When CBC Censors Free Speech – CBC Propagates Racism

Today CBC Edmonton profiled an opinion piece on their Face book page, a piece called “Minority groups are seeing one of their greatest fears come true- they’re becoming targets at home” written by Saada Branker. In this piece The very first line, added by the CBC Facebook staff, above the placement of this article reads “OPINION: How on earth did we get here?” Seeing as this was placed on a social media site, a site intended for discussion, I decided to answer that very question for them. But low and behold, when the time came to publish my comment, over and over again it would not be allowed.

Now knowing how slanted the CBC is in only supporting the left, and in knowing that the CBC censor comments and ban contributors, this isn’t surprising. We all know the CBC is a leftist propaganda machine that refuses to tell the truth even though it is funded by the Canadian taxpayer. After all no one is delusional enough to ever expect the “left” to be fair or “truthful”. So in response to not being allowed to post my comment on the CBC Facebook site, I will simply blog my response here and send out the links.

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CBC asked, in response to this opinion piece “How on earth did we get here?”. Here is my response:

Closed minded slanted news reporting is to blame for a lot of the tensions “portrayed ” in the news followed by the hatred portrayed by the left.

Let me give you a few examples. If a person supported Brexit the media and the left instantly called the person a racist, it didn’t matter if the reasoning was that your support for an exit was more control over a country’s economy, law or regulations…..against it and the media called you a racist. If you were for Trump, the left and the media called you a racist, it didn’t matter what your reasoning was, even if it was the fact that running a government involves a lot of management of departments and funds, exactly like big business, and so business experience would be highly beneficial to get a population back to work, ……but say you support Trump and you are a racist.

The left and the media have been brow bashing whites, especially white males; they have been carrying out their own campaign of hate and lies with no other reason to make the comments other than the people are “white”. This, my dear media and leftest comrades, is racist.

Now let’s discuss an interesting topic, let’s talk immigration since the left and the media are experts. I have been through the immigration process, my husband has been through the immigration process, and because we have been through it we get to share our experience with others have done the same. In the past year we have had the immigration discussion with people of multiple ethnic backgrounds and colors. Guess what we are hearing? We are hearing “We came to Canada to be safe, and now the government is just letting in all these types, now Canada will be as dangerous as where we left.” we have also heard “We did it the right way, we went through all the security checks, it is unfair they are just letting them walk in.” Plus ” We immigrated following the rules, then we worked hard, but the government just gives these people handouts paid with my tax money. It is so unfair.” These are statements by NON-WHITES. These are statements by IMMIGRANTS.

With both Brexit and Trump the media showed their uneducated bias with flying colors, they showed their inability, or just plain reluctance, to show the truth. You see the media refused in both situations to recognize the difference between IMMIGRATION and FREE MOVEMENT. There is a vast difference. Some immigration is beneficial, and some is not, free movement is never beneficial.

Trump’s “build a wall” was to keep out ILLEGAL immigrants, however the media refused to accept these people crossing the border were committing a crime; it is the equivalent of a drug pusher being called a small business owner.

The free movement of people to Britain has kept wages at a standstill in Britain for over 20 years in areas outside of London, plus the influx of both refugees and migrants from eastern Europe has left their social services and social housing at a breaking point. But the media won’t report this, the left won’t accept this, it is easier to shout racist.

And then there are the put downs. The media tries to say if you supported Trump or Brexit you are a poor, uneducated, white male who feels threatened. I have heard this propaganda spouted endlessly on CBC radio and BBC radio. But the fact is this is a lie. For myself, the only criteria I fit of the media driven stereotype is “white” (well white is a derogatory term, I am CAUCASIAN of EUROPEAN DECENT yet one side of my family has been in Canada well over 250 years…..not common white, I deserve the same cultural distinction as others). I am educated, I am not poor, I am not threatened. I think if the media were to research who really supported Brexit and Trump, they were people who believe in free enterprise, advancement, less taxation, less nanny-state, and control over their own country. So could you tell me how this is racist?

Prior to Brexit I was listening to radio interviews on BBC, and they are as slanted as North American left wing media. They went through a business district in Birmingham (UK) and started asking business owners about Brexit. An amazing number wanted Brexit. They wanted it for business, and they wanted it for immigration because free movement meant the ONLY immigration the country would be able to handle (well not even) was the refugees and European free movement; it meant the UK was closed to the rest of the world if Brexit did not happen. Would you like the punchline (anyone who has lived in the UK has already guessed it), the business district was one where all those interviewed were originally from Pakistan. Not “white”. Not threatened “white” males.

But for closer to home CBC radio did an interview in Vancouver several months ago where it was indicated that many members of the Asian community did not support the influx of Syrian refugees. The radio piece quickly glossed over it and focused on the Asian person who supported the refugee effort; unbalanced reporting.

There are snippets that come out in the media, and then the left and the media sweep under the carpet the fact that “non-whites” also have concerns, they make this disappear. One would ask why? BECAUSE THE LEFT AND THE MEDIA ARE RACIALLY PROFILING WHITES. There you have it.

This is why stories like a Muslim burning down his own mosque disappears so quickly, or the woman who faked the account of her head scarf being torn off was a blip, or the fact that the media won’t call a terrorist attack a terrorist attack when the suspect is Muslim (oh my, it must be mental illness), or that it is all the fault of whites for the current state of aboriginals (even though the drug trade in our area is completely run by aboriginals…but somehow it is “my” fault that they are the ones dealing the substances that are killing people).

This opinion piece asks “How on earth did we get here?”….the MEDIA has created it and the LEFT has created it. You my friends are the two segments to blame.

But let’s look at this closer, how do we know it isn’t the left perpetrating these hateful acts in order to continue their hateful campaign against the “threatened white male”? How can we know it isn’t the left doing these shameful acts to keep the vision of the “hateful bad whites” in the media? We have a black Muslim man burn down his own mosque, but the assumption was a hate crime by whites. We have a woman faking a head scarf attack, again an assumed hate crime by whites….but in the end it wasn’t. It is starting to surface that many of these attacks profiled heavily in the media are incidents that have been manufactured by the left to be able to continue their hateful campaign against whites (yes indeed, that is racism).

Now I will sum up this piece, which is perhaps more in depth and wider reaching than the original opinion piece, because the opinion piece published by CBC was only another piece of media propaganda aimed at the “hateful white person”. Well done CBC.

I want to point out how warped the left has become, and how they try to use the threat of racism to oppress a society.

The Alberta premier, Rachel Notley publicly insulted Albertans who opposed the CARBON TAX as XENOPHOBIC. Did you catch that…….XENOPHOBIC. Because Albertans oppose an unfair taxation on CARBON, yes, CO2, she has in turn called the population of her province XENOPHOBES. Media do you know what that means? Left, do you even know what that means? I will supply you with a definition.

“Xenophobic: having or showing a dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.”

So there you have it, if the LEFT have any opposition to their beliefs they simply call those who oppose them RACIST. RACIST IS THE LEFT’S DEFAULT. The media in turn laps it up, it is an easy tabloid story, they don’t follow up the facts, they don’t even investigate to see if they are real hate crimes. False sensationalistic tabloid news. Heaven forbid we would ever see investigative JOURNALISM (again why ARE you in the NEWS business CBC?…..oh yeah, government propaganda..right!).

So how did we get here? The left. The media. But most surprisingly I present to you another option, and that is that WE AREN’T . I suggest WE AREN’T is the most relevant point. The left and the media are choosing incidents of minute proportion in comparison to the whole population and geography of our country and BLOWING THEM OUT OF PROPORTION AS A PROPAGANDA MACHINE TO BULLY THE POPULATION INTO SUPPORTING THEIR IDEOLOGY. There, dear author of the opinion piece is your answer. Stop the propaganda machine, and go back to fact based journalism, and the world will seem to be a completely different place instantly.

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And there, dear CBC is the work around to the blocking of comments and the blocking of free speech.

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The Great Insurance Scam

The Great Insurance Scam………under-insure to force people to settle.

There you have it folks, now would you like the back story?

Not long ago I wrote THIS post and at the end I wrote an edit which was a rebuttal to a response from our insurance adjuster. I thought I would re-share the thoughts here as it has an “A HA Moment” that every person who holds insurance needs to think about. It outlines how property owners are being vastly under-insured so that they can be bullied into taking inferior settlements. Please have a read and please help “out” this practice in the insurance industry if you or your family have been victimized.

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This entry begins with a response from our adjuster, amazing what you have to do to get a response acknowledging a receipt of an email.

Below is the email we received this evening with names “x”‘d for privacy reasons.

Mr. and Mrs. xxxxxxx,
Please accept this e-mail as confirmation of your prior correspondence and request to have the cabin repaired.
As I stated to Mr. xxxx on the phone I was communicating the decision that Wawanesa did not accept the building quotations presented.
Mr. xxxxx stated he was having a very difficult time in secure builders to quote on the replacement of the cabin.
He stated he was not even getting return calls for requests for quotes.
As explained the quotes to replace based on the total square footage of the structure would be in the category of a full custom home.
The quotes presented have been reviewed by the appraiser on file and submitted to Wawanesa.
I have not ignored your file as you have stated below.
As stated to Mr. xxxxx on the phone and at his request I approached Pxxxxx  yesterday to see if they would be interested in seeing if they would perform repairs at the structure.
I am waiting for their response. As the Representative from Pxxxxxxx needed to review the file and discuss it with management.
Future, I am also waiting for instructions on the file.
At present as both parties seem to be at an impasse as it would related to the quantum of the damages it appears necessary to proceed with the appraisal process as set forth in the Insurance Act.
Please accept this communication as first notice of this process. Our office will forward further written communication with the appropriate forms shortly.
We have made every effort to accommodate your requests. This commenced with a detailed investigation, coverage review and the presentation of timely settlement offer once the second review process was completed.
I have not stated the cabin can be repaired. The determination of repairability is made by construction experts. This the reason why I have spoken to Pxxxxxx. I have not been able to communicate with the project manager with Bxxxxxx at this time as he is not back from vacation.
Mr. Hxxxxxxx stated it is the obligation of the insurer to repair the cabin and to place you back into the same position prior to the loss.
Further I wish to advise that in accordance with the insurance act it is the insured who has to choose their contractor. While we can recommend one the contract for reconstruction rests with you.
Clearly my comments to Mr. Hxxxxxx have been taken out of context and I find it interesting this communication states something different than what our understanding was.
Accordingly future communication will be in writing by e-mail or by way of in person meeting at your brokers office where the meeting can be appropriately documented for the file.
Thank you,

……………………………………………

Followed by the rebuttal:

First we have two hugely detailed quotes in our personal possession for the repair of the cabin stating exactly what needs to be done, provided to us by the insurance adjuster. His chosen professionals. These quotes and scope of work were completed by the two firms mentioned in the email above. “Repairability” has actually already been assessed; it was assessed in the spring of 2015. The quotes were completed by “construction experts” as stated above. This leaves one to question the statements in the above email. If the quotes are valid, it is just a call or email to the contractor to okay the work. It makes me wonder how valid the quotes are. Were they manufactured? We’ll see. My husband has a theory on this, but we will leave it there for now.

Secondly how can insurance simply not accept the quotations? These are the only quotes we could get. We even asked to see the Wawanesa quote, but the request was ignored. Was this Wawanesa quote for a rebuild fictionalized ? We knew their quote was off because we knew how expensive our fireplace was to replace; it is hand laid brick. We were offered $126,725.37 including demo for a TOTAL LOSS; we are insured for $167,000 (and still paying to have the property insured at this level). A difference of $40, 274.63. Demolition is averaging at about $10K, the fireplace averages out at $12.5K. If we take off these two items alone we are left at $104, 225.37, not even enough for a single wide trailer. But beyond that I will share the actual quotes we were given by two contractors that did not know each other (from different cities) and that we do not know from beyond asking for a quote. These quotes are WITHOUT FOUNDATION. Quote #1 – $239, 058.75
and Quote #2 – $259,610.40. You see our cabin is built on post and pier as a foundation so insurance refuses to put a foundation under our cabin. They tell us this over and over. They say it is a “code upgrade”. What it comes down to is even if we achieved a full settlement for what we are insured for, at best we are $72,058.75 short, plus we still need to pay for a foundation. With the settlement of $126,725,37 we are $112,333.38 short. We insured this property trusting our broker and Wawanesa that our investment would be secure if disaster ever struck. Our investment is LOST due to insuring with Wawanesa. Repair is the only way we can attempt any form of salvage of our investment and property.

It is not our fault as an insured that it is difficult to get quotes. (Of course Wawanesa, or the adjuster, refused to share their quote with us.) It is a rural area. Wawanesa insured the property, they knew its location, they took the risk. Remote areas cost more for builds, for service people, for trades. Rural areas lack amenities such as the local hardware store and require added cost regarding travel time and travel costs. It is a one off build, it isn’t a housing development. So when the adjuster says in the email above: “As explained the quotes to replace based on the total square footage of the structure would be in the category of a full custom home.” Yeah, every total loss infill build IS a full custom home……WITHOUT FOUNDATION…..that is a “code upgrade”.

So let’s assess this statement: “Further I wish to advise that in accordance with the insurance act it is the insured who has to choose their contractor. While we can recommend one the contract for reconstruction rests with you.” This is interesting. A few years ago our home suffered sewer back up. Wawanesa was the insurance company. Here is how the discussion went:

– Adjuster – (says to us over the restoration work) – “Do you have a preferred contractor?”,
– Us – “No”.
-Adjuster – “Is it okay if we use xxxxxx?”- us – “Fine.”
– the adjuster dealt with the contractor, the quotes, the work. All we had to do was let the workers in and write the cheque for the deductible. Proper handling. Respectful and professional handling.

Completely different handling. Both water situations, but one is our house and one is our recreational property. One was being tended to within days while our recreational property still hasn’t been tended to 14 months (less two days) from the date of discovery of the damage; it still sits waterlogged. Why the difference in handling? Why are we so under-insured? Why is the settlement offer so below the amount we are paying for when the property is a TOTAL LOSS. There is something very, very wrong.

I am becoming increasing wary and suspicious of the whole situation.  Do you think a contractor will repair our cabin for what is quoted? I doubt it, it seems to be a special “insurance rate”. This is why in the email above the adjuster is trying to wiggle out of responsibility to repair our cabin. That is why he is deferring to the Insurance Act, so that they can cut a cheque and leave us without enough funds for the repair. It is happening all the time, my husband has come home with multiple stories of insureds who have been completely screwed by the company that they trusted.

We can’t remotely rebuild our property even though our broker has time and again run the numbers for what it should be insured for. His numbers come up the same every time. The build quotes are $72,058.75 short without a foundation. Someone is setting these numbers, I don’t know if it is Wawanesa or some other aspect of the insurance industry, but they are vastly wrong. How can a company insure a property, it ends up a full loss, but changes to the building code means it is the insureds fault? They know no one can rebuild. The numbers that we pay insurance for should reflect numbers where a property can be rebuilt to code.

And there is the “A HA Moment”. Did you catch that?

They know no one can rebuild. The numbers that we pay insurance for should reflect numbers where a property can be rebuilt to code.

And there in lies the scam of the insurance industry. If they knowingly under-insure you they know their customer, especially if the adjusters are nasty enough, will eventually cave. It is a scam. It is a scam by the whole insurance industry to make people settle.

Insurance doesn’t protect your investment.

Insurance is there to screw you over and take advantage of you when you are at your lowest.

Wawanesa states on the third page of their 2013 Annual Report the following values:

VALUES

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We treat others in a respectful and truthful manner.

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We conduct business with integrity, honesty, consistency and fairness.

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We act ethically and lawfully.

•

We take pride in making service a priority.

•

We encourage collaboration, innovation and excellence.

•

We support the communities in which we work and live

 

Spot the difference with what we have experienced!

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Please check out your policies, do due diligence, and take issues further and public if you feel victimized. For Alberta this information may be of use:

Alberta Treasury Board and Finance
Superintendent of Insurance
Financial Sector Regulation and Policy (FSRP)
Room 402, Terrace Building
9515 – 107 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 2C3

PHONE:  780-427-8322

TOLL-FREE:  (In Alberta):  Dial 310-0000, then 780-427-8322

EMAIL:  tbf.insurance@gov.ab.ca

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Wawanesa & Associates Continues To Operate In Bad Faith

Well it is probably about time for an update on the cabin. I know hundreds upon hundreds of insured people are now reading this saga. How do I know you may ask? Well my husband talks to hundreds upon hundreds (if not thousands) of people dealing with hail claims and he has been passing on our saga to all that will listen. Then I have the people personally emailing me and sharing their own issues. And of course a recent post generated over 94,000 reads and a ton of new followers, so let’s just say, word is out……big time.

So we are on adjuster #2. Thought it might be better. Well I will let you be the judge. We thought it was worth sharing our latest developments here so everyone else will know what tactics Wawanesa are using.

Everyone is being screwed over by insurance at the moment. They are doing unsatisfactory patches instead of replacing siding. They are denying hail when the hail is obvious. They are arguing the square footage of roofs . They are trying to use roofers as adjusters. Even those in the industry are disgusted by some of the tactics.

I do have a website prepped focusing on insurance issues. It is time for us to all out what is going on. Once I make a few modifications to the site it will be up and others will be able to share their mistreatment by the insurance industry. The goal is to bring all these bad experiences together to show systematic corruption and cheating of the insured parties by the insurance industry. I will share the link to the site here once it is fully published, and I invite everyone to share it. We are all getting screwed and it is time to fight back.

For your amusement, here is the latest email that we have sent. You will see just how crooked the insurance industry is. Square footage is misrepresented , and we aren’t even allowed to show our proof of loss….they just didn’t accept it. Anyways, have a read:

Dear xxx,

I am writing to confirm that you received our email of November 3, 2015 indicating we wish to REPAIR our cabin.

I have been advised to confirm this with you as you seem to have a tactic where you choose to ignore certain situations. For instance:

– you chose to ignore our request to see how Wawanesa calculated how much it would cost to rebuild our cabin

– you chose to ignore the fact that Wawanesa had undersized the square footage of our actual cabin and that window sizes were misrepresented in the paperwork

– you chose to not re-adjust the offer for settlement when we pointed out the inaccuracies in size and details

– we provided quotes based WITHOUT foundation and you REFUSED to accept them. We PROVED our loss and you simply said no. Well actually you didn’t just say “no”, you said they were “P.F.O. Quotes”……..PLEASE FUCK OFF QUOTES. Unprofessional. I cannot believe you would treat an insured in such a way.

(and this doesn’t even go into the attempt to depreciate the cabin back to a date prior to it being constructed https://htheblog.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/wawanesa-insurance-problem-how-can-you-be-dinged-for-depreciation-from-before-the-property-was-built/ )

I am attaching the quotes for those cc.’d on here to have as proof that we did prove our loss.

I am reiterating here that you promised our cabin can be repaired, you HAVE a quote that you approve of, and you HAVE a contractor that you approve of. I want to know WHEN WORK WILL COMMENCE. This claim has been in progress since September 2014 and this extended loss of use is unacceptable. Your quote indicates the repair will take 16 weeks which means we need to get on this now. The key to the cabin is in the lock box attached to the cabin provided by YOUR contractor of which you and Wawanesa approve. There is no cause for delay. And as you pointed out over the phone, that prices should be cheaper because of oil being down (evidently out of work riggers are expert construction workers…who knew), I am sure your preferred contractor is able to get on the job right away.

Just to simplify, I need to know when repairs start and the guaranteed completion date, plus where to send our deductible cheque.

I look forward to our cabin being meticulously repaired piece by piece by hand in sub-zero temperatures. I am so glad you gave us this option. And by the way, before we hear anymore threats of “code issues”, electrical and plumbing is circa 2003, as is the back portion of the cabin, and the rest is a “repair”.

Please have the common decency to at least reply to this email as our last one was ignored. Surely acknowledging is part of an adjuster’s duty, or perhaps it was just a “P.F.O” lack of response.

Thanks for reading. And I won’t tell my readers to “P.F.O”.

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November 5, 2015 -6:53 pm Edited to add:

So we have had a response from our adjuster, amazing what you have to do to get a response acknowledging a receipt of an email.

For continuity sake here is the response with names “x”‘d for privacy reasons.

Mr. and Mrs. xxxxxxx,
Please accept this e-mail as confirmation of your prior correspondence and request to have the cabin repaired.
As I stated to Mr. xxxx on the phone I was communicating the decision that Wawanesa did not accept the building quotations presented.
Mr. xxxxx stated he was having a very difficult time in secure builders to quote on the replacement of the cabin.
He stated he was not even getting return calls for requests for quotes.
As explained the quotes to replace based on the total square footage of the structure would be in the category of a full custom home.
The quotes presented have been reviewed by the appraiser on file and submitted to Wawanesa.
I have not ignored your file as you have stated below.
As stated to Mr. xxxxx on the phone and at his request I approached Pxxxxx  yesterday to see if they would be interested in seeing if they would perform repairs at the structure.
I am waiting for their response. As the Representative from Pxxxxxxx needed to review the file and discuss it with management.
Future, I am also waiting for instructions on the file.
At present as both parties seem to be at an impasse as it would related to the quantum of the damages it appears necessary to proceed with the appraisal process as set forth in the Insurance Act.
Please accept this communication as first notice of this process. Our office will forward further written communication with the appropriate forms shortly.
We have made every effort to accommodate your requests. This commenced with a detailed investigation, coverage review and the presentation of timely settlement offer once the second review process was completed.
I have not stated the cabin can be repaired. The determination of repairability is made by construction experts. This the reason why I have spoken to Pxxxxxx. I have not been able to communicate with the project manager with Bxxxxxx at this time as he is not back from vacation.
Mr. Hxxxxxxx stated it is the obligation of the insurer to repair the cabin and to place you back into the same position prior to the loss.
Further I wish to advise that in accordance with the insurance act it is the insured who has to choose their contractor. While we can recommend one the contract for reconstruction rests with you.
Clearly my comments to Mr. Hxxxxxx have been taken out of context and I find it interesting this communication states something different than what our understanding was.
Accordingly future communication will be in writing by e-mail or by way of in person meeting at your brokers office where the meeting can be appropriately documented for the file.
Thank you,

……………………………………………

So I will have my rebuttal here.

First we have two hugely detailed quotes in our personal possession for the repair of the cabin stating exactly what needs to be done, provided to us by the insurance adjuster. His chosen professionals. These quotes and scope of work were completed by the two firms mentioned in the email above. “Repairability” has actually already been assessed; it was assessed in the spring of 2015. The quotes were completed by “construction experts” as stated above. This leaves one to question the statements in the above email. If the quotes are valid, it is just a call or email to the contractor to okay the work. It makes me wonder how valid the quotes are. Were they manufactured? We’ll see. My husband has a theory on this, but we will leave it there for now.

Secondly how can insurance simply not accept the quotations? These are the only quotes we could get. We even asked to see the Wawanesa quote, but the request was ignored. Was this Wawanesa quote for a rebuild fictionalized ? We knew their quote was off because we knew how expensive our fireplace was to replace; it is hand laid brick. We were offered $126,725.37 including demo for a TOTAL LOSS; we are insured for $167,000 (and still paying to have the property insured at this level). A difference of $40, 274.63. Demolition is averaging at about $10K, the fireplace averages out at $12.5K. If we take off these two items alone we are left at $104, 225.37, not even enough for a single wide trailer. But beyond that I will share the actual quotes we were given by two contractors that did not know each other (from different cities) and that we do not know from beyond asking for a quote. These quotes are WITHOUT FOUNDATION. Quote #1 – $239, 058.75
and Quote #2 – $259,610.40. You see our cabin is built on post and pier as a foundation so insurance refuses to put a foundation under our cabin. They tell us this over and over. They say it is a “code upgrade”. What it comes down to is even if we achieved a full settlement for what we are insured for, at best we are $72,058.75 short, plus we still need to pay for a foundation. With the settlement of $126,725,37 we are $112,333.38 short. We insured this property trusting our broker and Wawanesa that our investment would be secure if disaster ever struck. Our investment is LOST due to insuring with Wawanesa. Repair is the only way we can attempt any form of salvage of our investment and property.

It is not our fault as an insured that it is difficult to get quotes. (Of course Wawanesa, or the adjuster, refused to share their quote with us.) It is a rural area. Wawanesa insured the property, they knew its location, they took the risk. Remote areas cost more for builds, for service people, for trades. Rural areas lack amenities such as the local hardware store and require added cost regarding travel time and travel costs. It is a one off build, it isn’t a housing development. So when the adjuster says in the email above: “As explained the quotes to replace based on the total square footage of the structure would be in the category of a full custom home.” Yeah, every total loss infill build IS a full custom home……WITHOUT FOUNDATION…..that is a “code upgrade”.

So let’s assess this statement: “Further I wish to advise that in accordance with the insurance act it is the insured who has to choose their contractor. While we can recommend one the contract for reconstruction rests with you.” This is interesting. A few years ago our home suffered sewer back up. Wawanesa was the insurance company. Here is how the discussion went:

– Adjuster – (says to us over the restoration work) – “Do you have a preferred contractor?”,
– Us – “No”.
-Adjuster – “Is it okay if we use xxxxxx?”- us – “Fine.”
– the adjuster dealt with the contractor, the quotes, the work. All we had to do was let the workers in and write the cheque for the deductible. Proper handling. Respectful and professional handling.

Completely different handling. Both water situations, but one is our house and one is our recreational property. One was being tended to within days while our recreational property still hasn’t been tended to 14 months (less two days) from the date of discovery of the damage; it still sits waterlogged. Why the difference in handling? Why are we so under-insured? Why is the settlement offer so below the amount we are paying for when the property is a TOTAL LOSS. There is something very, very wrong.

I am becoming increasing wary and suspicious of the whole situation.  Do you think a contractor will repair our cabin for what is quoted? I doubt it, it seems to be a special “insurance rate”. This is why in the email above the adjuster is trying to wiggle out of responsibility to repair our cabin. That is why he is deferring to the Insurance Act, so that they can cut a cheque and leave us without enough funds for the repair. It is happening all the time, my husband has come home with multiple stories of insureds who have been completely screwed by the company that they trusted.

We can’t remotely rebuild our property even though our broker has time and again run the numbers for what it should be insured for. His numbers come up the same every time. The build quotes are $72,058.75 short without a foundation. Someone is setting these numbers, I don’t know if it is Wawanesa or some other aspect of the insurance industry, but they are vastly wrong. How can a company insure a property, it ends up a full loss, but changes to the building code means it is the insureds fault? They know no one can rebuild. The numbers that we pay insurance for should reflect numbers where a property can be rebuilt to code.

And there is the “A HA Moment”. Did you catch that?

They know no one can rebuild. The numbers that we pay insurance for should reflect numbers where a property can be rebuilt to code.

And there in lies the scam of the insurance industry. If they knowingly under-insure you they know their customer, especially if the adjusters are nasty enough, will eventually cave. It is a scam. It is a scam by the whole insurance industry to make people settle.

Insurance doesn’t protect your investment.

Insurance is there to screw you over and take advantage of you when you are at your lowest.

Wawanesa states on the third page of their 2013 Annual Report the following values:

VALUES

•

We treat others in a respectful and truthful manner.

•

We conduct business with integrity, honesty, consistency and fairness.

•

We act ethically and lawfully.

•

We take pride in making service a priority.

•

We encourage collaboration, innovation and excellence.

•

We support the communities in which we work and live

 

Spot the difference with what we have experienced!

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And just to address one other statement in the above email, the adjuster states “Clearly my comments to Mr. Hxxxxxx have been taken out of context and I find it interesting this communication states something different than what our understanding was.” Could someone please tell me how anyone can take out of context  “PLEASE FUCK OFF QUOTES“? That was a pretty clear and pretty inappropriate comment.

Stay tuned.

 

 

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Handmade in Canada – The Collections – www.handmade-canada.com

Handmade in Canada – http://handmade-canada.com/

Seeing as my blog is 15,000 to 35,000 views a day at the moment I’ve decided to have an opportunistic moment, after all there is a little capitalist in me at times! It seems like a complete waste to let all this traffic go by and not introduce my new project. After all now all the left-leaning hate-mailers who have said “get to work woman” can now put their money where their mouth is, buy my products, make me work, and allow me to pay tax to the government to support their desired social programs (yes that was a dig!).

The project is Handmade in Canada.  The site’s focus is on hand made items and eventually art will also be added to the site. The current items are all hand knits made of 100% Canadian produced wool milled in heritage style mills in Alberta and P.E.I.. I hand dye my wool in micro batches in natural dyes including marigold from my garden, tansy that grows by rural roads, and arbutus bark from trees of the west coast.

Items listed for sale include tax and shipping within Canada; I like to keep things simple. I also deal with small scale wholesale such as boutiques, museums, coffee shops and gift shops; please email me if you have wholesale inquiries.

Below are the collections. Check back on the site often as I have many items that are just about to be listed on the site.

The O’Canada Collection

The Beach House Collection

The Salish Collection

The Woods Collection

The Cottage Garden Collection

The Wearable Collection

Feel free to email me through the site regarding sizes, dimensions and any other details, as I draft the patterns by hand, customization is also available.

www.handmade-canada.com

Trudeau – Mulcair Fanboy Rats Stay-At-Home Mom Out To Saskatoon Police Force

Link to the original letter: https://htheblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/an-open-letter-to-trudeau-and-mulcair-why-am-i-so-worthless/

Well kids, your read it right. Yep, the “man” who thought he was going to oppress me over my open letter to Trudeau and Mulcair went to the police……over little old me……shucks…..I’m honored. Really did this fire need anymore fuel….well I guess it did even though we are nearing  70,000 reads of my letter.

So now I am going to share the “police story”:

Remember the toxic email I received? Well the author went to the Saskatoon Police Department regarding this issue to complain about me. “Privacy Act”.

He attacked me through an unsolicited email, and posted libelous statements about me on his blog  calling me “blatantly dishonest”. I requested that the Saskatoon police officer contact an R.C.M.P. member in our city of Red Deer so that I could talk to them to know every thing is legitimate, after all how do I know if it isn’t just the author of the hateful email having a friend be the heavy. One phone call to our local police force is all I asked. A reasonable request. If we are going to “play by the book” I want to know everything is on the level. My request was not fulfilled.

The police officer was put out, then too busy, would not listen to my full story, then said she would call back.  She hasn’t.

She had no problem with him making a personal attack. She had no problem with the harassment. She had no problem with the libel. She had no problem with the cyber-bullying. She would not listen to my side of the story and kept cutting me off. She made no move to having the complaining gentleman take down the libelous piece he has written about me that he has posted on his blog. It is absolutely fine in her eyes for him to slander me, I am only a simple female.  She had no time for me. One has to wonder if I was treated this way because I am female. Would a male have been blown off? I’ll let you decide. Oppression. Worthless. The theme continues.

…..stay tuned

Quote of the day: “the lady’s not for turning” – Margaret Thatcher

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Comments, Harassment, Spamming by the Liberals and Oppression – Is a female voter allowed an opinion?

The original post referenced  can be found at: https://htheblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/an-open-letter-to-trudeau-and-mulcair-why-am-i-so-worthless/

The last few days have been both interesting and at the same time shown a disturbing side of a certain segment of our population. For those who haven’t been following, on September 13, 2015 I wrote a piece that was an open letter to Trudeau and Mulcair regarding the upcoming federal election in Canada. I wrote my feelings. I shared my feelings. After all it is better to pose concerns prior to an election rather than stay quiet and complain after. Essentially what I did is exactly the same as if I had been at a political forum and had been given the opportunity to pose a question or mention a concern.

I sent the piece to the federal headquarters of the NDP, the Liberals, and the Conservatives. I also sent the letter to  two Conservative candidates, two Liberal candidates and one NDP candidate in our area. A link was also posted on the Facebook page of each of the three political parties. I asked each recipient for a reply, the only replies I received were from the two Conservative candidates for our area. The Liberal’s refused to address the concern as did the NDP. Even at the riding level they refused to address a concern of their local people. Is the subject too hot, or do they just not care? All I know is that elected officials represent the people, and if they can’t even get back to you during an election they will be deaf to your concerns once they are sitting in office. No reply is a bad sign.

Now I need to expand on the reply because there is a little twist. When I emailed the Liberals what they did do was start spamming me with emails asking for money. To date I have received 20 emails spamming me but not one response to my concern. How could they ignore my concern yet spam me 20 times in the period of 12 days? Obviously my opinion holds some weight as I am sure they would have taken the time to counter-act my concerns seeing it was in a public forum.

(For the record, so I do not again end up being accused of being a “fake” or a “liar”, here are the titles of the emails I received, the first one was dated September 18th, 5 days after my piece was written: Now you have your say, Feeling Positive, Elections Cost Money, Your official 2015 donor card is ready. I know what it is like, Debra thank you, All stops, Catch this?, it felt great, you decide, mistake?, Real change, Live now: the Munk Debate on Canada’s Foreign Policy, Yes, Hands down, It’s about now, Momentum, NDP Attack Alert, Love this, and Hey.)

When I first sent out my blog post it went to about 11 locations. A few days later, as opportunities arose with Facebook linked news stories a couple more links were posted, probably on either CTV or Global news sites as those are the two news sources I follow in my feed. As I watched my stats for views they were pretty normal for a political piece, maybe a few hundred views over the first few days. I am not new to blogging, this piece had not been aggressively promoted online, it was a piece of my opinions and concerns related to the Liberal and NDP federal political parties.

On September 27, 2015 everything changed. Alerts started coming through on my phone regarding an increase in blog views. Someone somewhere had picked up my letter and shared it on line, clearly it struck a chord with them and they felt it needed to be shared. By September 28th the views increased, at midnight, for that day alone, the piece had been read 18,160 times on that day alone. Each day the reads increased, and while the vast readership was from Canada, the night time statistics showed the piece being read all over the world. People were reading. People continue to read. As I write this, over 63,000 people have read my open letter, a letter that was sent to a handful of sources.

Statistically, the letter being read is great. Sadly the required result, a response from the NDP or Liberal Party was not to happen. Clearly family does not matter to these parties, or stay-at-home/work-at-home parents, who I suspect the vast majority are women. Clearly I was worthless in the eyes of the NDP and the Liberals, otherwise they would have responded.

The NDP and the Liberal’s may not have responded, but what I received instead was hate mail. First it was Facebook comments sent directly to me essentially telling me to “stop breeding like rabbits and get to work”. It was a classic unimaginative comment. Having a large family it happens all the time. In front of our children complete strangers have no problem saying “time to keep your legs shut” or “you should of had an abortion”. This is our society, this is the value mothers hold; or at least mothers of more than two or three children. We are targets, we are used to it, we are quite honestly bored with it. Comments that we receive simply show the other person’s insecurity regarding their own personal ability to raise a large family. In the grand scheme of things it is just another “Facebook poster” (yes, quotations!), everyone reading this knows what I mean.

However yesterday morning the really toxic people started to show their faces. Now remember my open letter was regarding my own personal thoughts and concerns, any other Canadian who really cared could also write their own open letters. Quite honestly if others took the time to write pieces we might hear more intelligent views on a whole range of issues rather than people just slinging insults on Facebook. But this is where everything began to get a bit interesting, and a little dark. People started to take offense that I dare have an opinion. They started to attack our family choice and size, our lifestyle choice (stay-at-home/work-at-home), they called me a liar, they called me a fake. One thing was very obvious in all the comments, these were comments meant to oppress a woman, they were comments that would never be said to a man. My husband sat in disbelief reading, and I didn’t even show him the worst, he had never quite seen anything like it.

At first it was comments and rants sent through to my comments section on the blog. Moderation is a wonderful thing, I have a “trash” button, it gets hit after I read the second negative thing in a comment. I’m too busy to waste my time reading other people’s rants and hate; if they really cared they would write their own piece and post it publicly. By mid-morning I simply closed the comments, I home-school  my five year old for Kindergarten (Kindergarten is optional in Alberta) , I had a shoot to do, I simply didn’t have the time or inclination to deal with other people’s toxic drama. Quite honestly I wasn’t the person they needed to talk to, from the tone, these people severely needed a therapist.

Last night everything moved to a new level when I received a toxic and attacking email from a complete stranger who decided to track me down. Attack me personally. What inspires a person to be so mean in response to an open letter? What inspires a person to try and bully a person, or should I say bully a woman, who has written an open letter? I will just give you a few choice words from the email, “blatantly dishonest”, “horribly ignorant”…..it gives you an idea of the tone. However beyond the playground name calling the male writer of the email suggests I should “publish a retraction” and that I am full of “misinformation”. This is the most troubling of anything included in the email because this person feels a woman has no right to an opinion, this man feels he has the right to track down a woman and bully her on line, and try to beat her into submission with words and insults. An email like the one I received would have never have been sent to a man, it goes to show there is still an attitude of heavy oppression towards women in our country. Sad. I however am not weak. I also recognize that an intelligent person would not have written so. An intelligent person would not try to suppress and oppress another person’s opinion. An intelligent person would have tried to contact the Liberal or NDP parties and said “Why don’t you talk to her?” But bullying was the preferred method of action.

So the question is how does one deal with this email? Well I certainly wasn’t going to issue a retraction apologizing for my own feelings, thoughts and concerns. I believe women in Canada still have a right to having their own thoughts; that has yet to be stripped from us. So I figured the best way to deal with a blowhard woman hater was to let him have his moment in the sun and I posted his email address on line. “Why?” you may ask. Public record. I want everyone to know who is harassing me, I also suspect he is harassing others as his email went in my “junk” file. It is cyber-bullying. It is harassment. It is also the way I will deal with any future emails of a similar nature. No person should face harassment or bullying for having an opinion regarding the federal election.

So I put this question to everyone, “Does a female in Canada have the right to an opinion, or is she simply worthless?”.

No longer is the subject only with regard to income splitting and Universal Child Care Benefit, it is now a question of the female population having a right to an opinion.

Women make up close to half the population of Canadians. Women who choose to have children inevitably have to make alterations to their lives in order to give birth , this is a given. Even after birth, even though there are some stay-at-home dads, it is often the women who make the sacrifices to raise the children. They stay at home, they work from home, they work part time. There are stay-at-home moms with diplomas, degrees, masters and PHD’s. There are stay-at-home moms who walked away from careers as lawyers and doctors to raise their children. The simple act of giving birth does not mean women are stupid and worthless, it means we put family first. Somehow this has made us worthless. This has not just been demonstrated through proposed policy but also through “hate mail” and comments.

I hope everyone will reflect upon my comments, and reflect upon how you personally view the women in your life and those who are complete strangers. And please, if you see a woman being oppressed or demeaned, please watch out for her. This is a dark and slippery slope.

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Link: https://htheblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/trudeau-mulcair-fanboy-rats-stay-at-home-mom-out-to-saskatoon-police-force/

Update:

Remember the toxic email I received? Well the author went to the Saskatoon Police Department regarding this issue to complain about me. “Privacy Act”.

He attacked me through an unsolicited email, and posted libelous statements about me on his blog  calling me “blatantly dishonest”. I requested that the Saskatoon police officer contact an R.C.M.P. member in our city of Red Deer so that I could talk to them to know every thing is legitimate, after all how do I know if it isn’t just the author of the hateful email having a friend be the heavy. One phone call to our local police force is all I asked. A reasonable request. If we are going to “play by the book” I want to know everything is on the level. My request was not fulfilled.

The police officer was put out, then too busy,would not listen to my full story, then said she would call back.  She hasn’t.

She had no problem with him making a personal attack. She had no problem with the harassment. She had no problem with the libel. She had no problem with the cyber-bullying. She had no time for me. One has to wonder if I was treated this way because I am female. Would a male have been blown off? I’ll let you decide. Oppression. Worthless. The theme continues.

(In honoring the “privacy act”, as it obviously trumps harassment, cyber-bullying and libel in the interpretation of severity within the Saskatoon Police force, I decided to turn the text into a popular old-school children’s game. Grab your pencil and paper kids, we aim to entertain!)

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17,800 views of my Mulcair/Trudeau Letter Today Alone

I guess it pays to care.

I guess it pays to be vocal.

Today my concerns were heard by 16,609 people who care about Canada. Today my letter to Trudeau and Mulcair was read 17,800 times. The policies of Trudeau and Mulcair may make me feel worthless, but the tens of thousands of people who have taken the time to read my letter has made me feel that I am of some worth.

I thank you all for reading and sharing my letter.

The link to the letter can be found by clicking HERE .

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My New Project – Handmade in Canada

Over the last few months I have been sharing art, photography and knitting , but one thing I have yet to share is the new project I have been working on in the background. The project is a website called Handmade in Canada. It is a website designed to profile Canadian artists, artisans, writers, musicians and growers. After months of work, the site went live this evening on the internet. Now I get to grow and nurture the concept, and I think it is a pretty exciting project.

The whole project came about through my hand knit items. Prior to the knitting and art portion of my creative endeavors, my main business was photography. Photography was easy to market; yellow pages ads, websites and local advertising all worked for promoting photography. Knitting and art were a whole different ball game. They weren’t the type of services and products  that a customer would look for in the “yellow pages”. Markets were a possibility but the season is short and the weather often not predictable. Approaching individual local shops I enjoy (and will continue to do so), but I felt as a person working in a handmade industry I wanted to also reach further.

For months I mulled over the scenario of the handmade industry. I also talked to people (and listened) and realized the scenario was the same for almost all artists, artisans, writers, musicians and growers. We were all the same industry with the same challenges. We all had great products that we need to promote. We all have websites floating out there in an internet of millions or billions of websites. We also needed to get Canadians buying Canadian products.

I started to think about the situation more and more and realized if we could present ourselves as a collective, on one site, we would have more presence. Also by presenting ourselves together we would create cross-over business; a person buying a book, may also buy a handmade art card and purchase some home-grown honey. A site with everything together would make buying handmade and Canadian easy.

With all this in mind I created the site Handmade in Canada.

I invite everyone to take a look at the site, and pass it on to any artists, artisans, craftspeople, writers, musicians, growers and edible producers you know.

I want to make this site a great success, and in turn help handmakers across Canada promote themselves and sell to broader markets. I know this could be fantastic for us all.

(Please remember the site is in its infancy!)

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Dodge Intends To “RELEASE” UNSAFE Vehicle Onto Road

Dodge intends to “release” unsafe vehicle onto road as they are incapable of diagnosing problems.

Yes indeed, we got that from the horses mouth today….from “CARE” service rep W.. Yes, that is Chrysler’s intention we were told. If they can’t “replicate the problem”  their protocol is just to send a faulty vehicle out on to the road.

Doesn’t matter that the vehicle lost power. Or that the MIL light went on. Or that the dashboard flashed. Company policy is if they “can’t replicate the problem” (or choose not to….it is pretty easy to not look in the right places), lets indicate, “with no disrespect”  (to quote W.) that the customer is a LIAR…..and ship the faulty vehicle back out on the road.

If you like to have indications made that you are LYING and if you want to buy a FAULTY vehicle…..buy Dodge Chrysler…they will give you all the problems you can possibly imagine and be left WALKING after paying out tons of cash.

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Why keep blogging this? Good question. See, here’s the thing, if I keep blogging about this it raises the issue of Chrysler safety concerns in internet searches. The Chrysler rep. says that the internet is just full of garbage. Doesn’t matter does it Wxxxxxxx? Every little piece of information affects a person’s purchase. The seed of doubt is all it takes to shift a sale away from Dodge. As I always say, eventually it doesn’t come down to what “I get”……..it comes down to what “I can take out of their (Chrysler’s) pocket”. And take I will, just because I can. You see I am going to get something out of this situation. A smart person never leaves their opponent with nothing to lose, but that is where Chrysler has left us….with nothing to lose. But I have something to gain, I can gain by spreading the word EVERYWHERE as to how PATHETIC both their vehicles and SERVICE are. And spread I will, and enjoy it, for years, with a smile on my face and tales to tell. Such tales………soon to become urban myth…..I’m a creative person you know. Creative tales…..ahhhh.

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Now speaking of the sales rep, Ford drivers are going to love this. We were talking about how streaming on my husband’s Ford 150 works and on the Dodge product it doesn’t. The rep tried to, in this light, say that the Ford’s aren’t as good a vehicle as the Dodge. Huh? Case and point, one works and the other doesn’t, yet he can’t even see that. By the way Wxxxxxx (Chrysler rep.), the Ford F150 is THE top seller ….so ummm…..yeah I think it “works” (we wish that a three row version of this truck existed; that we would buy!)

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Of course this same rep told me Chrysler has “endless resources” if they found a fault and there had to be a recall. “Endless resources”. Line up people…..Chrysler has a money tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Credible rep? Not.

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By the way the Chrysler rep admitted to us on the phone that he DOESN’T DRIVE A CHRYSLER. Yep….that shows faith in the company. That says everything you ever need to know about how safe or reliable a Chrysler product is….Chrysler’s  own customer service rep REFUSES TO DRIVE A CHRYSLER!!!!!!! Yet he thinks we should just put this defective Chrysler back on the road, put an unsafe vehicle back on the road………what does he care…..he doesn’t even drive a Chrysler. If anything ever told the story, this is it.

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My mini van is a crappy hunk of metal, I get that, Chrysler gets that, after all if it wasn’t a crappy hunk of metal they’d have fixed it by now. It, the 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan,  is such a crappy hunk of metal that they are INCAPABLE of fixing it. Chrysler can’t fix it. They are incapable.

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The internet is actually a powerful thing, and I think big corp., like Chrysler need to wake up to modern times and realize the impact. I actually ran some numbers based on a “mom’s internet board” I frequent on occasion. Check this out:
– if one was to post about our min-van problem (which I did)
– take the number of members
– divide by a guestimate of what percentage read posts on a given day
– then times word of mouth by the number of moms they chat to during a soccer game
The total number of people reached is 2.8 million.

Yep. In posting in just ONE place….and I never do that……and I never stop……I just keep trolling the internet looking for vaguely linked topics…..travel, families, home, vehicles…….you can fit it in anywhere….and you can do it for months or years …..and it is no problem at all as it is just copying and pasting a file name…….last night it was CNN….so easy….so quick……so important.

…..and then I sit back, watch my stats, and know it has worked.

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It’s interesting, Dodge/Chrysler won’t even tell me where my vehicle was manufactured. There must be so many problems with the line of vehicles that they are even afraid to release that information. I wonder what the plant workers could tell me? I wonder what the union could tell me? I wonder if there are stories of cost cutting measures and defective parts and safety issues? Perhaps it is time to dig. Perhaps I will.

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Previous blogs about this never ending issue:

https://htheblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/we-need-to-replicate-the-problem-dont-buy-dodge-it-will-potentially-kill-you/

https://htheblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/why-i-blog-issues-plus-a-letter-to-transport-canada-regarding-dodge-safety/

https://htheblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/dodge-less-in-red-deer/

 

Below are emails, feel free to read or not. I like to put things out in the public so that when they say an email “didn’t exist” there it is in all it’s shining glory.

Be back tomorrow with more 2014 Dodge Caravan PROBLEMS posts!!!!!!

PS. My husband stood up and announced to all the parents and teachers at the school this afternoon not to buy a Dodge and explained the disrespect we have encountered!!! Yes he gathered them around and told the tale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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So just to let you inside of this lovely episode, here are some emails:

This one is to Chrysler today:

Please forward this to Wxxxxx’.s superior.

This situation is impossible and Wxxxxxxx has indicated through the phone call this afternoon that Chrysler has every intention, that at some point in time, of just releasing an unsafe vehicle as they “cannot duplicate the problem” and having our family die in an accident when it loses power again.

Wxxxxx has chosen from the first discussion regarding power loss that they were not going to find a problem. We phone trying to get the faults taken care of, he responds with “we aren’t in the business of buying cars back”. All we want is our car to work. We of course will be notifying Transport Canada as to their intent. This is a tactic to keep faulty vehicles on the road.

He gets offended when we refer to the car as a lemon….but it has had EIGHT defects in five months.

Wxxxxx has through tone indicated that I am a liar because they “can’t replicate the problem”. The problem happened, but the car is so faulty it’s computer doesn’t even show the problem.

Wxxxxxxx has used every tactic in the training course designed for “difficult customers”. He will not give us a straight answer on anything.

Wxxxxxxxxx refuses to put us in contact with his superiors, he has decided that it is fine for us to be weeks upon weeks without a vehicle and then we should just submit to the abuse Chrysler deals out and drive a very faulty mini van.

Perhaps someone will actually call us back.

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This one is from March 16th, 2015

Case #26530081

From: xxxxx
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2015 1:17 AM
To: fcacanadacares@fcagroup.com
Cc: xxxxx
Subject: Att. Wxxxxxxxx – Case #26530081

Hi Wxxxxxx,

I thought we should touch base as we have now been without a vehicle for three full weekends and the vehicle has been in the service department for 10 full working days. I also feel we need to push to resolve the situation, I am now having to turn away any “on location” photography due to not having our vehicle, plus I can’t even book appointments such as parent/teacher interviews as I don’t know if I will have transportation. My husband is having to constantly leave work to drive our children to and from school and work. The kids are so depressed being stuck at home every weekend, and they are stressed that we won’t be able to go on our Easter vacation because of the situation with the “new” van; this situation is not just a transportation issue, it is affecting every aspect of life for every member of our family.

If you could perhaps phone my husband Mxxxxxx on Monday morning at 9:30 am (MST) to touch base as to the progress on the situation that would be appreciated. I apologize regarding specifying a time, but he has a safety meeting at 7:00 am, then he has to leave the meeting early to drive our kids to school, then he sneaks in some work before having to pick some children up from school at 2:00 pm and another one up at another school at 2:30 pm and then will have to go back to work only to leave work again to drive our oldest to work for 5:00pm . He thinks 9:30 am will be the best chance of having an opportunity to take a call as he will be driving back to work at that time.

We did contact the service department part way through last week to see what progress has been made, our take is that all they are doing is driving around waiting for the car to lose power. It feels like they are not looking at the whole picture of ALL the problems that are happening. Can you get a detailed day by day list of what they are actually doing? I realize you do not email from your office, perhaps this information can be conveyed by email through the dealer’s service department.

I have been going over all the problems over and over in my mind as I really need to find a solution to this vehicle problem, and ignoring that there are problems and just putting the vehicle back on the road is a recipe for disaster. I am going to list my most recent thoughts and finds, I apologize if I am repeating myself in case you have read my most recent blog post. Here are the thoughts.

1) First I did some internet research. I discovered two interesting pieces of information with regards to 2014 Grand Caravans in the U.S.. There is one recall that is a relevant recall and one relevant investigation.
U.S.A. recall – NHTSA Campaign #14V632000 – issued October 8, 2014 – 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Tires: Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems
U.S.A. defect investigation – NHTSA Defect Investigation #DP14004 – date opened September 25, 2014 (currently pending) – Electrical System
2) Now I am going to go through recent thoughts on the ongoing problems:
Van’s Computer Not Registering Error – we are getting shoulder shrugs. No one is taking this seriously. If the system is supposed to register an error, as in when the MIL light came on and the van lost power, and the system doesn’t, this is actually a DEFECT. This is yet another huge problem. Even though I am not a technician, common sense tells me we either have an electrical problem or a computer problem. This would make sense when you look at the never ending issues this vehicle has had (including the repaired heating defect and U-Connect mic issue).
The Flashing Dashboard/Control Panel – After we started up the vehicle the second time after the power loss, every single light on the dashboard started flashing including indicators making the audible noise. I turned the key off, removed the key. Tried to start the vehicle a minute or so later and it started normally. Dashboards/Control Panels should not flash like that. It is another sign of a defect. Again common sense points to electrical or computer.

Burning Rubber Smell – No one is listening to us. No one has addressed the burning rubber smell. Wouldn’t it make sense to start by looking for wires where the insulation is burned off. It is not right for a vehicle to emit a burning rubber smell. Wouldn’t that be an indicator of potential fire? Is this again linked to a potential electrical issue?

Car Losing Power – it seems the only step forward is to drive around waiting for the problem to “replicate”. I can’t help but feel they are looking in the wrong place as the van’s computer doesn’t register that an error light came on. That is the starting point. We’ve told Dodge and the service department that that is the starting point, but they are still driving the vehicle around trying to replicate the problem. Why won’t they start with the obvious problem? I have also been reading various car forums and it is a disturbingly common problem for Dodge/Chrysler service departments to give the “can not replicate” line and then the defect happens on highways and in busy traffic. I am not sure just having a technician go out for an occasional spin is really a verification of the safety of the vehicle, especially when the vehicle has had so many problems. I must again remind you that the last time we drove the vehicle (weeks ago) it was only 4.5 MONTHS old.

Low Tire Pressure Indicator Going On And Off – our service department blames “weather” and says it is “normal” (which we actually bought until I started researching on the internet), however in the U.S. it is actually a RECALL. This is REALLY disturbing and leads me to doubt that Dodge/Chrysler have any concern for safety. It leaves me thinking “This is how they avoid recalls, the service departments try to make the customer out to be “over reacting” or “picky” or “crazy” so that they can avoid expensive recalls. If the service departments brush you off there is no evidence of an issue. They are avoiding recalls at the front desk or on the phone. These issues will never reach Transport Canada as Dodge/Chrysler have found a tactic around the situation. It is all about PROFIT with few concerns as to SAFETY.” Did you know not once did anyone look for a recall in front of us.

On that note, two weeks ago we asked our dealership to look into the origins of our van, where it has been, where it was built, etc.. We have heard nothing. We had asked as even before Christmas, way before the power loss situation, we were starting to really wonder what was going on with the vehicle, it drove like a used vehicle. It drove like a vehicle does just before we trade it in, which is crazy when a vehicle is only months old. So we are wondering what sort of past did this van have, and perhaps does it have any link to the U.S. recall. Can you check this out for us, we really need to know and have a right to know seeing as we own the vehicle.

U-Connect Cutting Out- This is still driving me crazy, especially seeing as when I get a lift in my husband’s work truck (Ford F150) the streaming works perfectly. You are going to think my last thought is a bit “out there”, but is the “interference” that makes the streaming with the U-connect not work properly actually being created by the vehicle? Is it the electrical system creating the interference? The hotter the vehicle gets the less the U-connect works properly. A valid thought that would also make sense with the burning rubber smell. No one is listening to us when we repeatedly tell them the pattern of when the U-connect is having huge problems in working properly. The other thought is could a computer defect be causing interference? Another valid thought as there is obviously a computer defect as the computer did not detect the MIL going off or the power loss.
I cannot stress enough that all of these issues need to be looked at. Six issues, and that doesn’t include the mic and heating that have already been repaired.
When I have to explain to people as to why we have no transport and why we aren’t driving our “new van” their mouths literally hang open in shock. They can’t believe a vehicle like that could be sold legally, let alone be on the road. No one has ever heard of such a disaster, it is unprecedented. I guess all I can do is thank Dodge/Chrysler for such a fantastic conversation piece, especially since the demographic of people we know are big mini van drivers. This is becoming a memorable situation not only for us, but the families we know.
I can’t believe I am having to turn away work because I bought a “new” vehicle.
I can’t believe my husband is having to compromise being able to work because we bought a “new” vehicle.
I can’t believe we are stranded at home because we bought a “new” vehicle.
I can’t believe we can’t make appointments because we bought a “new” vehicle.
I can’t believe our children can’t attend events because we bought a “new” vehicle.
I can’t believe my husband has to take a roofing truck to pick up groceries because we bought a “new” vehicle.
I can’t believe my husband has to come rescue us because our “new” vehicle loses power.
I can’t believe we will probably have to cancel our Easter vacation because we bought a “new” vehicle.
I can’t believe how many times even prior to this I have been without transport as my “new” vehicle has been in the service department.
This vehicle is destroying our lives. It has made both family life and our employment impossible.
I realize what Dodge/Chrysler is doing, they are trying to force us to just take the vehicle and drive it. Their goal is to inconvenience us enough that we will risk our lives, the lives of seven people, and drive a very unsafe vehicle. My guess is that you know I don’t operate that way, I will not risk my family, and I will not give up….ever. This is not a vehicle with one teeny problem, the total number of problems is now at EIGHT.
We need to solve every single problem this vehicle has. We bought a new vehicle. We bought a new vehicle so that EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON THE VAN WOULD WORK. Every item needs to work before we drive this vehicle again. We need to know:
1) Why the computer didn’t register the error.
2) Why the control panel flashed.
3) What is causing the burning rubber smell.
4) Why the car lost power.
5) Why the Low Tire Pressure goes on and off.
6) Why the U-Connect still doesn’t work properly.
7) The origin of our vehicle.
8) The relevance of the recall and investigation in the U.S.. How many components do the U.S. sold vans share with the Canadian sold vans?
9) When will we have our “new” van back and fixed so that we can get on with our jobs and our lives?
If Dodge/Chrysler is going to operate in good faith, perhaps they need to change their advertising campaign. Dodge/Chrysler needs to have their advertising accurately reflect the product they are selling. The Dodge Grand Caravan ad campaign should indicate that the vans “may work” and will have “some problems” and are “sometimes safe but may have a burning rubber smell and lose power while driving with flashing error lights and ringing bells”. If this had been the ad campaign at least I would have known the truth.
Please call my husband, xxxxxxxx, at 9:30am (MST). His number is xxxxxxxx. We need this sorted.

 

When “News” Is Not Impartial – CBC News and censorship, a bigger problem than the Ghomeshi affair

I like to think of myself as an “informed” person. I listen to the news on the radio. I watch news on T.V.. I read the news on-line. I also follow news on social media as the comments are a great barometer of society’s opinion. For good measure I not only follow news produced by Canadian news organizations, but also British ones; it gives an interesting perspective.

In addition to “following”, I like to interact. Interacting on social media allows your opinion and thoughts to be heard. Sometimes if you watch very closely things happen and situations change because of comments made on social media. Interaction with regards to news events is a very good thing in a free society, it keeps society interested, and involved, and shows many sides to every story. Interaction and social comment can bring about change, out corruption and bring to light more information. Social interaction allows for public opinion, public speculation and public reaction.

Social interaction on a news website should allow for commenting from all sides. News should be impartial. News should be transparent…………….but what if it isn’t?

So let me share a story, a personal story, a story from last night. It involves a CBC story on their Facebook page, a CBC story involving CBC. I had read an “official statement” that CBC had given and a portion of it was “off”. The time-line of the chain of events was also curious if one was to think of what set everything in motion, and what wasn’t turned over to police by CBC right from the start. Something is “off”.  I alluded to the fact that a small portion of the statement made was way too personal for it to have come from an executive and wondered if there was a personal connection to the story, not just a business one. I also pointed out that there were inconsistencies on-line with regards to the executive, information that had come from the executive themself. (It wasn’t a case of playing Sherlock, I compared two items on the first page of a “Google” search…..an interview comment by the executive from a few years ago tipped me off to spend two minutes looking, sometimes a comment makes you look for credibility or lack there of).

So I made a comment. No bad language. Not racist. Not sexist. I just pointed out a few very obvious items and that it was very curious. I’m sure thousands have thought the same thing. Something, at least in the way it is reported in the media, is “off”. I thought it would be interesting to see what others thought. After all that is why CBC places a news story on their Facebook page with comments turned on, to have a venue for social opinion.

Any guesses as to what happened?

Well, two things happened.

First the comment was not approved, CBC would not publish it, they CENSORED it. This happened immediately (which is really interesting as it was between 10pm and midnight M.S.T. so CBC must have someone moderating comments 24/7). First I giggled and thought “CBC has their knickers in a twist.” . Then, of course, I copied and pasted my comment to another site……and then told CBC I had done it ( I like transparency). One could say I don’t deal well with oppression (so much for the helpless female stereotype!).

The second thing happened today. Today I was BANNED from being able to make a comment on ANY CBC Facebook story.

ANY.

The first response of some people may be “so what, you brought it on yourself”, or “its only social media” . I would like those reading to think deeper. Think about the implications. This news outlet is picking and choosing the comments they allow. They are manipulating their reading population by only allowing posts that they deem are acceptable. They are manipulating the public to only see their organization as “the good guys”. They are manipulating the public to only see the “he says/ she says” portion of the news event even though the CBC is deeply implicated in the story if at least one of the allegations are true. And when one random Facebook poster points out something is “off”, it not only censors the comment, but BANS the poster from their whole site.

How can the CBC report this story with impartiality and transparency if they are manipulating the public’s comments?

The CBC does not have to put the story on their Facebook page. They choose to. Not every story in the news is published on their Facebook page.

CBC has chosen to place this story, a story in which the CBC is deeply implicated, on their Facebook page to try and manipulate public opinion in their favor. They will let the “he camp” and “she camp” fight it out ( I bet you’ve figured out the news story by now!),  with vastly more support for the “she camp”, but mention CBC’s involvement and the result is a total BAN from their Facebook page. Whether CBC likes it or not, they ARE part of the news story. Their management IS part of the news story.The story is a threesome: the women, the radio personality, and the CBC.

If the CBC doesn’t like being examined on social media don’t put the story on the CBC Facebook site. That is fine. The thing that is really twisted, crooked and manipulative is removing comments that question the CBC organization. That is manipulating the public opinion and that is most certainly not the job of a news organization, especially one that is a crown corporation.

A crown corporation manipulating public opinion in their favor is a problem.

Using the media that they control, country wide, on tax payer’s dollars, to promote only their own interests and censor and manipulate public opinion is wrong.

How long has this been going on?

What else in this country has been swayed by the censoring of public opinion? No one knows the censorship and manipulation is going on until it happens to them.

CBC, according to their website, pride themselves on “accountability”. You can check out the link HERE.

Here is a quote directly from the page linked above:

CBC/Radio-Canada will keep working to honour and strengthen the trust Canadians place in us by entrenching accountability and transparency in everything we do as a broadcaster and as a corporation.

How can we “trust” an organization that censors?

How can an organization that “censors” the public be transparent?

Why are we as Canadian tax payers paying for such a manipulative and censoring organization?

If all Canadians are paying for this corporation, ALL Canadians should have EQUAL opportunities to voice their opinion within the social media opportunities the CBC provides.

The CBC should NOT play favorites, they should not manipulate the optics of public opinion. If the CBC can not provide equal opportunity on their social media sites for every single Canadian to express their opinion, they should simply provide NO options for comment.

This is an all or nothing scenario. One thing is for sure, an organization paid for by the tax payers has NO right to censor the very people paying their wages.

Until very, very recently I highly valued the CBC. I thought they were honest, reputable, fair; it is what one would expect of a publicly funded crown corporation. Now I know I was wrong. Very wrong.

The CBC isn’t fair. The CBC isn’t honest. The CBC isn’t reputable.

What the CBC is doing is manipulating public opinion to suit their own means. This is very wrong when the CBC exists to  provide Canada with news, and in turn Canadians provide the CBC with their hard earned cash.

If everyone is paying, everyone has the right to be heard. CBC should NOT be allowed to oppress the public’s opinion.