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by Bylo Selhi
28 Mar 2024 07:26
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BCE (Symbol-BCE)
Replies: 1860
Views: 286382

Re: BCE (Symbol-BCE)

The company paid chief executive officer Mirko Bibic an annual bonus of $2.96-million as part of a $13.43-million compensation package last year, the company disclosed in its proxy circular to shareholders. His bonus was down slightly from $3.09-million in 2022. Some possible, albeit sarcastic and/or caustic, explanations: 1. Little Bibi's report card indicates that the board obviously didn't want to hurt his feelings or damage his self-esteem by punishing him for his failings. 2. With such lucrative rewards for failure what incentive does Bibi have to try any harder? 3. Amazing result considering all the help Bibi gets from his triopolist buddies and the CRTC. 4. Maybe Bibi is just trying to get fired so he can descend comfortably into re...
by Bylo Selhi
27 Mar 2024 20:38
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Productivity Indicator
Replies: 16
Views: 896

Re: Productivity Indicator

But there are lots of small companies that have produced world-leading exporters. Look at Sweden with Ericsson, Volvo, Ikea and others. Switzerland with watches, chocolate and banks. Israel with technology. Singapore with integrated circuits. And so on. Most of those countries have something in common with each other, something that Canada doesn't. They lack natural resources. So they have to import them, add (a lot of) value, and then sell them around the world at fat profits. We continue to insist on being the land of hewers of wood and drawers of water. We then sell that stuff unprocessed because it's easy and we're lazy. For instance we ship megatons of iron ore to Asia. They turn it into boatloads of cars and then ship them back to us...
by Bylo Selhi
27 Mar 2024 20:31
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Any 80+ yo travelers here?
Replies: 21
Views: 878

Re: Any 80+ yo travelers here?

Clason wrote: 27 Mar 2024 17:35Not for the reduction or services.
I didn't say it was.
The services are free, but they can charge for devices. If you insist on a regular cast (instead of a walking boot, for example), it should be free.
The price list seems to include a variety of regular casts.

Everywhere you go there are reductions in reimbursements, extra charges, optional extras, etc. All legal under our "universal" "single-payer" "envy of the world" public health care system.
by Bylo Selhi
27 Mar 2024 13:22
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Any 80+ yo travelers here?
Replies: 21
Views: 878

Re: Any 80+ yo travelers here?

Clason wrote: 27 Mar 2024 13:04 had to pay about $100+ difference on a fracture
And that's not all. Here's a photo I took last week of a sign at the Markham-Stouffville Hospital fracture clinic. "We'll reduce your fracture if you reduce our costs™"

A nickel here, a dime there...soon you're talking about real money.

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PXL_20240322_162951584.jpg (109.97 KiB) Viewed 257 times
by Bylo Selhi
27 Mar 2024 08:36
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Any 80+ yo travelers here?
Replies: 21
Views: 878

Re: Any 80+ yo travelers here?

formerpatriot wrote: 27 Mar 2024 08:30 Given that I am more than a decade away from being an 80+ year old traveler, the following question might be slightly off topic but I’ll give it a try anyway: As a Quebec resident, should I take some kind of travel medical insurance for a 10-day trip to Newfoundland?
As I understand it your home province will pay for care in another province no more than what they'd pay in the home province. Often that will be less than the home province. You'll have to check QC's website or wait for one a QC-based poster like @Stubee who should know.

In Canada "universal" health care isn't as universal as the politicians (of all stripes and jurisdictions) keep saying it is.
by Bylo Selhi
27 Mar 2024 08:05
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Need to make $28k payment to dealership while outside Canada
Replies: 11
Views: 414

Re: Need to make $28k payment to dealership while outside Canada

NotJustDreaming wrote: 26 Mar 2024 22:30 My Canadian SIM card stopped working (too many swaps?).
That shouldn't be an issue unless perhaps this is an eSIM.
And my local phone number here doesn’t match my banking.
If you travel regularly you should get a VoIP-based number that will let you receive texts and calls worldwide on any Internet connection, e.g. Fongo, TextNow, Google Voice (all free) or voip.ms (about $1/month.)

P.S. to mods: I'm digressing because OP has a resolution to the original issue and thus this thread has come to a natural end. If OP wants to discuss this further, go to Cellphones 2023 and onwards [and plans]
by Bylo Selhi
27 Mar 2024 07:57
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Productivity Indicator
Replies: 16
Views: 896

Re: Productivity Indicator

ghariton wrote: 26 Mar 2024 23:05And then there's all the silly regulations our governments put in place. We're not that big a market. Fragmenting that market destroys economies of scale in production.
We need free trade -- right here in Canada.
by Bylo Selhi
27 Mar 2024 07:53
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Any 80+ yo travelers here?
Replies: 21
Views: 878

Re: Any 80+ yo travelers here?

All credit cards with insurance that I've run across either offer nothing after 65yr or very limited coverage between 65yr and 75yr. Typically that would be about 3 days. I think Laurentian or National may have a card that goes to 10 or 15 days. But none go to 80yr let alone above. The only one I've seen is the HSBC Metal World Elite Mastercard: https://www.hsbc.ca/private-client-services/metal-world-elite/ It offers out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance for up to $2 million whenever you travel outside your Canadian province or territory of residence. Coverage is for the first 31 days of a trip if the insured person is 64 or under, or for the first 21 days of the trip if over 65. Sadly it will cease to exist this weekend. <sar...
by Bylo Selhi
26 Mar 2024 21:23
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Any 80+ yo travelers here?
Replies: 21
Views: 878

Re: Any 80+ yo travelers here?

All credit cards with insurance that I've run across either offer nothing after 65yr or very limited coverage between 65yr and 75yr. Typically that would be about 3 days. I think Laurentian or National may have a card that goes to 10 or 15 days. But none go to 80yr let alone above.

And of course they're all post-claim underwriting so almost anyone over 80yr will have some pre-existing condition that they can use to deny the claim.
by Bylo Selhi
26 Mar 2024 21:19
Forum: Now Hear This!
Topic: Don't be afraid ... to start a new topic
Replies: 10
Views: 18973

Re: Don't be afraid ... to start a new topic

Peculiar_Investor wrote: 26 Mar 2024 17:17
Koogie wrote: 26 Mar 2024 15:54 I can't even find stuff I posted using it
That's an easy one, all FWF members can find their all own posts under Quick links use the Your posts.

Bonus tip, this post describes how to find all the topics you have started.

Yes I know I'm drifting off-topic :lol:
Drifting some more there's a third option.

In forum Search use Search for author: under SEARCH QUERY. You can use this in combination with Search for keywords: to set additional criteria.
by Bylo Selhi
26 Mar 2024 16:04
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Inflation
Replies: 1010
Views: 155691

Re: Inflation

StuBee wrote: 26 Mar 2024 15:23 No significcant changes in policy coverage or house.
But undeniably very significant changes to climate and thus to insurance claims experience.

Bend over, lube up and expect even more.
by Bylo Selhi
26 Mar 2024 16:00
Forum: Now Hear This!
Topic: Don't be afraid ... to start a new topic
Replies: 10
Views: 18973

Re: Don't be afraid ... to start a new topic

Case in point. I'd like to post a link to this article by Andre Picard of the G&M: Are we too fearful of cancer?

It's about a different way to think about cancer and cancer testing. Should I post it in PSA testing? That thread starts by discussing similar thinking about PSA testing for prostate cancer. But then it digresses to cancer and testing in general, which is on point with Picard's article.

So should I or shouldn't I?

I'm leaning to the former, keeping in mind Grace Murray's (et al) "Easier to get forgivenessmoderation than it is to get permission."

(Then again, posting all of this here could be construed as asking for permission...)
by Bylo Selhi
26 Mar 2024 15:21
Forum: Now Hear This!
Topic: Don't be afraid ... to start a new topic
Replies: 10
Views: 18973

Re: Don't be afraid ... to start a new topic

Unwise wrote: 26 Mar 2024 15:03 Did this need a new thread? Oh wait... :rofl:
I'm going to start a new topic to discuss the criteria to use to determine when starting a new topic is warranted :twisted:

But more seriously, topic drift often happens rather innocuously, perhaps with an incidental comment in the main topic. If it's of any interest it then gains traction on its own until it starts to derail the original discussion. This is natural human intercourse. Trying to prevent this from happening seems an impossible task. So unfortunately it will be up to our Overlords to determine when it's time to do a split.
by Bylo Selhi
26 Mar 2024 15:01
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Need to make $28k payment to dealership while outside Canada
Replies: 11
Views: 414

Re: Need to make $28k payment to dealership while outside Canada

BRIAN5000 wrote: 26 Mar 2024 14:14 If you have a relationship with someone at the bank...
That's a very big IF these days when many customers do everything online. Gone are the days when we'd go to a branch on a regular basis and have a chance to establish a relationship. But it's still a good idea to try to do so even if it takes some effort. I managed to do that before I got a personal banker by going into my branch, asking for the manager, then introducing myself, etc. They then hooked me up with the assistant branch manager. I then had to keep in touch with her in case she moved or left.
by Bylo Selhi
26 Mar 2024 11:58
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Any 80+ yo travelers here?
Replies: 21
Views: 878

Re: Any 80+ yo travelers here?

The biggest issue with emergency travel insurance isn’t the cost though, it’s their post claim underwriting approach. If you make a significant claim they will go back into your history and application to look for any (often trivial) reason you aren’t covered. :thumbsup: I've wondered if 1. There's any company that offers to either do pre-claim underwriting or better still offer no exclusions policies. I realize the premiums will be higher. But at least one would get some certainty that when needed, the coverage would really be there. 2. There's any company that offers 1. with a high deductible, perhaps $25k or even more like $100k+, in order to lower the premiums. It seems to me that most people can self-insure for smaller claims. What we...
by Bylo Selhi
25 Mar 2024 13:38
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Investment income in a CCPC
Replies: 1102
Views: 152227

Re: Investment income in a CCPC

The following post isn't about investing in a CCPC. However, many who are interested in investing in a CCPC also give donations to charity. The question then arises, as to whether to give personally or through the CCPC. It's not easy to get information answering that question. Mark Soth at the Loonie Doc website has a post addressing this question. You might learn something by going over the post, and also might be able to make a contribution to the discussion. https://www.looniedoctor.ca/2023/12/12/charity-tax-business/?unapproved=4212&moderation-hash=4a1dcc4dcf8a5282f527d414463e9523#comment-4212 I went through this with my accountant a couple of years ago and reached the same conclusions that (1) it doesn't matter much and (2) you ge...
by Bylo Selhi
25 Mar 2024 09:03
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Nurse Practitioners / Physician Assistants
Replies: 94
Views: 2675

Re: Nurse Practitioners / Physician Assistants

It's generally assumed that women caring for children are behind much of the reduction in total annual hours worked by Canada's physicians. Not so, according to a new study reported in The Globe. Researchers went through StatCan data on hours reported by physicians and concluded that " male physicians accounted for 83 per cent of the reduction in physician work hours that occurred between 1987 and 2021." Both can be true. Female FPs never worked excessive hours because they always had to care for children. The number of female FPs was small enough to not substantially affect the averages. Then as the number of female FPs increased dramatically in the 1980s, their male counterparts saw that it wasn't necessary to work 60+ hour wee...
by Bylo Selhi
24 Mar 2024 15:05
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?
Replies: 31
Views: 922

Re: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?

Ozzmodium wrote: 24 Mar 2024 14:35
OnlyMyOpinion wrote: 24 Mar 2024 10:43.What is your preferred app for manipulating pdfs?
I have version 9 of Adobe Acrobat Pro that came with a scanner I bought years ago. It still installs and works on Windows 10; I have my fingers crossed that when I finally upgrade to Win 11 it will still work.
If 9 works with Win10 it's very likely to work with Win11 as well. If for some bizarre reason it doesn't I can confirm that Acrobat XI Pro does.
by Bylo Selhi
23 Mar 2024 21:34
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Currency Exchange
Replies: 78
Views: 6045

Re: Currency Exchange

This isn't currency exchange but it is a new scam perpetrated in some EU countries by ATM network Euronet. Yet another thing to watch out for. SCAM ALERT: Beware of Euronet ATMs' hidden extra charge Euronet ATMs – not affiliated with any bank and dotted all around central Prague – present two options after inserting a card: “Cash and Balance” or “Other.” Instinctively, most people select the first option. However, Euronet charges a fee when people choose this – even if no balance is displayed... Many people, however, are unaware of the extra charge – it may take up to several days for the fee to appear in a customer’s bank statement. Despite not being affiliated with any Czech bank, the Euronet fee still allows Czech banks to profit: the fe...
by Bylo Selhi
23 Mar 2024 21:28
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Currency Exchange
Replies: 78
Views: 6045

Re: Currency Exchange

What I really like about Wise is that it handles IBAN bank routing numbers. These are universally used in Europe. Wise not only lets you send to someone's IBAN number but also gives you an IBAN number that you can use to receive payments from others. That made it dead easy to get a EUR refund from Lufthansa. Their German website doesn't even give the option to send payment any other way so it would have been a hassle otherwise. Was it because you bought the tickets from Lufthansa's German/EU web site? If you purchased the tickets in Canada, they were supposed to give you refund in cad? Actually I bought the tickets through AC Aeroplan using AP points. The refund was for the cost of essential items when LH delayed my luggage for a couple of...
by Bylo Selhi
23 Mar 2024 18:12
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Printers
Replies: 21
Views: 488

Re: Printers

Norbert Schlenker wrote: 23 Mar 2024 18:05 Xerox [PARC} deserves a mention
More than a mention. Much of the credit for what we take for granted today. Everything from GUIs, to meeces, to Ethernet, yadda, yadda, yadda.

And Bell Labs comes a close second with everything from the transistor to UNIX.

IBM is also in the top-three IMO although some might argue the point.
by Bylo Selhi
23 Mar 2024 18:08
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Printers
Replies: 21
Views: 488

Re: Printers

Phun pfact: Although HP is generally credited with popularizing laser printers, the inventor of the technology was actually Canon. The first few generations of HP laser printers were licensed from Canon and used Canon's innards. How interesting, I did not know that! I bought what I'm pretty sure was the first HP LaserJet model in 1984?/85 while I was working at Microage in London, ON. What a great printer. See The Canon/HP Relationship . It seems my memory may be a bit fuzzy based on that retelling. Laser printing was clearly invented refined[!} by Canon. But HP added a lot of value to their first attempt at making a commercially viable product. OTOH Wikipedia in HP LaserJet aligns better with what I recollect. ("Most HP LaserJet prin...
by Bylo Selhi
23 Mar 2024 16:41
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?
Replies: 31
Views: 922

Re: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?

BTW, CRA says you need to keep supporting documents for 6 years (not 7 years). Technically yes. ("Generally, you must keep all required records and supporting documents for a period of six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to.") I like to add an extra year as a buffer. There is also tax related documentation that may have to be kept longer. In particular records to establish ACB of "forever" investments. Although in practice CRA accepts that few people are as well organized as you and keep that sort of stuff from the initial purchase to the eventual last sell. Out of curiosity, why do you keep stuff more than 6 (or 7 or whatever) years? Have you ever needed to go back that far? FWIW I have electronic t...
by Bylo Selhi
23 Mar 2024 13:24
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Currency Exchange
Replies: 78
Views: 6045

Re: Currency Exchange

What I really like about Wise is that it handles IBAN bank routing numbers. These are universally used in Europe. Wise not only lets you send to someone's IBAN number but also gives you an IBAN number that you can use to receive payments from others. That made it dead easy to get a EUR refund from Lufthansa. Their German website doesn't even give the option to send payment any other way so it would have been a hassle otherwise.
by Bylo Selhi
23 Mar 2024 13:17
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?
Replies: 31
Views: 922

Re: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?

SQRT wrote: 23 Mar 2024 12:08 I’ve found printer scanners hard to use but I’ll give it another go.
I'll bet it didn't have the feature I just described :rofl:

Q.E.D. and I rest my case.