The turn of the year … when the glimmer-glamour of the holidays gives way to the grey light of January, when the hopeful resolve either to lose more or save more, and when Nature Boy peers inside the holiday turkey and prognosticates events and trends for the coming months.
“We’ll be feeding off of this bird in some fashion for two months,” he might announce as he tosses giblets into the stockpot.
Or “I foresee turkey pie in the coming weeks.”
Or “This bird will be stuffed before we are.”
Reading entrails of birds and other animals was, for centuries, how those deemed wise in many cultures tried to assert order and control over an unpredictable and little-understood world. No significant endeavour nor grand occasion proceeded without note being made of the health and layout of livers, kidneys, hearts and lungs, of the presence and passage of animals nearby, of how fires started and smoke wafted, and of the position of stars and planets in the sky.
Even now, as one year rolls over into the next — as this planet spins on its tilted axis through yet another revolution around its star — prognosticating pundits pronounce predictions. Of course, in the 21st century, we resort to other means to determine what the near- and medium-term future might hold. Tools today tend to involve search engines, cross-referenced news files and time to sift through each.
Already, we have been reminded of announcements made in past months that British Columbians will pay more in 2017. For example, more than 500,000 B.C. families, including many of the province’s couples who live without dependent children, will pay more for basic health-care coverage under B.C.’s Medical Services Plan next year, as was announced in the 2016 provincial budget.
Rates for basic car insurance will increase by almost five per cent, which ICBC says will help cover costs caused by a higher number of claims in the province. We’ll also pay about $3.75 more per month on average to B.C. Hydro, beginning April 1, 2017. The increases are consistent with the corporation’s 10-year rates plan announced in November 2013.
In addition, anybody travelling on B.C. Ferries will also pay more. In 2015, the B.C. Ferries commissioner approved the 1.9 per cent cap on annual ferry fare increases from this year to 2020.
We’ve likely seen the last of gas prices at the pump of around $1 per litre. Although industry predictions remain conservative for the next year or two, OPEC agreed in November to cut oil production by about 4.5 per cent of current production — the first agreement of its kind since 2008. Analysts expect the cuts will push oil prices above $50 a barrel, which means prices at the pump will not likely drop significantly any time soon.
Be prepared for the return of mortgage-worthy cauliflower. According to the annual Canada’s Food Price Report, Canadians can expect to pay more for food next year — as much as $420 more per family. The predicted increases outpace Canada’s rate of inflation, with the price of fruits, nuts, vegetables, meats and other food items expected to increase the most — in some cases by more than six per cent.
Both B.C. and Ontario are expected to see above-average increases in food prices. Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta will likely see below-average increases, due to their weaker economies and competitive distribution environments.
Because most of the fruit, nuts and vegetables that we eat are imported, these products are vulnerable to changes in our dollar’s value, which has been falling compared to the U.S. dollar throughout the past year. Another factor that is boosting the price of filling our pantries and refrigerators is the uncertainty around the incoming Trump administration, which has promised a period of American protectionism at the expense of U.S. trade partners.
As we peer into innards of our search results, other predictions become apparent. We can look forward to renewed protests by our Lower Mainland neighbours over the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, and more news from Shawnigan Lake residents about contaminated soil dumping and lake-water quality.
We’ll also hear more about LNG and Site C development, and experience more clarity and possible consternation regarding political developments south of the border.
