The federal government has stimulated the economy to the tune of $70 billion. Most of it went to small projects in Conservative ridings (i.e. ours, the latest being $750,000 for the Stampede grounds). The Feds claim the money resulted in the current wee economic upturn.

Some economic gurus wonder if the economy can keep going when the stimulus money is gone. Others fear a strong loonie could do us in regardless because it hurts our exporters.

Does anyone really have a clue what the economy will do — long term or short term?

Question. If the private sector “does” business more efficiently than governments, how come governments are having to rescue so many businesses?

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November, 2008. Province legislates targets for carbon emissions. Williams Lake is one of the municipalities signed up to be carbon neutral by 2012. The deadline for the public sector (school boards, hospitals, other agencies) is 2010.

June, 2009. John Yap, new Minister for Climate Action, reaffirms the action.

Sept 11, 2009. Mr. Yap tells Globe and Mail B.C. was giving the public sector until 2012 to meet their carbon-emission targets. The cash- strapped agencies were no doubt relieved.

Sept 12, 2009. Mr. Yap tells the paper the government has not changed the 2010 target for the public sector.

What was that all about?

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While travelling on Highway 97 recently we noticed some people standing beside a parked vehicle, staring across the ditch at a bear which was almost within spitting distance.

Maybe they should have seen Fort Steele’s campground bear warning poster. It advises people to wear noisy little bells to warn bears of their presence; to carry bear spray; and to learn to identify bear feces. It explains black bear feces contains berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly feces contains little bells and smells of bear spray.