Is it true that there is a commercial/public service spot on TV in Canada that depicts Canada as a ship at sea about to hit the Y2K Iceberg? If you have seen it I think we would all like to read your description and opinion. I thought Canada was equal or better than the US on remediaton and compliance. What do our northern neighbors know that we don't?

Bill in South Carolina

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), September 01, 1999

Answers

Hi Bill! I've seen the Titanic t.v. commercial last winter while on vacation at my y2k "hide-out". I was amazed then at what seemed a very open attitude toward discussing Y2K from the gov. and media in general, compared to the US. But since then, I've spent 5 weeks back there this summer, and not once I've seen that commercial again, and what's worse, I didn't see any Y2K mention whatsoever on t.v., either from industries or the gov., and very little in the papers, most of which was "happy face". I concluded that they adopted the US gov. stance of keeping the masses asleep.

Glad to see you back posting, how did the hurricane turn out for you in S. Carolina? It's now creeped up to Delaware and Cape May beaches eating away at them. It's lost most of its strength though and the wind gusts have reached only 60mph, still enough to close the beaches and causing erosion, but mostly it seems mostly an annoyance to residents and surfers. I'm in PA, near Philly, and we're not going to get even a drop of rain from it, which would have been welcomed, as the drougt warning is still in effect here.

-- Chris (%$^&^@pond.com), September 01, 1999.

Hello, Bill,

Yes, the ad appeared near the end of December. I hadn't seen it for several months, but lately it has been airing quite regularly again. It is clearly aimed at businesses, not individuals. It places the viewer in a ship headed towards an iceberg while it discusses the need to look after the computer problem then, at the last minute, the iceberg is avoided.

The ad is paid for by Industry Canada, which also had a Titanic lifesaver on its year 2000 page for a while (I've seen reference to that on this forum several months ago.)

In case you didn't know, the latest movie about the Titanic was directed by a Canadian, James Cameron, so perhaps the people who sought an eye-catching gimmick decided to leap on what was then the most recent bandwagon. Perhaps they regret it now.

The only public warnings I've seen directed towards individuals occurred last fall when the RCMP went across the country advising us to prepare for disruptions of a two-week duration.

Is Canada equal or better than the U.S. on remediation and compliance? We're on the same electrical grids that you are. Many of our large businesses are owned by corporations based in the U.S. If your economy is good, ours is bearable. If your economy drops, ours plummets. If the U.S. takes a fall because of y2k computer problems, my guess is we'll tag right along. Why do you think so many of us are here on this forum watching what's going on down there?

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999.

"What do our northern neighbors know that we don't? "

I'd say we know how to remain a bit calmer than US citizens, we don't call it the 'excited states of america' for nothing you know.

Yes, we are less excitable and the image of the looming iceberg in ominous black and white was just edgy enough to look serious, but given the track record I could see it being not welcome south of the border. America is just not into bluntness, look at that sanitized crap (for the most part) that spews out of Hollywood.

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), September 02, 1999.

Rachel has it summed up pretty good. I would say that Canada is progressing better than the States in some areas. Really we do not know what is going on at the moment. At the moment I am patiently waiting for the NCPG report coming out this month that will include a comprehensive report about the different risks to society.

IMHO the US is a year behind us in this regard. On the other hand the US has the GAO and Canadians have the Auditor General as the closest equivalent and he has a far smaller mandate. If there wasn't the GAO no one would really know what was going on.

Anyway here is the link to the folks that will be telling Canadians how cold we are going to get.

The National Contingency Planning Group (NCPG/GPNC) Who we are

 The NCPG consists of some 110 public servants and military personnel with specialized skills in strategic planning, coordination, emergency civil protection, strategic policy and communications.
 

Also I have a Canadian web site.

 Y2K in Canada and Beyond

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 02, 1999.

Brian you really are a Canadian aren't you?

You said "I would say that Canada is progressing better than the States in some areas. Really we do not know what is going on at the moment.

I think I will go with the second sentence.

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), September 02, 1999.

Will

Gee, don't tell'm what we think!

Americans

What do expect from a Nation that gives their kids sticks and tells them to beat up on the other kids. (Hockey :o)

Every reasonable person would call it attemped murder and we called it a sport.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 02, 1999.

I loved Brian's observation about giving the kids sticks. It is odd but true. Those countries where there is real violence like, riots in South America, border wars in Africa etc, the kids play football (soccer) where only the spectators get violent. In New Guinea, where they still eat each other they play crickett. In the civilized west we play: Rugby, American football, Australian rules football, La cross and hocky. Some social scientist should make a study of this phenomena.

Perhaps the Canadians are more tranquil about things and more adult about impending disaster. I think Canada may suffer more than we considering the harsh winters and the socialization of their society.

Indeed hurricane Dennis has spared South Carolina. In fact, since its passing, we here in Charleston have had beautiful weather. Heat and humidity is finally bearable. Sunny and clear skys, walks down town and along the harbor, coffee and pastry at the market place, people greeting people with a smile and a word. Pretty girls even smile at old garqoyle like me and don't assume that we are rapists looking for our next score. GOD I HATE LOS ANGELES. (where I lived most of my life) Well, I will stop rambling and bid you all the best.

Bill in South Carolina

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), September 02, 1999.

I'm a "dualie"...American & Canadian citizen. I live in both countries and love them each equally, as a Mother loves both her (sometimes bratty) children.

I have to say NEITHER country is prepared for Y2K!! I see no difference what-so-ever.

I meet the same ratio of GI's to DWGI's (approx. 1 to 50)in both countries, from the west coast to the east.

We will ride out Y2K in Canada, simply because our rural land is here, while our US home is in the city. I have tried to stimulate some Y2K preparations here, but like many of you, I am met with blank stares or "there'll be some glitches, but nothing serious".

However, just as a possible sample of problems starting.........in the past week I've recieved two strange phone calls. The first concerned my son's Health Card. OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) won't accept his card. It's current and valid till 2001. Computer problem?

The second concerned our Visa. A gov't agency called to say the authorization didn't go through.....says its an invalid card. It's valid till 2001 as well.

I know these sort of things happen occasionally.....someone types in a wrong number, or transposes something, but I can only think of one or maybe two times its happened to me in the past 20+ years, and now suddenly, TWICE in one WEEK. Makes me head directly to Cosco......

-- Sheila (sross@bconnex.net), September 02, 1999.

Bill S wrote

"I think Canada may suffer more than we considering the harsh winters and the socialization of their society."

Suffer is not the correct word, it would be called reality as far as dealing with the winters. But I do not understand how "socialization" can cause suffering. Frostbite causes suffering.

My province has "socialized" the power, telco and has a rail company. Because of the I have no doubt I will have a dial tone and be able to turn on a light after the rollover.

Canada is a wierd country, we gave a province the right to vote its way out of confederation. And they almost did (a few years ago). Now it is pretty much a non issue. Now I wonder if the U.S. of A would give a State the "freedom" to do that.

For the record I am glad that Quebec didn't leave.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 02, 1999.

Brian,

I, too, wondered why Bill would comment that we "suffer the socialization of our society." Perhaps Bill would care to elaborate by beginning to define what his concept of "socialization" is, then by going on to say how he sees us as suffering from it.

Did more thinking overnight about Bill's original question. I don't see y2k as a race between two countries; I see it as a race between all countries...and the clock.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), September 02, 1999.

Here in Canada, IMHO, it is no worse and no better. People getting prepared are few and far between. The crap we get from companies and utilities is the same. Over on euy2k.com (Rick Cowles site) there is an interesting thread about BC Hydro, my utiity.

Out of 250,000 devices in their organization, after all their $ and work, and assessment, and remediation etc. they determined that not a single device would of caused a loss in generation or transmission.

Wow!!! Imagine that!!

neilw

-- neilw (neilw@infoserve.net), September 02, 1999.

Neil

Ah! Another BC folk! I believe that I posted that bit from BC Hydro. There is one on there from the Industry Canada testimony.

By the way if the US think they have political problems they should check out BC. What a bloody mess. We are in the pot and everything else looks like fire.

Brian

Victoria BC

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 02, 1999.

Rachel: Do you like to mudwrestle?

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), September 02, 1999.

King, I thought you'd never ask! You are more than welcome to join the annual fray here--outdoors, of course, in January!

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), September 02, 1999.

Brian, in the pot (pun intended); how do you feel now that Harcourt has been vindicated?

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), September 02, 1999.

Rachel

I didn't mind Harcourt, but the NDP is in SERIOUS S**T, and that means Gordon Cambell at the helm next election. In retrospect Alberta and Ontario have achieved success with hard budgets and we in BC are further down the hole. What is going to happen?? I do not know. They could legalize pot and we would be in the black in no time.

The Liberals are going to have to slash and burn to get the books in order and it will hit my home town big time (GOV Town). There are towns shutting down across BC as we type. For alot of rural BC folk it is TEOTWATKI. And it is going to get worse. Of course alot of the problem was caused by the Asian meltdown and over fishing but sinking 600 million in the two fast ferries was not the best move. The boats aren't even compliant. What a joke. Thankfully we have one of the best and oldest Y2K remediation efforts in the world, so that is a blessing. Can't imagine that is Clarks doing. What a twit.

It is getting pretty bad when Newfoundland has more growth than BC.

Oh and the newest revelation? Swen Robinson is looking at leading the NDP. What a bunch of political wackos. At least VanderZamboni is out of the political picture. One small blessing.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 02, 1999.

Please: There is no race between Canada and the U.S. If anything, I think that Canada is head and shoulders above the U.S. in warning it's people about the threat. If we go, it will be like in a Japanese movie. Hand in hand into the pit. Hell, I am worried about Tiawan failing. If Canada goes we all go. If things get as bad as I fear they will, we are all going to be, "for it"

I have family and people that I care for living in South America and Central America. They are Technocrats and professionals. They have no chance. A peasant can at least grow his own food.

A big chunk of the middle class around the world may well die. There is no race. Who cares if the U.S. makes it for a week or two longer than any other country?

As for me, I caught a fine flounder today for our dinner. If only I liked to eat fish.

Bill in South Carolina

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), September 02, 1999.

Brian, as an Albertan, I take exception to the "achieved success" part of your last post. It is true that our economy is good, but it has been the result of unnecessary deahs and a lousy education system (with higher stress leaves for teachers and higher student/teacher ratios than many of the 'poorer' provinces in the country). Personally, I like to see balanced budgets, I just wanted them to do it by a plan other than the slash and burn theory of economics. Frankly, my opinion of Klein and his co-horts is not much better than of Clinton and his (drag the depths of the barrel).

-- Tricia the 0Canuck (tricia_canuck@hotmail.com), September 02, 1999.

Tricia

Sorry about that, I know of Klein and his days (1980) as mayor of Calgary telling the press the easterners are clogging up the jails. Alberta is so much differant than BC. Much more "redneck" and oilpatch. Back here alot of the blue collar jobs are gone from my younger days. But still the Government "largese" makes you wonder what is going on. I could go on but this is not a political forum (much).

I know that there has been big cut backs in Alberta, the problem is it could be worse here. There is a BIG dislocation happening in BC. For example a mine in the interior shut down and 1000 folks laid off. And it is happening all over the province. These company towns are not doing well at all.

Clark was not "business friendly" and it has contributed to the situation as it stands now. There has to be a balance in interests but he didn't achieve it.

I hope that Alberta becomes stable myself. Boom and Bust is a drag. And you folk have been there.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 02, 1999.