# Welcome to the Canadoper Café, 2025! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 31, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410 "2024-12-31T21:26:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 34
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/662 "2025-06-06T14:47:48Z")
You can’t fix stoopid and Canada timid about mandatory vax for kids. Now the counries kids are paying for it. 🤬 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/663 "2025-06-06T14:52:09Z")
I’m an Ohioan. Thought I’d chime in to say we will be traveling to Ontario next month for a week-long vacation. Will be going through Sault Ste. Marie, then driving east for a couple hours. Hopefully we won’t experience any border issues. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/664 "2025-06-06T15:08:07Z")
Fill up on gas. You’ll be driving into a very sparsely populated area then through an extremely sparsely populated area until (eventually) reaching the most densely populated area in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/665 "2025-06-06T15:20:51Z")
Assuming OP is travelling main Highways fuel will be **no issue** - if it was Sunday in the northern part of Quebec might be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/666 "2025-06-06T17:05:22Z")
Well, yeah. I guess it’d be trouble if he was driving west from the Sault, but he’ll be fine driving east. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/667 "2025-06-06T17:12:31Z")
Driving east won’t be a problem. As I recall from the last time I was through there, there’s plenty of gas stations coming out of Sault Ste. Marie, and smalll towns with more stations along the way. Then there’s a travel plaza on the highway near Espanola. Should be no problem heading east. Heading west though, yes, might have a problem. No gas between the Sault and Wawa (~220 km). Next gas is White River, 100 km west of Wawa. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/668 "2025-06-06T17:41:53Z")
Well he should fill up just before he leaves the U.S. as Ontario gas prices are higher. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/669 "2025-06-06T18:24:00Z")
That’s true but what in the hell is he driving that has such short range…a Winnebago? 220 km is motorcycle range on the low side. My CB500F gets circa 400 km on 16 ltr of fuel. There is National park west of Sault that has a longish stretch without fuel…made a tactical error on my thirsty CBF1000 and almost ran out in that stretch. But unless driving a land behemoth I’d not be concerned. Rule of thumb tho in wilderness drives on main highways fill up once you get down past half. There will be lots of Timmies for food as well. One never knows when a forest fire or landslip could leave you stranded for a day - having lots of fuel useful for heat or a/c. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/670 "2025-06-06T19:28:25Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Meanwhile, case numbers have also been creeping up in the western province of Alberta, which this week reported a total of 710 confirmed cases, making it the worst year for measles since 1986, when 843 cases were reported. I had a periodic health review with my GP last week. Since I was born in 1970 when one dose was the standard, he ended up giving me a MMR booster as well as a tetanus shot. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/671 "2025-06-23T17:35:47Z")
Canadian election in the rear view mirror and Carney doing okay. The cons however.? 🤔 The Tyee is pretty left but some good writers. Excellent IMNSHO article on PP. [https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2025/06/18/Poilievre-Clunky-Comeback-Campaign/](https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2025/06/18/Poilievre-Clunky-Comeback-Campaign/) The comments are also highly recommended read. 🦘 ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/672 "2025-06-23T17:55:15Z")
Pierre who? ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/673 "2025-06-23T18:07:25Z")
👍 yup ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/674 "2025-06-23T18:58:36Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Pierre who? You know, the Honourable Member from Ontario…sorry, Alberta. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/675 "2025-06-24T00:30:39Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > You know, the Honourable Member from Ontario…sorry, Alberta. Not actually an honourable member anymore at the moment. Remain to be seen. 🤠👍🏽 ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/676 "2025-06-24T01:26:32Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Not actually an honourable member anymore at the moment. Remain to be seen. 🤠👍🏽 He does get to keep the “Honourable” title for life as a former cabinet minister, regardless of the validity. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/677 "2025-06-24T01:33:44Z")
Interesting that Doug Ford and Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston - two currently successful conservatives - don’t want anything to with Poilievre. I wonder if his party might be taking stock of that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/678 "2025-06-24T05:18:13Z")
Today’s paper now claims fixing Phoenix, a system put in place to pay federal employees, is going to cost $5,100,000,000. > **[Fixing Phoenix payroll problems cost Ottawa $5.1-billion, says federal official](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2c74378c75ce69f3bd05148883e9aa787edbcaa15de44e8517335ccc76bfb73e/E2B5CNFAVFEC3LKQAD6NIWYYX4/)** > > Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, says the alternative would have been worse How is this possible in the absence of graft and corruption? While it is understood pay is complex and there are many subtleties, companies and other governments seem to be able to do this routine action without billions of dollars of complications. Has a single person even been held to account? > **[Phoenix pay system](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_pay_system)** > > The Phoenix pay system is a payroll processing system for Canadian federal government employees, provided by IBM in June 2011 using PeopleSoft software, and run by Public Services and Procurement Canada. The Public Service Pay Centre is located in Miramichi, New Brunswick. It was first introduced in 2009 as part of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Transformation of Pay Administration Initiative, intended to replace Canada's 40-year old system with a new, cost-saving "automated, off-the-shelf comm... ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/679 "2025-06-24T06:08:07Z")
Australia had it’s own > **[Case Study 9: The Payroll System That Cost Queensland Health AU$1.25 Billion](https://www.henricodolfing.com/2019/12/project-failure-case-study-queensland-health.html)** > > The payroll system implementation disaster at Queensland Health in 2010 is said to be the most spectacular technology project failure in t... ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/680 "2025-06-24T15:39:32Z")
Good to know that Canada is not the only country that sometimes cannot do basic things. However, my impression is that Canadians are generally competent. Aussies too. When they want to be. With this much money, there is likely something more. Maybe Australians are five times as competent as Canadians? Or is it 20%? 😉 I recommend McGee’s book _Apple in China_. It offers an interesting look at three largely closed systems: Apple (to a mild degree Tesla with much of the same costs and benefits), the Chinese government and the electronics industry. The book surely has some flaws and biases. It is sometimes unfairly critical. It highlights some extraordinary priorities and China’s extraordinary efficiency. Apple likes China in part because they couldi build a factory with a million workers, and cities to house and feed them, in mere months. Foxconn had factories with 200,000 people. Some months they brought onboard 30,000 new people to replace frustrated ones who wanted to make quick money then leave. You think China 0or Foxconn couldn’t figure out how to pay a big group of people? That it would have cost them billions to do so? ---
**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:** [June 24, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410/681 "2025-06-24T15:49:09Z")
I’ve been sorta following this story for years. It seems unbelievable. Obviously, I don’t know the tech details and the ins and outs of it all, but one point jumped out at me from an early article on it: the federal government decided not to do a limited test of the new system. One proposal was that it would be rolled out only in a couple of the smaller provinces, in beta mode, to get real experience of how it worked in actual practice. For some reason, the decision was made to turn it all on at once, for every federal employee across the country. That decision appears to have magnified the difficulty and cost of trying to fix it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-the-canadoper-cafe-2025/1012410.md?page=35)