True that. We're no Alberta, but we're not that bad either. Canada hasn't been hit as hard by the recession as many other countries, and growth in BC for the past few years hasn't been shabby. That being said, we're not home free either, and it's gonna take (and is taking, for that matter) businesses and influential people with prudence and half a brain to guide us out of this steaming pot of chunky defecation.

The Olympics will help, but how much and for how long remains to be seen. :(

I love turtles

500 Turtles are good.

who's gonna be working? :P

Werd, I already planned my trip to Miami and will be driving up the east coast. I wasn't fond of the Olympics coming here but as we're getting closer to the date, the less I want to be here. Now the recession is going to make it even worse, how many people can actually afford to come here now?

The rates aren't that bad. I'm sure many people can afford to come :rolleyes:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/se...=max&bedrooms=

I also want to point out.. Not everyone who's poor feels the need to finger point and take down others in order to bring themselves up. Many just bury their heads and keep going and find resourceful ways to enjoy what's available to them in life. That's just human nature. You even see ppl who are semi-well off get jealous of the rich or ppl who are at the top and blame them for pretty much everything "wrong" their own lives.

I wonder if ppl were saying the same thing about Expo? Whatever the case, even though I was only able to go a handful of times, I'm glad it came. It was good for the city, it was good for the "rich," :rolleyes: and it was awesome for me as a kid cuz I still remember a ton of stuff from those days. 20 yrs from now, today's kids will have even bigger memories from the Olympics, and I don't think that's something the haters should take away just cuz they're pussy hurt that life isn't totally fair.

You can criticize the Olympics lots of ways, but saying it's only for the rich at the expense of the poor is total BS. It's a feel-good saying for the jealous and entitled and that's it.

OK......... first off, if you were directing the comments in response to Noir's post, which I guess indirectly involves my post, let me tell you I'm not poor. If I were, I wouldn't be on RS, have a computer or have the time, because I'd be working how ever many jobs it takes to feed and clothe my family. And you're right in that the majority of the poor don't point fingers, and I'm not pointing fingers, either. Never have. I respect people who have wealth. I envy them, but that's about it. There are lots of people out there who became rich because of hard work and getting some breaks in life. More power to them. Also, I'm not one of those fucking retarded protesters who are still beaking on about moving the Olympics. It's too late for that. The Olympics are here whether we like it or not. I posted in another Olympic thread long time ago that it's time to stop bitching about it and move on, and that we need to support it - now that it has been awarded to our fair city.

I posted in this particular thread to speak up about the poor because I've been there and there are lots of people out there who don't seem to really understand the poverty thing. Nobody is blaming anybody for anything. I just think the Olympics should have been held elsewhere. We are all going to face some hardships because of the Olympics costing way more than predicted. It's just the poor are going to feel it more.

Like just about everybody on here, I hate people who take advantage of the system. Those who pose as homeless, when they can go out there and work like everybody else for a living. I'd be the first to shoot them dead if it were legal. These low lifes take resources away from the people who really need it.

Life goes on.................

But isn't that the nature of the beast though? Every development from building highways to building bridges always never come's in below its estimate. Especially for multi year projects. From planning to developing to finally constructing, so many cost variables change over time. That being said, it really shouldn't surprise anyone.

not to mention when we were awarded the games no one knew of this recession/changing economic landscape, it was impossible to predict so of course the origional budget will be inncorect

Absolutely. Nothing comes under budget, but they were so sure this time that they had accounted for inflation and over estimated a bit. Wow, were they ever off on the security thing. Instead of millions, it's in the billion range. There was something that came under estimate and ahead of schedule in this province. I think it's the new bridge between Langley and Maple Ridge. Now that's a good looking bridge.

The recession/economic downturn should not have been that much of a factor. The cost of materials have actually dropped. I guess companies/sponsors pulling out due to the economy may have a bit to do with the costs.

The good news with the economy being so poor is development of other projects and the housing market has dropped off. Lot's of people ready to work. I remember one of the worries back then was there would be a shortage of skilled workers.