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[by the sounds of what Nutrient is saying]

#21

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Oexmelin - November 27, 2025, 08:32:30 PM

Your dismissiveness is unwarranted.  This is a professor in the University of Saskatchewan's  Agricultural and Resource Economics department.  If he doesn't know what he is talking about in this area, then nobody does.

I wasn't dismissive of the issue. I was dismissive of its treatment here. Maybe Canada has an infrastructure problem, but I'd have little reason to subscribe to the argument from that example.

From the article:

« To put a billion-dollar investment in place is going to require rail capacity improvements, and by the sounds of what Nutrient is saying, things are easier to get done in the United States than they are in Canada," Smyth said last week in an interview with CBC's The 306 guest host Theresa Kliem. »

I am solicited by the media often. I know that their modus operandi is to ask for reactions very quickly, and it's up to the individual expert to determine whether or not they are sufficiently informed on the specifics. It does seem here that Smyth is nodding along/drawing from Nutrien's reasoning, rather than from his own analysis.

As for his expertise, a look at his publication history - basically, a pro GM crops outlook - suggests a rather dismissive view of the idea of political controls and regulation. A legitimate perspective, to be sure - not mine - but not one that would lead me to simply defer to his brief media point.

In short, my own perspective is that matters such as these are too serious to be treated mostly through self-serving industry arguments. Are there legitimate issues that require more time? Is this only red tape? What would these legitimate issues be? I'd rather have these questions considered beyond press releases.

#22

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by crazy canuck - November 27, 2025, 08:18:08 PM

I tried not to observe that post

#23

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Jacob - November 27, 2025, 06:24:13 PM

I resisted laughing.

#24

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by HVC - November 27, 2025, 06:08:34 PM

Portugal u17 won both the UEFA and World Cup this year

#25

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by viper37 - November 27, 2025, 06:01:31 PM

Canada rolls back climate rules in energy deal with Alberta

A huge win for Alberta, again.  No wonder Guilbeault ran away.

#26

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by celedhring - November 27, 2025, 05:30:08 PM

Have they regressed or something? I mean they werent the greatest as kids but surely they got better as time went on?

They are also being asked to perform more dramatic material, given the age of their characters, for which they are not experienced enough.

It's really really hard to find teenager-ish actors that can handle dramatic material comfortably. Heck, in my experience (I spent a few years doing some teaching at a drama school) there's a non-sweet spot where young actors first get formal acting training, get given all the tools of the trade, and it kinda overwhelms them and makes them worse until they become more assured and comfortable with the craft.

[Microsoft issues chilling warning: New WA taxes will drive companies out—Vancouver already winning]

#27

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Grey Fox - November 27, 2025, 05:13:00 PM

Meanwhile Nutrien is choosing to build a new potash export terminal in Washington state due to excessive regulations in Canada.  This is exactly the thing we're supposed to be avoiding right now. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/nutrien-selects-u-s-port-to-build-new-potash-export-terminal-9.6992424

It goes both ways, though: https://seattlered.com/taxes/microsoft-business-taxes/4115276

Microsoft issues chilling warning: New WA taxes will drive companies out—Vancouver already winning

...

Vancouver already benefiting as Seattle stumbles
Microsoft has been quietly expanding its office in Vancouver, B.C., doubling its headcount there since before the pandemic.

No, you are making a false equivalency.  Nutrien is not moving its business. It is still extracting Potash from Saskatchewan. The problem they are facing is the lack of infrastructure on the West coast of Canada to move their product to market, and the regulatory hurdles (some would say nightmare) to get things built here.

Bauer is correct to point out this is the very thing Carney is trying to address.  And I would add, needs to get addressed quickly.  One way to think about it is that the announcement of special projects that get to avoid the regulatory tangle we have created is another way of saying that they are probably unnecessary brakes on much needed infrastructure development.

It's a gamble there too. We could disallow potash export to the US at any moment.

#28

Gaming HQ / Re: Europa Universalis V confi...

Last post by Norgy - November 27, 2025, 05:04:56 PM

Is the cost of court affected by the number of courtiers? I thought it was just based off your Economic Base (which is getting adjusted in 1.0.8).

Yeah, I seem to have confused that with actual net taxation. It is an anti-blobbing device, apparently.
Because if it was the actual tax I manage to extract, I would have a Lidl court.

#29

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by celedhring - November 27, 2025, 05:03:15 PM

I laughed. And didn't.

#30

Off the Record / Re: The China Thread

Last post by DGuller - November 27, 2025, 04:44:38 PM

Very early but from what I've seen people saying it might be the bamboo scaffolding (or at least that could be how the fire spread).

Yeah, I guess no internal fire resistiveness or compartmentalization will work if you wrap the whole building in kindling from the outside.