Use of Public Property

[William Ashley]

I was reading through the comments at globe and mail online

URL:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harpers-stimulus-exit-plan-get-ready-for-five-frugal-years/article1408270/

Specicially this comment clip

Why not sell Parliament buildings to the Americans? How can anyone trust this what we laughingly refer to as a man - to do anything that's good for the country? "When I've finished with Canada, you will not recognize it." Ring a bell?

Don't worry, it will.

Or perhaps we can turn it into a theme park, put in a couple of rollercoasters, have the Mounties taking tickets (unless they're going to move on to become Harper's personal army of personal body guards); put in a few restaurants, rent the larger areas out for weddings -- I mean, turn that pile of stone into a money-maker!!

Meanwhile, we can have a few token politicians in the White House, where they get minimal input into running what is left of a Canadian Canada.

Let's also produce a new "I Am Canadian" video!! You know "I'm Canadian because I stood by and watched a fascist destroy my country." Or - "I'm Canadian because I know nothing about my own system of government." Or - "I'm Canadian because I like having an Evangelical government."

The possibilities are endless. One could even win an Academy award, because there will be no more Junos, or any kind of Canadian entertainment award. The Canadian government will be an irrelevant joke. Harper will be installed in the White House, with his own church. If he's good, maybe he can be Sarah Palin's campaign manager

Really though, why not rent out public space. Although you can take tours of parliament surely there has got to be some ways to generate revenue from the place. Any ideas? The weddings thing was a good one. Rideau hall might be a good one also, can you rent these places out for events?

What about Harrington Lake in the off season, etc.. as a retreat?

Edited December 26, 2009 by William Ashley

[August1991]

Why not sell Parliament buildings to the Americans?

As soon as I read that, I knew that I was dealing with another English-Canadian who enjoys an American lifestyle but hates America. If Canada didn't exist, Ontario would be another Michigan.

From link above:

Stephen Harper is preparing Canadians for a prolonged clampdown on government spending, but he's insisting that he will dig the country out of deficit without raising taxes.

The State in Canada is too big, too present. It is in our bedrooms, wallets, cars, bank accounts and lives.

Canada has too much government. Government may seem like a good idea at first but Canadians should pay attention to what happened to the Soviet Union. In the long run (about 70 years or so), it is not a wise idea to depend on the State (other people's money). Margaret Thatcher said it well: eventually, socialist experiments fail because they run out of other people's money.

Socialist? Other people's money is the key point. The French revolution is another good example.

Really though, why not rent out public space. Although you can take tours of parliament surely there has got to be some ways to generate revenue from the place.

Most State museums in Canada are available for rent. Private organizations use the Museum of Civilization for events. (My quibble is that State museums do not face similar costs to private venues. For example, they don't pay taxes.)

----

But since you're on this jag Ashley, here's my idea. I reckon that the Bank of Canada should sell space on on our money. McDonald's could buy the 1 cm space at the bottom of a five dollar bill to put their double arches logo and "I'm lovin' it. Spend me at McDo!" Holts Renfrew could choose to put advertising on the Borden 100s.

Why does the Queen, or a political party, for free, get such valuable advertising space?

Edited December 26, 2009 by August1991

[William Ashley]

The rent space on bills was brilliant... they should definately sell space on individual bills say 10 bills / cent that would be like 1000 bills for 1$ .. it might even pay for the cost of printing the currency.

GREAT IDEA!!!

[William Ashley]

I think a lot of people might do this as a novelty... in addition to corporate advertising.

especially if they can buy their bills dollar for dollar perhaps as direct advertising - although it might count as a tax write off.

[Moonbox]

This whole thread is pretty lame and I hope you guys aren't serious.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

First of all much of this nation is crown land. Perhaps the proper first step would be to divide all unoccupied land that all up amongst citizens. After that you could then sell off all the rest of the public properties and simply share the wealth.....good luck with that entire concept.

[William Ashley]

First of all much of this nation is crown land. Perhaps the proper first step would be to divide all unoccupied land that all up amongst citizens. After that you could then sell off all the rest of the public properties and simply share the wealth.....good luck with that entire concept.

A large chunk of crownland is open to people year round, with each camp site limited to around 21 days in Ontario. Fact is you can petition for use of crownland on a basis of leasing the land for say logging, or mining. You can also request use of land for government projects. Crownland really is reserved for all the public, with exclusive economic exceptions that can be petitioned by anyone.

Crown land offerings are there.. you actually don't own property as the soveriegn state is vested in the crown - or the corporations for which have been granted land grants for public incorporations such as towns and cities - eg. the land is deeded to you provided you pay property taxes.. if you don't it reverts to corporate ownership, which is excersised in bounds with the letter patents grants etc.. the crown bestowed for exercise on that area of land.

Ultimately all the land is owned by the public - it is just certain party exercises priveleges based upon crown grants. Crownland itself is still able to be provided for usage you just need to request the crown (or government in charge acting on behalf of the crown in right).

I think offering up some crown land might be a good thing - ultimately as it provides a residual stream of income - but who would buy land at fair market value in the middle of no where? The other crown land should be expanded for larger federal and provincial parks

allodial domains are very rare. But it is a good idea. .issue is though that most crownland is in remote areas.. better to provide it based on request for usage, imo. As 20 million people likely wouldn't go to remote no roads northern -- place anyway.

If the land was transferable, it'd just be bought up by resource extraction companies and the controls over the usage would be slightly lesser meaning more environmental despoilation.

Although I do think people should be able to request land for a beneficial use. Such as non despoiling residence. Currently there are limits of 21 days / year on any single camp site. but if you had 18 campsites you could stay in crownland year round.

Edited December 29, 2009 by William Ashley

[William Ashley]

First of all much of this nation is crown land. Perhaps the proper first step would be to divide all unoccupied land that all up amongst citizens. After that you could then sell off all the rest of the public properties and simply share the wealth.....good luck with that entire concept.

It is a good idea though.. but crown land usages are collapsing... such as forestry.. there are grounds for mineral extraction but this is dubious, althougha crown corporation might be a way of creating revenue from mining... eg. gold, but private comapnies are doing this and reaping the rewards. I guess the 30% the government gets is the only incentive here, and development of the area.

But what to do when someone new is born?

[ZenOps]

Well, other than the fact that most of the land in Canada is Crown Land.

You constitutionally do not have the "right to enjoy your land" It was the first failed amendment to the Canadian Constitution on April 18, 1983.

So if you you don't like the land - No problems, you never had the right to anyways... I don't know whether to laugh or cry (but would still like a small piece of Canada after being here for over a century)

[bloodyminded]

A large chunk of crownland is open to people year round, with each camp site limited to around 21 days in Ontario. Fact is you can petition for use of crownland on a basis of leasing the land for say logging, or mining. You can also request use of land for government projects. Crownland really is reserved for all the public, with exclusive economic exceptions that can be petitioned by anyone.

Crown land offerings are there.. you actually don't own property as the soveriegn state is vested in the crown - or the corporations for which have been granted land grants for public incorporations such as towns and cities - eg. the land is deeded to you provided you pay property taxes.. if you don't it reverts to corporate ownership, which is excersised in bounds with the letter patents grants etc.. the crown bestowed for exercise on that area of land.

Ultimately all the land is owned by the public - it is just certain party exercises priveleges based upon crown grants. Crownland itself is still able to be provided for usage you just need to request the crown (or government in charge acting on behalf of the crown in right).

I think offering up some crown land might be a good thing - ultimately as it provides a residual stream of income - but who would buy land at fair market value in the middle of no where? The other crown land should be expanded for larger federal and provincial parks

allodial domains are very rare. But it is a good idea. .issue is though that most crownland is in remote areas.. better to provide it based on request for usage, imo. As 20 million people likely wouldn't go to remote no roads northern -- place anyway.

If the land was transferable, it'd just be bought up by resource extraction companies and the controls over the usage would be slightly lesser meaning more environmental despoilation.

Although I do think people should be able to request land for a beneficial use. Such as non despoiling residence. Currently there are limits of 21 days / year on any single camp site. but if you had 18 campsites you could stay in crownland year round.

My ex-landlord leases a small plot of land from the Crown, on which he's built a small cabin. Year-round. I can't remember exactly, but I believe he pays about two hundred dollars a year.

[Shwa]

Well, other than the fact that most of the land in Canada is Crown Land.

You constitutionally do not have the "right to enjoy your land" It was the first failed amendment to the Canadian Constitution on April 18, 1983.

So if you you don't like the land - No problems, you never had the right to anyways... I don't know whether to laugh or cry (but would still like a small piece of Canada after being here for over a century)

Wow! You are over a hundred years old?? Congratulations! I am amazed that at your age you are using the Internet. Good for you and many, many more! Perhaps - if you would like a small piece of Canada - someone could dig up a shovel or two for you to keep around, maybe use it in an indoor planter or put it an aquarium so you could look at it?

Edited December 30, 2009 by Shwa

[charter.rights]

Wow! You are over a hundred years old?? Congratulations! I am amazed that at your age you are using the Internet. Good for you and many, many more! Perhaps - if you would like a small piece of Canada - someone could dig up a shovel or two for you to keep around, maybe use it in an indoor planter or put it an aquarium so you could look at it?

Actually, at 100 years old if he would just die already, I'm sure someone could find him a little plot all his own....

[ZenOps]

Actually, at 100 years old if he would just die already, I'm sure someone could find him a little plot all his own....

Well, only Brits really own some the 11% of Canada that is not owned by the Crown. Very few other Europeans do, and no Chinese of course (Even europeans coming from the "wrong" part of Europe never had the ability to buy land in Canada)

After WWII, you'll be lucky to ever have a German Canadian ever be allowed to buy land in Canada (or the commonwealth) for the next century at least. I think they are just lucky they didn't put up a wall around the existing German Canadian population. Heaven knows the English speaking Japanese Canadian population had everything physically taken from them and threw them all in jail for being of a certain ethnic background. (And all the Japanese Canadians interred spoke fluent english as it was a requirement for immigration)

Which is in no small way - probably the way it should be. The natives own it, we should all be paying them (and not the British Crown) directly on land lease.

Somewhat off topic: I fully expect to see the Egyptian owner of Wind Mobile Canada - to have his license reviewed and possibly revoked at some point in the near future. Tony Clement is hardly the highest man on the totem pole, and Canada does have very strict laws against foreign (non British) ownership, land and especially airspace.

To that I say to the Egyptian guy - wait your damn turn. If a 1800's direct descendant of German, Russian (and up until officially 1993, French) or Chinese landed immigrant can't buy a section of land to grow food in the year 2010 - then you for sure shouldn't be allowed to setup a phone company in the year 2010.

BTW: I'm pretty sure that even as laughable as the idea would be - Canada would not make a penny off selling or leasing parliament buildings to anyone. I'm pretty sure they are a part of the "Crown Corporation", just like any other business - Canadians do not own those buildings.

Crown Corporations: Canadian National Railway (CNR), which spawned Air Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), VIA Rail, and Marine Atlantic. Today, Canada Post Corporation is an example of a functional department being realigned into a Crown corporation, while the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada are modern examples of Crown corporations.

Hudsons Bay (fur trade mainly) is one of the extremely rare cases where a British Crown corporation was sold to a Canadian entity (probably because them Brits lost their love for fur.)

Edited January 1, 2010 by ZenOps

[William Ashley]

My ex-landlord leases a small plot of land from the Crown, on which he's built a small cabin. Year-round. I can't remember exactly, but I believe he pays about two hundred dollars a year.

Is this from the provience or from the federal government?

Yeah there are no camping costs for crownland (as long as it is open crownland rather than parkland etc..

I believe the northern territories put a moratorium on land purchases.. but there was a time you could go up and claim land.

Edited January 1, 2010 by William Ashley

[William Ashley]

Well, other than the fact that most of the land in Canada is Crown Land.

You constitutionally do not have the "right to enjoy your land" It was the first failed amendment to the Canadian Constitution on April 18, 1983.

So if you you don't like the land - No problems, you never had the right to anyways... I don't know whether to laugh or cry (but would still like a small piece of Canada after being here for over a century)

was it that bad?

[William Ashley]

Actually, at 100 years old if he would just die already, I'm sure someone could find him a little plot all his own....

that was low.