Stimulus That Is Working!

After reading no newspapers, watching no TV, and reading no blogs for 2 weeks, I really didn't miss much! Seriously, even my Liberal Catholic Mom couldn't get upset about whether PM Harper ate the host or not. She blamed the Bishop, not the PM. Other than that we got a good laugh about "my" PM Harper being late for the photo op again.

What all of us did agree on, was the one stimulus measure that all Canadians seem to be taking advantage of, if they can... the home renovation credit. My parents painted their house, my brother added a deck, and my sister needs no help renovating at anytime. We all have something planned this year so that we can take advantage of that credit.

As we traveled from Alberta to BC, we ran into some road construction, but not anymore than usual for this time of year. What we did notice were the houses getting new shingles, decks and even landscaping. Why do people actually pay for rocks??

All the stimulus money that is flowing does not impact us in a visible form. Sure a needed bridge or road will get built, but even though it is taxpayers money, we don't associate it with actual money out of our pockets. It's just money that the government has already taken from us and there is nothing we can really do about how it is spent.

I keep hearing about how 90% of economists think the GST reduction was not the way to go. My pocketbook hears the extra money hitting it's bottom everyday. I especially noticed it in BC where they also have the PST. My son was going to buy a game until he realized he would have to pay the PST. BC gas prices were 103.6 yesterday, we paid 109.? in Blue River BC. Today I noticed our gas price was 86.?. Thank goodness we don't have BC's PST nor their carbon tax. My parents are already sleeping without the air conditioner on in 30 degree weather, as it costs too much. They are dreading the winter.

If an election is coming this fall, I have some advise for the Conservatives. Extend the home renovation credit. It's simple, home owners understand it, and it is generating revenue for all sorts of companies, from landscapers to heating/refrigeration companies. How many of you are renovating this year to take advantage of the credit? I know we are, and I could always do more next year.

If we must have stimulus spending, at least extend the home renovation credit, it is visible to everyone who looks at their new roof or bathroom.

The East Rocks!

I mean Atlantic Canada, or PEI more specifically. Despite two weeks of rain, we managed to get to all the tourist spots on the island and loved every minute of it. The crowning moment was catching the biggest cod on the deep sea fishing boat!



My husband had to reel that big baby in because I'm left handed and the reel was set for a righty, it was still my cod, and he was delicious! On the lobster, we went to the New Glasgow dinner, paid $160 for 4 lobsters, big rip off, we went to a wharf a few days later and got 4 lobsters for $50, brought them back to the cabin, had new potatoes and yellow beans, and it was a much better meal.

Now, the island politics as I read it. We went to a pub and a Liberal MP just happened to be there schmoozing with the clientele and enjoying a fewwwww drinks. He was a total Ahole and from what I could make out, he didn't much like Alberta MP's. If any Conservative MP had been caught in his state, CBC and CTV would be yelling blue murder. On the island, the party doesn't seem to matter, just how many relatives you have to vote for you. Even Islander's think 4 MP's is 3 too many!

Talking to the family, they thought 3 out of the 4 Liberal MP's were totally useless, and the 4th has resigned. I predict PEI will go Conservative if the Conservatives pick well known representatives.

The Dion Green Shaft came up in conversation, and all I can say is that the Islander's hate it. We saw stacks of wood beside every house that had a fireplace. (Isn't that environmentally unfriendly?) Every retired person on a fixed income is already suffering from high heating oil prices, so the Liberals can't count on their votes. They protected the auto industry with no gas price increases (right) but want to charge people more for their heat? Good strategy, NOT!

Taxes, we were shocked by the PST. Coming from Alberta and only paying the 5% GST, to pay the GST and 10.5% PST made us sick. Worse, the PST was calculated after the 5% GST, so you were paying tax on tax. Now I understand what harmonizing the taxes means, and every province who hasn't done it, should.

The pace in PEI is slower, the scenery is wonderful, but me and my prairie boys were just happy to get home to the black dirt and wheat fields.



If we would have hit the jackpot on my birthday, the 8/8/8, I would have bought this Church for the $60,000 they wanted and turned it into a dine and dance place called "Soul Food". Oh well, guess God has other ideas for me.



He's talking to me right now, a wonderful thunder storm after a hot day to cool off the place! I love thunderstorms!!! Yuck, work tomorrow.

Taxes, Did You Come Out Ahead This Year?

The deadline has come and gone, so now all I'm waiting for is my refund. I was supposed to pay money, but then I transfered the child credit of $1000 per child under 18 from my husband to me, and presto, refund!

Acording to my calculations, each child under 18 is a $250 refund. Tack that on to the tax rate being reduced, the bus refund, and income splitting, most people are sitting with extra money in their pocket. Don't forget the 2% reduction of the GST, that is huge, no matter what the economists say. Believe me, I know many economists, and they disagree about everything.

Canadians are sitting back, enjoying their refunds, and thinking that the Conservatives are doing a great job.

Include the $100 a month childcare money, and who but the clueless lefties can complain? They want to raise gas prices with a carbon tax. I have never met a tax I liked.

Maybe we can all use a potion of our refunds to help the people fighting the HRC's, take some of that money and support one or all of the 5 people being sued.

Did anyone else find they benefited from the tax reductions, or am I the only one?