Otis R

Tractors, Combines, Exotic Cars

[Stan Collins @stan_sdcollins]

Well there you have it for another week that just seemed to fly by again. This weekend we are staying close to home as Marlene recuperates from her eye surgery. I hope you all have nice weekends planned for yourselves, and until tomorrow then friends…..

[Otis R @OtisR8]

@Martyupnorth_2 ANYTHING....

[Otis R @OtisR8]

@Chiefs_Hockey Good news!

[Brad Rihela @BRihela]

Wanted to take a moment to thank the fans and city of Lloydminster for your support this season. It meant so much to myself and our players. Disappointing to be notified last week that I won’t be returning, but wanted to make sure all of you knew how grateful I am. #Lloydminster

[Cory Morgan @CoryBMorgan]

For the "housing first" advocates out there who claim it's high rent putting people on the streets:

How low would rent have to get before these guys get a place?

$20 per month? $10?

Let's get real.

High rents are pressuring many people and we need to increase housing supply to deal with that.

Quit pretending the bulk of the street people would see any benefit from lower rents though. They are well past that.

They are addicts and need treatment.

Then housing.

[RWP @ROYALRIGGER]

@ndub04 @thisBshane @Conquer_Lorne @OtisR8 WTF?How do you justify firing a guy who had brought exciting hockey back to the Bobcats?Coach of the year nomination, led a team that never quit .Looks like Border City Built is afraid of success. Something stinks in Cat house.Boycott?

[RWP @ROYALRIGGER]

just heard Bobcats have fired Brad Rihela !WTF , seriously? He guided the Cats to one of the most entertaining , exciting seasons they have had in years, the guy was nominated for AJ coach of the year. WTF Seems like the Cats powers that be can’t stand to have success. Boycott?

[Otis R @OtisR8]

@TractorZoom 610 G125

[Otis R @OtisR8]

@TractorZoom That is what they say....

[Dan Knight @DanKnightMMA]

Good morning, my fellow Canadians. As some of you enjoyed the comfort of Family Day, perhaps some of you noticed Justin Trudeau making the rounds in Winnipeg - (Justin Trudeau Fireside Chat at Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce – February 16, 2024), where he found quite the fan in Loren Remillard of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. It seems Remillard was all too eager to extend a metaphorical hand, fishing for tax dollars to prop up their projects.

Oh, let's dissect the masterful art of political deflection and diversion, shall we? Justin Trudeau, spun a narrative so disconnected from the reality Canadians live in, it's almost an art form. He lauds Toronto and Vancouver as paragons of multicultural success, cities thriving under the weight of their diversity. But here's the catch folks—the reality on the ground, as reported by Stats Canada, tells a story that's anything but rosy for the residents of these supposed utopias.

When we turn our gaze to the real impact of his government's immigration policies on the ground, the picture is starkly different. Toronto and Vancouver, the benchmarks of Trudeau's immigration success story, are in fact cities where residents report a lower quality of life than their provincial counterparts. Why? Because amidst the fanfare of diversity and inclusion, the basic needs of the citizens—like feeling a sense of belonging, life satisfaction, and mental health—are being sidelined.

Let's not forget the elephant in the room Trudeau casually mentioned—2 million temporary residents flooding into Canada. This isn't just a number; it's a tsunami of demand in addition to the Liberal 500k target per year of permanent resident hitting a housing market already gasping for air, driving rents and shelter costs to astronomical heights. And Trudeau's response? A shrug of the shoulders and a diversion to talk about measures with Mexico or the plight of international students. While these issues merit attention, they dance around the core issue: a government more obsessed with its global image than the welfare of its citizens.

The audacity to claim that Toronto and Vancouver are thriving under his policies, while Stats Canada directly contradicts this with evidence of declining quality of life, is nothing short of political theater. It's a sleight of hand designed to distract from the harsh reality—that his government's approach to immigration and temporary residents is contributing to a crisis of affordability and well-being in our major cities.

But amidst the spectacle, Trudeau touched on a subject that should raise eyebrows across the nation: On how his government is using immigration as a tool to "grow the economy." Now, let's pause for a moment to digest that, shall we?

Diving deeper, a fascinating exchange caught my ear during a Finance Committee meeting FINA-124 -February 1, 2024, where Tiff Macklem of the Bank of Canada offered some candid insights. When prodded by Mr. Jasraj Singh Hallan, Macklem conceded that the government's spending spree and the Bank's efforts to stabilize our economy were essentially at loggerheads. Here we have the Trudeau administration, pushing fiscal policies that seem to sprint in the opposite direction of monetary sanity.

Macklem went on, outlining that yes, government spending is contributing to growth, but let's be clear about the kind of growth we're talking about here. It's one that barely keeps pace with population increases, teetering on the edge of potential. And with government spending poised to climb even higher, we're flirting dangerously close to exacerbating inflation, rather than reining it in.

Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers chimed in with a stark reminder of the housing market's woes. Despite interest rate hikes, which traditionally cool down housing prices, Canada's chronic housing shortage keeps prices stubbornly high. The result? A housing affordability crisis that's squeezing Canadians tighter than ever, exacerbated by an immigration policy that is throwing fuel on the fire of demand without addressing the urgent need for supply.

This is the picture Trudeau's policies paint for Canada: a nation where the cost of living climbs ever higher, where the dream of homeownership slips further away for the average citizen, and where economic growth strategies seem disconnected from the realities on the ground. It's high time for a reality check, a moment to ask ourselves whether these policies truly serve the best interest of Canadians or merely the political agenda of those in power.

Indeed, the root of the issue is staring us right in the face—supply problems are driving costs through the roof. Yet, it seems as though there's a conspiracy of silence in the House of Commons; no one dares to utter the truth that unchecked immigration is exacerbating these supply woes, sending shelter costs soaring. Let's dive into the latest from Stats Canada to unravel the narrative everone is thriving under Justin Trudeau.

First off, let's talk about renters. According to this report, if you're renting, your quality of life isn't just on the lower rung; it's plummeting. Renters are staggering under the weight of financial pressures unheard of for homeowners, feeling the pinch of record-low vacancy rates and rent hikes that would make your head spin. Over 15 percentage points more likely to struggle financially and over 11 points less likely to experience life satisfaction.

But the plot thickens when we look at the younger Canadians, those aged 15 to 54. They're caught in a vise, with life satisfaction and mental health scores that trail behind their older counterparts. The dream of home ownership? A mirage for many, as they navigate a landscape where the very idea of paying off a mortgage seems like a relic of a bygone era. And let's not even get started on the economic tightrope walked by residents of Toronto and Vancouver, cities where the cost of living soars as high as the skyscrapers dotting their skylines.

Now, Trudeau's government might have you believe that policies are in place to bridge these divides, to bolster the quality of life for all Canadians. But let's be real—the evidence suggests otherwise. With renters and younger generations buckling under financial strains and cities like Toronto and Vancouver becoming enclaves of the unaffordable, the narrative being spun by the current administration seems more fiction than fact.

Consider the financial strain laid bare by these statistics: a significant portion of Canadians are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their financial needs, with shelter costs consuming a lion's share of their income.

In a landscape marked by disparities in quality of life we're left with a pressing question: where does the path forward lie?

Let's cut to the chase, folks. The latest 338 polling data isn't just a blip on the political radar; it's a resounding bell tolling for the end of the Liberals' reign, inching closer to losing their official party status. Why, you might ask? It's simple: Justin Trudeau's legacy is one of profound ineptitude, a legacy that has systematically failed Canadians at every turn. When Trudeau touts his housing policies, claiming to increase rentals, remember the cold, hard facts from Stats Canada—he's not building homes; he's crafting a nation with a diminished quality of life. That's the Trudeau vision for Canada.

And let's not overlook the audacity of his actions—jetting off to Jamaica with a hefty $162,000 bill footed by you, the taxpayer. It seems Trudeau's concern for your quality of life evaporates faster than a Liberal MP can devour lobster in Malaysia. Meanwhile, ordinary Canadians are left to scrounge at food banks. But hey, as long as the political elite get their fill, right?

SNC-Lavalin was just the beginning, the canary in the coal mine signaling the avalanche of corruption set to spill out from Trudeau's government. WE Charity, the Trudeau Foundation, Chinese interference, ArriveScam... the list of scandals under Trudeau's watch is as long as it is disgraceful. These aren't mere footnotes in history; they're the defining features of his tenure.

Remember the uproar over a $16 orange juice under Harper? That was considered the height of scandal, a benchmark of accountability. Fast forward to today, and this government can't even spell 'ethics,' let alone practice it.

So, my fellow Canadians, as we look ahead to the next election, we're presented with a golden opportunity—a chance to reset the narrative and send a clear message to the liberal elites that we've had enough of their disdain for the average citizen. I, for one, will be cheering on the red wedding of Canadian politics because the liberal standard is not just detrimental to your well-being; it's an affront to all of Canada. It's time to say enough is enough and reclaim the Canada we know and love—a Canada of integrity, accountability, and true north strong and free.

[Otis R @OtisR8]

Effective today I have resigned as a director of the Lloydminster Jr A Bobcats. I will be disassociating from Bobcat activities and events other than hockey games.

[Otis R @OtisR8]

So if this is Climate Change... why not? First time riding my bike in December!!

[Otis R @OtisR8]

Headed out to the Parade of Lights tonight? Stop by Station Auto for hot chocolate and hotdogs. By donation to support Border City Connects

[Otis R @OtisR8]

@thisBshane

[Otis R @OtisR8]

So far so good in Blackfalds

[Otis R @OtisR8]

What a night! @LloydBobcats

[Shane Tomayer @thisBshane]

It’s very simple. Without Wayne, Barb, Lana and the Russell family there are no Bobcats, and no Jr A hockey in Lloydminster. I think back to Wayne around the rink and it’s impossible not to smile. A great man, great family and an incredible legacy.

[Gwen Mottram 🇨🇦 🎶🎨🎭📖 @GwenMottram]

Tickets for Festival of Trees 2023 presented by Dekker Oilfield Services Ltd. are available online at https://t.co/5seiAuruGe or can be picked up in person at Lloydminster Museum + Archives or Addilynn Clothes & Accessories. We are now over 50% sold. #Lloydminster

[Otis R @OtisR8]

A beauty afternoon at the Woywitka harvest... https://t.co/XHEHBFooRT