Every time there is a by-election, I hear people saying the same thing: “How much is this going to cost?”. I usually respond: “democracy has a price, and that price is less onerous than a “free” dictatorship”. But that being said, is there a way to mitigate the costs related to an election? Right now, Continue reading →

Published in the latest edition of Common Ground: “Under BC-STV, each person gets to rank candidates in order of preference 1, 2, 3, etc. If your favourite candidate is eliminated, your vote is not wasted; it is simply transferred to your second choice, and so on. No need to vote strategically for the “lesser of Continue reading →

I have seen quite a lot of spelling mistake before.  I make quite a lot myself too.  But this one comes from a simple one page advertising from the City! Good luck recieving this tax free money for those eligible! Frédéric Van Caenegem

This comment was published in today’s 24hrs. Megan Albrechtson’s article (24 hours, March 10) about economical modes of transportation was very interesting, but I think one alternative can be added. Between owning a car and using transit (or rather a complement to both), there is car sharing. Car sharing is provided by two organizations in Continue reading →

A terrible tragedy, that cost the lives of two people, happened near Granville Island a few weeks ago: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/in-the-garden/dead+near+Granville+Island/1267133/story.html Back in November, I sent an email to the city of Vancouver about the same dangerous pedestrian crossing.  You can read the correspondence here: http://blog.vancf.net/2008/11/22/an-example-of-bureaucratic-efficiency/ The City fixed the problem quickly. But, this crossing remains dangerous Continue reading →

The following is an email I’ve sent to friends and contacts earlier today! Title: BC-STV This message is in English only, so no need to look further down! Pas de français??? Non, pas cette fois!!! Hello friends! I am writing about politics. If not interested, you can just delete, I will never know and therefore Continue reading →

My comment to this post: http://challengingthecommonplace.blogspot.com/2009/02/bc-ndp-and-electoral-reform-p4.html By this non-response, Carole James want the referendum to fail. She seem to say that if the yes for BC-STV is under 60%, then an other form of Proportional Representation (like MMP) will be proposed to British Columbians. But, by being vague, she makes no commitments toward this. In Continue reading →

I sometimes think that dogs are not environmentally friendly. They have no problems with hundreds of people everyday passing by their Street and driving in their cars, trucks or SUVs.  But as soon as they see a pedestrian… run for your life! Frédéric Van Caenegem

It’s without big surprise that Michael Ignatieff decided to support the conservative budget. Ignatieff’s objective is to help Canada by restoring the significance of the Liberal Party. Not my choice, but then again, I am not a Liberal so quite frankly, the Liberals should not listen to me. I did support the coalition for two Continue reading →

I had a weird dream again.  It was 5 years into the future and I have quite a lot of white hair on my head!  I was a surveyor in Siberia.  Establishing the first draft for a new train line project that authorities want to establish there.  I had walked 5km into the forest (it’s Continue reading →