Durham Region Priorities Fall 2024

By Maurice Brenner Regional Councillor Ward 1 Pickering As the summer months fade away, the my work as a Regional Council ramps up and it’s time again to focus on what my priorities will be for this session. Looking first at Public Transit, while ridership is at an all time high, it stretched the resources of Durham Regional Transit. As the Pickering representative on the Transit Executive at our September meeting, I raised several concerns about how this has impacted community connectivity as routes such as Pickering 121 have changed in an effort to reach customers along the Finch corridor. While solving one problem, it created another. This has been flagged along with several other changes in anticipation with the pending 2025 Budget. At a Special meeting of the Committee of the Whole, I got a snap shot of the challenges that lay ahead and how DRT will be tackling them. In bringing forward a recommended 2025 property tax guideline, staff considered the various pressures impacting the 2025 budget including increased demands for transit service, Transit’s E-Mission Zero Strategy to electrify Durham Region Transit’s fleet and the impact and affordability of property tax increases on Durham residents and businesses. There are also significant concerns around a lack of provincial and federal funding that are critical in achieving the objectives of the original Service and Financing Strategy. In light of these considerations, the recommended 2025 budget guideline that was approved provides for a projected overall 1.75 per increase in the total property tax levy dedicated to Durham Region Transit. This represents a projected $15.741 million increase (16.7 per cent) over the 2025 Durham Region Transit Budget. Once finalized, I will be pursuing options on how to restore services where necessary. Focusing next on Homelessness, I spent the summer months working along side DARS as we put the finishing touches on the Transitional Housing Farmhouse (690 Third Concession Rd at Whites Rd) The agricultural property is owned by TACC Developments who leased it to DARS at a nominal cost. The house will house 7 residents. But this isn’t a traditional program. 690 Third Concession is different, providing residents an opportunity to grow vegetables and raise egg-laying chickens and learn farm related entrepreneurial skills. The concept is providing more than four walls. The capital costs for the major renovation did not have any impact on the 2024 Budget nor will it impact the proposed 2025 Budget. All costs were funded through a City of Pickering Casino Grant as well as Durham Region Grants and Community Volunteers and its operating costs will run in the black. The project is a first of its kind and I will continue to commit time to see it through. The Official Launch and Open House is October 10th to coincide with World Homeless Day which aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent death. As we move forward, we must recognize that the issue of a lack of affordable housing, economics and numerous other stressors on families will contribute to the rising numbers of persons finding themselves homeless. It is a crisis. My priority remains tacking it head on, focussing on dignity as a cornerstone.

The Erosion of Privacy in the Digital Age: A Wake-Up Call for Democracy

In an era where technology permeates every facet of our lives, the concept of privacy is being systematically eroded, and it’s time for us to face this reality head-on. The conveniences of our digital world—social media, smart devices, and instant connectivity—come at a steep price: the gradual and unchecked intrusion into our personal lives by governments and corporations alike. We are now living in an age where personal data is a currency more valuable than gold. Our online activities, from the seemingly innocuous to the deeply personal, are being tracked, analyzed, and exploited. All levels of governments justify surveillance as a means to enhance security and prevent crime, while tech companies amass and monetize data under the guise of improving user experience. But at what cost? Right here in Pickering, I’ve been actively opposing the introduction of these very technologies in our community. Over the past year, we've seen a troubling rise in surveillance under the guise of "public safety." CTV cameras have been popping up at major intersections, near on-ramps and exits, and even monitoring entrances and exists from Pickering facing other municipalities like Scarborough. We are told this is for safety, but the reality is much more concerning—they’re tracking people coming in and out of Pickering, even tourists. This has been admitted at our council meetings where we have had discussions about tourists and passed agenda items allowing third parties to track who uses our city’s trail systems, invading what should be a peaceful and private interaction with nature. Even more alarming, Pickering has accepted money from Enbridge to monitor energy consumption in homes and businesses. This might seem harmless on the surface, but make no mistake—the municipality has the right to access that data if requested within two years. The question is why would the city of Pickering want to know how much you as a home or business owner consume in energy? This is yet another intrusion into our private lives, where our personal energy use can be tracked and shared with the city without your explicit consent. Where does it end? The fundamental right to privacy is enshrined in democratic principles and human rights laws. Yet, as our digital footprints expand, we face a growing threat: the normalization of constant surveillance and data collection. We are often told that there is nothing to fear if we have nothing to hide. But this argument fails to recognize the insidious nature of surveillance—it’s not just about what we’re doing now, but what we might do in the future and how that data could be misused. Younger generations today don’t seem overly concerned by these developments. Many already accept that the phone in their pocket is essentially a tracking device, and they’ve resigned themselves to this reality. But what they don’t know is just how far this level of surveillance can go—and how it has been weaponized in places like China to support authoritarian control. In China, the government uses a system of mass surveillance, including phone and facial recognition tracking, to monitor every move its citizens make. These tools are used to enforce compliance with state policies, punish dissent, and control behavior, all under the guise of national security and social order. This is the reality of living under a communist regime where privacy is a non-existent luxury. Every step toward greater surveillance in our own country mirrors the mechanisms used to control the population in China. It may seem far-fetched, but consider the ramifications of a future where every action, every conversation, and every opinion can be monitored and stored. This is not a dystopian fantasy; it’s a potential reality if we don’t address the balance between security and personal freedoms. The chilling effect on free speech, the risk of social manipulation, and the potential for political repression are very real dangers. Furthermore, the lack of transparency in how our data is used by both governments and private companies is alarming. We are often left in the dark about who has access to our information, how it is used, and for what purposes. The recent revelations about data breaches and unauthorized sharing only underscore the need for stricter regulations and greater accountability. It is not just a matter of individual privacy but of collective democratic health. If we allow ourselves to become complacent about these issues, we risk undermining the very foundations of our democratic institutions. Privacy is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for a functioning democracy where citizens can express themselves freely and without fear of retribution. It’s time for a national conversation on privacy rights and digital ethics. We must demand greater transparency from both our government and tech giants. We need robust data protection laws and rigorous enforcement to safeguard our freedoms. We must advocate for privacy as a fundamental human right and reject any attempts to diminish it under the pretext of convenience or security. The stakes are high. As we continue to navigate the digital age, we must remain vigilant and proactive in defending our privacy. The protection of our personal freedoms should never be negotiable. It’s up to us, as citizens, to ensure that technology serves humanity—not the other way around.

Foresight

from Wayne & Tamara I'm 27 and my husband is 41. We've been together since I was 18 and he was 32. I got pregnant when I was 21, then we got married. I knew I never wanted to be with him forever. When I was walking down the aisle, I said to myself, "I can always get a divorce." Little did I know it wouldn't be that easy. Now we have two wonderful kids. He makes good money, and I get to stay home. We have a nice lifestyle. The problem is he makes me sick. I do not love him and do not want to be with him anymore. We have nothing in common, and he is not a very intelligent person. He is illiterate. He is not kind to others. He's good with the kids, but does and says things in front of them that should not be said or done. I don't want to waste any more time in this marriage. I want to leave, but I don't want to take the good life away from my kids. I feel bad leaving him because I don't think he deserves to have everything taken from him, but having sex with him makes me ill. I don't let him kiss or touch me. I make him get it over with as quick as possible. He works offshore and is away more than he is home. I think that's the only reason I've made it this long. I got married because I was pregnant, and I was ashamed. Please give me your thoughts. Brianna Brianna, 1400 years ago, when China was ruled by the Sui dynasty, soothsayers in the imperial capital predicted that the emperor would be overthrown by someone named Li. A popular song even repeated that theme. This caused the emperor to persecute officials named Li. Some of them he even murdered. Meanwhile, north of the capital, there was a military garrison commanded by another Li. Again and again Li's son urged him to revolt and attack the emperor before the emperor could attack them. At last the father agreed, and father and son marched south with their army to overthrow the Sui. And so a prophecy was fulfilled, and a man named Li seized the throne. Your marriage was also a self-fulfilling prophecy. You married a man who could provide for you, but he is a man you do not love. Now the marriage may end, and you may need to go to work. Like the last Sui emperor, you have brought ruin upon yourself. It's impossible to live with a person who makes you physically sick, but once you have children with them, you will be bound to them for the rest of your life. Wayne & Tamara each word, and I had loved you so." Wayne & Tamara SEND LETTERS TO: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com Wayne & Tamara are the authors of Cheating in a Nutshell and The Young Woman’s Guide to Older Men—available from Amazon, Apple, and booksellers everywhere.

Stop Killing the Kidneys with Garbage

By W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford Multiple studies have shown that a diet of fruits and vegetables reduces blood pressure. Since hypertension kills millions of people each year, the message seems clear. But this is not the first time consumers have been told that a veggie diet is superior to one of meat. Now there’s another important message that millions of North Americans have not learned. It’s that people of all ages keep killing their kidneys by eating highly processed garbage day after day. Despite the evidence, they embrace this silent killer until the doctor says they need kidney dialysis or a renal transplant to save their life. First, know the basic facts. The kidneys, like the gastrointestinal system, remove waste. These two bean-shaped organs, each the size of your fist, are master chemists too. They regulate blood pressure, balance body fluids, produce hormones and red blood cells, and keep the blood from being too acidic or too alkaline. To accomplish all these tasks, the kidneys filter the blood in our body over and over every day. It’s a huge undertaking. Based on the research, one would think we would all be eating predominantly fruits and vegetables to help ensure healthy longevity to kidneys. Each kidney contains between 200,000 and one-or-more million nephrons. The number declines naturally with age or at an accelerated pace when asked to work overtime. Each nephron is an individual filter that removes urea from the blood while returning water and nutrients into circulation. Fruits and vegetables, including plant-based proteins, are easier on aging or compromised kidneys because they generally involve fewer toxins or other nutrients such as sodium, potassium, protein, or acid content that must be removed or balanced. Don’t be fooled by artificial foods that mimic meat and claim to be vegetables. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients on the label, think twice. What are other bad habits that are damaging so many kidneys? Shakespearean described the problem best with the line from Julius Ceasar, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves”. We are the victims of our own stupidity. When you ask people to put all their pills in a paper bag, it’s amazing what you see. Look in that bag to get a clear picture of what’s been going on for years. North Americans have become victims of “Pillitis”. They rush to the pharmacy whenever they have simple ache and pain. Compared to our forebearers, we’ve become wimps about pain. Worse, they allow themselves to develop chronic conditions that doctors will treat with endless medication. What’s the result? Evolution did not prepare the kidneys to metabolize all this synthetic junk. The heavy workload causes them to start to fail, slowly and surely. Researchers in the UK report that 34% of adults over 75 have severe levels of kidney disease. Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) is contributing to such shocking statistics. Researchers at the University of California also reported years ago this damning statistic, that the misuse of drugs resulted in a 19 percent increase every year in patients requiring renal dialysis machines. We could point to many more studies. But people do not heed the advice, and they die prematurely. What’s the message? A diet of fruits and vegetables helps improve blood pressure. It also lowers risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, macular degeneration of the eyes, arthritis and gastrointestinal troubles. But even if people adjust their diet, chronic kidney disease will continue to increase until people stop abusing their kidneys with garbage painkillers and endless other medications. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

What happens when the landlord sells the house, you are living in?

By Theresa Grant Real Estate Columnist So, the landlord has decided to sell the property you are renting. What exactly does that mean for you? Will you have to vacate prior to the sale? Will you be able to stay on as tenants once a new owner takes over? Will your rent increase if a new owner takes over? There can be a lot of anxiety when you get the news that the home you are renting is being sold. Before you panic, keep in mind that in Ontario, you have rights. In Ontario, tenants cannot be evicted because a landlord is listing their property for sale. If the tenant is in a lease, then the new owner assumes the tenant. If the tenant is month to month, then the current landlord can give the tenant sixty days’ notice, and compensation equal to one month’s rent to the tenants, informing them that the new owner intends to move into the property. If the new owner assumes the tenancy, nothing changes as far as rights and responsibilities. You will now pay rent to your new landlord. The last month’s rent that you paid to the previous owner will be transferred to the new owner. If per chance you have not had a rent increase in the last twelve months, the new landlord may opt to raise your rent according to the guidelines set out by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The Landlord and Tenant Board was created by the Residential Tenancies Act and is governed by the RTA. It is here that both landlords and tenants can turn to get factual information and answers to questions they may have, before acting on anything. There have been many difficult stories in the news in the last few years regarding tenants that refuse to leave even when the house has been sold to a new owner. Sellers have had to give the new purchasers a reduction in the cost of the house because they were unable to move in due to the fact that the tenants would not move out. I saw a story on the news in Ottawa. A man sold his house, gave the tenants the proper notification, on the proper forms within the set time frame. Closing day came around and the new owners could not take possession of the house because the tenants refused to leave. The landlord did everything legally possible to get the people to go but they simply would not leave. The paperwork was filed against the tenants but with the Landlord and Tenant Board being so backed up, it takes months and months for a case to snake its way through the system. The landlord in this particular case offered the tenants money to leave. A situation called cash for keys. The tenants were offered $10,000 and a moving truck according to the landlord. When the offered was made, the tenants told the landlord to ‘make a real offer’. This story was aired on CTV Ottawa News in November of 2023. Quite an eye opener. I believe that it was around the same time that rents seemed to skyrocket out of control in Ontario, that landlords wanted tenants out so they could re rent the spaces at a higher cost, and tenants started refusing to leave on mass. This has always been the case to a degree but nothing like what we have seen in the last few years. The rental market is yet another thing adversely affected by Covid-19. There are good and bad on both sides. While the vast majority of tenants are wonderful, there are a few bad apples out there. The same applies to landlords. Most are people you would want to rent from, as they take their responsibilities seriously and treat their properties as the investments they are. However, there are some who don’t take care of their properties and ignore the tenants’ rights. If you do run into a problem when renting, the first place to look would be to the Landlord and Tenant Board. They have a variety of forms and applications for many different situations. It is very important that you follow the letter of the law when it comes to landlord and tenant disputes. If you remain on the right side of the law when dealing with these types of disputes, chances are you’ll come out a winner. It just takes time. Questions? Column ideas? You can email me at newspaper@ocentral.com

A NEW COLUMN THAT PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON COUNCIL

Welcome to my new column in The Central entitled News From City Hall, a weekly look at all that does and doesn’t make sense from the Oshawa Council chamber, a place where decisions are made, personalities collide, and uninspiring theatrics often dominate. I have watched and recorded all aspects of city hall for 40 years, spanning six mayors and an ever-revolving door of councillors too numerous to mention. I have witnessed true statesmen dominate local politics, all the while having to tolerate some who seemed destined to be remembered as nothing more than an opportunistic interference in an otherwise valuable institution. Heroes like Ed Kolodzie and his brother Joe, long-time statesmen like Brian Nicholson, Jim Potticary and John Aker, and of course one or two local embarrassments most people would like to forget, such as Amy England who undoubtedly tops the list. As council returns from their summer recess, some of the issues I hope to be highlighting in future columns include the challenges that surround the downtown such as the struggles being faced by businesses who, on the one hand have seen much of their on-street parking simply disappear, and on the other have witnessed recent violence that is turning the heart of the city into a veritable war zone. Affordable housing initiatives come a close second with major projects such as the Fittings land redevelopment and the Oshawa Clinic transformation into a massive residential complex. Added to the list is the homeless problem, the use of Strong Mayor Powers, and the never ending struggle of Oshawa taxpayers trying to meet the demands of inflation and a voracious city hall always looking for more of your money. The next 12 months will surely be significant for the city and the region as these and other issues play out. COUNCILLOR GIBERSON IN BREACH OF CODE OF CONDUCT Readers will recall last week’s exclusive front page story where The Central was the first news outlet to publish the results of an Integrity Commissioner’s report that found Ward 4 councillor Derek Giberson in breach of the municipal Code of Conduct. This was based on a complaint that I filed earlier this year. The I.C. report found that Giberson, by commenting publicly regarding an issue that will be before the courts, contravened the obligation of elected officials to refrain from remarking on such matters. As such, his post on social media was considered contrary to the Code of Conduct. The report will be made public once Oshawa councillors have had a chance to review it and take action. To that end, I would like to share the following open letter to council that I prepared. “To Mayor Carter and Members of Council – You will soon be giving consideration to a report by the Integrity Commissioner as to one of your members having been found in breach of the Code of Conduct. The decision by councillor Giberson to allow himself the liberty of bringing into question the reputation and character of a private citizen by seeking to cast doubt on that person’s past activities, without any supporting evidence, was an abuse of his office and a total disregard as to the damage it could cause the individual affected. Councillor Giberson assumed far too much in deciding what was or was not “newsworthy” in a matter that will be before the courts. Further, it was not within councillor Giberson’s scope of office to try to affect the public’s opinion of a private individual in the first place. Based on the Integrity Commissioner’s decision, it would seem paramount for council to, not only demand councillor Giberson write a letter of apology to the individual concerned, but to ensure he is sanctioned in such a way as to show the citizens of Oshawa that council, as a whole, does not associate itself with such reckless activity on the part of councillor Giberson. The people of this city will be watching closely as council makes its decisions on this issue.” THIS WEEK IN COUNCIL HISTORY 1988 The Oshawa Times reported on Sept 21 that 300 homeowners were planning to gather at city hall to protest a proposed plaza at the NW corner of King St. and Harmony Rd. 11 Aldermen took turns shooting down the proposal, which was ultimately denied. Ward 3 Alderman Ed Kolodzie suggested a new library be built instead, however a five story Co-op building was eventually erected on the property, now known as the Harmony King Co-op. 1992 The Oshawa Times reported on Sept 17 that Durham Region councillors voted themselves a 4% pay hike over four years. Councillor Margaret Shaw said she was “appalled by the increase” and would refuse it, while councillor Brian Nicholson said “Don’t you realize we have to pay bills and taxes?” The raise would mean an extra $840 per year for councillors. 2018 The Oshawa This Week reported on Sept 19 that 200 people attended an all-candidates meeting for the Durham Regional chair election to be held that year. Candidates included Tom Dingwall, Oshawa Mayor John Henry, John Mutton, Muhammad Ahsin Sahi, and Peter Neal. John Henry would eventually win the election with 55% of the vote.

WHY, IS THE QUESTION TO ASK

1. Why, are municipal councils, school boards, federal & provincial parties, the people we elected, making so many changes to our communities and lives without involving us in theses decisions, after all, we the people are the ones who pay, by way of our taxes, to implement the changes they make? 2. Why, are they creating All Day bus lanes that have little use in off peak hours? 3. Why, are we reducing traffic lanes so restaurants can have outdoor patios, thereby subjecting their patrons to the hazards of exhaust fumes, excessive noise, bicyclists speeding past, cigarette butts & other garbage tossed from windows of passing vehicles? Why should we be concerned of the potential of an accident happening to one of these patios, injuring or killing some of those patrons? 4. Why, are we reducing traffic lanes to create so many bike lanes that have little use most of the time and likely next to no use during winter? 5. Why, are we installing rental areas for manual & electric, bikes & scooters, all over municipalities? 6. Why, are young children in pre-school and elementary grades being subjected to adult topics their young brains have not yet developed enough to comprehend and question? 7. Why, are young children, toddlers to teenagers, being subjected to entertainment that has always been considered Adult Entertainment, minimum age 18 yrs and up? Even the movies we watch have age restrictions and warnings. 8. Why, are young children being taught to question if they really think that they are a boy or a girl? 9. Why is it okay to provide children puberty blockers and then when a teenager, mutilate that child? 10. When did governments birth our children and become their caregivers with no responsibilities? 11. Why, do people, adults think they now have to declare their pronoun? 12. Why or how, does providing so called safe drug sites cure drug addiction and save lives? 13. Why, has common sense and experience been disregarded? 14. Why is one labeled as being racist, homophobic, transphobic etc if they question anything? 15. Why is it called hate if one questions what is happening? 16. Why is electric use for cars, heating, cooking etc being promoted as the salvation of this world? 17. Why did the majority of us accept willingly, without questioning, to believe taking the coved shots and boosters was the only way save the world? 18. Why have all these things been happening around the world at the same time? 19. Why do we believe everything the paid media keeps telling us? 20. Why are we here in Canada not seeing how many other countries are now fighting and rejecting many of these compelled agendas against life as we knew or know it? Write your answers if you have any, to Letters to the Editor Remember, you are not alone, the more you speak up the more others will speak up too. Silence Solves Nothing, It’s Time, To Stand Up, Speak Up For Your Rights, Before They’re Gone. Keep Democracy Alive

Questions Hiring Managers Ask Themselves When Assessing

By Nick Kossovan Readers often ask me for insight into the mysterious and confusing "how employers hire." While the recruitment process—keep in mind there's no universal recruitment process, as every employer assesses candidates differently—may seem shrouded in secrecy, there are common questions that hiring managers consider when evaluating job candidates. Your interviewer won't ask these common questions directly; they're in their mind. Hence, never take your interviewer's questions at face value; try to discern the underlying question. INTERVIEWER: "Do you live nearby?" QUESTION ACTUALLY BEING ASKED: Will this candidate be reliable? INTERVIEWER: "Tell me about a time you were in a conflict with a colleague and how you handled it. What was the outcome?" QUESTION ACTUALLY BEING ASKED: Will this candidate be easy to work with? Understanding, and therefore speaking to, the following four questions on every hiring manager's mind is a sure way to endear yourself to your interviewer. Will this person be a fit with the current team and company? The primary concern for a hiring manager is whether a candidate will seamlessly fit into the company's culture and existing team. Demonstrating how well you'll 'fit in,' you'll significantly increase your odds of getting hired. Employers are looking for more than just someone who can do the job. They're looking for candidates who'll be a natural fit and complement their current employees' work styles and personalities. A candidate who doesn't mesh well with the team will disrupt productivity, create interpersonal tensions, and drain morale. Therefore, understandably, hiring managers pay close attention to a candidate's communication style, emotional intelligence, and teamwork skills. Your interviewer is likely asking themselves: • How well is this [candidate's name] listening and responding to me? • Does [candidate's name] seem like someone who'd be comfortable working in a team? • Will [candidate's name] clash with [names of employees the candidate would be working closely with]? Ultimately, you want your interviewer to envision how you'll function in the existing workplace culture, that who'll be a natural fit, will hit the ground running and not be a square peg in a round hole. Contrary to entitlement-fueled belief, employers aren't responsible for you fitting into their workplace; that responsibility is entirely yours. Will they be easy to work with? (read: Will they be easy to manage?) With so much anti-employer rhetoric nowadays, hiring managers assess more than ever whether a candidate will be pleasant to work with and easy to manage. They want to avoid candidates who'll require handholding, are overly sensitive to feedback, or are simply difficult to work with. Skilled hiring managers recognize red flags such as: • Defensiveness or antagonism in response to questions • Rigid or inflexible thinking • Failure to take accountability for mistakes • Tendency to make excuses or blame others You want to come across as a candidate who's mature, resilient, and a proactive problem-solver with a growth mindset, not someone who'll be a high-maintenance employee. Will they be a liability? Employees are liabilities. Employers want to minimize their liabilities. A critical aspect of hiring is vetting candidates to ensure nothing in their background could adversely affect the company. (e.g., offensive online behaviour, having been let go for cause, exaggerating or lying about their experience and qualifications) Ultimately, hiring managers must be confident that a new hire won't bring any legal, ethical, or behavioural baggage that could expose the company to liability. The company must trust that the chosen candidate will be responsible, hardworking, ethical, and professional and that their outside activities, especially online, will not harm its brand and reputation. Will they stick around? I've yet to meet a hiring manager who doesn't gravitate toward a candidate they feel will be a loyal, engaged, committed long-term employee. After not deeming a candidate a fit, having a feeling or getting the impression that the candidate is only looking for a stepping stone is the second most likely reason I reject a candidate. Onboarding and recruiting are time-consuming and expensive; therefore, employers aim to avoid disruptions and costs associated with turnover. Your interviewer will look for signs that you're genuinely interested in the role and the company as opposed to just a paycheck. Hence, you'll be asked about your long-term career goals and, if you're currently employed, why you're looking for a new job. (Rare is the candidate who answers this convincingly.) Your work ethic, reliability, and ability to handle the role's demands are all qualities you want your interviewer to get a sense of. Provide evidence that you have stamina, the ability to adapt, and the commitment to succeed. Keep in mind employers want to reduce costly turnover as much as possible. Your interviewer will pass on your application if they feel you will be around only briefly. Finding the right candidate isn't about skills and experience; these are secondary. Someone who'll foremost be a loyal and engaged employee and has the right skills and experience is the right candidate. If you feel you're acing interviews ("I aced the interview! I answered every question on point.") but not getting offers, it's likely because you didn't answer the four aforementioned questions every hiring manager asks themselves when interviewing. __________________________________________________________________________ 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

CORPORATE LIES

CORPORATE LIES 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 - We live in dangerous times. Times, when we can’t tell the truth from a lie. A time when honesty and hard work just does not pay as most are holding multiple jobs to just stay a float. We are constantly bombarded by all kind of misinformation. Our minds are controlled and manipulated in such ways that may almost be deemed a form of neurosis. Who can you trust in these ever changing times. Our culture and our traditions are being compromised by forced acceptance in the name of inclusion. In the process deteriorating our standards and our way of life. In the name of convenience we are being forced to a form of mental slavery that if you do not follow you are castigated emotionally, financially and at times legally. For our convenience we must pay service fees. For our convenience we must check out our own items at a supermarket. For our convenience we must go on line instead of in person for many administrative functions. For our convenience we are lied to and forced to fear things that are not real or make sense in many cases. Remember the days, when you would drive in to the local gas station and two sometimes three attendants would come out to pump your gas. They would check your oil, your fluids. Offer you coffee or tea. They would check the tire pressure and be as polite as they could be. Normally they wore some sort of corporate uniform and constantly smiled and assured the best customer service. WHAT HAPPENED? Today for my convenience I must pump my own gas. Check my own tire pressure. Check my own oil. The attendant in many cases a foreigner that barely speaks english with an attitude as if someone had offended him/her by offering them the job they have. This week. I received this email: ‘We care about your safety. Hi Joe, starting September 3, your local Petro-Canada™ stations will require pre-payment for fuel. This means that before you begin fuelling you will be required to pre-pay for fuel at the pump, in-store, or through the Petro-Canada mobile app. We’re making this proactive change to ensure everyone’s safety at our sites, and we expect pre-paying for fuel will reduce the risk of fuel theft. We recognize it may take some time for customers to adapt to the change, site staff will help guide customers through this new process. Thank you.’ Can you believe the attitude? For everyone’s safety!!! You got to be kidding. What a load of lies and deception. 1st. Gas prices are out of reach for many. 2nd. These gas companies are looking to not pay an attendant $20/hr and have the consumers pre-pay without cash. This is despicable. How dare, Petro-Canada treat it’s clients in this way. What is worst is that they are sticking it to us under the false guise of ‘EVERYONE’S SAFETY’. I have a message for Petro-Canada. 1st. I will never shop there ever again. 2nd. I call on all consumers to boycott Petro-Canada to send a clear message to either take cash. Trust the customer to be an honest good person and not demand pre-pay and have pre-pay only as a consumer choice. This must be done before all the other gas stations take the lead and follow suit. We are becoming slaves of corporate greed. ‘Everyone’s safety’. What a load of corporate lies....

Canada and the issue of productivity

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East In the last quarter of century we have observed a slow but continuous deterioration of our living standards. There are many factors that have contributed to this, but one stands out as a major one, and that is the decline in productivity. Today, the majority of Canadians believe that Canada is broken after years of stagnant incomes, affordability challenges, rising crime rates, government failures on basic functions like healthcare and immigration, and a deepening cultural malaise. Productivity refers to how efficiently we use our resources to produce something of value. Productivity growth makes Canada richer, allowing us to access better healthcare, education, living standards, and even environmental outcomes. Decline in productivity is a choice, not a phenomenon that cannot be controlled. Canada can overcome productivity decline through better public policies and political leadership, which are missing in action. It is abundantly clear that Canada’s productivity growth is dismal, but no one in the current political establishment is considering it seriously. Without a drastic change in policy, the OECD forecasts that our productivity growth will rank last among its 38 member countries. Canada’s GDP per capita has advanced more slowly than leading economies in recent years. It has barely reached pre-COVID levels and the gap with the United States has widened. This is strongly linked to a relatively weak productivity growth. A slump in Canada’s resource-sector investment following the 2014 oil-price collapse has been particularly influential in this. Weakening productivity and investment performance echoes longstanding concerns that Canada is tapping less successfully than other economies, into opportunities to increase output through capital investment and innovation in products and processes. A wide range of policy actions can potentially increase business-sector productivity. There are proximate policy levers, such as tax breaks on investment and R&D that deepen capital and technological progress. In addition, there are less direct instruments, such as improvements to infrastructure and market efficiency, and reforms that strengthen vocational education and skills. Influences on market efficiency include competition policy, red tape in setting up businesses and bankruptcy processes. Barriers to foreign direct investment via foreign ownership restrictions continue to be high in Canada relative to those in other OECD countries, particularly in network sectors. For instance, in telecommunications rules state that both ownership and board composition must be at least 80% Canadian in operations with more than a 10% share of the market. Rules applying to the aviation sector also need reconsideration because they are essential to providing better mobility for the work force in a country whose territory is the second largest in the world. Though it has not yet created significant policy issues, teleworking should remain on watch for policymakers. According to Canada’s Labour Force Survey data, as of October 2022, 9% of workers reported that they usually worked both at home and at locations other than home (hybrid working) while 15.8% reported working exclusively from home. A priori, teleworking has widened labour markets and options on where to live. There may also be productivity gains; one survey of Canadian employees has found that 63% of respondents feel they are more productive working from home. The potential downside to teleworking may be losses in productivity from reduced in-person contact. A permanent shift to teleworking may need to be considered in some areas of policy, for instance in transport planning. Data continue to show that movement through transit stations in Canada remains below pre-COVID levels Lowering internal trade barriers remains one of the most effective ways policy can help boost Canada’s productivity and living standards. Canada appears unusual in her lack of universal regulations and technical standards across sub national jurisdictions. This hampers the flow of goods and services and compromises the labour market. Perhaps the best known example is the restriction on the movement of alcohol and tobacco products between provinces. Such barriers extend across many activities, including the dairy sector, engineering, healthcare professionals, legal and accounting services, and many others. The non-recognition of qualifications remains an issue notably in some areas of the healthcare sector and compulsory trades, where only members with the relevant official qualifications (or apprentices) can legally be employed. These include electricians, plumbers and crane operators. The Federal and Provincial governments seem bewildered or are intellectually blocked in dealing with this issue. Evidence continues to mount on the economic cost of internal trade barriers, yet nothing is done to eliminate them; nothing but lip-service.. Furthermore, federal government debt ballooned from $660 billion to $1.37 trillion between 2015 and 2024.. During the same period, the value of machinery and equipment in Canada decreased by 5 percent. Excessive government spending hinders economic growth by crowding out private investment and requiring higher taxes to support increased spending. It leads to a heavier regulatory burdens, which can stifle business activity. Government programs also adjust more slowly to changing economic conditions, reducing economic flexibility. Moreover, larger government expenditures encourage rent-seeking behaviour by businesses, diverting resources from otherwise productive activities. Collectively, these effects reduce productivity and economic growth. Another factor that influences productivity is qualified labour shortages, which cost small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) over $38 billion in lost sales annually. Meanwhile, between 2015 and 2024, federal public-sector employment has grown 43 percent, nearly three times faster than private-sector employment. m Had the federal public sector maintained the same growth rate as the nation’s population, there could potentially be up to 72,000 more workers available for private sector employment. m Assuming two out of three workers were employed by SMEs, and using an average of $450,000 revenue per employee, SMEs could have generated over $21 billion in additional annual revenue. Taxation policy is another tool that influences productivity. In 2016, the federal government raised the highest federal marginal tax rate by 4 percent. Combined with provincial rate increases, seven out of ten provinces now take over 50 percent of marginal earnings in taxes from high-income earners. This gives Canada the fifth-highest combined marginal tax rates among 38 OECD nations. Compared to the United States, our largest competitor for skilled workers, all provinces except Alberta and Saskatchewan have higher marginal tax rates than any U.S. state. These tax hikes have negative consequences besides spending taxpayers’ money on futuristic and useless projects. Every tax increase makes Canadian entrepreneurs think twice about starting companies in Canada. In conclusion, action on productivity is needed immediately. Let us see if the political class is up to the task. For now it is up to you to ask them. This is about our future. Help secure it!

KEEP IT GREEN

By Patricia Conlin During this time of great upheavals, there are many lessons to learn that impact our future ability to adapt and thrive in our work and lives. What are we to do to move forward? How can we begin to see better days ahead you might ask? For some of us, there is a frantic effort to keep going and maintain the status quo that is leading to burn out and increased physical and mental health issues. For others, there is a paralyzing feeling hopeless and experiencing anxiety...which leads us to feel exhausted constantly and only make a marginal effort at work at home or with each other. But there is another approach, a middle path so to speak... I learned some valuable lessons from having a summer garden that have helped me enormously to stay strong and resilient in difficult times. A garden starts with a plan. During all the months of planting, weeding, harvesting and processing my food, I had time to reflect on the problems we are facing in our communities across Canada and how we can unite and work together to solve them. Here are some of the garden lessons that I would like to share with you: Planning: A garden project, like a business, life or community plan, needs to be detailed. Certain plants need more sun, more topsoil or to be separated from other plants. Rotating crops is critical for soil health. The current practice of monocropping is destroying our rich soils just like the practice of limiting view points and respectful dialogue is destroying our communities and stifling free speech and democracy. Gardens just like communities need healthy soil (free speech), a variety of plants (many different people and ideas) and constant attention and love. 2 Sowing: It is always incredible to witness tiny seed growing into large fruit bearing plants. Be careful which seeds you sow and how often you tend to them. Are you wasting time sowing only one kind of seed in difficult soil that may not grow? Are you providing the seeds the things it needs to grow well like sun and water… - a strong relationship built on trust and a mutual respect with regular value added contact? 3 Weeding: During the summer the weeds became terrible. But the weeds need to be removed as they choke out plants cause the harvest to suffer or even be killed. Like weeds in our garden, our own negative and limiting thoughts and emotions are “weeds” that keep us from achieving our true potential or even enjoying the blessings of each day. As I gardened this summer, I challenged my emotions and reminded myself to be grateful and keep going. As I plucked out my own “weeds”, I felt my energy and fighting spirit returning. I returned to the garden and saw the lesson of how pulling weeds allowed our plants to thrive. We need to all get rid of your own weeds so our lives can thrive again. Let’s stop feeling overwhelmed in small steps and focus on rebuilding momentum towards our goals. Your weeds could be self-limiting beliefs, a difficult relationship, feeling loneliness or depression or bad habits like eating too much junk food or not exercising. Whatever your weeds are right now, identify them and rip them out of your life! 4 Learning new Techniques in the garden: I have learned how to pickle, ferment and properly store vegetables and how to make delicious sauce from tomato crops in the past. I have learned how to freeze dry food for long term storage and how to cook new recipes using the bounty of the garden. And just like the plants in the garden, learning in life keeps us growing too. Whether it is a craft or wood-working project, a course or even reading a new book, keeping learning in our lives keeps us healthy and strong. I started learning archery and find it very fun. What are you learning right now? 5 Enjoying the Bounty: Sometimes in gardening, like in life, we get into work mode and forget to celebrate each day. When you bite into a fresh cucumber or savour a fresh bean, pea or tomato, you realize that it is worth all the effort. I made sure to enjoy the bounty from our summer garden by trying out new recipes each week with my veggies and taking time to “smell the roses” so to speak with the miracle of growing food. When it comes to our life , we need enjoy our bounty as well. Like celebrating a family birthday, appreciating the neighbour’s flowers, taking a walk in a serene forest or thanking the checkout clerk at the local grocery store-are all ways to stop into gratitude and enjoy the “bounty’ of our lives no matter what stresses might be impacting us. 6 Storing Food from the garden: With some of the extra food from my garden, I have looked into ways to store it for the winter. Vegetables like potatoes and onions can last several months if stored properly in a cool dark place We are all used to having grocery stores to provide a large and diverse supply of food and we have refrigerators and freezers to store it. But learning to store up during tough times is still a good lesson. When my father was young, his family was very poor as he grew up during World War 2. His family had a large vegetable garden and a cold cellar in the basement. If they didn’t learn how to properly store food in the winter, they wouldn’t have enough to eat. I remember him telling me how he learned to store potatoes in sand and how one year he allowed the potatoes to touch each other causing rot. This meant his family didn’t have enough potatoes for the winter and he never forgot the lesson. It is always a good lesson to store up during difficult times. We can reduce our overheads and expenses and learn to do things ourselves instead of outsourcing. We can avoid overspending and waste. Learning to store up a bit for tough times can include all bounty including money as well given the uncertainty in the economy. What areas of your life can you take care of by storing up this Fall? 7 Saving and using your own seeds: The miracle of gardening is the same as the miracle of life. Despite our moods, our doubts, the weather set-backs and predators of all kinds, there is always a miraculous bounty if you put in the hard work. What I learned from my experience as a gardener is that we often toss out our seeds instead of saving and using them in upcoming seasons. I started saving seeds a few years ago and it has made all the difference. Imagine taking a small portion of your beans and letting them dry out then saving the seeds and planting them the next season. This is unbelievably impowering and also saves us money and produces fresher bounty the next season. But most people throw out the plants including their seeds that they don’t want instead of saving them. This applies ourselves too as most people throw away their own “seeds” or ideas before they even make an effort to “plant” them or take action to make them happen! What “seeds” or talents do you possess that you can use to build success for next season? Think of what you are naturally good at, what you are passionate about, what interests you have. Then blend those “seeds” with your efforts. Plant your own seeds regularly and make sure to follow up with nurturing care. Having a summer garden has been enormously rewarding. Even though the work is significant, the joy is great as well. The garden taught me many lessons but first and foremost it taught me about the balance of all season. As members of a community here in Durham, we need to find the balance between the push to succeed and the joy of the journey, so that we can maintain momentum and plant the seeds of success for Durham and our own families in future seasons. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” Lao Tzu “ To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” Audrey Hepburn

Concerns Over Election Interference: Truth or Misinformation?

By Dale Jodoin As the United States gears up for its next presidential election, familiar concerns are once again bubbling to the surface. With campaigns in full swing, the media and government are issuing warnings about potential interference from foreign powers—particularly Russia. Similar fears are being echoed in other democratic nations like Canada. But are these warnings grounded in reality, or are they just part of a larger narrative pushed by certain groups? Let’s take a closer look. For several years now, accusations of Russian interference in U.S. elections have made headlines. These claims assert that Russian-backed groups are using social media, fake news, and cyber-attacks to influence how Americans vote. The goal, according to these claims, is to weaken Western democracies by sowing division and confusion among voters. But not everyone buys into this narrative. Many conservative media outlets and their supporters argue that the mainstream media is exaggerating the threat of Russian interference. They claim that the accusations are being used as a convenient excuse to discredit conservative candidates—especially those who push back against liberal agendas. “It's laughable,” said one commentator on an independent news platform, dismissing the idea that Russia is the primary cause of division in the U.S. “Most of the media today are left-wing, and they’re the ones pushing these stories. They don't like conservative voters or conservative candidates, and they're trying to blame their unpopularity on outside interference.” A key criticism coming from the right is that most of the mainstream media in the U.S. leans heavily to the left. This means that conservative voices are often underrepresented or dismissed. The claim that Russian interference is primarily aimed at supporting conservative candidates or stoking support for figures like Donald Trump is viewed with suspicion by many on the right. “They’re not concerned about Russian interference; they’re concerned about conservative voters,” one political analyst said. “The media are trying to make it look like any conservative victory is illegitimate. But the truth is, people are voting for conservative policies because they’re tired of the direction the country is heading under left-wing leadership.” This perspective paints a different picture from the mainstream narrative. According to this view, the real problem isn't foreign interference but rather a media landscape that’s hostile to conservative viewpoints. One of the most polarizing figures in recent U.S. politics is Vice President Kamala Harris. Critics argue that the media has portrayed her in an overly positive light, despite what they see as her poor performance in office. Harris was given the task of managing the U.S.-Mexico border crisis, a responsibility that critics say she has failed at. “The border has never been in worse shape,” a conservative commentator noted. “Millions of people have crossed into the U.S. illegally, and yet the media is telling us that Harris is one of the greatest vice presidents in history. It’s all spin—they’re pushing her as the future because Biden isn’t living up to the hype, but people can see through it.” Some conservative commentators argue that Harris is being promoted simply because she checks certain identity boxes, rather than because of her track record in office. They claim that the media is trying to build her up as a potential presidential candidate, despite her lack of significant accomplishments. “The media has been lying about her performance from day one,” one critic argued. “They’re setting her up to replace Biden because he’s not popular anymore. But the truth is, people aren’t buying it. They don’t want her because of her policies, not because she’s a woman.” On the other side of the political spectrum, former President Donald Trump and his supporters have been labeled as the victims of misinformation campaigns. This has led to accusations that Trump voters are being misled by Russian-backed propaganda. But many Trump supporters reject this claim outright, arguing that they are informed and capable of making their own decisions. “The idea that we’re being tricked by Russian propaganda is insulting,” said one supporter. “We vote for Trump because we believe in what he stands for—lower taxes, stronger borders, and America first. It has nothing to do with Russia.” Some conservative commentators go even further, accusing the left-wing media of using the “Russia” narrative to avoid addressing the real reasons for Trump’s continued popularity. “They can’t admit that people like Trump’s policies, so they try to blame it on foreign interference,” one analyst remarked. “But the truth is, people are tired of the left’s agenda, and they want real change.” As the debate over election interference rages on, many people are turning away from mainstream media outlets in favor of smaller, independent news platforms. These outlets, which often lean more conservative, argue that they are the ones telling the real story. “Our readers come to us because they’re tired of the lies from the big corporations,” said an editor of a small, independent newspaper. “We don’t have a political agenda—we just report the facts. The truth is, the left has been manipulating the narrative for years, and people are finally waking up to it.” This shift toward independent media has created a divide in the information landscape. On one side, you have the mainstream outlets, which continue to warn about foreign interference and the dangers of disinformation. On the other side, you have smaller platforms that argue that the real problem lies with the media itself. As the 2024 election approaches, the debate over election interference is unlikely to go away. On one side, you have those who believe that foreign powers like Russia are actively working to undermine democracy. On the other side, you have those who argue that the real interference is coming from within—specifically, from a biased media that’s out of touch with the average voter. At the end of the day, it will be up to voters to decide what they believe. But one thing is clear: the information landscape has never been more divided, and the stakes have never been higher. In Canada and the U.S., where democratic values are central to the nation's identity, it’s important for voters to sift through the noise and seek out the truth for themselves. Whether that truth comes from mainstream outlets or independent platforms, it’s essential that citizens stay informed and engaged as they prepare to head to the polls. For now, though, the debate continues—on social media, in newspapers, and on television screens across the world.

Compulsory Certification is the answer

Jesus Was a Tradesperson By Murray Strong

Compulsory certification is the answer. I am trying to understand the position of the Ontario government concerning skilled trades. Is it discrimination? Is it racist? Is it a way to keep young people trapped in poverty? Is it an immigrant issue? Maybe the politicians do not care about the skilled trades people except at election time, or when their toilet overflows. Quebec is a province that cares about its people. Maybe it’s a religious upbringing or they want the young French people to have a life career. Quebec government knows how important employing skilled trades means to the economy. THEY MADE CARPENTRY A COMPULSORY TRADE!! My wish is Ontario treat apprentices with respect if you want young people to become the needed workforce to keep the province moving forward. When I researched how immigrants where brought into Canada under the foreign worker program, I was in shock. If a friend or family member lives in Ontario and has a small business the door is open. The friend (employer) spends $10,000.00 per worker to cover the cost of airfare and other expenses which the government will refund. New employee becomes a slave. Never late for work. Do everything you are told or a call to the government that things are not working out sends you home. One paycheck entitles you to a Canada Pension for life good anywhere in the world. Canada Health Act makes Ontario give new employee health care. Workers comp covers any accident. Government helps poor suffering employer with a wage subsidy. After a few months you apply to live in Canada. No need to pay some scam idiot in your country to get you in, just call yourself some kind of skilled worker. They are doing nothing wrong and it’s perfectly legal. I think it’s time someone minding the store has heard the unemployment level for young people .14 % is disgusting for a country. Shame on you. Employ Canadians and immigrants. Remember God is watching how you treat his family. Thank you. Denny Crane

Canada Should Take a Page from Kamala Harris’s Small Business Playbook

By Daryl Ching, CFA | Managing Partner Vistance Capital Advisory Since being announced as the Democratic Nominee, Kamala Harris has made a splash and most notably, she has demonstrated a keen interest in encouraging startups and small businesses in the United States. She has set a goal of 25 million new small business applications for her first term in office. To achieve that goal, she has made a number of proposals: · Increase the tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000 for costs of starting a small business · Develop standard deduction to help save small-business owners time when filing taxes · Reduce barriers to occupational licenses to for works in trades across state lines or for businesses to expand to other states · Initiate a small business expansion fund to enable community banks to cover interest costs when emerging enterprises are trying to expand · Harris had pledged one-third of federal contract dollars go to small businesses by expanding opportunities in rural areas and underserved communities While these are campaign promises and may not necessarily materialize, Harris is clearly an advocate of entrepreneurs and is looking to facilitate a record number of small businesses startups during her first term. Her tone clearly suggests she wants a country that strongly supports business startups. By contrast, with the exception of the Canadian Entrepreneur’s Incentive (policy which reduces the capital gains inclusion rate for an exit of up to $2MM), which really was a minor offset to an announcement to increase capital gains tax inclusion, there is no new federal policy that substantively helps small businesses thrive in Canada. In fact, the latest policies of increasing the capital gains inclusion rate and the shutting down of the CDAP (Canada Digital Adoption Program) have made things more difficult for small businesses in 2024. While the Bank of Canada has started to ease interest rates, corporate loans are still priced at over 9% interest for profitable small businesses and remain far off from pre-COVID rates. The Canadian government should consider a policy like what Harris is proposing – creating a fund for banks to provide relief on interest costs for small business loans. This would thaw the debt markets and make them more accessible to Canadian businesses. It is unsettling to see that the ease of starting a business continue to diverge between Canada and the US. It will not be a surprise to see Canadian business owners pack up and move south of the border if they haven’t already. We certainly hope our federal government will take a look at the proposals put forward by Kamala Harris and consider taking a page out of her playbook. About Daryl Ching Daryl Ching is the founder and owner of Vistance Capital Advisory, providing accounting, capital raising and fractional CFO services to SMEs. He has over 10 years of investment banking experience, starting his career at RBC Capital Markets where he structured multi-billion-dollar transactions moving to smaller investment banks where he completed smaller debt and equity transactions in various asset classes. After leaving investment banking, Daryl started to work with small businesses as a CFO preparing financial statements, strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, and raising capital through investors and banks. Mr. Ching has been well recognized as an expert in structured finance, making numerous appearances on the Business News Network and has been quoted in major newspapers and magazines across Canada. Mr. Ching completed the Honors Economics Program at the University of Western Ontario and is a CFA Charterholder.

Do We Need to Live with Frequent Pandemics?

By W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford A pandemic, the rapid spread of infectious disease worldwide, is supposed to be a rare thing, right? In the 20th Century, we went decades without such problems. But was COVID-19 the beginning of more frequent unwelcome viral visitors? How attentive do we need to be to warnings of new viral diseases with different names? The World Health Organization has declared the latest outbreak of Mpox to be a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” It’s hard to tell if that means “Now listen here, get ready for another wallop,” or if we can safely go about our business with hope all will be well enough. Given the WHO issued the same alert about an Mpox outbreak in July 2022, and then lifted the alarm in May 2023, one wonders if issuing warnings has the unintended consequence of fueling complacency. But if Mpox becomes another pandemic, let’s pray that health authorities do not repeat the same tragic error. They must not completely shut down our society and the economy. We know how to adopt sound hygienic measures and that vaccines can be effective. We have yet to learn, however, that most people could do more to protect themselves against viral infections by taking common sense approaches to protect themselves. For one example, it's stark negligence that health authorities don’t advocate more clearly about what people can do to build up and maintain stronger immune systems. Now, it appears that a new strain of Mpox will test our fortitude. Experts say the new variant made its initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Then a traveller probably carried the virus to Europe, where Sweden reported a case of Mpox. What should you know about Mpox? Infectious disease experts say it’s a close relative of the smallpox virus and that there are two different types, called clade I and clade II, the latter of which was responsible for the outbreak in 2022. Clade I causes the most serious symptoms and is responsible for a higher rate of deaths. And this is the strain that is presently on the move. What are the symptoms of Mpox? Initially, it presents similar to a common cold. But then a raised rash appears on the face, mouth, hands, legs, feet, or the genitals, easy to confuse with measles or chickenpox. Anyone in close physical contact with another person who has contracted Mpox is at risk. Contact with bedsheets or clothes of an infected person also enable transfer of the virus. Experts say there is an incubation period ranging from 3-21 days before symptoms appear. Are we going to see a running count of new cases reported on the nightly news? It’s only a matter of time before all countries report more cases. Fortunately, there are vaccines. The Mpox virus is closely related to the smallpox virus and existing vaccines for smallpox are proving effective in preventing infection from each of the strains of Mpox. That’s good news. But keep in mind, these vaccines are for prevention, and if the spread of disease is faster than the production of vaccine, we will have another problem. For now, only those people who are at risk of exposure are advised to get vaccinated. How can people protect themselves when the disease is spreading globally? To start, be careful about that lengthy incubation period when symptoms are absent but close contact can transmit the virus. Stay loyal to one sexual partner. Demand the same in return. Warnings about viral pandemics are not the time for playing around. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Jesus Was a Tradesperson

By Murray Strong Compulsory Certification is the answer Compulsory Certification is the answer. $260,000,000.00 more to set up training in the Skills Development Fund (SDF). Nice mone. I believe the total invested in this group is $1,400,000,000.00 since 2021. My opinion is we need more action and less talk. The SDF offers funding to organizations for innovative projects that address challenges to hiring, training or retaining workers including apprentices to drive Ontario’s economic growth. My question to Premier Ford is where is the other $260,000,000.00 from the employers? I have heard all the hard luck stories about the cost to train a Canadian citizen. Everyone in Canada knows we need 3.5 million new homes and another 500,000 new citizen’s arriving and looking for somewhere to live. The government believes it can entice foreign skilled trades to come to Canada and work for less money. BC is trying this crazy idea. A company wants to bring in cheap labor . A foreign citizen wants to get into Canada to live. The company tells government this new employee is a superstar. New employee owes his life to the employer. New employee works for half the normal wage rate. Canadian citizens walk away from the trades because the wages are driven down. Employer gets rich. Sweet deal. Alberta is years ahead of Ontario in skilled training. They know the importance to treating skilled trades with respect. Construction Ontario Training and Resource Centre states carpenters are the back bone of construction projects as the housing market continue to boom, skilled carpenters adept at both traditional and modern construction methods are in high demand . Number two behind electricians. The public should know Ontario has 140 skilled trades but only 23 are important . The rest are just common workers. Trailer trash. Jesus wants justice for carpenters. Add to the 23 like Alberta has done. Maybe God will forgive your insult to his family. Thank you. Denny Crane

Bring Your Tax Dollars Home: A Call for Fairness in Canadian Tax Spending

By Dale Jodoin In today's world, Canada is known for its fairness and generosity. We pride ourselves on welcoming people from all corners of the globe, whether they come here legally or are seeking refuge. But with all the good that we do, it's important to take a closer look at how we spend our tax dollars, especially when billions of those dollars are leaving the country each year. Could we be doing more with that money right here at home? This article explores the idea of keeping more of our tax dollars in Canada, making them work harder for everyone, including the newcomers who arrive on our shores. The Outflow of Canadian Tax Dollars Every year, Canada sends billions of dollars abroad in the form of foreign aid, international development projects, and contributions to global organizations. In 2023, Canada's official development assistance (ODA) alone amounted to approximately $6.6 billion. This money is intended to help developing countries with things like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. It’s part of our commitment to being a responsible global citizen. But while we're sending all this money overseas, we're also seeing a growing number of people coming to Canada from many of these same countries. Some come seeking better opportunities, while others are fleeing conflict and persecution. According to the 2023 immigration statistics, over 400,000 people immigrated to Canada legally, and thousands more arrived as refugees or claimed asylum. These new Canadians contribute to our economy and enrich our communities, but they also need support—housing, healthcare, education, and jobs. The Case for Keeping More Money in Canada Given these numbers, one has to wonder: would it not be better if we kept more of our tax dollars here at home? Couldn’t we use that money to improve the services that Canadians rely on every day? Imagine if a portion of the billions we send abroad were invested in affordable housing, healthcare, and education right here in Canada. These investments would benefit all Canadians, including the newcomers who come here seeking a better life. For instance, consider the issue of affordable housing. According to the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC), over 1.6 million Canadian households are in "core housing need," meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing that may not even meet basic standards of adequacy or suitability. If we redirected just a fraction of our foreign aid budget to building affordable housing, we could significantly reduce this number and ensure that everyone, including new immigrants and refugees, has a safe and affordable place to live. Similarly, our healthcare system is under strain. With an aging population and increasing demands on services, many Canadians are facing longer wait times for surgeries and other medical procedures. In 2023, the average wait time for medically necessary treatment was over 22 weeks, according to the Fraser Institute. If more of our tax dollars were kept in Canada, we could invest in reducing these wait times, ensuring that everyone gets the care they need when they need it. Balancing Global Responsibility with National Needs Now, it's important to be clear: this isn't about turning our backs on the rest of the world. Canada has a long history of helping those in need, and that shouldn't change. But there is a balance to be struck between our global responsibilities and the needs of our own citizens. We need to ask ourselves if our current spending priorities are the best way to achieve that balance. Are we doing enough to ensure that our tax dollars are being used efficiently and effectively? Could we achieve the same humanitarian goals by focusing more on domestic projects that also benefit our global commitments? For example, instead of sending money abroad to build schools in other countries, why not focus on improving education here at home, and then offering scholarships or exchange programs to students from those countries? This way, we’re still contributing to global education while also strengthening our own educational institutions. Supporting Newcomers with Canadian Tax Dollars It's also worth considering how these changes could benefit the very people we aim to help with our foreign aid. Many immigrants and refugees come from countries that receive Canadian aid, but once they arrive here, they face the same challenges as other Canadians—finding affordable housing, accessing healthcare, and securing good jobs. By keeping more of our tax dollars in Canada, we could provide better support for these newcomers. We could ensure that they have access to the services they need to thrive in their new home. This, in turn, would help them contribute more fully to our economy and society. For instance, the government could use the money to expand programs that help newcomers integrate into Canadian society, such as language classes, job training, and settlement services. These programs are essential for helping immigrants and refugees become self-sufficient and successful members of our community. A Fair Deal for Canadians In conclusion, the idea of keeping more of our tax dollars at home isn't about being selfish or turning away from the world. It's about making sure that our tax dollars are used in the most effective and efficient way possible. It's about ensuring that all Canadians—whether they were born here or came here seeking a better life—have access to the services and opportunities they need to succeed. Canada will always be a country that cares about the world. But we also need to care about our own citizens and ensure that we're getting the best value for our tax dollars. By rethinking how we spend our money, we can build a stronger, fairer Canada for everyone.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS DEAD

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 - For the last 30 years. The newspaper industry has gone through some major transformations. I remember the introduction of desk top publishing. When computer first came out. No, one could afford one or knew how to operate one. Most publishing houses still used the old big over head light and wax set ups. The super print shops had electronic presses away from the old mechanical ones. I remember The Central first issue. It was put together by the folks that operated the big old press in Bowmanville. Every time they turned on the press. The whole building would rattle. Since those days. Computers appeared to take over. Those that did not adapt. Went out of business. I remember the Whitby Free Press. An antiquated press. Owners that did not really want to keep publishing. I approached them to buy them out and they would not budge. Today they are gone much like The Oshawa Times, Metroland and a slew of small newspapers that had no real direction or clue on what they were doing. Today, with the internet in every home. The newspaper industry seen it’s final challenge. Everyone predicted without knowing that the internet would replace hard copy. In part it did for a very short while. For the publishers that did not understand the science behind the net. They fell victims of their own ignorance. At the Central. We are experts in the technology. We, were one of two companies that brought the Internet to Durham. We seen the trends and the direction the internet is going. The internet in it’s infancy... was primitive and had limited use. With the introduction of browsers. The internet took a whole new life. Purpose. This is where the commercialization started. The browsers brought about the chats. From that point on. The internet began a bonanza for some and the downfall of the internet. Today, the internet is nothing short of a communications public toilet. From the millions of scams. To the never ending advertising. The internet has become a dangerous, unreliable place. Today, social media appears to be the new way for many municipalities have chosen to post important notices and events. This is in clear contravention of the Ontario Municipal Act. An Act that was set forth to safeguard from municipalities becoming the media and practicing censorship. The original intent of the act was to keep municipalities, accountable and transparent. An arms length away from becoming media. The act is clear in it stipulates that municipalities need to publish public notices in a newspaper that prints at least once a week in the local economy. Many Durham municipalities have confused and or altered the interpretation to only posting online and calling it wrongfully publishing. Leaving that aside. Look at any municipal postings on social media. Look at the comments, likes and or views. Minimal at best. Why? Most people do not go on line to look up notices. Many do not have or can afford the internet or a computer. Many seniors do not know how to navigate social media or very complex web site. Have you ever tried going on any municipal web sites. Impossible to find anything. Social media and the internet will soon transform. You will have to pay for the internet and much like TV channels. You will have to pay for the use of browsers...Commercial/informative/business/science and so on. This will be the death of the internet much like cable TV was the death the open to air broadcasting. Stay tunes.

Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Waste Recycling, 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 that 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 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. We could facilitate and capitalize on the rapid evolution this science is likely to undergo if we work at developing it. Look at the example of the rapid strides made in electronics. In just a few decades we have progressed from the invention of the transistor to the very sophisticated integrated circuits and nanotechnologies which enjoy a broad range of applications in our daily lives 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 or ideas on miniaturizing nuclear reactors, for vehicle use for example. Such reactors would certainly be better for powering vehicles that the proposed batteries. This suggestion may seem far-fetched, but there is evidence that it is possible. The first nuclear submarine, for example, was created in the middle of the last century. In the early 1950’s, regardless of the challenges faced in developing and operating brand-new technology, Admiral Rickover and his team did not disappoint. They created 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. Therefore, I say, it is time to do some research in this direction right here in the Durham region. To do that, however, we need vision, political will and expertise, all of which is badly lacking in Canada at this time. Imagine having a car that will run for years without needing a fill up! My thinking may be well ahead of its time, but I hope that the future will vindicate me. Anyway, there are some signs that nuclear energy is in the spot light again, although not for the right reasons. Politicians promoting the use of electrical vehicles have mounted pressure for nuclear energy as an answer to the 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 those 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. Then, in a move likely unnoticed by most Ontarians, the province has inched closer to quite a change in energy policy. Witness the City of Pickering, which was posed to fully support the dismantling of the Pickering plant in 2020, is now enthusiastic to refurbish it. What an about face in a few short years, by the same people on Pickering Council! Doesn’t their deep expertise amaze you? Of course, nobody seems to be talking or even thinking about the recycling of spent nuclear fuel at any level of government. They seem oblivious to this national treasure in full view. All the most vociferous so-called experts are ready to burry the spent nuclear fuel. Experts in political science rather than nuclear science, they burry their heads in the proverbial sand when they advocate for burying spent fuel. Today we have the technology to recycle spent fuel, thus reducing its radioactivity and getting far more energy out of it. Over the last decade, my own efforts as an MP and Professional Engineer, an endangered species in the House of Commons in Canada; and especially the efforts of Professor Emeritus Peter Ottensmeyer have been ignored. For the record, Peter Ottensmeyer is Professor Emeritus, past Chair of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His educational background is in engineering physics and metallurgy with a postgraduate education in solid state physics and biophysics. The bureaucrats from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) continue to blindly pursue the idea of burying the spent fuel even thought the Nuclear Fuel Act has a provision for a: “Change in Approach Marginal note: New approach — technical innovation 20 (2) If a new technological method is developed that has been the subject of a scientific and technical review by experts from international governmental organizations that deal with nuclear matters and has received their support, the waste management organization may propose, in its triennial report, a new approach for the management of nuclear fuel waste that is based on that new method.”Isn’t it time for Canada to become a leader in the nuclear field once again, by recycling the spent nuclear fuel rather than burying it? We are sitting on a treasure trove in Pickering, and these clowns call it waste! 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, despite MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy’s former lack of enthusiasm, is also noted. 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. 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 levels 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!