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Drivers begin parking their cars

HEATHER SCOFFIELD and DAKSHANA BASCARAMURTY AND VIRGINIA GALT

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:48 AM EST 23/07/08

Retail sales provide first solid evidence that Canadians are scaling back on gas as 'we reached a bit of a breaking point' ...Read the full article

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  1. Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, United States writes: Having worked in the retail business, comparing month to month sales is silly. You can seasonally adjust all you would like, but there is no comparison like looking at last May to this May. That to me is a more telling tale. Therefore a 2.8% increase is the real story here (see statscanada.ca for the full report). It's a nice modest increase.

    Now for those who insist at looking at April numbers, the important note is 5 out of the 8 categories were positive with an increase of only .1% (not including the sales of gasoline).

    Another interesting report on the statsCanada.ca site is the Employment Insurance report. Here's a quote:

    'In May, 457,020 Canadians received regular Employment Insurance benefits, down 5,330 or 1.2% from April. Regular benefit payments totalled $706.9 million in May.'

    It's going in the right direction if you're an optimist. If you're not, you're probably seeing these folks just losing their benefits. For those, I would encourage you to read the report. The biggest drop of folks getting insurance is in SK - a very hot economy. More than likely, they're getting jobs and contributing to the overall economy. Again good news.
  2. Steve Stone from Canada writes:
    Its about time people started to save money. The days of free money is over. High gas prices are pinching the consumer and they have less to spend.
  3. Silver Standard (Used to be gold) from Canada writes: Sorry guys, they mean to say

    'Dollar destruction push up retail sales'

    We need to stop buying garbage and get back to the old ways of savings, and frugality. We can reverse inflation on our own if we ALL do something. I am happy I do not owe money to anyone but my parents because of school...because they don't charge interest:)

    Be your own FED, put gold and silver away if you can and never spend more than you have in cash. You will see savings grow and in the end will be better off than saving depreciating dollars. Till we have a gold backed currency your savings is NEVER safe.
  4. Stude Ham from Canada writes:
    The high gas prices sucking out spare cash necessarily lead to the inability to spend very much more on anything else.

    Government intervention is sometimes very necessary to curb excessive market place gouging by single industries... in this case the oilygolopoies.

    unfortunately, right wing governments only follow the intellectually brutal logic of their dungeon master dogmas... free markets good... free markets good... free markets good... and to hades with the painful consequences to anyone else but the very rich and powerful.

    it is very easy to detest right wing leadership.
  5. Steve Stone from Canada writes:
    Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, Record High Gas Prices are Good News? Are you serious? What planet are you on?
  6. Joe Calgarian from Canada writes: Hmmm do I spend $40k on the GM Volt when it comes out (assuming GM doesn't go bankrupt before then) or spend $40k now on the Pontiac G8, V8, 400hp, premium gas guzzling rocket. Decisions, decisions...
  7. Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, United States writes: Steve Stone from Canada writes:

    'Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, Record High Gas Prices are Good News? Are you serious? What planet are you on? '

    Good morning Steve. If you could, please indicate where I've said 'Record High Gas prices are good news'?
  8. CallofDuty . from Toronto, Canada writes: So when does Canada start getting cheques from the gov't to spur on the economy? It would be great to get $600-$800 bucks from the gov't.
  9. KSW livin'in from Canada writes: It is great to hear that drivers are finally starting to curb their habits in regards to the amount they are driving. It still amazes me the WAY most people still drive. I still get passed by pickup and SUV drivers that just need to beat me to the red light everytime I need to drive somewhere and 120kph still seems to be the norm in most 100 zones.

    Save yourself some money - slow down and stay alert.
  10. Silver Standard (Used to be gold) from Canada writes: CallofDuty . from Toronto, Canada writes: So when does Canada start getting cheques from the gov't to spur on the economy? It would be great to get $600-$800 bucks from the gov't.

    ((LoL if they start doing that then you know they are sabotaging our economy because we wouldn't need it if we had a strong dollar...and there is no reason why we shouldn't have one either. IF they start passing out stimulus checks here I am buying silver with it...but if we get to that point I don't know how much I would be able to buy. Food too btw.)
  11. Port Credit Bill from Canada writes: Even though I have to drive to work I have begun riding my bike for routine tasks. More Canadians should be doing this. Imagine how much better Canada could be if everyone just rode a bike for 30 -40 kms a week to perform simple tasks? Just think of the impact on our Health Care costs.
  12. Old Sam Dark and Dirty from Republic of Newfoundland, Canada writes: CallofDuty . from Toronto, Canada writes: So when does Canada start getting cheques from the gov't to spur on the economy? It would be great to get $600-$800 bucks from the gov't...

    =====================

    I don't like the Governemtn giving out any cheques, If they want to do something they can give me an Income Tax break....otherwise don't waste my money giving it away on useless vote buying programs
  13. Don Portz from Trochu AB, Canada writes: To KSW - You are so correct. If we all slow down and even stay within the speed limit, the amount of fuel seved would be immence. I drove from Olds Alta to Calgary on the #2 hwy a distance of approx 90 kms at the posted speed limit of 110 kph. I passed 5 vehicles and was passed by 92. Many of these were Trucks (incl. Semis) and SUVs.
  14. Jack Nguyen from Toronto, Canada writes: What is the alternative if one lives in suburbian Toronto? GO prices aren't that cheap either and weekly ticket is comparable to a week's worth of gasoline. That's really no incentive to ditch the car and take the GO.
  15. jeff russell from Golden Triangle, Canada writes: I wouldn't be surprised to see Auto insurance companies see a decline in revenues. I think gas prices have hit a point were SOME families are now selling or just getting fire/theft coverage on one of there multiple cars as the cost of convenience has become to expensive. This probably isn't a bad thing as the money saved will be spent on something else i'm sure as people just can't seem to grasp the concept of saving these days...
  16. Is there anybody out there? from Canary Islands, Canada writes: Hello Mr. Harper. Are you stuck in the tar sands?
  17. Ken I Retire from Canada writes: KSW livin in from Canada, I'm with 100 percent with you on that. I think fuel needs to go to 2.00 litre or more before these boneheads get it. OTOH if they don't have the fuel they will just steal it. Some peoples' mentality knows no bounds...
  18. lary waldman from Qualicum Beach, Canada writes: When I was a kid Winnipeg 1950's, they delivered the milk, the dry cleaning, the groceries, the meat, pharmacy,everything. My mother didn't need a car, except to go to Eaton's for tea in the afternoon. And you know what even though for that time we where sort of middle class, when it snowed, and that happened a wee bit, she had no trouble getting on the bus, whose doors opened right in front of Eaton's or the Bay, weren't any Wal Marts or Superstores in those days. I never felt like I needed a car, even in 40 below zero Winnipeg, where the buses where fitted with storm windows.

    Lary Waldman
  19. Hugh Draper from Vancouver, Canada writes: I still see too many vehicles on the roads, so gas prices have more room to increase.
  20. Winston Smith from Canada writes: This just goes to show you what a crock the government's official inflation numbers are. Inflation, in the real sense of the word, means a reduction in the purchasing power of your money. The government have invented their own definition to exclude everything that was costing us a lot more money in the last 3 years; from housing, to food, to energy. If the 2% official rate of inflation of compounded over 3 years your expenditures should only have gone up 6%. Judging from the average Canadian's inability to afford to even drive their cars today it would be fair to conclude the real rate of inflation is much higher in the last 3 years that the official rate. Most likely inflation has been double digits.
  21. Bart Farquart from Canada writes:
    High energy prices are causing a lot of pain for a lot of people. A kind of market based carbon tax if you will.

    A lease no one would be so misguided as to propose some sort of addtional energy tax right now.
  22. London After Midnight -- from Canada writes: We live downtown and can walk to two plazas, each with a major grocery store, pharmacies, all the banks and the post office. We love the walks and keep fit and leave the car at home. The homes are older but well kept, yet when homes in the neighbourhood are listed for sale, some don't sell. This doesn't make sense. Seems like lots of people still want to drive and park every five minutes to run their errands? Real estate sales in our area should be rapid. No we're not in Toronto, but the point of this discussion is about the rising cost of fuel and how to keep the car 'parked' when you really don't have to drive.
  23. Tony . from Waterloo, Canada writes: CallofDuty . from Toronto, Canada writes: 'So when does Canada start getting cheques from the gov't to spur on the economy? It would be great to get $600-$800 bucks from the gov't.'

    What are you waiting for? I got my $250 in March when I filled my income taxes. Assuming you're employed you should get yours once you file you taxes.

    $250 is roughly the amount any working Canadian earning $37,000 a year got back care of the income tax cuts last Oct. between the increase in the personal exemption and the rate cut in the lowest tax bracket. It could have been a lot better had income taxes been cut further in place of the GST cut, but I guess we can't have everything.

    It's not quite $600 to $800, but on the other hand our government was able to afford the $250 tax cut, the U.S. government is NOT able to afford even a $1 tax cut, let alone a $600 one.
  24. James Eaton from Nepean, Canada writes: Jack Nguyen from Toronto - do you have free parking downtown? One of the great savings for me in giving up the car for commuting was not having to pay to park the car - the monthly parking charges and the bus pass were about the same price.

    Not having to insure the car as a commuter vehicle was also a savings.
  25. Super Farmer from Canada writes: Follow Silver Standard's advice = retire poor
  26. d p from writes: 'lary waldman from Qualicum Beach, Canada writes: When I was a kid Winnipeg 1950's, they delivered the milk, the dry cleaning, the groceries, the meat, pharmacy,everything. My mother didn't need a car, except to go to Eaton's for tea in the afternoon. And you know what even though for that time we where sort of middle class, when it snowed, and that happened a wee bit, she had no trouble getting on the bus, whose doors opened right in front of Eaton's or the Bay, weren't any Wal Marts or Superstores in those days. I never felt like I needed a car, even in 40 below zero Winnipeg, where the buses where fitted with storm windows.' Winnipeg hasn't changed that much. It's beautiful. I ride the bus 9 minutes to work downtown and come home for lunch. They let you use a transfer to travel back within an hour so the round trip home for lunch costs $2.25. Sometimes I even go for a quick swim in my solar-heated pool at lunch. It works even better if you buy a monthly bus pass...unlimited adult travel for $70. There is a great drycleaner and grocery store on the route..much better meat than Superstore. The buses still do well in snow storms. I only drive my car about a thousand miles a year, so it will last for decades. Some would call Winnipeg a backwater, but the quality of my life is very high.
  27. Audible minority from Canada from from Canada, Canada writes: In reference to the first post: year over year comparisons can be skewed, too. If we experienced a spike (up or down) a year ago , there goes the accuracy of your stats. The real picture would be given by a MOVING AVERAGE, but I guess most people wouldn't understand it. That's the problem with mass media and specialized topics (a 'man-made' global change with that? sigh.)
  28. Cruthin Clan from Canada writes: I have free parking downtown but don't use it, instead I use the GO which in many cases is actually a Don't GO. One time, I got brave and decided to use the commuter Greyhound to go to Cambridge for a conference...I was 2 hours late as the driver got lost.
    Another time when I called to fine folks at GO to complain over the lack of adequate service the nice CSA on the phone, named Oscar, told me to drive if I didn't like it.
    When coaching soccer I have to drive because the clubs here, unlike the ones I was used to in Britain, don't own their fields and instead of all equipment being kept in the club house, it is now kept in my garage. So instead of biking, as I once did, I now drive the car 4 nights a week.
  29. Philip N from Canada writes: You GTA pepes irritate me no-end. Sure, you CAN ditch your car because you have options. Not all of us live in the GTA or a large city and DO NOT have options. I live in rural Ontario and have two choices, walk and hour and a half or drive twenty minutes to work.
    PuhLease realise that raising gas prices will just cause immeasurable harm to many without options! If you ride a bike or take the TTC, it must be great to have choices, good for you!
  30. Rocket Doctor from Vancouver, Canada writes: i've noticed way more cyclists on the road, some weaving in and out of traffic, carefree with their steering and unburdened by cumbersome helmets. i hope the trauma units in our emergency wards are ready for the surge in cyclist-related injuries.
  31. Leon Russell from Gatineau, Qc, Canada writes: Happily, no free-market yahoo has suggested that the market is doing its job and there is no need for government intervention. This has taken wa--a-a-a-a-ay too long and except for a miracle, it's probably too late.
  32. Michael Soft from Apple, Canada writes: 'Philip N from Canada writes: You GTA pepes irritate me no-end. Sure, you CAN ditch your car because you have options. Not all of us live in the GTA or a large city and DO NOT have options...'

    Why not ditch your sprawling big house and move closer to the cities which provide public transportation?
  33. Steve Just Steve from Canada writes: Leon Russell from Gatineau, Qc, Canada writes: Happily, no free-market yahoo has suggested that the market is doing its job and there is no need for government intervention. This has taken wa--a-a-a-a-ay too long and except for a miracle, it's probably too late. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Riiiight. 'Government intervention' is the answer. 'Government intervention' has solved so MANY problems in the world, we definately need MORE to make the world even BETTER. Jeeeze.
  34. Audible minority from Canada from from Canada, Canada writes: Leon Russell: you live in Gatineau, right? I lived there for a few years, too. Striking: government all over the place, your very bread and butter. No wonder why you don't like free market.
  35. Darren in TO from Canada writes: Too bad mass transit here in TO is packed to the rafters. Hey, but at least we're building a subway extension to some suburb compared to on Queen street where riders are PLEADING for more mass transit.
  36. rositta buracas from toronto, Canada writes: What bothers me most about the high gas prices is that elderly people on fixed incomes will suffer the most. Some little old lady living in the country 15 klicks from the nearest town will have to make some tough choices. Any kind of discretionary purchases are out of the question. When I was young, before it became trendy to do so, I cycled to work. There was also a corner grocery store in most neighbourhoods. They are now gone and if I run out of milk, well either I do without or I have to drive to get it. What happens to people in their later years that can't can't walk to a grocery store or cycle anywhere. What happens to people like me? Do we end up being shut in for the rest of our lives because of high gas prices?
    It's a great way to combat global warming though isn't it...
  37. Steve Just Steve from Canada writes: Michael Soft from Apple, Canada writes: 'Philip N from Canada writes: You GTA pepes irritate me no-end. Sure, you CAN ditch your car because you have options. Not all of us live in the GTA or a large city and DO NOT have options...' Why not ditch your sprawling big house and move closer to the cities which provide public transportation? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Dumbest post of the day. I shouldn't have to point out WHY.
  38. Mike M from Toronto, Canada writes: Leon,

    Well, the free-market actually is doing its job, though I wouldn't go quite so far as to say that no government intervention is required.

    But let's look at the results. Jean Chretien signed onto the Kyoto Accord promising to reduce Canada's GHG emissions a long time ago. Since then, 2 successive governments have done exactly nothing to reduce emissions, and emissions have in fact increased markedly.

    The price of gas starting rising rapidly a few months ago. Car use (and therefore the associated emissions of both carbon and other pollutants) dropped almost immidiately.

    Politicians talk alot, but it is the market that produces results.
  39. Mr. Perfect from Canada writes: I wonder what the drop in GHG is as a result of lower use of automobiles.
    I bet it is more than Mr Dion's green shift.
  40. Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: Electric cars are the way forward, especially in urban areas with high pollution. These vehicles have only a few moving parts (a gas engine has hundreds) and are quite nimble.

    http://www.teslamotors.com

    ...
  41. Jeremy K from Canada writes: The excess greed of the oil companies is strangling the rest of economy and our leaders of lack of action demonstrates that they place the concerns of the mega-corporations over that of ordinary citizens. Hardly a government of the people.

    there needs to be an excess profits tax imposed on the gross earnings of the oil companies and this money should be spent on public transit.
  42. Mani Pulated from Bymedia, Canada writes: The headline reads like we should be shocked. Most of us probably think to ourselves, 'well, Duh!'
  43. Paul Wallnutz from Canada writes: More people need to consider getting a small motorcycle or scooter for commuting. Last year, using my 400cc motorcycle for my 20km commute (one way) I figure I saved about 450 litres of fuel by parking the family minivan. (Because I'm a wimp I only used it about 60% of the time, but I could probably push that up to 80% if I don't melt in the rain, and I could also take a long bus-ride if in the snow/ice season.)

    If a large percentage of commuters did this, imagine the energy/fuel/environmental benefits! The irony is that higher fuel prices will force people to try these sorts of alternatives.

    Besides, motorcycling is the most fun that you can have with your clothes on.
  44. Ob Server from Canada writes: At these prices I'm even parking my hybrid and taking the subway downtown. If the price in Vancouver is a harbinger of prices to come, we are in big trouble.
  45. That Guy from Canada writes: > Jeremy K from Canada writes:
    >
    >there needs to be an excess profits tax imposed on the gross earnings >of the oil companies and this money should be spent on public transit.

    Didn't they try that in the U.S.? And didn't GWB veto it?
    Who are his buddies again?
  46. Some Guy from Canada writes: It hasn't changed my habits, I've been a bicycle commuter for years. The main exercise my car gets is my annual vacation, and even then I take my bicycle with me and get around on it at my destination. My current work commute is 10 km one way. The longest I have found practical is 25 km one way. That took about an hour. Some transit systems allow you to put you bike on a rack on the front of the bus for longer commutes. If yours doesn't, suggest they do. I know many people will still have no option but their car, so those of us for whom it is an option should be saving fuel and forcing the price down for them.
  47. Andrea C from Canada writes: My husband and I looked at buying a minivan, since we now have a couple of kids and find it's hard to stow strollers and all the other stuff in the car. But, because we're concerned about our carbon footprint, not to mention the costs of owning a vehicle, we instead decided to spend $1200 to have permanent roof racks and a Thule cargo carrier installed on our Honda Civic. Now we have a car that's been paid off for years, low mileage, runs great and has extra storage. The drag won't cause nearly as much fuel consumption as a minivan or bigger car would. Sometimes you just need to be creative and to think about what else you can do to meet your needs. We're glad that we figured out a solution that's more earth friendly. I'm really proud to be driving a souped up Civic and to have money to spend on other stuff instead. We also live downtown, where people think it must be so expensive, but we honestly save a fortune by not needing to commute!
  48. Rt. Revd. Malachy Egan from Halifax, Canada writes: Hugh Draper from Vancouver,says: I still see too many vehicles on the roads, so gas prices have more room to increase.

    Sorry to pick on you Hugh [BTW your name means 'fire' in Irish] but you are going to see quite a few fires before this is over.

    I do not think anyone truly realizes where this is going. [For the record I am NOT talking about the Book of Revelations]
  49. Tim Cares from Canada writes: Yes, they must have parked it, it couldn't be because they were driving slower.
  50. Piet F from Canada writes: Well Philip - you choose to live in rural Canada. You save a fair amount of money on property tax and your house price is considerably less than living in an urban area. I'm sure that compensates for the extra money you spend on gas.

    I moved to a city from a VERY rural corner of Ontario so I could ride my bike to work - or take the bus in the winter. I've saved a bundle on what I was paying for my car in lease payments, insurance and gas and I'm in far better shape than I used to be.

    We all make different choices - and I just wish more people would choose to park their cars. It'd benefit us all.
  51. jasper james from Canada writes: philip N: I grew up in a small town where the nearest store was 20-25 minutes walk away and my dad had to drive ca. 30 km to work, each direction. But you know what, he still managed to car pool and sometimes he biked. And my mom, well, she walked. In Alberta. In the snow. In teh cold...and I walked to school and biked. There was no bus in my town and no real bus to the nearest major city (Edmonton), but we still made it happen. And it wasn't forty years ago, either, this was in the 80s.

    Yes, there are issues that rural folks need to deal with, but if the price of gas is getting people out of their cars and into alternative transportation models, and getting them to actually think more proactively about alternative transportation, then that's ultimately a good thing - for the environment, for general health...for the community.
  52. Old Sam Dark and Dirty from Republic of Newfoundland, Canada writes: Jeremy K from Canada writes: The excess greed of the oil companies is strangling the rest of economy and our leaders of lack of action demonstrates that they place the concerns of the mega-corporations over that of ordinary citizens. Hardly a government of the people.

    there needs to be an excess profits tax imposed on the gross earnings of the oil companies and this money should be spent on public transit==========

    Second dumbest post of the day, right behind the suggestion that people move closer to cities so they can use public transit.
  53. Jack Sprat from Canada writes: Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: Electric cars are the way forward, especially in urban areas with high pollution. These vehicles have only a few moving parts (a gas engine has hundreds) and are quite nimble.

    And what will you do with the batteries in 5-10 years. Where will the energy come from to charge those batteries ...... maybe from the coal fired power plant. Who will pay to make significant upgrades to the power system if everyone does this. Just a few things to consider that Mr. Tesla never thought of.
  54. Tim Cares from Canada writes: Where is all that electricity going to come from with electric cars? I guess we all want more nuclear power plants then.
  55. slapdash dapoint from trawna, Canada writes: Jack Nguyen from Toronto, Canada writes: What is the alternative if one lives in suburbian Toronto? GO prices aren't that cheap either and weekly ticket is comparable to a week's worth of gasoline. That's really no incentive to ditch the car and take the GO.

    -----------------------------------------

    tack on the added commute time, the schedule as more a suggestion, the steerage feeling... the choice, sadly, is obvious.
  56. J M from Calgaristan, Canada writes: For everyone who criticizes the electric car, the electricity comes from a plug in the wall, duhhh. Nice and clean and simple.
  57. Ms. DeMommies from Halifax, Canada writes: rositta buracas from toronto wrote:
    There was also a corner grocery store in most neighbourhoods. They are now gone and if I run out of milk, well either I do without or I have to drive to get it.

    -----------------
    But the parking lots at Wal-Mart are full. Get the connection yet? Everyday low prices have driven the local grocer out of business. So now you're stuck with big box stores and no choice or competition. The prices at Wal-Mart are going up and the quality was never there to begin with. Welcome to the nightmare. We asked for it and we got it. With some exceptions like me. I boycott big box stores and have done so for the past 10 yrs. Still the parking lots are full - sigh!
  58. Ms. DeMommies from Halifax, Canada writes: The price of gas is still NOT high enough. There are still too many vehicles on the road with single passengers. Maybe it should go to $2. to $4./lt. Then maybe, just maybe, some people will park it and others will get creative .... car pooling.
  59. Comments closed, censored, deleted or made to disappear from Mini Bushland, Canada writes: The only way out of this mess is to consume and spend less, and less, and less..., in fact minimally, and, when one has to buy things, to take advantage as much as possible of buying cheaper in the US: for the same price one gets the goods and/or services, plus the pleasure of travelling to, and staying a while in, the US. --- Fed up paying too much for everything while the C$ is on par? Just put this into practise for the next three months and ask all people around you to do the same.... You'll see the astonishing results: prices will instantly be back to a reasonable level... and you'll feel free, at last, to do something else than spend you whole life consuming more, and more, and more, as per that new religion. Takes time for prices to go down? Persist for another three to six months and see who is the master at that game!!!
  60. Bill M from Canada writes: J M from Calgaristan, Canada writes: For everyone who criticizes the electric car, the electricity comes from a plug in the wall, duhhh. Nice and clean and simple.

    And there it is. Just like magic.
  61. Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes: I agree about the big box stores; the only difference is getting more in one place and a greater variety: but the value for money is really not there, especially if you have to drive a lot of miles to get there.

    However, with regard to the Government helping out with respect to gas prices, of course they can help. Every time the gas price rises, the Govt. gets more taxes. Just think what that has meant to the Govt. revenue account over the last year. They (all governments) could easily cut the tax rate in half and still make a lot of money. The Foreign Minister of France recently pointed out that Gas there was 9.95 euros ($14 ) and half of that was taxes.
  62. Robert von from Calgary, writes: There is nothing clean about electricity in most parts of our country. Coal, Nuclear, Diesel, Natural Gas are all spewing pollutants into the atmosphere and with an increase of electric cars they will certainly have to build more plants. And with more plants comes an increase in price.
  63. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: I still see RVs and fifth-wheel trailers headed out on their cross-continent tours for the summer. I would like to see the price of fuel rise until 90% of the motorhomes, RVs and camper trailers are OFF THE ROAD. NO ONE should have to follow a convoy of RVs down the highway at 80 km/h because the RV owners won't pay for the fuel it takes to drive one of those things at the speed limit. (And no, cheaper gas won't make them drive faster. They held up traffic when gas was 40 cents a litre.)
  64. Tony C from Richmond hill, Canada writes: Living in suburb doesn't mean you have to drive your car to work. I live in Richmond Hill and work in downtown Toronto. I would NEVER drive my car to work. Period.

    There are so many choices available other than driving - YRT, VIVA, TTC, GO Train, GO bus, and my favorite - BIKING!!!

    I bike 25.5 km to work everyday. Yes, that's 51 km a day, 255 km a week, 1,000 km a month, and 6,000 km a year (too bad we only have 6 months of riding friendly weather here).
  65. Audible minority from Canada from from Canada, Canada writes: So let's save a lot of money by parking our car (oops!... I meant let's save... the planet, of course.) So we have more money to spend on 'other stuff', like someone said. Of course, we don't need energy to produce and market that 'other stuff' we buy with the money we save, because it all comes right from the trees and we don't need energy to bring it to the shelves in the stores... And when we're tired of that 'other stuff' we bought, we won't put it in the garbage so it will never pollute. See, the planet will be fine after all.
  66. Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, United States writes: Audible minority from Canada from from Canada, Canada writes:

    'In reference to the first post: year over year comparisons can be skewed, too. If we experienced a spike (up or down) a year ago , there goes the accuracy of your stats. '

    Umm, that's the point. A downward or upward spike is picked up and noted. A particular month of a year, people tend to buy the same things. Warmer clothes in Sept/Oct timeframe, lighter clothes in May/June. Nov and Dec are big retail months because of Xmas. Therefore looking at what people spent last year and comparing it to this year is the correct way of measurement. This gives one a more accurate sense of how the economy is doing. 'The real picture would be given by a MOVING AVERAGE, but I guess most people wouldn't understand it. That's the problem with mass media and specialized topics (a 'man-made' global change with that? sigh.) '

    'Moving average'? :) Well, I'll stick with billion dollar corporations measurements than your 'moving average'.

    My last point is if last years sales (May 2007 8.2%) were really good because they were compared to 2006 (May 2006 7.4%) numbers which were really fabulous because of the increase over 2005 (May 2005 6.2%) numbers which were in themselves outstanding in compared to 2004 numbers, then how come an increase over all those awesome numbers is not also great? Yes, it's not AS great, but 2.8% increase over the last 4 amazing years is still great...
  67. CallofDuty . from Toronto, Canada writes: Robert von from Calgary, writes: There is nothing clean about electricity in most parts of our country. Coal, Nuclear, Diesel, Natural Gas are all spewing pollutants into the atmosphere and with an increase of electric cars they will certainly have to build more plants. And with more plants comes an increase in price.
    -----------------
    Untill we figure out how to warm our houses and fuel our transportation by MAGIC power, we are stuck with these options.
  68. Coach rich from Canada writes: Time to follow the Euro's & start holding general strikes to get the Feds to address the fuel issues (price, market, stockpiles, alternative fuels & etc. If we don't we will drive into a black hole w/ a point of no return as the economy goes into recession then depression then global conflict.
  69. He Shoots! He Scores! from United States writes: 'Mike M from Toronto, Canada writes:

    Politicians talk alot, but it is the market that produces results. '

    The average engine displacement size in the Canadian auotmobile fleet is smaller than in the US. Why? Gov't taxes. The free market has very short time horizons. I'm all for free enterprize but a market based upon unfettered capitalism will eat its own young if/when given the chance.
  70. Audible minority from Canada from from Canada, Canada writes: Ian Gunn: a moving average screens out the noise in the data. It's a filter. Period. But most people have no clue, so the YOY stats are easier to understand. Nothing to do with the 'billion dollar corporations' which is a sophistic argument for that matter.
  71. City Pig from Canada writes: Tony C from Richmond hill, Canada writes: Living in suburb doesn't mean you have to drive your car to work. I live in Richmond Hill and work in downtown Toronto. I would NEVER drive my car to work. Period. There are so many choices available other than driving - YRT, VIVA, TTC, GO Train, GO bus, and my favorite - BIKING!!! I bike 25.5 km to work everyday. Yes, that's 51 km a day, 255 km a week, 1,000 km a month, and 6,000 km a year (too bad we only have 6 months of riding friendly weather here). __________________________________________________________ Good for you Tony, unfortunatly that isn't an option of most people. I can't realistcally ride to work. I sit in a suit in an office and am affraid that I don't want to sit sweat soaked all day. The idea of using public transit is one I support but frankly the transit in and around the GTA leaves a lot to be desired. It dreadfully slow, expensive and un-reliable unless you live close to the subway. I luckily can walk to a subway station in less than 10 minutes, but if I had to use the bus and subway combination or GO plus TTC I would probably drive, the additional cost would be worth the reduced hassle. I think that is the reality with a lot of people, so until gas gets into the price range that they pay in Europe and the transit gets better I think we are stuck with lots of cars on the road.
  72. Basser Basser from Canada writes: Hey, Here's a thought: Make fuel efficient cars. Develope Hydrogen and electric cars. Stop delaying it, Get with the program, and TA DA! Things will be better for everyone, The answer is NOT to bring down the price of Crap that is killing our World. Will somebody out there in Political fairy land Please .. display some Leadership ? And be sincere about it?
  73. Buncha Crap from RV Central, Canada writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: I still see RVs and fifth-wheel trailers headed out on their cross-continent tours for the summer. I would like to see the price of fuel rise until 90% of the motorhomes, RVs and camper trailers are OFF THE ROAD. NO ONE should have to follow a convoy of RVs down the highway at 80 km/h because the RV owners won't pay for the fuel it takes to drive one of those things at the speed limit. (And no, cheaper gas won't make them drive faster. They held up traffic when gas was 40 cents a litre.)

    ------------------------------------------

    What a pathetic statement

    Alistair, you sound like the guy that weaves in & out of traffic cutting people off because it is your god given right to be the fastest & first.

    RVs have just as much right to be on the road as you do
  74. Bart Farquart from Canada writes:
    Lots of self-congratulatory preening here (e.g. 'I live a small condo in an urban core, ride my windcycle two blocks to work, work in IT, have a solar powered cell phone charger etc.')

    As an urban dweller myself I would like to make some suggestions for all those lower tier Canadians who live in rural or semi-rural areas, have kids, have to travel by nature of their jobs, grow food, or otherwise have to do physical things in the real world.

    1. Farmers can go back to horse and oxen drawn machinery and could carpool out to their fields in Smart Cars.

    2. Tradespeople who use large amounts of material (such as roofers) could just make multiple trips in their Prius.

    3. Fishermen, oops, I mean fishers could attach sails to their fishing boats.

    4. Those in any sort of metal fabrication could explore solar powered furnaces.

    5. Those who use heavy equipment could just get their families out to the job site with shovels to help.
  75. Tai Viinikka from Toronto, Canada writes: Robert von from Calgary, writes: There is nothing clean about electricity in most parts of our country. Coal, Nuclear, Diesel, Natural Gas are all spewing pollutants into the atmosphere and with an increase of electric cars they will certainly have to build more plants. And with more plants comes an increase in price.

    Are you using 'most parts of our country' in a funny way? Manitoba (91% hydro), Newfoundland (87% hydro), Yukon (99% hydro), Quebec (97%), and British Columbia (90% hydro) all have significant hydroelectric resources yet to be developed. It looks to me like moving water and gravity are the source of most of our energy in this country. I counted, and that's 13.5 million Canadians using >90% hydroelectric power.

    So, I'm not sure what you mean about electricity not being clean in most places.

    Also, can you mention what pollutants nuclear plants in Canada are releasing to the atmosphere?

    The key difference between gasoline and electric cars is that rain will continue to fall on the BC coast and power the hydro dams there. Sun and rain will continue to be available in yearly amounts that are fairly predictable, based on geography.

    Whereas I'm not aware of any new oil production. We may mine what exists, but we can't expect to see any new fossil fuels unless we wait around for millions of years. That's why it's fossil fuel.
  76. R W from Canada writes: Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: Electric cars are the way forward, especially in urban areas with high pollution. These vehicles have only a few moving parts (a gas engine has hundreds) and are quite nimble.

    http://www.teslamotors.com

    ----------------------------------------
    I read an article recently where electric cars were referred to as 'Remote Emmisions Vehicles'. Unless the electricity is produced by green methods, then the emmisions are just produced somewhere else. A sudden switch to electric vehicles may burden the power grid to the extend that we may not be able to shut down the coal fired generating stations.

    With current technology, burning fossil fuels is still the most energy efficient and cleanest way of moving cars down the road. The real answer lies in using smaller more efficient cars and using them less often.

    But clearly, the current fuel prices have not reached a point where people are making that choice.
  77. Gordon Murray from Canada writes: You put together 1) consumers parking their cars, 2) gasoline consumption falls for it, and 3) shopping at malls requiring for many parking of cars and surely enough 'albeit' ends up a vivid to'Married With Children' endorsement with Al Bundy muttering 'Al Bate' (tease, annoy) rather than 'Al Be It' : total confusion.
  78. William J Gillies from Canada writes: Mike M from Toronto, Canada writes: 'Jean Chretien signed onto the Kyoto Accord promising to reduce Canada's GHG emissions a long time ago. Since then, 2 successive governments have done exactly nothing to reduce emissions, and emissions have in fact increased markedly.'

    Wrong. Environment Canada reported in April 2008 that GHG emissions started dropping in 2004, from 743 megatonnes in that year to 734 megatonnes in 2005 and 721 megatonnes in 2006.

    Coincidentally, this is approximately the period that Stephane Dion was environment minister, not that emission trends can be impacted so quickly. Similarly, the results of our New Government's efforts will likely be available after the next election.
  79. Ian Gunn from Minneapolis, United States writes: Audible minority from Canada from from Canada, Canada writes:

    'Ian Gunn: a moving average screens out the noise in the data. It's a filter. Period.'

    It's the 'seasonally adjusted' by another name. Yes, thank you for clarifying this. Either one is based on guess what? Historical patterns in previous years :)

    AM Continues:

    'But nothing to do with the 'billion dollar corporations' which is a sophistic argument for that matter.'

    My point here is all retailers announce YOY sales comparisons with stores open for 1 year or more. This gives investors an idea on overall how well they're doing - compared to last year.
  80. Bart Farquart from Canada writes: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    R W from Canada writes:

    I read an article recently where electric cars were referred to as 'Remote Emmisions Vehicles'.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Very apt. A basic understanding of the law of conservation of energy eludes many of the environmentally excitable. I expect someone will weigh in here shortly with a post about the 'hydrogen economy'.

    But then much of my fellow Canadians 'action plan' for saving the earth involves lip service, token changes, and demands that someone else shoulder the burden.
  81. Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: Electric cars are twice as efficient as a hybrid and create a third of carbon emissions at the coal fired electric plant. This is because they can charge overnight when the power generated is from greener sources during the lower demand period.

    When an electric car is braking much of the energy is recaptured by the motor and stored back in the battery (regenerative braking). This also saves a lot of wear on the brake pads.

    Although the batteries only last 6 or 7 years they are recyclable. Imagine driving a vehicle so long with little or no maintenance.
    ...
  82. Tai Viinikka from Toronto, Canada writes: RW said: [re: electric cars as remote emission vehicles]
    'Unless the electricity is produced by green methods, then the emmisions are just produced somewhere else.'

    This analysis has been run for the USA (with the electric grid power substantially by coal) and it still comes out in favour of plug-in electric/gas hybrids and electric cars.

    http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/65.html

    Why? Because power plants that sit still (utility electric generators) are much more energy efficient than power plants that need to be portable (engines).
  83. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: Tony from Waterloo writes, 'It's not quite $600 to $800, but on the other hand our government was able to afford the $250 tax cut, the U.S. government is NOT able to afford even a $1 tax cut, let alone a $600 one.' The US federal government's $600 (or so) are accounted for as tax rebates, and paid for entirely by deficit financing. Another cash advance on the future.
  84. roy f from van, Canada writes: Robert von from Calgary, writes: There is nothing clean about electricity in most parts of our country. Coal, Nuclear, Diesel, Natural Gas are all spewing pollutants into the atmosphere..
    ----
    Youre right, but electricity is still the way to go in the future. Even from dirty sources its more efficient to produce power at a central location and distribute than have all those car engines out there wasting most of their fuel as heat. Sure, there are transmission losses, but this can be compared to the losses of moving oil products around in boats and trucks.
    Also electricity is more open to innovation. As more power generating concepts become reality we can keep lowering our dependence on oil.
  85. steve allan from Canada writes: I don't see it here in Southern Ontario. The roads and highways are still as cluttered as ever. There was a report issued through the press yesterday that says gas consumption is down, but only 3%!

    Hopefully oil prices will continue to soar and will soon hit $200. If it reduces the amount of traffic on the roads, it's a good thing.
  86. Audible minority from Canada from from Canada, Canada writes: Ian Gunn: you're mostly right, my friend, although I don't agree that moving average = seasonally adjusted, but let's move on, it's not that big a deal. I think we both agree that the time frame in which you present the data will influence (read 'manipulate') the general perception. Striking headline in the media versus deeper analysis.
  87. god bless canada from Canada writes: Silver Standard (Used to be gold) from Canada writes: Sorry guys, they mean to say

    'Dollar destruction push up retail sales'

    We need to stop buying garbage and get back to the old ways of savings, and frugality. We can reverse inflation on our own if we ALL do something. I am happy I do not owe money to anyone but my parents because of school...because they don't charge interest:)

    pretty easy to live frugaly when your using your parents as a bank.and you are happy to owe money to your parents why do they not charge you interest . thats what every family need is a freeloading son pay you parents the real interest rates the only thing you say that i agree with is invest in real silver and gold bullion but how can you invest in any if you still owe you parents .pay you debt first then invest
  88. J Law from Canada writes: I just took a quick trip into the USA for a week and I drove some of the 'I's. I have never seen that many motorcycles in my life! There are hundreds, if not thousands of people taking vacations on motorcycles, and I even passed a skooter or two on the highways. Huh, you come up on those people in a hurry and I sure wish they weren't on the 'I's, but it is their rules, I guess.
  89. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: Retail sales are up, gas consumption down. Sounds like people are starting to plan to do more things in the same trip.

    Lary. the first horse I ever saw was pulling a milk wagon in the 50's. You could pet him but you learn not to stick a small hand in the nostril. Live and learn.
  90. Tony C from Richmond hill, Canada writes: City Pig from Canada writes: I can't realistcally ride to work. I sit in a suit in an office and am affraid that I don't want to sit sweat soaked all day. The idea of using public transit is one I support but frankly the transit in and around the GTA leaves a lot to be desired. It dreadfully slow, expensive and un-reliable unless you live close to the subway. I luckily can walk to a subway station in less than 10 minutes, but if I had to use the bus and subway combination or GO plus TTC I would probably drive, the additional cost would be worth the reduced hassle. I think that is the reality with a lot of people, so until gas gets into the price range that they pay in Europe and the transit gets better I think we are stuck with lots of cars on the road.

    City Pig, don't misunderstand me. I don't sit sweat soaked all day. I took a shower in the fitness club downstairs and go into office fresh and clean. And my wife's boss bike 30km one way to work from Oakville to downtown. And he wear suit to work too.

    You last point is right, the gas price here is still NOT expensive enough to encourage everyone think about alternatives.