Or I could talk to my friends who live there.

The Canadian system is strange even by the standards of other countries with socialized healthcare. France, Germany, the U.K. and Australia, among others, all take great national pride in ensuring medical coverage for every citizen, but you can still cut a cheque for a boutique appendectomy if you feel like it.

“The (Canadian) system is unique in the world in that it bans coverage of … core services by private insurance companies, allowing supplemental insurance only for perquisites such as private hospital rooms,”

What this means is if you want to pay for your own treatment, you can’t if the government provide it.

Tj, as I said, anecdotal from 3 friends.  I have no personal experience.

@tj btw your comment earlier about Canada having no private health…..anecdotally (from a mate who had need of it, and two recently retired emergency medicine docs) , their health service is awful, and getting worse exponentially, particularly being hit by qualified docs and nurses heading in droves to the US where they can earn way more.  (Probably why the Canadian health service is advertising here to tempt medics away to fill their gaps)

Two dogs – when private education and healthcare disadvantages others>  actually reduces their chances?

Dunno…tax them more? But you end up down a rabbit hole of “why shouldn’t people who cost the NHS more as a result of their personal choices pay more tax”..smokers, overweight people, mountain bikers etc etc

Personally I’m not in favour of banning private schools (or health)….the government shouldn’t be in the business of telling people what they can or can’t spend their money on (well, within reason).

But people who choose to send their children to fee paying schools shouldn’t whine when those businesses are treated equitably.  If they suddenly find they can’t afford it, tough.  Maybe the schools could suck up the additional costs themselves?

No-one has said why private schools shouldn’t have to charge VAT

Charities, and therefore private schools, only pay 20 per cent of their business rates, which is thought to deprive cash-strapped local authorities of £144 million per year. Scotland removed this tax break from independent schools at the start of 2022, so it’s certainly possible to do. It’s worth noting that certain specialist schools were exempt from this change.

Private schools can also benefit from being able to claim gift aid on any donations, as can the donor! Let’s say you wanted to donate £100,000 to your old school, and were a top rate tax payer. [Sunak]The school would be able to claim an additional £25,000 in gift aid from the tax-payer, and you would also be able to reclaim £31,250. Donate £100,000 to your local primary school and it actually costs you £100,000, so probably not worth it – just donate a £10 bottle of wine instead! [Also Sunak…] Parent-Teacher Associations can register as charities and claim gift aid, but they are only allowed to raise money for specific things, and not for the running costs of the school.

While charities aren’t allowed to make a profit, for many private schools, in practice this means they can make a nice surplus which then goes towards a new swimming pool, theatre, upgraded science equipment and so on. They don’t pay tax on any of the surplus, even if it’s sitting in a bank account.

Many private schools also have investment portfolios, and again, they don’t pay any tax on the income from these portfolios. In fact, there’s a nice tax loophole for the super-rich whereby they pay all their fees upfront, the school invests the lump sum, gets the returns tax-free, the parent receives a discount and once their child leaves, the school and parent split what’s left.

And during the Covid-19 Pandemic, private schools were eligible to apply for loans, with the government covering the first year’s interest payments, which state schools could not apply for. Just another example of private schools benefiting financially from their charitable status, while state schools missed out.

There appear to be many ways private schools avoid tax (vat, cut, business rates and)

 If VAT is included on fees that will just be a bonus income to the Treasury – unless tell me I have that very wrong?? The Treasury has never had this income

So why should  private schools be exempt? They’re providing a charged for service, other companies that do that pay VAT. If parents can’t afford that extra…well, suck it up, buttercup.

I probably shouldn’t give this secret spot away

I know exactly where that is…grew up just along the coast 😁

I’m out

WHEN (not ‘if’) the Gulf Stream fails,

Again…have you watched the video above?

Wait until the gulfstream stops, then you’ll really have something to complain about

Er….maybe watch the video linked above….

Yes, Sunak leaving early is immensely politically inept, BUT the “Labour will tax you an extra 2K a year” is still a story.  Even by going on TV to deny its a lie keeps it in the headlines, and that number is all some voters will hear.

(I am wrong….been around for a while)

Might be worth noting that Magimix have an alternative (relatively recent I think tho may be wrong), called Cook Expert…£1200

Yeah I’m with you on electrics…I get 12v DC car electrics (as a former landie owner, almost essential), but AC and house electrics are a complete mystery.  Otherwise, I think I’m pretty practical and logical and will try my hand at lots of DIY stuff.

 Kirby Trouser press

Corby 😉

A friend of mine has one and absolutely loves it.  They’re pretty flipping big tho

Is “slept on” some young person’s speak? Anyone know what it actually means?

Disappointed Perez is carrying on.  Too many journeyman (IMHO) drivers in F1.

75mm slammed stem, but a 120mm fork and a decently tall head-tube so it doesn’t feel slammed, just looks it.

What’s the point then?

Randal is our 3rd GWP, and our first rescue.  He came from Cyprus through Cyprus Pointer Rescue.

Worth a look at their website if you’re interested.

We landed on our feet with him, as he’s been incredibly good from day one. GWPs can be very stubborn and can have high prey drive so need good consistent training (like all dogs!).  Well worth the effort IMHO

German Wire Haired Pointer

Randal 100% agrees

 I then told her i had put a built in dashcam into her car a few months earlier for this kind of situation.  You wouldnt know its there

So how did the police know she had one? I’m confused 😂

I read somewhere that Red Bull won’t sign Carlos Jr, not because of tension between him and Max, but because of tension between Carlos Snr and Verstappen Snr!

It’s the only one.

This really isn’t true.

I listen to infinite Monkey Cage a lot and I’m still thick.

That’s cos every interesting answer from guests and/or Cox are routinely shouted out by that halfwit Robin Ince trying to make one of his abysmal “jokes” 🙄

I went up Puy de Dome last week….tbh i found it a bit meh. One of those places that Looks more impressive from a distance.  I was glad I took the train up rather than a 90 min walk.

We stayed here a Fab little campsite about 30 mins east of Valence, in a gorge in the foothills of the Alps.

Oh, I thought you were looking for a solution

Or an Amazon fire stick

There’s still time for Labour to stuff it up

Me neither, I shan’t be voting Labour whilst Starmer is leader.

So, I’ll ask again….would you rather have another 5 years of the Tories than hold your nose and vote for a less than perfect Labour party?

Probably the most telling thing is the fact DA is big news

Because that’s what the Mail and Murdoch media want. (Yes I know the Guardian are talking about it too, but it’s bound too)

A party that has room for Elphicke but not for Abbott doesn’t have room for me either

So would you rather have another  5 years of the Tories, or hold your nose and vote for a less than perfect Labour party?

Theoretically, except the NEC is majority Starmer loyalists

 widely held consensus

You mean by you and the Westminster bubble.  I don’t have Frank’s direct evidence from door knocking, but i strongly suspect that the vast majority of normal voters outside Hackney couldn’t care less about how Dianne Abbot has been treated.  Nor will it impact how they vote.

Would he rather be in opposition complaining about everything

I mean, this sums up several regular posters on here.

bear minimum

Username checks out

Anyone know what Lewis meant with his comment about not expecting to be ahead of George in qualifying all season, followed by a cryptic “we’ll see”?

Were there any on track overtakes?