# The Canadope Café, 2014 Edition: In 3-D! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2014, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612 "2014-01-01T05:07:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 54
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1061 "2014-05-11T05:02:53Z")
All the more reason he should not have slashed the tax base. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1062 "2014-05-11T05:11:08Z")
Touché. I don’t know what the answer is, but we cannot keep spiraling into deeper debt. Once interest rates start to inevitably rise, we’re screwed. We’ve got to get things under control, and it’s going to mean tough decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1063 "2014-05-11T05:17:10Z")
Agreed, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. Concerted restraint and real efficiencies, not slash and burn. (Then again, for me personally, business picks up when hard times hit. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1064 "2014-05-11T05:58:31Z")
Given the recent discussion on Ontario politics and economy, I will admit that there are times that I’m glad that I no longer live in Ontario. But sometimes, I do miss it. Especially when, as tonight, we got yet more snow here in Alberta. It’s May, fercryingoutloud! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1065 "2014-05-11T11:12:02Z")
There is a simple solution to the pensions issue, long-term, and that is to move to defined contribution plans for the public service, not defined benefits, which usually have large unfunded liabilities, chargeable against the general revenue fund. If all new hires were on a defined contribution plan, the long-term unfunded liability will gradually go down. It’s a very long-term solution, though. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1066 "2014-05-11T12:19:19Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > His cutting the tax base resulted in increasing the debt by 20 billion in his first term Had the Harris government done nothing at all - literally just rolled the same budget out that the NDP had used in their last year in power, year after year - the provincial debt would have increased by at least **fifty** billion dollars (assuming no change in federal transfers) so what specific change are you ascribing a $20 billion loss to? Like it or not Leaffan is correct, and if you want to know what the solutions are, why, we KNOW what they are. They had a big report on it and everything. McGuinty himself commissioned it, he just didn’t want to do any of the parts that would be politically unpopular. [http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/reformcommission/](http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/reformcommission/) ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1067 "2014-05-11T13:12:07Z")
Rickjay, I never suggested that Harris should have done nothing at all and just rolled out the same budget that the NDP had used. Flopping from one extreme to another was a bad move, but not moving at all would also have been bad. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1068 "2014-05-11T13:22:57Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Given the recent discussion on Ontario politics and economy, I will admit that there are times that I’m glad that I no longer live in Ontario. > > But sometimes, I do miss it. Especially when, as tonight, we got yet more snow here in Alberta. It’s May, fercryingoutloud! Out of consideration for you, I wore a golf shirt and a wind-breaker when [puttering about in the yard](http://youtu.be/GzJBZVzPo7E) this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1069 "2014-05-11T14:56:52Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > There is a simple solution to the pensions issue, long-term, and that is to move to defined contribution plans for the public service, not defined benefits, which usually have large unfunded liabilities, chargeable against the general revenue fund. If all new hires were on a defined contribution plan, the long-term unfunded liability will gradually go down. It’s a very long-term solution, though. Governments don’t do “long-term” - that’s a big part of all the problems, in my opinion. I’ve been thinking about the pensions issue in Canada, and I’ve reluctantly come to the conclusion that we do indeed need to raise the age of collecting pensions. People retire at 65, then live to be 90. I don’t think the math for the pensions going out is matching the pension contributions going in. > [@Muffin](#): > > Out of consideration for you, I wore a golf shirt and a wind-breaker when [puttering about in the yard](http://youtu.be/GzJBZVzPo7E) this morning. What is _wrong_ with you?!? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1070 "2014-05-11T16:55:09Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Governments don’t do “long-term” - that’s a big part of all the problems, in my opinion. Some governments do. Saskatchewan went to a defined contribution pension plan for public servants in the mid-70s. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1071 "2014-05-11T17:09:55Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Out of consideration for you, I wore a golf shirt and a wind-breaker when [puttering about in the yard](http://youtu.be/GzJBZVzPo7E) this morning. Bright sunshine this morning, and the snow melted quickly. I’m going to try getting in some golf this afternoon–with the weather being as crazy as it has been, there are no guarantees that we’ll get in a full game, but we’ll try. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1072 "2014-05-11T18:42:02Z")
It’s sunny but cool today, it was cold last night, and it will be cold again tonight - I’m trying to grow new grass here! I’m trying to grow all my plant beds! I need some warmth already! Oh well - at least I planted all hardy plants - they should be okay. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1073 "2014-05-11T20:41:35Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What is _wrong_ with you?!? > 🙂 Ski on the snow, hike through the mud and snow, or paddle in the icy water? I’ll take the snow. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1074 "2014-05-11T21:25:50Z")
Happy spring!!! It’s 20 degrees and sunny in the GTA and I was _gasp_ _outside_ today! For hours! Amidst the new green leaves! ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1075 "2014-05-11T21:26:46Z")
So somehow I talked myself into wanting a new bicycle. I mean, my old bike is 18 years old, I’ve changed a LOT since then and my son wants to go for rides so I really needed one that fit. Went to one place, that didn’t work so well. Second place it was a bit of a wait but the service? Awesome. I now have a new bike and I love it. I can’t wait to go for a ride this evening! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1076 "2014-05-12T01:30:16Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Bright sunshine this morning, and the snow melted quickly. I’m going to try getting in some golf this afternoon… Got in all 18 holes. But it was the first round of the year, and I’m feeling it now. Completely forgot I had those muscles! Never mind, I’ll just have to play more to get my game back. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1077 "2014-05-12T20:38:16Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > So somehow I talked myself into wanting a new bicycle. I mean, my old bike is 18 years old, I’ve changed a LOT since then and my son wants to go for rides so I really needed one that fit. Went to one place, that didn’t work so well. Second place it was a bit of a wait but the service? Awesome. I now have a new bike and I love it. I can’t wait to go for a ride this evening! Pics? or a description? I am still debating buying a cyclocross/commuter bike now that my hardcore mtb days are pretty much over. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1078 "2014-05-13T03:31:51Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Pics? or a description? I am still debating buying a cyclocross/commuter bike now that my hardcore mtb days are pretty much over. I got a Giant, I’m on my phone but I’ll see if I can link it later. It’s one that can go between paved pathways and gravel (I’m near some great pathways and between two parks with both style of paths). I can turn the shocks on and off on the front, multiple gears. So I guess a hybrid? I was looking at cruisers thinking that might be nice but the guy asked the right questions and pretty much pulled the bike off the wall, adjusted it, had me test it and adjusted several times. I didn’t go for a spin last night but I did tonight. 7.7km, my first ride in a year and last year (on my old bike) I didn’t feel anywhere near as good. Of course this was a little flatter but still… After my experience shopping and the ride I took today, I’d HIGHLY recommend going to a good bike shop to fit you and will ask where you will ride and get you a bike that will be comfortable and appropriate for that. I paid a little more than I was planning but I swear I felt I could keep going for longer than I did tonight and I am admittedly out of shape. I am so excited about this! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1079 "2014-05-13T03:44:16Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Got in all 18 holes. But it was the first round of the year, and I’m feeling it now. Completely forgot I had those muscles! Never mind, I’ll just have to play more to get my game back. 🙂 I’ll be playing my first 9 holes of the year after work tomorrow. Man, I know exactly what you mean about “forgot I had those muscles.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/1080 "2014-05-13T05:43:11Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’ll be playing my first 9 holes of the year after work tomorrow. > > Man, I know exactly what you mean about “forgot I had those muscles.” Good luck with the game, and don’t injure yourself! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612.md?page=53) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612.md?page=55)