Predictions 2006

I checked my predictions from last year, and scoring a clean 60%, I am fearlessly going to try once again to predict what events will highlight the coming year.

Since council is into its final year, their actions may be a little difficult to predict as some seek re-election. I did predict that one member would leave, although I confess it was not Mason I had in mind. There will be five new faces in Chambers after the fall election.

Taxes: Last year I predicted a 6.3% increase and my taxes went up 9.7%. The spin from City Hall was a lower rate, but I care not at all about their rationalizations, only the bottom line on my tax bill. MPAC has shown a valuation increase on my house at 2.63 % for 2006, which is a fair approximation of inflation. Given the high cost of wage settlements for City employees last year, I expect an increase of about 8% on my tax bill. The City Fathers will call it 5.7%.

Racetrack: Non-starter as slots will not be available at the site. Horse aficionados will travel to the new Equestrian Centre at Powassan.

Water Meters: In 2006 water meters will be back on the agenda. By breaking a tie vote, the mayor will defer the water meter question until next council. This will coincide with the eventual construction of the water filtration plant. (This is the same prediction as last year as there are no converts to water conservation).

Hospital: I thought MPP Smith would have enough influence to get the hospital underway in the fall of 2005, but was sadly mistaken. The tenders will come in so much over budget that the whole project will go back for revisions. Look for a new call for tenders in September. The hot potato of how the City will raise the additional money for its share will be an election issue for council. Mayor Vic will claim City’s portion now increased because of additional costs of Jane Street, Gormanville interchange, etc. Due to rising interest rates, the cost of private sector money to finance the Hospital will delay the project into 2007.

Highway 11: The four-laning will continue apace. Some councillors will persist in blaming the lack of new businesses coming to the City on the highway system. However when completed, the four-laning will only deduct 8 minutes from the trip to Toronto.

As a result of the Boxing Day Think Thank, Mayor Vic will begin to market North Bay as in the number of miles from Toronto (versus Kilometres) and the average daily temperature in Fahrenheit (instead of Celsius) making the City seem both closer and warmer to American businesses. The minimum wage in North Bay, will however, continue to be paid in $CDN.

Member of Parliament: Anthony did get a deserved promotion, although no cabinet position. In a very close election, Chirico will win as the NDP support will not go the Liberals. Liberals replace Paul Martin. The minority Conservative government will last ten months and we will do it all again. This time Rota will regain his seat.

Waterfront: The Old Chief will not open again this year. An application will be made to construct a year-around restaurant on the waterfront; council will dither; the old boat will be sold for scrap and the eyesore removed from the Waterfront.

Heritage Festival: I grossly underestimated the deficit last year, thinking a $50,000 loss was reasonable. The 2006 loss will exceed last year; the Festival will be an election issue. There will be no Airshow, either in May or August, however the Snowbirds will refuel in North Bay and do a courtesy flypast before going to a town with enough money to put on an Airshow. The (Heritage) Festival Committee secretly negotiates with Canada’s other elite demonstration team to have the Musical Ride in 2007 if not 2006.

Recycling Centre: The lawsuit over the landfill will stall in the courts and the recycling plant will again be an issue for council during capital budget deliberations. Council will consider starting a reserve fund for the replacement of Merrick. The Reserve, beginning in 2007, will be funded by a special $1.00 per garbage bag tagging initiative.

Otter Lake: The Friends Of Otter Lake (referred to as FOOLs by some at City Hall) will threaten to go to the OMB to block the sale of the property, citing the City has ‘no compelling reason’ to sell this piece of remote property for development. The sale of this property will become an election issue in November.

Public Works Property: The pressure is off to move Public Works to make way for new development at the Seymour interchange. The Home Depot box store is not the ‘generator’ that was expected as more businesses seek to locate in the West end of the city, nearer the new Health Centre and University. The Airbase Properties offers to sell land to the City for $1.00 a hectare, however locating the Works yards so far from the centre of the city does not make economic sense. MPAC challenges Airbase Properties’ exempt tax status.

Sports: A North Bay native will bring home an Olympic medal; Toronto will lose to Boston in quarter finals; Ottawa will go all the way to the Stanley Cup this year; Blue Jays will get wild card playoff position; Mike will win a major.

World: The US will begin withdrawal from Iraq, leaving two bases inside the country to stabilize new government. The base in the north has the support of the Kurds; the southern base faces continual attacks. Aussies and Brits pull out as the last of the coalition of the willing leaves Iraq. Osama is killed in Pakistan by an angry shepherd who asks for compensation for the sheep the Bin Laden gang ate. Shepherd does not know of $25 million US reward and Cheney does not want to pay. George pays, gaining popular support in the Canadian and Pakistani press.

Weather: The hurricanes season of 2005 repeats in ferocity in 2006. Southern Ontario faces many tornadoes. Heavy summer rain floods Chippewa Creek, re-establishing the old flood plain in Northgate parking lot.

Other than these few stirrings, the universe will unfold as it is wont to, while old-timers recall the good old days and youngsters hope for a brighter future.

Health and Happiness to all in 2006.