GAS THE GOOSE THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - They say that monopolies are against the law. They say that in an open market, customers/clients are to be given a fair shake when it comes to price and service. Normally I do not have the time to sit and look over my bills. I like most of you trust that we are charged accordingly and pay without to much thought. Well, much to my surprise after looking at my recent natural gas bill. I noticed that my usage was $22.88. Wow, I thought that is beyond fair. Then in the line below I noticed a $8.45 for a Delivery to You charge. Ha... delivery to me charge? I thought the lines had been set and the gas just flowed. I did not know that they had someone delivering to me every month. Just below the Delivery to You charge - There was another $3.12 cents for Transportation to Enbridge... Like really! I got to pay for Enbridge Transportation? I thought gas was dispensed via pipelines... Pipelines that once they are placed that maintenance is the only extra charge. So why am I being charged for Delivery to You. Then Transportation to Enbridge? But wait there is more. Under that charge there is another Federal Carbon Charge of $9.04. CARBON CHARGE on a gas bill!!! Below that charge there is another Gas Supply Charge of $9.01. I thought I was paying for that under Delivery to You charge? Now to ad insult to injury... at the bottom of the bill there is a Cost of Adjustment of $1.92 Cost of adjustment. What adjustment? Total bill $54.42. Really? And let’s not forget the governments cut of $7.07 HST. Bringing it to a total of $61.49. WOW. I wonder what would happen if I turned around to my customers and charge them for an ad for example $100. Then Charge them for the paper. Then for the ink. Then charge them for printing it. A maintenance fee. A delivery fee. A processing fee. How long do you think I would remain in business? Not to long. Then if this stands true. Why are companies like the Gas, Hydro, Bell, Roger’s of the world allowed to get away with charging what they want and we the consumer have no real remedy. Why is it that they have the right to charge what they want? Is this fair? The answer is obvious. Then again. For anyone in business. Define fairness. Definition of fairness by dictionary terms: fair·ness noun impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination. Well, technically. they do treat everyone impartially as they do not care what customers think or the hardships of paying their inflated charges. ‘Just treatment’ - well they are technically an equal rip offers to all clients so it may be seen as “JUST”. Far from right or fair. Behavior without favoritism or discrimination - Well of course not. How dare they practice discriminatory practices as they equally discriminate against everyone by inflating costs and adding all these frivolous charges in order to justify the final charge. I am a proud Canadian. I can tell you that we as Canadians have become to complaisant. We very seldom complain and very seldom question. I am guilty as charged as I have allowed the system to numb me and force me comply or else. The else is not physical but mentally as if you don't pay we cut you off. We have become nothing but a number in a global bingo game. Live your life. Don’t question and your number will be called upon soon enough. Is this fair? I guess if life is not. How can we expect these multi million dollar entities to treat us any other way.

Remembering Canadians in the Korean War

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East With dark clouds of war, which are, again covering the horizon we ought to remember the sacrifices Canadian soldiers made in the Korean War, which started on 25th of June,73 years ago, and ended 70 years ago on 27 August 1953 with an armistice still in force. It is important to pay our respects to our countrymen who made the supreme sacrifice, particularly in today’s world, when by counter-culture education there is a reluctance to remember facts of history which cemented the spirit and the patriotism of the nation. Korea is often considered a “forgotten war.” Most Canadians know that Ypres, Vimy, Dunkirk and Juno Beach are places where important battles took place. Kapyong? Not so much. It is time to remember. The situation that sparked the Korean War seems to be replaying itself in a different dimension, with quite the same players. Can this be a warning sign for impending trouble? The Soviets, after declaring war on Japan, occupied half of the Korean peninsula; North Korea, while the United States took over control in South Korea. The 38th parallel was chosen as the dividing line. It was assumed that the occupation would be temporary and that a unified, independent country would eventually be formed. The western allies soon found themselves engaged in a new struggle with their former ally, the Soviet Union. As the Cold War developed rapidly in other parts of the world, especially in Europe, in Korea the 38th parallel gradually hardened into a permanent boundary. In the north the Soviets quickly established a communist regime which they decided to arm heavily. In the south the United States set up a shaky democracy relatively weakly armed. In the end, the Korea issue was submitted to the United Nations General Assembly. The Assembly created a Commission for Korea to supervise free and secret elections and to oversee the withdrawal of the occupation forces. In South Korea the Republic of Korea was established and was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly which recommended the withdrawal of occupying forces. In North Korea, the Soviets immediately created the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" under the control of a communist guerrilla leader, Kim II Sung. Trouble soon flared up along the border as both sides claimed the right to rule all Korea and on the morning of June 25 1950; 75,000 North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel into the Republic of Korea. The magnitude of the assault made it clear that this was a full-scale invasion. This was the first open act of aggression since the establishment of the United Nations Organization. The invasion was declared a breach of the peace, and 21 member nations joined forces to resist the aggression. The UN forces pushed the North Korean troops back across the 38th parallel and towards the border with Communist China. Alarmed by this turn of events, the Chinese intervened in the war which changed the tactical situation and complicated the war. Canadian participation in these hostilities marked a break with traditional policy. It was the beginning of a new era of involvement in world affairs which saw Canadian troops deployed around the world in truce teams, peace commissions and emergency forces. A new page in Canada's proud military history was written. In the Korean War 26,791 Canadians served and approximately 7,000 continued to serve in the theatre between the cease-fire and the end of 1955 and 516 lost their lives. The initial Canadian contributions to the Korean War actually came at sea and in the air. The Royal Canadian Navy deployed a total of eight Canadian warships to serve in the waters off Korea during the course of the conflict. The Royal Canadian Air Force’s 426 Transport Squadron supported the war effort by carrying supplies and troops; carrying more than 13,000 passengers and 3,000 tons of freight and mail without loss between North America and Asia. An important battle where Canadian soldiers distinguished themselves is the Battle of Kapyong. In late April 1951, the retreating Chinese and North Korean forces regrouped and counter-attacked. The South Korean forces were overwhelmed and hurriedly fell back in danger of being overrun and wiped out. The 27th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade along with its Canadian contingent was called up from reserve to the Kapyong Valley to cover this desperate retreat. It was a wild battle and some Canadian positions were overrun; at one point the Canadians even called in an artillery strike on their own location to hit the enemy soldiers amongst them. The Canadians took cover while the attackers bore the brunt of the fire and the enemy was driven off. Holding the line at Kapyong was an impressive achievement of the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and a testament to their skill and organization, when 700 of them held off 5,000 Chinese soldiers for two days inflicting heavy casualties, but it came at a cost. Ten Canadians were killed and 23 were wounded. Other battles where Canadian soldiers excelled were the two main battles on Hill 355. On November 22, 1951, the Royal 22e Régiment (nicknamed the “Van Doos”) was shifted to a new stretch of the front lines that bordered on the American-held Hill 355. The Van Doos were just getting settled in their positions under the shadows of Hill 227 and Hill 355 when the Chinese began an intense bombardment followed in the afternoon of November 23 by waves of Chinese soldiers storming the Van Doos. It was desperate fighting in the snow, cold and mud that left the Van Doos with 16 killed, 44 wounded and three taken prisoner, but they held their ground until the Americans retook Hill 355 for good on November 25 and the communist attacks came to an end. Canadians would again find themselves in heavy combat in the area of Hill 355 in October 1952. The Royal Canadian Regiment had been stationed on the hill since early September under intermittent fire from enemy forces. In the early evening of October 23rd the Chinese attacked. Under heavy assault they resisted and the Chinese withdrew and the Canadians succeeded in reoccupying the position in the early hours of October 24. This action had again taken a heavy toll, with 18 Canadians being killed, 35 wounded and 14 men taken prisoner. The Korean War was dangerous duty in a harsh land and 516 Canadians lost their lives in service during the conflict. Their names are inscribed in the Korean War Book of Remembrance located in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Korea Veterans Association of Canada erected a Wall of Remembrance in Brampton, Ontario's Meadowvale Cemetery dedicated on July 27 1997 to the 516 Canadians who are commemorated in the Korean War Book of Remembrance. In a conflict some would come to call “the forgotten war,” Canadians would add to the proud national tradition of military service in the cause of peace and freedom that our country has demonstrated time and again in conflicts and peace support efforts over the years. Lest we forget!

A Job Seeker's Biggest Asset:

Being Likeable By Nick Kossovan Undeniably, having solid and proven skills and abilities (e.g., technical, project management, problem-solving, communication. sales) are essential for landing a job. However, there is a personality trait, a soft skill that can be learned, that is of far greater importance than your hard skills; being likeable. Being likeable is critical because the foremost question running through your interviewer's mind throughout the interview: "Do I like this person?" TRUISM: Being likeable supersedes your skills and experience. Job seekers often overlook the importance of being likeable due to the widely given advice from Internet talking heads to "be yourself" and "people need to accept you for you." However, nowhere is being likeable more relevant than during a job interview, where your likeability greatly influences what your interviewer thinks of you. Bottom-line, hiring managers — human beings — do not hire candidates they do not like. Would you hire someone whose personality you did not like or felt would not mesh well with the current team? Likeability is not an inherent quality. It is a skill that, like any skill, you can learn and develop. I do not mean just being "nice," "charming," or "friendly." Likeability is correlated with certain behaviours. Therefore, by focusing on the right behaviours and applying yourself, with practice, you will get better (READ: more skilled at) at being liked by people. The following is how candidates make themselves more likeable to their interviewer: · Likeable candidates greet their interviewer(s) by name. "A person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language." – Dale Carnegie. An essential part of a person's identity is their name. Use your interviewer(s)'s name regularly throughout the interview, not just when you are introduced. If you have trouble remembering names, then write them down. · Likeable candidates smile a lot and use an appropriate sense of humour. It is natural for people to mirror the body language of those they are speaking with. When you smile at your interviewer(s) throughout the interview, they will unconsciously return the favour and feel good. Who does not like someone who makes them feel good? · Likeable candidates engage their interviewer(s) by asking questions. You will become more likeable if you ask questions about the company and position, indicating that you are interested in the job and want to ensure it is a good fit for you. Give your interviewer(s) your full attention, pay close attention to their answers, and ask follow-up questions for elaboration and clarification. Do not interrupt your interviewer while they are speaking. Doing so will kill your chances of being liked. · Likeable candidates make connections and find commonalities. Research shows, as I am sure your experience also shows, that people are attracted to people with similar backgrounds and interests. When your interviewer begins your interview with small talk, take advantage of this opportunity to find common ground. Look for anything: hometown, college, sports, dogs. Identify something about your interviewer that you can relate to; this will make small talk easier, and you will appear more likeable. · Likeable candidates do their research. It is easy for your interviewer to tell how much you know about the company and the industry and how well you understand the position. Your interviewer will not think highly of you if they see and feel you have not bothered to prepare for the interview or considered what you can offer the company. · Likeable candidates are reliable. Reliability, which every hiring manager looks for, is easy to demonstrate — never arrive late for an interview! There are no excuses for doing so. No matter your reason for being late, you are unlikely to recover from it. Lastly, body language profoundly influences first impressions; therefore, practice positive body language. Generally, people decide whether they like someone within seven seconds of first meeting them. Then they spend the rest of the conversation internally justifying their initial reaction. First impressions are profoundly influenced by body language, which begins with having a good posture making you appear engaged, confident, and professional, all qualities hiring managers like. When meeting your interviewer for the first time, remember the acronym SOLER: S – Face your interviewer squarely and open your shoulders. O – Open and positive body language. Do not cross your arms, smile, and speak enthusiastically. L – Give the appearance of listening by leaning forward slightly. E – Eye contact. Be sure to maintain eye contact. R – Be relaxed and comfortable throughout the interview. The stakes are high in interviews, particularly if you are interviewing for a job you are hoping for; some anxiety is inevitable. You are less likely to be likeable if you are visibly anxious, especially if your anxiety makes you seem rigid. Arrive in plenty of time, be well prepared and take time to build a rapport with your interviewer. (Commonality creates likeability.) Your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile job are to get you interviews. However, ultimately, the success of your interview will be largely determined by how likeable you are; therefore, it is a trait (READ: skill) worth honing. As I mentioned, hiring managers do not hire candidates they do not like _________________________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

A Job Search Is Your Chance to Get It Right

By Nick Kossovan Few endeavours in life are as challenging and when done right, as rewarding as finding a new job. Job searching is a journey filled with uncertainties, rejection, and doubts. When faced with such challenges, imagine the mental power you could cultivate by considering your job search as your chance to get the most influential factor in your life, your job, right, or as close to "right" as possible. I recently met with a job seeker who appeared to be in their late 40s. After eight years with a national telecommunications company, the last three as regional director of sales and marketing, he was let go due to structural changes, a common occurrence nowadays. What I found remarkable was his excitement about his job search, which has been ongoing for over five weeks. Rather than being anxious, angry, and frustrated that he was job searching, as most job seekers are, he was excited about all the possibilities his job search could lead to... · working remotely · making more money · having a boss that actually "gets him" · having four weeks of paid vacation· being part of an RRSP matching contribution plan · doing meaningful work and therefore being happier ... his list went on. He understood how his job colours every aspect of his life. Therefore, he saw his job search as a tremendous opportunity to improve his life. Consider all the aspects of your life that your job influences, a few being: · Where you live. · The car you drive. · Where you vacation. · The quality of your children's education. · Your identity. (There is a reason, when first meeting, people ask each other, "What do you do?") It has been my experience that a job search, especially when unplanned, often turns out to be a blessing in disguise, resulting in finding a better job and a better working environment. Understandably, most job seekers do not view job searching as a blessing, resulting in a negative attitude. You should view your job search as more than just finding a job to secure financial stability. Think of it as an opportunity to redefine your purpose, explore new horizons, and reset your life. When treated as a chance for "life improvements," which is how my conversation partner treats his job search, it becomes a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. Embracing Change: Being open to change and leaving behind the familiar is the key to making your job search as stress-free as possible. A job search offers a wealth of opportunities for transformation (READ: Create the life you want.). However, to take advantage of them, you must step out of your comfort zone and re-evaluate your skills and passions. Self-reflection and a realistic assessment of your strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations are necessary for this process. When you actively seek out new opportunities, the essence of a job search, prioritizing your needs and wants, you begin to understand yourself and your true desires better, increasing your self-awareness, which is a competitive advantage. Exploration and Reinvention: Your job search is a chance to explore different industries, job roles, and possibly living elsewhere. By broadening your perspective, you may discover hidden passions, untapped talents, and previously unimagined career paths. Job searching is an opportunity to align your values and passions with your work, creating a sense of fulfillment. Personal Growth and Resilience: Job seekers will inevitably experience rejection and setbacks during their job search. Resilience and personal growth are fostered by these challenges. Each rejection or setback teaches valuable lessons, cultivating adaptability and determination. In adversity, perseverance builds character and strengthens your resolve to overcome future obstacles with grit and determination. Expanded Networks and Connections: Networking—introducing yourself to people who can help your job search and building connections—is an essential part of job searching. As you engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds, you broaden your horizons and stimulate your intellectual and personal development. Networking exposes you to new perspectives and opportunities, often leading to making new friends or finding a mentor. The connections you make while job searching do not end when you land a job. When maintained, these connections can be invaluable resources that can shape your professional trajectory. Discovering Purpose: Looking for a job that provides more than a paycheck is a quest of sorts—a search for meaning and purpose. Your life's purpose becomes more evident when you reflect on your skills, interests, and values. Your job search is your chance to align—to "get it right"—your work with your purpose, leading to greater job satisfaction and living a more fulfilling life. When viewed positively, such as the job seeker I spoke to was viewing their job search, a job search you will see that your job search is your chance to reorient your life toward purpose and fulfillment rather than just pursuing jobs that are only a means to an end. By embracing change, exploring new avenues, and fostering personal growth, allowing your job search to be a transformative journey, you will open doors to uncharted possibilities. When you see all the opportunities job searching offers you regarding reorienting your life, you realize job searching is good for you. _________________________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

The economic, fiscal and health effects of COVID in

Canada by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As the COVID-19 pandemic recedes into history, it is important for Canadians and governments in Canada to understand its effects in order to better manage future pandemics. What is really needed,is a sincere and comprehensive after action report, and the study carried out by the Fraser Institute is a promising start. In terms of public health response, Canada performed reasonably by the available international standards, but there is room for improvement. At 103,874 total cases per million population, Canada had the 4th lowest incidence rate among the advanced economies by June 2022. It was 27th in mortality at 1,103 COVID-19 deaths per million population (with Japan the lowest at 248) and had the 7th highest vaccine uptake rate (at 227 vaccinations per 100 population). In addition, however,it had the 3rd highest level of “stringency” in its government responses (e.g. lockdowns) to the pandemic as measured by Oxford University’s COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. In terms of economic effects, out of 40 advanced economies, Canada ranked 29th in estimated real per-capita GDP growth from 2019 to 2022 and second-worst in the G7. During the first pandemic year, Canada had the second-worst employment drop at 5.1 per cent, just ahead of the United States. However, during the rebound in 2021, Canada had the second-highest employment growth. With respect to inflation, in 2021 Canada was mid-ranked (19th highest). However, a high share of Canada’s inflation appears to be linked to demand-side rather than supply-side factors. As well, Canada ranked 9th out of 30 OECD comparator countries for the size of the pandemic increase in housing prices. The pandemic elicited a particularly strong fiscal response in Canada, ranking 25th out of 194 countries with an increase in government spending of 19.7 per cent in 2020—well above the world average of approximately 9 per cent, the G7 average of 13 per cent, and the advanced economies average of nearly 11 per cent. Canada also averaged a 2.2 per cent drop in general government revenue in 2020 according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF); less severe than the average drop for both the IMF advanced economies and the G7. The world saw its negative fiscal balance widen from 3.6 per cent of GDP in 2019 to over 10 per cent in 2020 before starting to decline to under 8 per cent in 2021 to just over 5 per cent in 2022. According to the IMF, Canada saw a negative fiscal balance in 2020 of 11.4 per cent of GDP, with forecasts of 4.7 per cent in 2021 and 2.1 per cent in 2022. As well, Canada saw its gross debt-to-GDP ratio increase by nearly 25 percentage points from 2019 to 2021, the 15th largest increase in the world. It’s worth noting that the increased government debt accumulated during the pandemic in Canada was incurred mainly by the federal rather than provincial governments. In terms of pandemic economic performance, Canada fared poorly in per-capita GDP growth; employment growth was also initially low, though this did improve in 2021. Canada’s success in some aspects of dealing with COVID appears to have come at an exceptionally high economic price, particularly from negative short-term employment effects, weaker per-capita GDP growth and more robust demand-side inflation. Canada’s fiscal response was exceptionally large mostly due to the federal response. In some respects, the ability of Canada to ramp up its fiscal response in time of need reflects its long-term prudent fiscal management and resulting low debt-to-GDP ratio achieved in the decades after the federal fiscal crisis of the 1990s. At the same time, the size of the deficit and fiscal response during the pandemic should not be allowed to become a long-term feature of public finances given the recent rise in interest rates. In particular, this kind of public financing limits the nation’s ability and fiscal flexibility in responding to future events. In view of these important issues brought forward by the Fraser Institute Study, it is more important than ever for the Parliament of Canada to undertake a serious review of Canada’s public finance policies. Such a review is necessary to ensure it can better manage future events of this magnitude and such devastating effects on the country. In other order of facts, it would be necessary that the Parliament of Canada should have a more say in the decisions made by the Bank of Canada, which is more connected to international finances than the direct interests of the country are. I am of the opinion that the study of the effects of the COVID pandemic is most important for the nation than other less important but polically fashionable studies that are in the works duringthis parliamentary session. For the sake of the judicious spending of taxpayers’ money and a better life forfuture generations, this study should be givena high priority. What do you think?

ELECTRIC CARS ARE THEY THE ANSWER?

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - The shocking truth of electric cars... Or at least my version. Remember the days of eight track tapes. When it first came out. The greatest thing since sliced bread. Remember when the power on hand attempted us to buy diesel fueled cars. They promised longer mileage and cheaper at the pump. All great ideas that quickly fell to the side. Today with all this save the environment crap. We the people are not only being forced to pay phantom carbon taxes but are forced to comply with all kinds of ridiculous sanction and or regulations. On the surface. Electric cars would seem to be the great Messiah in public transportation. The problem is like all that is rushed. It shows major drawbacks. The electric car run off a battery. All batteries operate on the principle that it has a shelf life. After all it works on the basis of constant expansion and contraction. Heat and drainage. The combustion engine works on similar fashion. The big difference is that the logistics of the combustion engine... has many parts that can be replaced. In the electric car. The battery goes down, depletes, dies. You are looking at replacing 50% of your car. On the average electric cars sell for 50,000. This means consumers will be facing at the least $15,000 battery replacement. Remember these new age batteries do not operate the way of the old. These batteries are normally one solid component and replacement is an undertaking. But let’s leave the battery aside for a moment. Normally, you can pull up to any gas station and within minutes you are good to go. With an electric car. It can take up to an hour to fully charge. Is this convenience? I believe that the science has not fully caught up with the electric car. Let’s look at the electric grid of some states. Many are running on full capacity. So much so that on peak usages. The utility companies ask consumer to scale back on usage. Then, what are we to do with all that purchased electric cars. Now remember. This is today. What will happen in 20 years. After the forced everyone to purchase an electric car? Personally. I believe that all electric cars should come with a lifetime battery warranty. If at any time the battery goes. You are covered. Hey... for any insurance buffs out there.... maybe I just gave you an idea for a new product to offer new electric driver purchasers. Second, I believe that more science needs to go into finding some sort of apparatus that goes over the electric charge intake... that produces through a dynamo type of device never ending energy fed directly to the batteries. This way. You would have an electric car that never runs out of power. Now that is an idea. That would make electric cars self sufficient when it came to producing energy for it’s contraptions. The other option is to develop some sort of paint that harness sun light so that as you drive your battery gets the proper energy boost to keep it always topped up. Now lets go Star Trek on this for a moment. If we could develop a device that could generate electricity and feed into the vehicles battery. We may in the future not need a battery but just a receptacle or storage unit in every vehicle that would feed the cars need. Imagine the savings on the battery per car. Now the biggest cost of the new electric cars is the battery. The world hold a bright future. The world has shown great potential in technology and it’s implication when it comes to transportation. Could we also be at the end of the automobile and finally be reaching the paramount age of 1010101 or one’s and zero’s in computing? Could it be that we one day all be digits to be coded and decoded in teleporting type of contraption? I am sure in the day. If you had told them pilgrims about cell phones, electric cars. They would have responded in a similar fashion as to my proposal of becoming truly digitalized. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Nuclear Energy, Pickering and Durham Region

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East In today’s world our energy needs are constantly increasing, especially our need for electrical energy. Because of that, we need an energy source, which is reliable, puts less stress on Nature, and is less challenging to the environment. At this point, we can certainly affirm that nuclear energy is one of these kinds of energy. Moreover, we have the technology, the plants and the science to support it. So let us put Canadian ingenuity to work for us Canadians, once again. Durham region is a hub of nuclear plants in Pickering and Clarington. So let us capitalize on them and keep them working at their best. In addition, it is high time that Durham region had a serious nuclear science center. Why is that, you ask? It is important to consider this type of energy more closely. I will make a comparison with the rapid evolution in electronics, from the invention of the transistor to the very sophisticated integrated circuits of today, which enjoy a broad range of applications in our daily lives. In a few decades, we have witnessed an evolution from the bulky transistor to the nanotechnologies of today. The relevant question is obvious: why can we not accomplish a similar transformation in the field of nuclear reactors? We see efforts to make electric vehicles with improved battery life, but we do not see any research and ideas on miniaturizing nuclear reactors, for vehicle use for example. Such reactors would certainly be better that the proposed batteries for powering vehicles. Your reaction to the idea might be that it seems impossible to do, but my answer is that it definitively is not. We have the example of the first nuclear submarine, going back to the middle of the last century. In early 1950’s, regardless of the challenges faced in developing and operating brand-new technology, Admiral Rickover and the team did not disappoint. The result was a highly reliable nuclear reactor in a form-factor that would fit into a submarine hull with no more than a 28-foot (8.5 m) beam. This became known as the S1W reactor. Nautilus was launched and commissioned with this reactor in 1954. Seventy years have passed and we have not seen further miniaturizations of reactors. So I say, it is time to do some research in this direction right here in the Durham region. Yes, but for this we need vision, political will and expertise, all of which is badly lacking in Canada at this time. Imagine having a car that you do not fill up for years! I think that my thinking is well ahead of its time, but hope that the future will vindicate me. Anyway, there are some signs that nuclear energy is in the spot light again, but not for the right reasons. Politicians promoting the use of electrical vehicles have mounted pressure for nuclear energy as an answer to the problem of lack of electrical energy for the electric vehicle project. So now, all levels of politicians who proudly professed the elimination of nuclear power plants in the past, especially in Pickering, are doing an about-face, praising nuclear energy. Both federal and provincial governments have officially recognized the importance of nuclear energy for meeting climate and energy needs. Even so, development and licensing of a new site can take years. Ontario's electricity demand is rising and refurbishing nuclear plants is a way to meet it cleanly and cost-effectively. The Pickering site, which is ideally positioned to supply the Greater Toronto Area with zero-carbon electricity around the clock, is licensed for over 3,000 MW of nuclear capacity — though the operating licences will have to be renewed, as they have been for the refurbished units at Bruce and Darlington. Then, in a move likely unnoticed by most Ontarians, the province has inched closer to quite a change in energy policy. Last week, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) submitted an application to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to extend the life of the Pickering nuclear generating station until the fall of 2026. The plant had been scheduled to close at the end of 2025. However, an extra nine months of affordable, low-carbon electricity from the station will benefit Ontarians. More importantly, the reprieve could pave the way to a full refurbishment that would protect Ontario’s domestic supply of clean electricity and high-quality jobs for decades to come. Operating through 2026 would allow skilled refurbishment workers and OPG project managers currently redoing the Darlington Nuclear Station to switch over to Pickering after the Darlington project wraps up that same year. Meanwhile, the Pickering station would be able to generate extra revenue from the extension, keeping up employment and helping to offset the cost of refurbishment planning. Keeping the Pickering plant running makes sense from a cost perspective. Refurbishments at Ontario’s two other nuclear plants, which are proceeding ahead of schedule, are costing only half the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s estimates for what brand new nuclear capacity costs. Using existing equipment, licences, transmission capacity, buildings and other structures saves both time and money. Apart from legacy hydro dams, Ontario’s nuclear fleet makes the cheapest electricity in the province, while abundant natural fuel and a local supply chain shore up our energy security and economy. With some of the lowest fuel costs of any thermal power plant in the world, revenue from Pickering supports nearly 5,000 high-quality jobs at the plant and thousands more in the surrounding area. The sudden love the Ford government has developed for nuclear energy is also noted. OPG has chosen GE Hitachi to construct a small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington generating station in Clarington. The SMR is expected to be constructed by 2028. The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is loaning almost a billion dollars to OPG to build the country’s first grid-scale, small modular reactor (SMR) in Clarington, Ontario. The Government of Ontario is presently looking at a new large-scale nuclear plant to generate up to 4,800 megawatts on the site of Bruce Power's current generating station on the shore of Lake Huron in Tiverton, Ontario. In conclusion now that Ontario has entered its first energy crunch in decades, and refurbishments at Darlington will be wrapping up, the rationale for moving refurbishment workers to Pickering is stronger than ever. My hope is that politicians at all level in Pickering will be able to secure a bright future for nuclear energy for the benefit of the city, the province, and Canada. It is up to you to check on them!

Every Interview Starts with This Question

By Nick Kossovan Every interview begins with the interviewer asking the open-ended question, "Tell me about yourself." The question "Tell me about yourself" is not a throwaway opener. Consider your answer carefully. By asking this question, hiring managers are looking to answer the following: 1. Who are you? (professionally) 2. Why are we talking? Additionally, interviewers ask this question to assess how confident the candidate is, enabling them to see how they will present themselves to clients, customers, and colleagues. In theory, this should be the easiest question to answer. Who does not enjoy talking about themselves? How you answer, "Tell me about yourself,” will determine the direction of the interview. Based on what you say, your interviewer will formulate their next question, causing a chain reaction of follow-up questions, leading (fingers-crossed) to a pleasant conversation. When this happens, your interviewer is achieving the goal of every interview: Learning more about you while assessing your communication skills and how well you will "fit in." As a hiring manager who has asked this question thousands of times, I have heard it all. Frequently, probably due to nervousness, candidates divulge TMI (Too Much Information), which often adversely affected my hiring decision. A simple, easy-to-follow format will help you make a good first impression and start the interview in the right direction. I recommend the tried-and-tested "Past-Present-Future" formula, which structures your answer as follows: • The past: What is your background and relevant work experience? How did you get to where you are now? • The present: What is your current role? What do you do, and what are your top accomplishments? • The future: What are you looking to do next? Why are you interested in the position? Using this structure, a good answer to "Tell me about yourself" would look like this: As part of obtaining my bachelor’s degree in computer science at Pennbrook University, I took several data analysis classes, which I found enjoyable because of my love for numbers. However, it was my internship at Happy-Go-Lucky Toys, Inc. that really got me interested in data analysis. Following graduation, I worked as a database administrator at Omni Consumer Products for over three years. For the past 5 years, I have been working as a business analyst at Kumatsu Motors. The ability to work with data and numbers has always been one of my strongest skills. For example, soon after joining Kumatsu Motors, I led a project for migrating all operations data to a new data warehousing system to reduce costs. The new solution was a much better fit for Kumatsu Motors, ultimately leading to savings of up to $700,000 annually. My interest in wanting to join Big Apple Bank stems from my desire to expand my experience across different industries, particularly fintech. Note that the answer does not stray off-topic, nor does it provide unnecessary information. (e.g., "I golf on Sunday mornings," "I am married with two kids and a dog.") This answer summarizes the candidate's experience as a business analyst, a notable achievement relevant to the position you are interviewing for, and why they are interested in the company/position. Here is another example: Over the past eight years, I have worked as a tech-focused project manager. I graduated from Hudson University, where I made the Dean's List, majoring in Business Administration and a minor in Computer Science. Upon graduation, I entered the tech industry as an administrative assistant at Metacortex. There, I provided clerical support with interdepartmental communication, helped manage schedules, and maintained their digital filing system. At the same time, my direct boss mentored me to take on more responsibilities and develop my leadership skills. After that, I worked for eight years as a project manager for Rekall, which provides cloud computing solutions. I managed four software project teams, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and business goals were met. I enjoy reading about technology, robotics, and AI during my free time. Since ComTron does all three, I applied. This answer also follows the "Past-Present-Future" formula, telling the interviewer how they are qualified for the position they are interviewing for and what led them to apply for the position. You will inevitably be asked, "Tell me about yourself." Therefore, do the necessary work to deliver the best possible answer. Invest time writing and rehearsing your answer, like how actors rehearse their lines before filming. (It's not what you say, it's how you say it.) Practicing your answer will help you say it effortlessly and concisely. It is unnecessary to tell your interviewer everything that makes you a great candidate; the rest of the interview is your opportunity to do that. Just provide a few details that will interest your interviewer in learning more about you, which will get the interview off to a good start. Key Takeaways: • Structure your answer in a way that makes sense. If you follow the "Past-Present-Future" formula, you will differentiate yourself from your competitors. • Make sure your answer is relevant to the position and brief. (2 minutes max) Your interviewer does not want to hear your entire life story. • Mention relevant employmentexperience and at least one achievement. • PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE _________________________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

The Secret to Getting Hired: Tell Your Interviewer What They Want to Hear

By Nick Kossovan m frequently asked, "What do hiring managers want to hear?" Essentially hiring managers access candidates based on three things: 1.Are you capable of performing the duties of the position? 2.Are you interested in the type of work required by the job? 3.Do you fit their management style, team, and organization? Therefore, employers want to hear: 1.Your results 2.How you achieved your results (stories), and 3.How you work These are the basics you need to communicate at every interview, hence why having well-prepared STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories is crucial. Of all the job search strategies at your disposal, telling your interviewer what they want to hear is the most effective. I am not just talking about telling riveting STAR stories. I am talking about communication nuances that affect the level of engagement between you and your interviewer. Using their name. "A person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language." - Dale Carnegie Besides sounding "sweet," a person's most significant connection to their identity is their name. Using your interviewer's name, casually and naturally, creates a bond between you and your interviewer; hence I cannot overstate the importance of using your interviewer's name. Furthermore, by saying your interviewer's name, you create familiarity and subtly communicate that you are already part of the team. Enthusiasm Hiring managers do not hire candidates who do not appear to want the job. Enthusiasm—genuine enthusiasm—is a critical component of job search success, which you can display through the tone of your voice and your words. (It is not just what you say, it is how you say it.) Expressing your enthusiasm reassures your interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the job and not just looking for a paycheck. However, be careful not to be overly enthusiastic. Excessive enthusiasm will be taken as evidence that you cannot control your emotions and are unable to "manage stress in the moment." Hence, pay attention to another aspect of your communication, your nonverbal communication. If nonverbal communication (eye contact, posture, gestures, intensity, mannerisms) were not important, employers would not take the time to interview candidates in person. They would only select candidates by their resume and LinkedIn profile. The purpose of asking you "to come in" after your phone or Zoom interview is to assess your nonverbal communication skills; therefore, be cognizant of how you communicate non-verbally. Ask great questions. Hiring managers love great questions. You can ask cliché questions such as, "What would you want to see me accomplish in the first six months?", "What do you like about working here?", "Are there any growth opportunities?" or you can differentiate yourself by asking creative questions. Because they have been few and far between, I still remember many of the creative questions I have been asked and the candidate who asked the question. • "If you could travel back in time and give one piece of advice to the company's founders, what would it be?" This question demonstrated the candidate's curiosity about the company's history and invited me to reflect on the company's journey and what I thought of its values, and where there could be areas for improvement. • "If you could compare the current team to any group of fictional characters, who would they be and why?" I enjoyed answering this question—I thanked the candidate for asking it—because it made me pause to reflect on my team's current 'team dynamics.' My answer was M*A*S*H. Despite their dysfunctional relationships outside the operating room, the moment wounded soldiers arrived, the characters (Hawkeye, Margaret, Radar, BJ, et al.) immediately worked in unison to save the wounded. Working in unison to get the job done, despite differences in personalities, described my team perfectly. • "In my previous line of work, trust and confidentiality were paramount. How does [company name] prioritize customer confidentiality and data security, and what measures are in place to ensure the protection of customer information?" This question emphasized the candidate's understanding of the importance of trust and confidentiality. Also, it showed interest in the company's—a payment processor—approach to safeguarding customer data. • "If employees had a superpower related to their job here, what superpower would be most useful for my role?" I liked how the candidate used a creative question to gauge my expectations and what qualities and skills I value most. What impressed me more than their question was that, unlike most candidates, they used my answer, not simply acknowledged it, to discuss how their background aligned with my expectations. Ask for the job. One of the easiest ways to demonstrate you are serious about the job is to ask for it, or at the very least, tell your interviewer you are excited about the company and position. Is there a hiring manager who would not like to hear an interviewee say they want the job? Asking for a job shows interest in the position and your commitment to succeeding. Finally, and I believe I speak for all hiring managers, I want to hear the truth.

Durham’s best kept secret ‘oshawa’

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - In Oshawa. You got to wonder who is driving the bus? It appears that we are all over the road. From a 30 million dollar waste of taxpayers money on a park to the south. To the newly purchased fleet of electric cars mind you from what I have heard from the same dealership the Mayor had purchased his electric Volt pre-election. OK. Let’s drop the conspiracy theories and let’s stay focused on the obvious. The obvious is that those that did not vote in the 2022 have no voice. You along with those that voted for no change in our municipal government have to deal with the skyrocketed property tax increases with no remedy in sight. Look at our downtown. Crime, drugs and the homeless. The incompetent city councillor is doing nothing and has done nothing. Other than his boss wasting 2 million dollars on a private security firm to push people from one location to another. The bottom line. The core is emptying out. The crime is ever high and the number of homeless keep showing up at night to find refuge on our streets, alley ways and parks. Drug use is so rampant that anyone visiting Oshawa’s main park. Memorial Park can witness drug transaction and open use. Great Work Derek Giberson... Forget the regional council Rick Kerr. I heard he still having problems finding the downtown. But enough of the obvious. Let’s focus on what matter to you and your family. The City is failing to notify taxpayers on all kind of events and services. The City expects people to visit the City web site for information. Now let’s get serious. I am in the media business and very rarely visit that site. I am a professional internet media person and can tell you that the City web page is laid out in a very confusing manner. To many links. To many options. The average person. Will have serious navigational problems. The City expect you to go to their web page on a daily basis to note on closures, changes and or programs. Crazy. What happened to the old ways of Oshawa. The days when the City would publish a book with all the programs and events. Some I can hear crying. Oh, Joe that is old school. How about the trees. First. The city is making the assumption that everyone can afford or has internet. WRONG. Secondly. It is the responsibility of the City to keep the taxpayers informed. Forcing the taxpayer to go online is not right. The City does advertise with a selected newspaper. At one time. The City would make sure to publish in two or three newspaper. Newspaper that supported the City political agenda. Today. The City only advertises on one. Yes, the one that supports the City political agenda. Oshawa is Durham’s best kept secret. We have great talent, great businesses. We have had many accomplished people come from Oshawa. The problem with Oshawa has always been the same. The elected in Oshawa in most cases come from humble backgrounds. In the case of Derek Giberson the Downtown City councillor. Before he was elected to council. He was a third rate musician... menial jobs at best. When they get in office. It appears that most suffer from a type of The Napoleon complex, known informally as small man syndrome, is a syndrome normally attributed to people of short stature. Not so much of stature but of mental capacity and intellectual aptitude. Oshawa was a great place to live. Oshawa was governed by people with integrity. Staff was friendly and helpful. Today, Oshawa is run by staff. Council, a bunch of rubber stampers that main goal is to keep the status quo. Keep the population in the dark. We need our Oshawa back. What do you think

The status of Canadian Journalism and the Journalism industry

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East With the latest developments in the news media world and a continuingdecline in the level of trust Canadians have in the established news channels, such that they are increasingly reluctant to pay for it, the industry is facing a real problem. Lobbied for years by a news media industry that had seen billions of dollars in advertising shift from their suddenly less interesting products to the flashing lights and sensory balms of social media and search engines, the Liberal government of Canada has decided to come to the rescue. In doing so, it might very well have killed the industry. As we have become accustomed to some of the ill-conceived Liberal government legislation, Bill C-18, The Online News Act, should not come as a surprise. The federal Liberal government’s attempts to become world leaders in rescuing journalism have not only collapsed,but pushed the nation’s private sector news industry to the edge of an economic abyss. It is difficult to recall a more complete public sector failure than this. The law requires tech companies such as Meta and Google to negotiate deals compensating media outlets for news content they share or otherwise repurpose on their platforms. While the intent of the law is to help preserve Canadian journalism at a time when newsrooms are struggling to compete for online advertising dollars, the fallout has been swift. As common sense implies there were immediate reactions to the bill. The arrogance of the Liberal government has sparked a strong reaction that seriously damages the ability of ordinary Canadians to get information. The bill covers Big Tech companies — itis designed to specifically target Google and Meta — that “make news content available to persons in Canada.” However, if Meta and Google block news links from their platforms, they will no longer be subject to the legislation. Bill C-18 received royal assent earlier this month. Designed such that it would force Meta and Google to reach commercial deals with news publishers to share revenues for news stories that appear on their platforms. In reaction tothis and in response to Bill C-18, Meta and Google have said they will pull news from their platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Google Search It is now clear that the bill was based on the flawed premise that Google and Meta benefit from news links posted to their platforms, when it isactually the news outlet that benefits. Meta has said there is no compromise solution under the current bill, and that it is not negotiating with the government. While Google initially entered into last-minute talks with Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, the company said last week that those talks weren’t successful in addressing its concerns. Once again the Liberal government has shown that they operatefrom an ivory tower. The results produced by this ill-conceived legislation are that Google will pull Canadian news from Google Search and its other products in Canada, over legislation that would force it to share revenues with news publishers. “We have now informed the Government that when the law takes effect, we unfortunately will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in Canada,” Google stated in a blog post. It will also kill existing deals with publishers. “C-18 will also make it untenable for us to continue offering our Google News Showcase product in Canada,” it said. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has estimated that under the bill, which is clearly aimed at the two companies, Google and Meta could end up funding more than 30 per cent of newsroom costs, just under $330 million a year. However, if Google and Meta remove news from their platforms, they will no longer be covered under the Online News Act. That means publishers won’t be getting additional funding, and will also lose an undisclosed sum in existing deals. In Canada, Google has signed deals with news publishers that cover 150 outlets through its Google News Showcase program. Google pays news outlets to licence content for the program, though the financial terms of the deals with outlets haven’t been disclosed. In the same vein, Meta has said that the company is sticking with its plans to block news content on its Facebook and Instagram platforms. It has also begun cancelling existing deals with news publishers, including The Canadian Press.As the fallout from the federal government’s Online News Act continues, Facebook parent Meta is terminating a contract with The Canadian Press that saw the digital giant support the hiring of a limited number of emerging journalists at the national newswire service. The newswire agency was informed that Meta will end the contract, which has funded roughly 30 reporting fellowship positions for early-career journalists at Canadian Pres since the program’s inception in 2020. Canadian Press executive editor Gerry Arnold reported that Meta said so in its letter informing the media company of its decision. Meta clearly linked its termination of the program to Canada’s Online News Act, which became law last week. “We were told the Act has an adverse impact on Meta’s position in Canada to operate some products.It’s a business decision by Meta, in light of the changing regulatory environment”Arnold said. Meta declined to comment on the issue, but the tech giant has been outspoken about its opposition to the new federal law, formerly known as Bill C-18. In conclusion, we can see that the Liberal government, in its quest to control what Canadians can see or hear, bluntly called censorship, has gotten a surprising reaction from thesetwo big companies,Thus demonstratingonce again,a total lack of humility in the thinking and actions of this government . My question is this: When will this government start toserve Canadians, not only itself; pursuing inordinately costly, scientifically immature, Canadian environment inappropriate if not unsound, pie-in-the sky projects, like climate exchange/carbon-tax, electric vehicles (for our sub-zero temperatures and distances!!??)and attempting to syphon revenue off private businesses that are already shoring up government lackeys like the CBC? Wake up Canada!

Drink it but dont swim in it!!!

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - On the eve of one of the most busy long weekends at the peak of the summer. The City of Oshawa releases the following: Lakeview Park Beach: Unsafe for swimming from June 29 to July 6 From Thursday, June 29 to Thursday, July 6, Lakeview Park Beach is considered unsafe for swimming by the Durham Region Health Department as reported in the Durham Region Weekly Beach Report. Throughout the summer, the Durham Region Health Department tests the water at Lakeview Park Beach as part of its weekly beach monitoring program. These water tests check for high levels of harmful bacteria and let beach visitors know which beaches across Durham Region are safe for swimming based on the results. You got to be kidding me... Not only are people not allow to gather in large groups at the park. Not allowed to feed each other. Offer water to anyone in need. Play loud music. Stay no longer than 2hr or you may be fined for loitering... No smoking. No open fires. Now this... It makes me think... How is it that the water is OK to drink but not good enough to go for a swim.... I can just hear it. Oh, come on Joe. The water we drink is treated. The problem with the Lake is the algea, the bacteria and so on with the excuses. Ok. Let’s entertain that run away train thought. Let’s make the assumption that the water we drink is treated. If you look at your water bill what do you see? For example: You pay for water use $100/mth. For sewer $300. Plus the usual extra charges lilke delivery, consumption, administrative and so on... If we are to be made to believe that the water we drink is safe then how is it we pay 3 times more for sewage going out. Is it not a logical assumption that due to the cost of processing sewage that the water going out is as clean as that comes in? I am sure the Region would say that the cleaning process of raw sewage is optimal and that liquids put back in the lake are as safe as the water we drink. Humbug - Are we to assume that the notice is painting another picture. Harmful bacteria, the release read. Hum.... We live between two nuclear powers. Besides an industrial metropolitan center. We sit on one of the most polluted GM lands in all of Canada. Bacteria -- due to summer smog. Due to air quality. Due to natural decomposition of organic matter? Really. Are we that stupid. Here is food for thought. Back in the early 1900’s, mid 1800’s. Did we not have a bacteria issue in our water? Or is this a bi-product of modern day industrialism? Did the local native folk not drink that water and eat the fish from Lake Ontario? Then what happened? I remember the days when the delivery of water was free. I remember the days when sewage disposal was free. Then why are we today paying in some cases the equivalent of a second mortgage and the quality of water has deteriorated to such lows that we can’t even enjoy a swim in the Lake. I guess the saying, “GO JUMP IN THE LAKE” has developed a whole new meaning, in that some legal eagles could go as far as making the case that telling someone to ‘GO JUMP IN THE LAKE” may be interpreted as a death threat due to the poor quality of the water. Society is doomed. Democracy is dead. Canada has become a third world country. We don’t have a real government we have a ficticious democracy led by memeber of an elite dynasty. Elected officials that are not in it for it’s people but instead to play puppet to the days popular lobbyist. Don’t get me wrong. I am not bad mouthing Trudea. As no matter who we put in office the outcome will always be the same. We the people suffer. Politicians pretend to care while they waste our money. Hell, we can’t even have clean running water in some of our communities. We can’t even go for a swim in our own lakes. But wait. We can send 10 billion to fight foreign wars with no benefit to Canadians. Let’s send a messaeg to the elite. If anything. ‘GO JUMP IN THE LAKE”. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Canada Day 2023

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East This year is the 156th anniversary of a country still called Canada. Mired by the dark shadows of history and the aftershocks of Covid-19 pandemic we need to remember that we are still Canadians and be proud of it. As we reflect on past events from the beginning of the year, we hope that this year Canada Day will finally bring the nation a glimmer of hope and a better half for the remainder of 2023. Let’s take a moment to consider the incredible contributions made by Canadians throughout our history. Their efforts have helped to make the country what it is today; a country of vibrant cities and strong rural communities. Canada is a place where cultural freedom still flourishes, and Canadians from all backgrounds are still free to express themselves and help our country prosper despite recent tendencies to deny that. Successive waves of immigrants from France, Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries together with Indigenous people have helped to forge our nation’s unique character. Through their efforts, our communities have become a distinct part of the Canadian identity which we need to preserve rather than deny. We should honour this legacy while we also recognize that we can do better in the future. Let’s be proud of our combined anglophone and francophone heritage and seek a strong and constructive cooperation with our Indigenous people for a better Canada. Canada was not born of bloody conflict. It emerged from a lengthy process of brainstorming about practical matters, of negotiations, proposals, and legislative ratifications. On July 1, 1867, the Confederation of four Canadian provinces created our country and with the inclusion of Lower Canada – now Quebec – it ensured from the outset that Canada would be a blend of two nations, two cultures and two languages. The acceptance of both civil and common law systems is a factor that still makes Canada a helpful player on the international scene. And from the outset, religious tolerance was Canada’s only option. The enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which confederated Canada, was celebrated on July 1, 1867, with the ringing of the bells at the Cathedral Church of St. James in Toronto and "bonfires, fireworks and illuminations, excursions, military displays and musical and other entertainments", as described in contemporary accounts. On June 20 of the following year, Governor General the Viscount Monck issued a royal proclamation asking for Canadians to celebrate the anniversary of Confederation. However, the holiday was not established statutorily until May 15, 1879, when it was designated as Dominion Day, alluding to the reference in the British North America Act to the country as a dominion. The holiday was initially not dominant in the national calendar; any celebrations were mounted by local communities and the Governor General hosted a party at Rideau Hall. No larger celebrations were held until 1917 and then none again for a further decade—the gold and diamond anniversaries of Confederation, respectively. Canada's centennial in 1967 is often seen as an important milestone in the history of Canadian nationalism and in Canada's maturing as a distinct, independent country, after which Dominion Day became more popular with average Canadians. Some Canadians were, by the early 1980s, informally referring to the holiday as Canada Day, a practice that caused some controversy. However, with the granting of Royal Assent, the holiday's name was officially changed to Canada Day on October 27, 1982. Canada Day coincides with Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador, with memorials typically held in the morning of July 1. As the anniversary of Confederation, Dominion Day, and later Canada Day, was the date set to commemorate a number of important events. It was the first national radio network hookup by the Canadian National Railway (1927). It was the inauguration of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's cross-country television broadcast, with Governor General Vincent Massey's Dominion Day speech from Parliament Hill (1958) and the flooding of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (1958); It was the first colour television transmission in Canada (1966); the inauguration of the Order of Canada (1967); and the establishment of "O Canada" as the country's national anthem (1980). Other events fell on the same day coincidentally, such as the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, shortly after which Newfoundland recognized July 1 as Memorial Day to commemorate the Newfoundland Regiment's heavy losses during the battle. . Our nation is facing great challenges today, as never before. These include the economic hardship and skyrocketing inflation, the issues related to a new conflagration in Europe, high unemployment and social unrest. Let us again show that we support each other. This community spirit is one of the most admirable characteristics of being Canadian. On July the 1st let’s celebrate our country’s achievements and use them, not our failings, as a foundation to build a better and a brighter future together. Let’s celebrate our unity and our treasured country. Happy enlightened Canada Day!