Today I read that some Toronto parents are concerned that their children are being denied the opportunity to be placed in French immersion classes because their children are not "gifted".
The two biggest lies, and there are lots of lies in this field, in education, is that only gifted students belong in French immersion along with the lie that students must score well in math to take computer science courses.
Learning a langauge has absolutely nothing to do with being gifted. It is based on need. I know many people who speak multiple languages who have never graduated from high school. I have a friend who is fluent in Vietnamese, Mandarin, English and French, who never took a course other than English in his life.
French immersion is a sham. A total farce. Students are held up as some sort of model of special education when many of them can barely order a meal at the St. Hubert in Montreal. A supposed French immersion teacher I know ordered a meal, in French, from a deli in Montreal and the waitress did not understand one word he said. A French immersion graduate I know, now lives in California where she wishes, every day, that she had learned some basic Spanish.
Various Canadian governments spend 100s of millions of dollars to teach people French, while far more Canadian youth learn Mandarin and Cantonese over the dinner table at home.
Speaking French in Canada is completely irrelevant except to people working in the Quebec provincial or municipal civil service.
The entire program in Canada to teach anglophones French is completely useless. I took 10 years of French education in school, but learned more Spanish by living in Mexico for 4 months LOL.
Learning a second or third language is important. It does not require secondary school immersion programs.
Ditch the French immersion and teach the kids how to communicate effectively, independent of English or French.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Should Animals Be Doing More For Animal Rights?
U.N.C.L.E. believes that animals, particularly wild animals, should play a more active role in the fight for their rights by participating in marches or organizing boycotts.
For several milinea, too many animals have been chasing each other around, and often eating each other. They need to put aside their differences and come to the table together to demand their rights. They need to raise up their paws, or talons or whatever.
Animals need to take control of their own future and organize themselves. With the pending end of the United Auto Workers (UAW), perhaps the union officials can be put to work organizing animal rights from the ground up to the tips of the trees.
Animals have a right to be heard. Most animals anyhow. We don't include those bad animals such as that skunk-type animal from China that causes SARS, and we exclude those really ugly animals like hyenas.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing the first 1 million animal march on Washington. And also watching the animals have their own Pride celebration where the damned ugliest ones walk down the road with no clothes on, and the big, fat female animals like a hippo bounce those big mammaries of theirs up and down as they wave placards demanding equality.
Animals should also boycott events. Bears, for instance, should refuse to attend the bear hunt. Lemmings should stop at the end of the cliff, not jump off it.
Nuff said.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Excessive Exit Packages
Judy Rogers was the city manager in Vancouver. She also sits on the board of the organizing committee for the Olympic games (VANOC).
In December, after the new mayor took over, Rogers resigned. It cost the city almost $600,000 to pay off Rogers. That payoff represented 2 years salary.
Its an unconscionable amount of money to pay someone not to work. The cash payment is only part of what Roger's receives. She still qualifies for a pension well in excess of $60,000 per year. In addition, she is not required to pay anything back should she find another job. She does not give up her role with VANOC and she receives job counseling.
Rogers is not the problem here. She was a perfectly competent city manager, but no friend of the unions who new city mayor Gregor Robertson relies on for support.
The problem is that the payoff to Rogers establishes a precedent for the next person in line. Its a culture of largess where politicians pay off established staff in order to put their own hand-picked people in place, often brown-nosed, ass kissers, who then go on to recommend projects the politician wants, despite the absence of any merit to the project.
Rogers' payment is actually not out of line. In Toronto, several senior bureaucrats were dismissed for cause including Wanda Lysiak, Treasurer, and were paid out. Lysiak was paid in excess of $400,000 despite being fired for cause and investigated for potential criminal malfeasance. However, nothing compared to one Toronto city manager, fired for cause and paid $500,000, who started work 3 days later at a 6-figure salary for the University of Toronto!
Of course public sector payouts don't compare to the private sector. Robert Nardelli was fired as CEO of Home Depot and paid $200 million!!
In December, after the new mayor took over, Rogers resigned. It cost the city almost $600,000 to pay off Rogers. That payoff represented 2 years salary.
Its an unconscionable amount of money to pay someone not to work. The cash payment is only part of what Roger's receives. She still qualifies for a pension well in excess of $60,000 per year. In addition, she is not required to pay anything back should she find another job. She does not give up her role with VANOC and she receives job counseling.
Rogers is not the problem here. She was a perfectly competent city manager, but no friend of the unions who new city mayor Gregor Robertson relies on for support.
The problem is that the payoff to Rogers establishes a precedent for the next person in line. Its a culture of largess where politicians pay off established staff in order to put their own hand-picked people in place, often brown-nosed, ass kissers, who then go on to recommend projects the politician wants, despite the absence of any merit to the project.
Rogers' payment is actually not out of line. In Toronto, several senior bureaucrats were dismissed for cause including Wanda Lysiak, Treasurer, and were paid out. Lysiak was paid in excess of $400,000 despite being fired for cause and investigated for potential criminal malfeasance. However, nothing compared to one Toronto city manager, fired for cause and paid $500,000, who started work 3 days later at a 6-figure salary for the University of Toronto!
Of course public sector payouts don't compare to the private sector. Robert Nardelli was fired as CEO of Home Depot and paid $200 million!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
You Aren't Covered for That - Sorry
The Business Model for Insurance Companies
You walk out of your home one morning and discover a vandal has broken into your car, parked on the street, by smashing a window and breaking the side mirror. You call your insurance company and they ask you to send: a copy of your driver's licence, the original police report, a copy of the city permit allowing you to park on the street, your lease proving you live on the street, a copy of the ownership, photos before and after, and an affidavit that the damage to your car occurred on the street.
After you send all the information to your insurance company, a month goes by and they now ask for: the original of the city permit allowing you to park on the street and the negatives from the photos.
Another month goes by and a letter arrives: you need to provide proof you have paid the lease and provide something like a utility bill which proves you live under the lease agreement.
Two months go by and another letter arrives: please provide proof that the side view mirror was standard with the car when you purchased it, not an aftermarket upgrade.
A month later you receive another letter advising that "you are not covered for the damage because you have an underground parking spot in your apartment which you did not use. You failed to document the reasons for parking on the street. We would be happy to answer any questions you have. Please call us at 1-800-555-1212"
You call the insurance company's call center 18 times over the next month. 10 times the line is busy, 3 times you go into an endless loop of voicemail and no-one answers the phone, and 5 times you leave a message but never get a call back. On the 19th time you get a "customer service associate" in Mumbai who you cannot understand. He keeps asking you over and over, "did you pay the deductible, did you pay the deductible." It seems that the script on his computer is stuck.
When the same insurance company - AIG, is taken over by the government, a number of executives take $$millions in bonuses, without ever once making a written request and without documenting any of the payments. No deductible was applied to the payments. 11 of the executives agree to stay on to work the company out of its problems, but all resign on the day they receive their bonuses.
Oddly, the CEO of AIG doesn't think there is anything wrong with their business model. The next day, the CEO finds the hood of his car spray painted with AIG - Arrogance, Incompetence and Greed. Do you think he knows better than to call his insurance company?
You walk out of your home one morning and discover a vandal has broken into your car, parked on the street, by smashing a window and breaking the side mirror. You call your insurance company and they ask you to send: a copy of your driver's licence, the original police report, a copy of the city permit allowing you to park on the street, your lease proving you live on the street, a copy of the ownership, photos before and after, and an affidavit that the damage to your car occurred on the street.
After you send all the information to your insurance company, a month goes by and they now ask for: the original of the city permit allowing you to park on the street and the negatives from the photos.
Another month goes by and a letter arrives: you need to provide proof you have paid the lease and provide something like a utility bill which proves you live under the lease agreement.
Two months go by and another letter arrives: please provide proof that the side view mirror was standard with the car when you purchased it, not an aftermarket upgrade.
A month later you receive another letter advising that "you are not covered for the damage because you have an underground parking spot in your apartment which you did not use. You failed to document the reasons for parking on the street. We would be happy to answer any questions you have. Please call us at 1-800-555-1212"
You call the insurance company's call center 18 times over the next month. 10 times the line is busy, 3 times you go into an endless loop of voicemail and no-one answers the phone, and 5 times you leave a message but never get a call back. On the 19th time you get a "customer service associate" in Mumbai who you cannot understand. He keeps asking you over and over, "did you pay the deductible, did you pay the deductible." It seems that the script on his computer is stuck.
When the same insurance company - AIG, is taken over by the government, a number of executives take $$millions in bonuses, without ever once making a written request and without documenting any of the payments. No deductible was applied to the payments. 11 of the executives agree to stay on to work the company out of its problems, but all resign on the day they receive their bonuses.
Oddly, the CEO of AIG doesn't think there is anything wrong with their business model. The next day, the CEO finds the hood of his car spray painted with AIG - Arrogance, Incompetence and Greed. Do you think he knows better than to call his insurance company?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Race Related Crime Statistics
Asian gangs. Latino thugs. Blacks in drive-by shootings. South Asian drug criminals.
We see them all the time on TV. We read about them in the newspapers.
The politically correct would say that there should be no race related crime statistics kept.
The odd thing is that the debate about race related crime statistics seems to ignore something.
In 2002, Fortune Magazine published a story about white collar crime and named all the individuals involved. Recently the article has been updated by a new author. He identified 118 white collar criminals dated back about one generation. Astonishingly, 24 of them are self-identified as Jewish.
In fact, of 11 recent most serious financial scandals, an astonishing 40-50% of the participants can be identified as Jewish including Hank Greenberg from AIG, Bernie Madoff from his own company, Andrew Fastow from Enron, Samuel Waskel from ImClone, Gary Winnick from Global Crossing and Mark Swartz of Tyco. I will be easy on Greenberg because an argument can be made that, although a participant, there was no malfeasance on his behalf.
What is most interesting to me is that Jews have often claimed that they are poorly represented in the financial arena. Hmmmm....
The high percentage of Jews in the area of financial scandal represents the same high percentage of people of Jewish descent that have significant positive achievements in such areas as real estate, science and health.
Which leads me to suggest that if we do keep race related crime statistics, then we need to similarly keep track of race related positive achievements.
Or should we?
Frankly, I do not know.
All I know is that if we keep race related statistics for crime, we should include all races, and all crimes.
We see them all the time on TV. We read about them in the newspapers.
The politically correct would say that there should be no race related crime statistics kept.
The odd thing is that the debate about race related crime statistics seems to ignore something.
In 2002, Fortune Magazine published a story about white collar crime and named all the individuals involved. Recently the article has been updated by a new author. He identified 118 white collar criminals dated back about one generation. Astonishingly, 24 of them are self-identified as Jewish.
In fact, of 11 recent most serious financial scandals, an astonishing 40-50% of the participants can be identified as Jewish including Hank Greenberg from AIG, Bernie Madoff from his own company, Andrew Fastow from Enron, Samuel Waskel from ImClone, Gary Winnick from Global Crossing and Mark Swartz of Tyco. I will be easy on Greenberg because an argument can be made that, although a participant, there was no malfeasance on his behalf.
What is most interesting to me is that Jews have often claimed that they are poorly represented in the financial arena. Hmmmm....
The high percentage of Jews in the area of financial scandal represents the same high percentage of people of Jewish descent that have significant positive achievements in such areas as real estate, science and health.
Which leads me to suggest that if we do keep race related crime statistics, then we need to similarly keep track of race related positive achievements.
Or should we?
Frankly, I do not know.
All I know is that if we keep race related statistics for crime, we should include all races, and all crimes.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Protests in Pakistan
Today, the lead story in the Toronto Star is about protests in Pakistan and the potential for a revolution there.
Who fucking cares?
I am busy taking care of my life here in the Lower Mainland of BC. Why do we waste valuable front page space on a story that should not impact even one person in Canada?
Who fucking cares?
I am busy taking care of my life here in the Lower Mainland of BC. Why do we waste valuable front page space on a story that should not impact even one person in Canada?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Automotive Repairs
In August, 2008, I had to get a $350 repair done to my truck. In November, the repair was done again. Then in February, again re-done.
This week I returned to the shop to be told the problem in August was mis-diagnosed. Another repair is in order. This one will cost me $800. The first repair was not necessary and I asked for a credit but was turned down.
How was that $800 determined? No, not by an estimating system.
It was determined by inputting all the information about me and my vehicle into an on-line service provider who combines that information with a database about my vehicle and the repair history for like vehicles to determine how much the shop can expect to charge me before I say no and take my car elsewhere. The system tells the shop manager how much he needs to charge to break even on the repair, and how much he can gross up the cost and still get me to say yes.
In a way it is a real time, bid and supply system. It is a good tool.
My concern though is that the service provider and the shop do not disclose to the customer that this is how the estimate is arrived at. I was able to figure out that something was odd when the estimate for how many hours it would take to fix my truck changed, when my status went from being employed to being self employed (it dropped $100). I wondered how my employment status impacted on the estimate. The manager at one shop disclosed how the system works, but the manager at another place was evasive.
Ever wonder why dealers charge so much more than independent places? Its because the dealer has so much more information about the vehicle owner that they can push up rates. That is why the guy at the computer needs so much information about you and the car when you drive in, even if all you are doing is replacing a headlight bulb. It is true that information has value!
The way that car repair estimates are arrived at should be disclosed.
This week I returned to the shop to be told the problem in August was mis-diagnosed. Another repair is in order. This one will cost me $800. The first repair was not necessary and I asked for a credit but was turned down.
How was that $800 determined? No, not by an estimating system.
It was determined by inputting all the information about me and my vehicle into an on-line service provider who combines that information with a database about my vehicle and the repair history for like vehicles to determine how much the shop can expect to charge me before I say no and take my car elsewhere. The system tells the shop manager how much he needs to charge to break even on the repair, and how much he can gross up the cost and still get me to say yes.
In a way it is a real time, bid and supply system. It is a good tool.
My concern though is that the service provider and the shop do not disclose to the customer that this is how the estimate is arrived at. I was able to figure out that something was odd when the estimate for how many hours it would take to fix my truck changed, when my status went from being employed to being self employed (it dropped $100). I wondered how my employment status impacted on the estimate. The manager at one shop disclosed how the system works, but the manager at another place was evasive.
Ever wonder why dealers charge so much more than independent places? Its because the dealer has so much more information about the vehicle owner that they can push up rates. That is why the guy at the computer needs so much information about you and the car when you drive in, even if all you are doing is replacing a headlight bulb. It is true that information has value!
The way that car repair estimates are arrived at should be disclosed.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Car Repairs
I own one of the socially-hated SUVs.
Mine is nothing fancy. In fact, its a first generation SUV and built on a truck platform.
I have had no problems with the SUV until I reached 100,000km. The problem is minor, but getting it fixed properly at the shop is an ongoing travesty.
The transmission had a fluid leak. Not a big deal. All that was required as a new seal. The shop replaced the seal in August, 2008. But in November, the leak returned. So I took it back and this time the shop sealed the leak with silicone. Seems the replacement seal was inserted so tightly it cracked. Problem with silicone is that it is oil based and will eventually erode from the transmission fluid, which it did. So back to the shop for a 3rd time in late January.
On the third visit, I was informed that a new seal was ordered and the old one replaced. But, I had to leave the truck there from Saturday to Thursday in order to wait for the part to arrive.
I would say I had been VERY patient, waiting almost a week for the 3rd time fix.
Guess what^ Six weeks later, the leak is back. No new seal was installed. More silicone was added, in the hope that I will give up on this shop and they will not have to make good on their warranty.
Seems like I will have to call in my counterpart from the Intelligence, Operations and Enforcement division here at U.N.C.L.E.
I own one of the socially-hated SUVs.
Mine is nothing fancy. In fact, its a first generation SUV and built on a truck platform.
I have had no problems with the SUV until I reached 100,000km. The problem is minor, but getting it fixed properly at the shop is an ongoing travesty.
The transmission had a fluid leak. Not a big deal. All that was required as a new seal. The shop replaced the seal in August, 2008. But in November, the leak returned. So I took it back and this time the shop sealed the leak with silicone. Seems the replacement seal was inserted so tightly it cracked. Problem with silicone is that it is oil based and will eventually erode from the transmission fluid, which it did. So back to the shop for a 3rd time in late January.
On the third visit, I was informed that a new seal was ordered and the old one replaced. But, I had to leave the truck there from Saturday to Thursday in order to wait for the part to arrive.
I would say I had been VERY patient, waiting almost a week for the 3rd time fix.
Guess what^ Six weeks later, the leak is back. No new seal was installed. More silicone was added, in the hope that I will give up on this shop and they will not have to make good on their warranty.
Seems like I will have to call in my counterpart from the Intelligence, Operations and Enforcement division here at U.N.C.L.E.
Friday, March 6, 2009
GM, The CAW and Pensions
Both GM Canada and the CAW are of the mind that if GM goes bankrupt, then "the government" will have to bail the employees out of an unfunded pension plan.
In Canada, a pension plan can be registered either federally or provincially. Fortunately for those of us Canadians outside of Ontario, GM registered its pension plan in Ontario.
Unfortunately for Ontario taxpayers, the provincial government is actually entertaining funding of the GM pension plan in the event GM goes bankrupt.
There actually is a fund in Ontario to cover exactly the issue of unfunded pension plans. The problem is that GM and the union, asked for, and were given, a permanent holiday from ever contributing to the fund because "GM was to big to ever go bankrupt."
GM and its unions now want access to the fund. Some of the contributors to this fund have said "hands off", using fairly strong words. One contributor made it clear his organization would consider an attempt by GM to access the fund "extortion" and they would look to criminally prosecute GM and the CAW.
While we agree, in principle, with that link between GM, the CAW and the legal concept of extortion, U.N.C.L.E is officially issuing the following statement, which we believe focuses on the business issue and establishes clear assignment of accountability:
"The issue of the GM pension plan is a private, commercial agreement between GM management, its employees and the CAW. The taxpayers of Ontario were not at the table for any wage, benefit and pension negotiations between the employer and the employee. The terms of the agreement are not in the public domain, nor were they subject to democratic, public governance and oversight. The taxpayer cannot be bound to the agreement morally nor legally. The taxpayers of Ontario neither have a claim to any benefits from the pension plan, nor do they have liability for any unfunded portion of the plan."
March 6, 2009
Hazen S. Colbert
Vice Chair
Policy, Intelligence & Communications
U.N.C.L.E.
In Canada, a pension plan can be registered either federally or provincially. Fortunately for those of us Canadians outside of Ontario, GM registered its pension plan in Ontario.
Unfortunately for Ontario taxpayers, the provincial government is actually entertaining funding of the GM pension plan in the event GM goes bankrupt.
There actually is a fund in Ontario to cover exactly the issue of unfunded pension plans. The problem is that GM and the union, asked for, and were given, a permanent holiday from ever contributing to the fund because "GM was to big to ever go bankrupt."
GM and its unions now want access to the fund. Some of the contributors to this fund have said "hands off", using fairly strong words. One contributor made it clear his organization would consider an attempt by GM to access the fund "extortion" and they would look to criminally prosecute GM and the CAW.
While we agree, in principle, with that link between GM, the CAW and the legal concept of extortion, U.N.C.L.E is officially issuing the following statement, which we believe focuses on the business issue and establishes clear assignment of accountability:
"The issue of the GM pension plan is a private, commercial agreement between GM management, its employees and the CAW. The taxpayers of Ontario were not at the table for any wage, benefit and pension negotiations between the employer and the employee. The terms of the agreement are not in the public domain, nor were they subject to democratic, public governance and oversight. The taxpayer cannot be bound to the agreement morally nor legally. The taxpayers of Ontario neither have a claim to any benefits from the pension plan, nor do they have liability for any unfunded portion of the plan."
March 6, 2009
Hazen S. Colbert
Vice Chair
Policy, Intelligence & Communications
U.N.C.L.E.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
They Just Don't Get It
"We do not see any reason to reduce salaries and benefits"
CAW, March 5, 2009
In response to yesterday's news that Chrysler is cutting 1,200 jobs in Windsor, and to today's news that the bankruptcy of GM is imminent without drastic cost cutting and another $30 billion capital injection from government, the CAW just does not get it.
Frankly, I don't care what the CAW says. It is a dinosaur.
What I cannot figure out is why, in response to the CAW, various levels of government are trying to figure out how to bail out the industry.
Its bizarre really. If I was having trouble making my mortgage payment, and told the bank I had no intention of cutting costs, then they would simply call the mortgage and sell the house. That is what we should do with GM, Chrysler and Ford assets in Canada. Put them into bankruptcy and sell off the assets. There are lots of finished cars sitting on lots across Canada that would likely have buyers available, especially with a 30% discount from list.
CAW, March 5, 2009
In response to yesterday's news that Chrysler is cutting 1,200 jobs in Windsor, and to today's news that the bankruptcy of GM is imminent without drastic cost cutting and another $30 billion capital injection from government, the CAW just does not get it.
Frankly, I don't care what the CAW says. It is a dinosaur.
What I cannot figure out is why, in response to the CAW, various levels of government are trying to figure out how to bail out the industry.
Its bizarre really. If I was having trouble making my mortgage payment, and told the bank I had no intention of cutting costs, then they would simply call the mortgage and sell the house. That is what we should do with GM, Chrysler and Ford assets in Canada. Put them into bankruptcy and sell off the assets. There are lots of finished cars sitting on lots across Canada that would likely have buyers available, especially with a 30% discount from list.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The End of GM Occured a Few Months Ago
http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/514447
If GM's sales units drop by as much in 2o10 over 2009, as they have in 2009 over 2008, GM will sell no cars in Canada within 10 months. That is even a faster collapse than I, as arguably the biggest detractor of this industry in Canada, had predicted.
GM isn't just toast, its crumbs.
One of my friends suggested the government not bother to bail out GM, but just guarantee warranties. Sorry, too late. By the end of the 2010, there will be no GM dealers left to do the warranty work.
This is tragic. But I, along with many others, first predicted this some 25 years ago, and the smug GM stakeholders told us we were "talking through our hats."
Those "hats" are keeping me mighty warm!!
If GM's sales units drop by as much in 2o10 over 2009, as they have in 2009 over 2008, GM will sell no cars in Canada within 10 months. That is even a faster collapse than I, as arguably the biggest detractor of this industry in Canada, had predicted.
GM isn't just toast, its crumbs.
One of my friends suggested the government not bother to bail out GM, but just guarantee warranties. Sorry, too late. By the end of the 2010, there will be no GM dealers left to do the warranty work.
This is tragic. But I, along with many others, first predicted this some 25 years ago, and the smug GM stakeholders told us we were "talking through our hats."
Those "hats" are keeping me mighty warm!!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Stick to the Knitting
In February both CTV and Canwest Global reported massive financial write downs. They joined Rogers Cable as money losers. Rogers shocked the markets by losing over $100 million in just one quarter. CTV expects to lose $100 million this year. Canwest is losing $28 million per quarter.
The CBC is also reporting a deficit for the year at $30 million, but it is a fraction of what the private broadcasters have reported.
Over the past 10 years, CTV, Canwest Global and Rogers have embarked on an ambitious national expansion, buying what they call "properties" for inflated prices, and then trying to integrate these "properties" into unrelated businesses. Instead of sticking to the fundamentals of their TV business, they have been building newspaper businesses, radio station business, Internet, satellite TV and telephone business.
Do all these businesses actually have enough in common to be managed together? Have they converged as the experts suggested they would?
No they haven't. With the single exception that one piece of wire can bring telephone and television and the Internet into the same home, there is no convergence. Radio for instance is a highly fragmented, local business, for which all revenues come solely from local advertising and with the exception of talk stations, all content is imported from other sources. The technology of radio hasn't changed much in 80 years. Newspapers are also local businesses. Network television is national in scope. And mobile telephony is unrelated to local and long distance land-based telephone.
A cell phone that can browse the Internet, send e-mails and take photos is sexy, especially when the bill is being paid by the employer or the bank of mom & dad. However the number of people using devices such as an iPhone and that are paying their own bill are negligible.
The really big stumble is the attempt of regional companies to remake themselves as national organizations by cobbling together vastly different businesses and cultures. The Canwest Global network, for instance, is a bizarre combination of completely unrelated local channels.
So how are these companies proposing to cover their losses. They want the regulator, the CRTC, to require the countries 4 cable operators to charge their clients fees to receive Canadian network television. The problem is that, with the exception of news and sports, nearly 100% of the content carried by CTV and Global are simply simulcasts of US television programming, for which we are already paying the cable company to receive.
Why would I pay an additional $10 per month to watch US shows on Canadian networks?
With respect to the Canadian networks, I watch absolutely nothing on CTV and Global except for US shows which I am also paying to receive on cable.
Please don't get me started on Rogers. I started off as a Rogers cable subscriber in 1985, paying $18 per month for cable TV and pay channels that did not carry commercials. Exactly the same service now costs $55 per month, and the pay channels carry commercials!!
What would I do?
1. Merge Global and CTV and require them to produce local content while divesting themselves of radio and newspaper assets
2. Regulate mobile telephony
3. Treat Rogers cable and other cable companies as utilities, with a business solely devoted on carrying signals, but producing content, not producing services.
By the way, in some places in Canada, nothing needs to be done. Shaw Communications, for instance, is in solid financial shape. Shaw's approach is simple. Its focus is on carrying content, not selling phones, nor producing television content, nor running radio and newspaper. Videotron in Quebec is also in solid financial shape.
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