomatically with the tragic deaths in Mexico…Hopefully the government can exert some pressure on this case to get it moving.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060301/ca_pr_on_na/mexico_cdns_harper

]]> By: Terry http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/28/hall-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-6360 Terry Wed, 01 Mar 2006 14:08:45 +0000 http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/28/hall-talk/#comment-6360 Garth: I see where Alberta, Quebec & B.C. are going their own way with Medicare. This can only be the tip of the iceberg. Who in their right mind can believe a doctor can work in both the private & public health system? I have been paying for Medicare since the first day it was implemented. I fully expect all that money to be used towards the care I need now because I’m at a time in my life where having private insurance coverage is not going to be available. Our Medicare mess is the result of complete mismanagement by various Federal & Provincial Governments. I fully expect your Government to put an end to the efforts of those who do not follow the spirit of the Canada Health Act. Get to the root of the Medicare problem & fix it – yes, it needs money but it needs management even more. There are other solutions to the abuses of our health system (by patients and management) that do not have to be as dramatic as tearing it apart. Terry F. Burlington, Ontario Garth:

I see where Alberta, Quebec & B.C. are going their own way with Medicare. This can only be the tip of the iceberg. Who in their right mind can believe a doctor can work in both the private & public health system?

I have been paying for Medicare since the first day it was implemented. I fully expect all that money to be used towards the care I need now because I’m at a time in my life where having private insurance coverage is not going to be available.

Our Medicare mess is the result of complete mismanagement by various Federal & Provincial Governments.

I fully expect your Government to put an end to the efforts of those who do not follow the spirit of the Canada Health Act. Get to the root of the Medicare problem & fix it – yes, it needs money but it needs management even more. There are other solutions to the abuses of our health system (by patients and management) that do not have to be as dramatic as tearing it apart.

Terry F.
Burlington, Ontario

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