Showing posts with label Blacklivesmatter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blacklivesmatter. Show all posts
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Getting a Boost of Energy, Naturally
SHALL WE DANCE?
SHALL WE DANCE?
By Wayne and Tamara
I just happened to bump into you guys virtually, and must say it was a pleasure! While reading through questions posted online, I realized I had one myself! So here I go.
I hail from India, and as you may know, Indians have a concept of arranged marriages, which I don’t really feel comfortable with. But I am 25 now, and though I’ve been in relationships in the past, I am single at present. So, my parents are on the lookout for a suitable guy for me.
I don’t have much choice because falling into a relationship is kind of slow here in India. People here are very different with regard to relationships as compared to the West. But I would like to find someone for myself rather than going into an arranged thing.
A few days back I met a friend’s friend via a social networking site. I had heard a lot about him from my friends, so I initiated things by sending him a message. He was sweet and prompt and asked me how I knew our mutual friend. We’ve been communicating via short messages ever since.
My question: how can I initiate a deeper relationship with him, though not necessarily too fast? I need to get to know him more as I think he is a great guy. I am by nature a little conservative, so I can’t really take bolder steps like asking for his number. Also, I would prefer not to involve our friend in this.
I don’t want to come around too strong. Should I continue messaging for a few more days? In his last message he said on business he quite often passes by the area where I live.
Daya
Daya, shall we dance? That’s the question posed by a song in the musical “The King And I.” Shall we dance…knowing there are usually many entries on a woman’s dance card before she finds the perfect partner? Shall we dance…knowing that many dances end with the thank you which means goodbye? Shall we dance…knowing that the dance always brings uncertainty?
Yes, let us dance. Let us dance, because the dance may end with us in the arms of the one we can dance through life with. Let us dance, says the song, “on the clear understanding that this kind of thing can happen.”
This man, with a little prompting, noticed you across a crowded dance floor. Your eyes met, and now you wonder, what next? You are a little reserved. He may be, too, because no male seeks to be rejected by a woman.
That’s why a woman waiting to be asked might gently sway her shoulders to the music, indicating she would love to dance. A small signal, perhaps, but enough to make a man start forward. He may still pass by, she knows, but most likely he hopes to take her hand and lead her to the floor.
An inner thing moves two people who can dance happily and comfortably together for the rest of their lives. That’s what dating seeks to learn. A man has said, “I often pass by where you are.” Can you come forward a little, too? Can you mention the café where you take coffee or that you like Chinese food? Can you make an opening so he can ask?
You need not say much or be bolder than your nature, but gently let him know what you may welcome as the next step. Just as you know you look good in certain colors, throw a soft focus on your approachability quotient. Make a small inroad. Give yourself a chance.
That’s not pursuing or chasing. It’s being available and open. It’s being able to acknowledge you are willing to dance. It’s coming forward so another can come forward, if he is drawn to you. Shall we dance? Yes.
Wayne & Tamara
Tax Efficient RRSP Withdrawal Strategies
Tax Efficient RRSP Withdrawal Strategies
By Bruno M. Scanga
Deposit Broker, Insurance & Investment Advisor
Many Canadians diligently contribute to their Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) throughout their working years, aiming for a comfortable retirement. However, when it comes to withdrawing these funds, the strategy isn’t always straightforward. For some, tapping into their RRSPs earlier than traditional retirement age can offer significant tax benefits and financial flexibility.
Why Consider Early RRSP Withdrawals? The conventional wisdom suggests deferring RRSP withdrawals to delay taxes as long as possible. Yet, this approach might not be best for everyone. Withdrawing funds during years when you’re in a lower tax bracket can reduce your overall tax burden. This strategy, sometimes referred to as an “RRSP meltdown,” involves strategically drawing down your RRSP before mandatory withdrawals kick in at age 71.
By accessing your RRSP funds between ages 60 and 70, you can decrease the account’s size before it’s converted into a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). This proactive approach can lead to smaller mandatory withdrawals later, potentially keeping you in a lower tax bracket and preserving more of your retirement income.
Early RRSP withdrawals can also influence government benefits. For instance, the Old Age Security (OAS) pension has a claw back mechanism for higher-income retirees. By reducing your RRSP balance earlier, you might avoid or lessen this claw back. Additionally, for lower-income individuals, early withdrawals could help in qualifying for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), which provides added support to those who need it most.
Another advantage of accessing RRSP funds early is the opportunity to transfer them into a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). While you’ll pay taxes upon withdrawal from the RRSP, once the funds are in a TFSA, they can grow tax-free. This setup offers greater flexibility for future expenses, such as medical costs or helping family members financially.
For couples, early RRSP withdrawals can be particularly beneficial. Imagine both partners have large RRSPs. If one partner passes away, the surviving spouse inherits the RRSP funds, potentially resulting in a significant tax liability due to higher mandatory withdrawals from a larger RRIF. By each partner drawing down their RRSPs earlier, they can manage and possibly reduce the combined tax impact in the future.
While there are clear benefits to early RRSP withdrawals, it’s essential to approach this strategy thoughtfully. Withdrawing funds means paying taxes sooner and potentially missing out on the tax-deferred growth those funds would have enjoyed. Therefore, it’s crucial to assess your current financial situation, future income expectations, and retirement goals.
When Interviewing, Leave Something Behind
When Interviewing,
Leave Something Behind
By Nick Kossovan
An interview I conducted over 15 years ago has stayed with me ever since. I was filling a Team Leader position for a QA team of 12 representatives. The candidate interviewed "okay"—almost textbook-like—at best a "Meh!" However, what stuck with me was that when I walked them back to reception, they handed me a manila envelope.
"Reports and a document support what I just told you."
I took the envelope, had them sign out, and moved on to the next candidate. On my way to the boardroom, I dropped the envelope on my desk. When I returned to my office after a day of back-to-back interviews, the envelope was staring at me. Curiosity got the better of me, so I opened it before checking my emails or voicemails.
The envelope contained the candidate's latest performance appraisal and four months' worth of reports, with confidential numbers blacked out. I was impressed; no candidate had ever provided evidence to support their claims about themselves. As someone who has conducted hundreds of interviews, I find that most candidates are unmemorable. However, this candidate stood out because they proactively backed up their claims with evidence, thereby reducing the risk of hiring them by proving they were genuine.
I don't remember how many candidates I interviewed for the QA Team Leader position—probably six or seven—but I do remember calling only this candidate to arrange lunch with the team. (I firmly believe candidates for leadership roles should spend time with the team they'll be leading.)
Yes, they got the job.
When job searching, your primary goal is to do everything possible to make yourself memorable. When you're scheduled for an interview, whether in person or via video, ask yourself: What can I leave behind or email as proof of my skills, experience, and commitment to success?
Ask any employer, and they'll tell you that more than ever, the job market is full of bad actors talking a good game. Understandably, employers are often apprehensive about a candidate's ability to 'walk their talk.' A leave-behind—essentially an addendum to your resume and LinkedIn profile—is an effective tactic that can dispel any lingering doubts your interviewer may have about your candidacy.
Leave-behind suggestions:
A portfolio
A curated collection of work samples offers concrete proof of skills and achievements. In creative professions such as graphic design, photography, and architecture, a portfolio is a standard requirement. Still, you can create a portfolio for almost any role, whether in software development, journalism, or various finance positions. Having a portfolio, especially when interviewing outside the "creative" fields, is a rarely used job search tactic that'll have you stand out from other candidates.
Productivity Reports
Which candidate is more likely to get hired, the one who talks about their productivity or the one who provides evidence? In my world, call centre management, productivity reports are standard, just as they are in sales, business development, investment banking, quality assurance, marketing, and social media management, to name a few professions.
Leaving behind recent productivity reports proves your ability to deliver results, adds credibility to your candidacy and reduces the risk of hiring you.
Recent Performance Review
I've used this strategy several times. Trust me, it works!
One question your interviewer will have lingering in their mind is, "Is this person manageable?" Leaving behind your latest performance review—provided it supports that you're a stellar employee—proactively answers this question.
360 Review
Once, I was competing—don't kid yourself, a job search is a competition—for a job I really wanted. I knew I faced stiff competition; therefore, I needed an ace. The morning after my interview, over breakfast, I had an ah-ha! moment. Months earlier, my employer, a large financial institution, had conducted 360 reviews. My approval rating was 86%, significantly higher than the average of 73%. My ace was my 360 review results! I couriered my results to my interviewer. The next afternoon, I received a call to schedule a second interview.
If you have a 360 review that praises your leadership abilities, that's gold! Share it!
Testimonials
Establish your credibility and trustworthiness by incorporating one of marketing's best practices and leave behind testimonials (aka, social proof). Solicit testimonials from anyone familiar with your work, such as colleagues, vendors, managers, and customers. Print them and present them to your interviewer. Don't underestimate the influence that other people's opinions, even strangers, can have on your interviewer when they're considering whether to move forward with your candidacy.
120-Day Plan
New employee honeymoon periods are a thing of the past. Today, employers look for candidates who can hit the ground running. Providing your interviewer with a detailed breakdown of how you plan to approach your first four months—specifically, outlining your learning goals, performance milestones, and relationship-building objectives—demonstrates your commitment to integrating into the company and generating value from day one.
The purpose of a leave-behind is to give your interviewer tangible evidence of who you are and, most importantly, your abilities. Additionally, a leave-behind can mitigate the consequences of a mediocre interview. Job interviews are about making lasting impressions, and doing what most candidates won't is a surefire way to stand out.
___________________________________________________________________________
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned corporate veteran, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. Send Nick your job search questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.
The Environment Pothole Dilemma
The Environment Pothole Dilemma
By Dale Jodoin
If you live in Oshawa or Toronto, you know the feeling. You’re driving along, maybe listening to the radio, when bang! you slam into a pothole. The wheel jolts, your coffee spills, and your heart skips a beat. You curse under your breath and keep going, but that crater in the pavement is doing more harm than you think.
Most people see potholes as a driver’s problem. A flat tire, a bent rim, or a suspension bill that makes your bank account ache. But potholes do something else, something most folks never think about. They make vehicles burn more energy. Gas cars guzzle more fuel when they slam into one. Electric cars drain their batteries faster. Both lose efficiency. That means more pollution in the air for everyone.
And it doesn’t stop there. Drivers slow down for potholes, then stomp the pedal to speed back up. That constant stop-and-go wastes energy. It’s like trying to drink through a straw full of holes you lose more than you take in. In a big city with millions of vehicles, all those wasted bursts of energy pile up into a big, invisible problem.
Scientists have been looking at this. A 2023 study by Ali and his team showed that potholes mess with traffic flow, forcing drivers to brake and accelerate more. That burns extra fuel. Oregon’s Department of Transportation found that rough roads increase fuel use and CO₂. Chun, in 2024, studied electric cars and found that rough pavement makes them suck down power faster. Even motorcycles aren’t safe. The more they slam into potholes, the quicker they break down, and every new part of steel, rubber, plastic has its own environmental cost.
And then there’s density. The more packed a city is, the faster the pavement wears out. Heavy traffic pounds the asphalt until it crumbles. More potholes mean more slowing, more idling, more wasted fuel. A 2025 study by Wang showed that cities with higher density already have worse emissions because of traffic. Add potholes and the air gets even dirtier. That’s smog, exhaust, and fine dust in the lungs of everyone walking, biking, or just trying to breathe.
Now, potholes are serious, but you’ve got to laugh sometimes or you’ll go crazy. Here’s one: Why don’t potholes ever get lonely? Because they’ve always got a whole lot of friends. Or how about this one: What did the car say to the pothole? “You crack me up.” Funny until your alignment bill shows up in the mail.
But jokes aside, the truth is potholes aren’t just breaking cars. They’re breaking climate goals too. Governments love to talk about Net Zero by 2050, but how can we ever get there if our roads look like Swiss cheese? A pothole filled today is back next spring. Water seeps in, freezes, expands, and cracks the pavement again. It’s like patching jeans that already have holes in the knees. You'll be back with the sewing kit before long.
Meanwhile, the damage piles up. Every bump means more gas burned, more electricity drained, more pollution in the air. And it costs money. Billions every year across North America are spent fixing cars, patching pavement, and dealing with the fallout. That’s money that could go into real, long-lasting road fixes. Stronger asphalt, better drainage, even new materials that can take the pounding. But too often, leaders take the cheap route: patch it, pave it, forget it, and then do it all again the next year.
And let’s not forget the human side. Everyone’s got a pothole story. The coffee stain on your shirt. The kid in the back seat was crying because their juice box exploded. The poor soul who ate the wrong burrito for lunch and then hit a pothole too hard. It’s funny in a miserable kind of way. Potholes aren’t just an inconvenience. They get under our skin, into our wallets, and into the air we breathe.
If cities really care about emissions, potholes need to be treated as more than a nuisance. They’re an environmental problem hiding in plain sight. Smoother roads mean cleaner air. It’s that simple. Investing in durable, sustainable road systems may cost more at first, but it saves money and pollution down the line. Every unfilled pothole is another leak in the climate plan.
Potholes may look small, but they’re not. They’re cracks in the system. They waste fuel, they pollute the air, and they chip away at every promise governments make about a green future. We laugh about them, we curse at them, and we swerve around them, but they aren’t going anywhere unless someone takes this seriously.
So here’s the truth: potholes aren’t just destroying cars. They’re destroying our climate goals.
If we don’t fix the holes in our streets, we’ll never fix the holes in our climate promises. And unless cities wake up, the environmental pothole dilemma will swallow us whole.
The Real Threat to Democracy Isn’t Dissent It’s Silence
The Real Threat to Democracy Isn’t Dissent
It’s Silence
By Councillor Lisa Robinson
Across Canada and around the world, the last few years have tested the boundaries between public health authority and personal liberty. Governments claimed extraordinary powers in the name of safety, but history teaches us that emergency powers, once granted, are rarely surrendered easily. When citizens questioned mandates, digital tracking, or censorship of opposing views, they were often labelled as dangerous, divisive, or “anti-science.”
But speaking out against government excess is not extremism — it’s the heartbeat of democracy. Democracies depend on dissent. The people who marched, wrote, protested, or simply refused to be silenced did not endanger society; they reminded it that free nations are built on consent, not compliance.
Every major human-rights advance began with individuals who stood against the prevailing narrative — from labour organizers to civil-rights activists, from suffragettes to whistle-blowers. During the pandemic, ordinary citizens took up that same tradition, asking the questions too many leaders were afraid to confront. They demanded transparency in data, accountability in decision-making, and respect for bodily autonomy. They were not a threat to public order — they were a threat to unchecked power.
I know this because I lived it. Since the very beginning of COVID-19, I have stood up against these heavy-handed measures — even inside City Hall, where the people’s voice has been reduced to five-minute time slots and pre-approved topics. I have been punished punitively for speaking the truth. Sanctioned. Slandered. Stripped of pay. Accused of things I never said, based on lies crafted to silence me. But every attempt to silence me only proved the point: dissent is not the disease — tyranny is.
The real danger to democracy comes when governments learn they can rule by decree and silence opposition through fear or ridicule. When truth becomes whatever officials say it is, the people no longer govern; they are managed. And once citizens accept that, the path from democracy to technocracy is short and steep.
History will judge those who stood up — and those who stayed silent. The lesson is simple: freedom doesn’t disappear overnight; it erodes when questioning authority becomes a punishable act. Those who refused to bow to coercion did not weaken our country; they kept its democratic spine intact.
Because in the end, the true enemy of dictatorship is not rebellion — it’s courage.
"Strength Does Not Lie In The Absence Of Fear, But In The Courage To Face It Head-On And Rise Above It"
The Strength in Solitude - How Toxic Relationships Destroy the Peace of Being Alone
The Strength in Solitude - How Toxic Relationships Destroy the
Peace of Being Alone
By Camryn Bland
Youth Columnist
In our everyday lives, we interact with dozens of people, each serving a different role in our lives. Some relationships may be professional, such as those with peers or colleagues, while others may be specially selected, like close friendships. No matter the environment, humans are social creatures who often seek connections and events. We constantly surround ourselves with others, and so we begin to lose sight of what it means to be alone. We have become so accustomed to interaction that necessary solitude feels foreign and frightening. Independence is no longer seen as a strength, but a weakness which resembles loneliness.
Many people feel dependent on company, always relying on someone else to feel secure or validated. Craving constant connection can quietly strip away one’s ability to enjoy solitude. We begin to associate being alone with being unloved, when in reality, solitude can be one of the most empowering experiences a person can have.
This fear of loneliness traps individuals in negative social circles due to a fear of isolation, especially in adolescents. In high school, friendships and an exciting social life can feel like top priorities. These four years are filled with parties, events, study sessions, or simple weekend hangouts, which all feel better when shared with friends.
There are countless advantages to genuine friendships at any age. When you find the right people, friendships ensure you always have someone to count on, to cheer for you, and to make irreplaceable memories with. I love my friends, and I know I am so lucky to have them. However, not every friendship is based on this love, but on fear or jealousy. In my past, I have felt stuck in many draining social circles, which felt impossible to escape. Turning away from my friends felt terrifying and dangerous, even if they were damaging to my identity. Teens often feel pressured to be the most popular, and so they fear being disliked by others.
When we become desperate for connection, it is very easy to fall into fake friendships and toxic relationships. Toxic friends may not always look like the exaggerated trio from Mean Girls, however they can be just as harmful. Friendships which seem supportive may be sources of stress, insecurity, and emotional strain. Even if these effects go unnoticed, friendships can shift from major sources of joy to a never-ending supply of drama and distress.
In most social circles, gossip, belittlement, and recurring criticism are normalized. It may seem like playful teasing, comments which weren’t meant to hurt your feelings. However, there should never be doubt on if your friends are genuine and kind to you. Friends should encourage growth and authenticity, not try to limit who you are. In many cases, these normalized actions are not playful teasing, but genuine bullying disguised by smiles and party invitations.
It can be difficult to recognize a relationship is unhealthy, however it’s even harder to act on this realization. Despite the temptations, ending a relationship should never be impulsive. First, it’s important to reflect on your own role and communicate honestly. Ask yourself if you act similarly and brainstorm how to fix your own actions. Communicate with your friend, and see if they are feeling similar to you, as they may also feel unseen in the friendship. It is important to have compassion for others in the situation, not just for yourself.
Eventually, you face a choice to either rebuild the connection on healthier terms, or walk away. If someone dismisses your feelings or continues to make you feel unseen, I believe that’s not a friend worth keeping. Those are the relationships where major problems lie, which are not worth your time or energy. In some cases, it’s time to let go, wish them the best, and separate yourself from the negative influence. Letting go may hurt at first, but it’s a necessary act of courage.
The most challenging aspect of breaking a connection is accepting the solitude which comes afterwards. We often tell ourselves it is better to be with harmful people than be alone. When constantly surrounded by others, being alone sounds terrifying.
Once you are forced into this isolation, it feels unknown and confusing. This mindset is one which we need to break in order to escape negative influences who are weighing us back.
Choosing solitude is not about loneliness, it’s about choosing peace over chaos, self-respect over insecurity. The moment you realize that your own company can be enough, you begin to grow.
Ashley Corbo, an American influencer, captures this truth perfectly. On her social media accounts and her podcast, Trying Not To Care, Corbo has said, "It's better to be alone than be surrounded by people who make you feel lonely.” Her words remind us that solitude is not isolation, it’s freedom from being held back. When you stop wasting your love on others who don’t reciprocate, you begin to love yourself. You begin to realize you don’t need a friend to get coffee with, or a companion to go to the cinema. There should be no shame in being alone, as long as you are not lonely. Loneliness is a mindset which comes from disappointment in others, not yourself. So, live your life withhappiness and fulfillment, whether that be with others, or just your own company. Only with this acceptance can you make room for experiences, and people, that truly bring you joy.
SGT PEPPER HAS IT RIGHT!!!
SGT PEPPER
HAS IT RIGHT!!!
By Joe Ingino BA. Psychology
Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers
ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000
Published Columns in Canada and The United States
Before I begin this column. I like to fully disclose that I do not endorse or support violence in any way. As a professional martial artist, the root of our training is the avoidance of violence at all cost.
Our discipline is to be used to defend when attacked and always use self restraint. With this said. I give the police forces across the world great praise as they have a real tough job. In many cases it is the use of brute force and not tactical body dynamics in the taking down of hostile perpetrators.
I say this with such confidence as I enjoy on my spare 30 seconds a day to watch YOUTUBE videos on how police around the world deals with police take downs. In most cases you can tell that the officer in attendance has had limited or no training as in most take down it takes two, three, four officers to take down one person. When in reality it should take one officer. The other day Sgt. Pepper caught my eye. I think he was not a police officer but either a national guard or a marine on the front line of a demonstration.
The demonstrator your typical ‘woke’, one hundred and twenty pound over opinionated unemployed basement dweller. There was this nose drip shouting in front of a 350lb officer. He kept screaming to the officer. “WHAT IS YOUR NAME SOLDIER” time and time again. The soldier was very calm and very patient. The perpetrator kept screaming in his face demanding his name.
Then with a swift swipe the officer quickly pulls out pepper spray can and gives the perpetrator a mouth/face full of this orange spray. The perpetrator goes down in tears screaming like a baby as the officer stands there with a very deserving grin... and states. “Dr. Pepper son”.
Super classic response. I think what is taking place in the U.S. needs to be employed in Canada. Zero tolerance to police interference while dispensing law. Anyone in breach should be dealt with extreme force. The problem with today’s police attitudes is that they do not want to be legally liable or worst criminally found to be guilty of law in the dispensing of law. Something that is very hard. As civilians we must also make sure that police do not abuse powers entrusted in them.
So how do we balance. Well, open the door for police to do their job. If an abuse complaint is brought forth. Investigate with the understanding that the job is extremely stressful and difficult.
I think filming of any police activity should be illegal. I think journalist should be kept out of hot spots like riots and protests.
I strongly believe that the police need to be respected and protected against criminal prosecution for minor things. Much, like Sgt. Pepper’s actions. They could be seen as against the law. Then again under the circumstance. It can be deemed reasonable. Protestors have become more militant and more aggressive due to the fact that they have lost the fear factor. I think we need to instill that emotion in order to preserve society.
October 7, Two Years On: Canada’s Place in a Conflict That Reverberates Here
Saturday, October 4, 2025
The Weight of Passion and Purpose - Fighting the Pressure to Sacrifice Hobbies in High School
The Weight of Passion
and Purpose - Fighting the Pressure to
Sacrifice Hobbies in High School
By Camryn Bland
Youth Columnist
Throughout high school, students begin to discover, strengthen and advance a variety of passions. These passions are fostered through mandated courses, extracurricular activities, and relationships built. They are incorporated into the high school system to guarantee students try new things and develop new talents. Together, these experiences create a diverse range of interests and experiences that can be applied beyond school, whether in higher education, future careers, or simply in developing a unique sense of identity.
Throughout my own high school journey, I have pursued countless opportunities, each providing their own life lessons. My time with the dramatic arts built a sense of confidence, community, and critical thinking, in addition bringing me joy. Time spent studying math and science enhanced my problem-solving and analytical skills, regardless of my disinterest in pursuing STEM. Extracurriculars such as student council and debate helped me grow in leadership, communication, time management, and integrity. I never turn down an opportunity presented to me; each one I accept with enthusiasm and commitment. To me, this variety is the only way to maximize my high school experience, to make the most out of these four years before University. I do not want to graduate and regret rejecting an opportunity, staying home, or not trying out; instead, I want to take advantage of everything offered to me, before I enter a new chapter of my life.
While this diversity has been rewarding, it has also left me with an overwhelming schedule, including countless passions, which feels impossible to balance. As I begin my junior year, I feel increasing pressure to abandon the talents I’ve spent so long building.
I have dedicated myself to many passions, and I feel each one is pulling me in a different direction. School encouraged me to learn new things and celebrate diversity, yet it opposes when I commit to each. Every class gives homework to fill each waking hour, every council expects availability available Monday to Friday, like a full time job. I am an individual who wants to learn as much as possible, yet within the constraints of the school system, this feels unattainable.
I constantly feel pressured to find one talent, one ambition, and fully commit to it. At times, I feel like a jack of all trades; I am good with math, science, english, arts, and communication, yet spectacular at nothing. It leaves me questioning my past,
present, and future uses of time. Regardless of the commitments, I feel I do not have
anything to feel truly proud of. I am left wondering about the connecting factors, and
which of these will attach me to future happiness.
My days of eagerly accepting every opportunity are now past, replaced with anxiety and an overwhelming schedule. What is the point of studying chemistry if I won’t be a chemist? Why spend time on drama if I have no interest in acting professionally? Each activity not directly correlated to my goals can seem like a waste of time, which forces me into a never-ending cycle of doubt, as I am still unsure of what those goals are.
Choosing one specialty talent is not the only expectation students face as they grow older. Beyond choosing one skill to perfect, teens are also forced to ensure that this skill is both practical and efficient. At sixteen, individuals are expected to have a life plan, including steps to reach those goals. Many students commit their limited spare time to studying sciences, practicing math, learning languages, or volunteering.
Although these hobbies are important, they often cause the love of creative passions, such as painting, acting, or writing, to be dismissed. This creates a pressure not just to find a passion, but to justify it in terms of future practicality. It feels as though the value of a skill lies only in its ability to assist a stable career. In our society, passions have lost their purpose of joy or learning experiences, and are instead focused on proving they are “worth it” to the eyes of others.
High school is a challenging balancing act, as students are tasked with managing inspiring opportunities and their saddening limits. I have lived with the mindset to never close a door, to never turn away from an opportunity, but I have recently learned that doing everything is impossible. The system often demands that we measure the value of our time by how useful it is for our future, as if every class, talent, or passion must lead directly to a stable career. Under this logic, the value of creativity through painting, drama, or music is diminished the moment it is made; yet these are the very talents that bring joy, perspective, and balance to life.
Despite my anxieties regarding my use of time, I’ve come to understand that impractical does not mean worthless. A passion that doesn’t have a finish line can still change my perspective, teach new lessons, and create everlasting connections. Yes, individuals must accept their limits and make rational choices, but those decisions should not be decided on practicality alone. I refuse to believe that the time I’ve spent exploring my passions is wasted. Instead, these opportunities are what have shaped me into the person I am today.
My secondary education has shown me balance isn’t about choosing a single path to commit to; it’s about carrying forward the important experiences, even if they aren’t practical. While I can’t keep every door open, I trust that the ones I do step through will add to my life through lessons, opportunities, and enjoyment. I may choose how to spend my time with purpose, however that does not mean I must sacrifice everything which brings me joy. Only through this balance of practicality and experiences can the four years of high school be properly fulfilled
Canada’s Fall Budget 2025: Between Bold Promises and Fiscal Reckoning
Canada’s Fall Budget 2025:
Between Bold Promises and
Fiscal Reckoning
by Maj (ret’d) CORNELIU, CHISU, CD, PMSC
FEC, CET, P.Eng.
Former Member of Parliament
Pickering-Scarborough East
On November 4, Prime Minister Mark Carney will table his government’s first budget since assuming office. Canadians should be aware that this will not be a routine fiscal update. This budget will be nothing less than a test of credibility; a balancing act between urgent promises and the cold arithmetic of national finances.
For years, Ottawa has grown accustomed to deficit financing as a political safety valve. Every government since the pandemic has justified red ink with appeals to crisis.
However, the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) has found that the federal budget deficit will grow beyond previous projections. The total of just over $132 billion between 2025 and 2028 projected in Budget 2024 has escalated to the nearly $255 billion now projected for those years. Moreover, the debt-to-GDP ratio — the Liberals’ so-called “fiscal anchor” — is no longer guaranteed to decline.
Much of this is driven by a considerable decline in federal tax revenues due to the personal income tax cut and other measures, as well as even larger increases in federal program spending. Total operating spending alone (excluding many federal transfers) is projected to be more than $10 billion per year higher than previously anticipated.
Adding unannounced measures back into the PBO estimates will make cumulative deficits over the next four years exceed $360 billion—almost three times the amount last year’s budget anticipated.
Even more concerning is the fact that federal debt is set to grow at a faster rate than the economy. In recent testimony to a parliamentary committee, the PBO noted that this was the first time in 30 years he had seen a projection where this key measure of fiscal sustainability continued to rise over time. Simply put, federal finances are at a precipice.
This should trouble Canadians. Debt is not abstract. It is a mortgage on future taxpayers; a quiet siphon on every program we prize. The more Ottawa borrows, the more billions they sink into debt servicing, leaving less for housing, health care, or pensions. To govern as if fiscal gravity does not exist is reckless, and Prime Minister Carney knows it.
Nowhere are expectations higher than in housing. For years, governments of all stripes have promised affordability but delivered little relief. Prime Minister Carney has already unveiled the Build Canada Homes initiative, a sprawling plan to accelerate construction. In this budget, the Liberals are expected to sweeten the pot with tax credits, subsidies, and incentives to coax builders and pension funds into action. However, here lies the contradiction: pouring billions into subsidies without tackling municipal bottlenecks, zoning gridlock, or labour shortages risks throwing money into a void. Canadians want roofs, not rhetoric. Unless Ottawa coordinates with provinces and cities to streamline approvals and mobilize labour, the housing crisis will remain a slow-burn national scandal.
Also, beyond our borders, allies are losing patience. NATO’s 2 % of GDP target is no longer aspirational; it is a demand. The liberal government is poised to announce significant defence spending increases — new equipment, recruitment campaigns, and modernization of our aging forces.
Canadians seems to be split on this. Many resent the idea of billions for tanks and jets while mortgages crush families. Yet the reality of a turbulent world — Russia’s ambitions, China’s assertiveness, American unpredictability — leaves Ottawa with little choice. Defence spending is not charity; it is insurance. Ignoring it only postpones and increases the bill.
Whispers of a GST hike hang over this budget like a storm cloud. No government relishes raising taxes, but arithmetic is unforgiving. With deficits swelling, revenue must come from somewhere. Closing corporate loopholes, trimming boutique tax credits, and modestly raising consumption taxes are all on the table.
Opponents will howl, but consider this: Canadians already pay the price of deficits, not in taxes today but in higher borrowing costs. A transparent, modest tax increase coupled with serious spending reform would be more honest than endless borrowing masked as generosity.
Pre-budget consultations have revealed widespread anxiety about affordability. Groceries, rents, and energy bills are draining households.
The government will likely respond with targeted relief measures — perhaps expanded child benefits or new credits for low-income families. These are politically irresistible, but they raise uncomfortable questions: how many more patchwork programs can Canada afford? And do such measures solve the underlying problems — productivity stagnation, weak wages, and supply shortages — or merely mute the symptoms for another year? For decades, Canada has lagged in productivity growth. Our economy too often relies on debt-fuelled consumption rather than investment. Prime Minister Carney, a former central banker with global gravitas, knows this better than anyone does. Yet productivity is the unsexy word missing from political stump speeches. If this budget does not deliver bold measures — from R&D incentives to trade diversification beyond the United States — then Canada will continue its slide toward mediocrity. Housing relief may win headlines; productivity reform would win the future.
All of this unfolds under the shadow of minority politics. The Liberals must craft a budget palatable not only to their base but also to opposition parties whose votes are essential for passage. That means sprinkling in enough social supports to appease the New Democrats, while avoiding measures so fiscally reckless that Conservatives can paint the government as irresponsible.
Budgets in minority Parliaments are less about economics than about survival. Yet survivalism cannot be Canada’s economic plan.
Ultimately, the Fall Budget 2025 is a referendum on credibility. Can the Liberals admit that fiscal resources are finite? Can they deliver tangible progress on housing without throwing money into bureaucratic black holes? Can they prepare Canada for geopolitical storms while safeguarding households at home? Prime Minister Mark Carney’s reputation as a disciplined, globally respected technocrat will be on the line. If he bends to the temptation of pleasing everyone, the result will be a document that satisfies no one and deepens the deficit hole. If he seizes the moment with a clear, tough-minded plan — pairing targeted investments with genuine spending reform and honest revenue measures — he could reset Canada’s trajectory.
This upcoming budget is not simply about numbers. It is about the social contract between Canadians and their government. Do we believe Ottawa can make hard choices, or only easy promises? Do we measure success by the billions spent, or by results delivered?
Come November 4, Canadians will hear more than a speech. They will hear whether their government has the courage to level with them, or whether it will continue the comfortable illusion that Ottawa can spend without consequence.
The country deserves better than illusions. 
WHY CAN’T WE CHANGE!!!
WHY CAN’T WE CHANGE!!!
By Joe Ingino BA. Psychology
Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers
ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000
Published Columns in Canada and The United States
I have served as your City Editor for the past 30 years. I have seen all kinds of change. Unfortunately, It has not been for the better. The quality of life has diminished to the point that walking down our city streets have become a health risk and or a personal secuirty issue.
I get asked all the time. What do I think is the magic formula.
Well I ran in the last election on this principle. But it appears that people were happy with the status quo and we are enduring another four years of the same chaos.
In my opinion we must address the white elephant in the room. I do not put the blame on the thousands of homeless. As, I am sure that they are not homeless by choice.
People tend to generalize that those homeless are a bunch of drug addicts and or suffering from some sort of mental health issue.
What we need to do is undestand the psychology. Being homeless is very stressful. It brings about all kinds of emotions that in all cases are difficult to control.
Many have no one to turn to. Many have lost hope in society and use alchohol and drugs to offset the daily pain. A pain that runs far beyond any physical disability.
If I had been Mayor. I would have shut down the ‘safe’ injection sites. I would have made sure that everyone dependant on drugs.... that Oshawa was closed for business.
I would have worked with police to enforce law. Create special detention centers that no one would be able to leave until such time that they were sober and properly
At the facility I would have mental health experts running evaluation on people. Those with addiction would be admitted to hospital for treatment. Those with mental health issues would be given appointment to attend a trained mental health worker to deal with the neurosis.
For those homeless, I would offer them temporary shelter at a pre-set wharehouse facility. I would create special work programs. Programs that would give these homeless folk the opportunity to earn money. Programs like ongoing grass cutting for senior. Garbage pick up throughout the city. Snow removal along all our city streets. The City of Oshawa spent 70 million dollars to the Generals hockey team. 50 million for an outdoor pool in Canada. 30 million on the Ed Broadbent Park. You mean to tell me we can’t invest in helping those in need.
Those three projects alone are $150 million. 150 million of your tax dollars... that you the taxpayer will never see a dime and or benefit directly.
Imagine having 5,000 homeless in Oshawa. Divide that by 150 million. That would give us $300,00/homeless person in assistance. But wait, 2026 is around the corner. Instead of voting in people with substance, vision and solutions. Guess what... Most likely the status quo will reign supreme again. Sad.
WARD 4 COUNCILLOR GIBERSON STAYS ON A PATH OF SELF-DESTRUCTION, BUT WHO PAYS THE PRICE?
WARD 4 COUNCILLOR GIBERSON STAYS ON A PATH OF
SELF-DESTRUCTION, BUT WHO PAYS THE PRICE?
IF A DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION doesn’t somehow stop the progression of the human mind, it will certainly guide it in one direction over another. The effects of this were certainly laid bare at the September 29 meeting of Oshawa Council, and I encourage my readers to pause with me for a few moments as we consider some of what transpired.
The title of this week’s column could have easily read, “Miracle on Centre Street” due to the rare occurrence whereby Ward 1 councillor Rosemary McConkey actually found favour among her colleagues – this time regarding a motion that seeks to address the problem of uninhibited drug use in our public spaces.
The proposed initiative previously failed to gain support at the committee level, however Ward 3 councillor Bob Chapman came to the rescue by helping craft a new and more realistic version, one that was ultimately successful and supported by the Mayor and Council.
To say the City needs to do something in an effort to encourage the Minister of Justice to take appropriate action on what has become a major breakdown in our society is a complete understatement. The motion makes reference to the open use of drugs in the community (A concern focused no doubt on the city’s downtown) and the effect this has had on young people as well as those who may be recovering from addictions.
As noted in the motion, the possession of substances regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is a criminal offence, and the open use of such substances has become flagrant in parts of the city of Oshawa, reducing the quality of life for law-abiding residents. The open-air use and availability of those substances in areas providing supports to people attempting to recover from addictions undoubtedly impedes their recovery efforts. It also attracts drug dealers associated with greater crimes to areas frequented by users of those drugs.
As written and presented, the motion was filled with all the right intentions, and perhaps a little too much diplomacy, given the ongoing crisis in mental health and addictions our country is facing.
Nevertheless, at least one elected official took it upon himself to stand on the very margins of critical thought - in almost complete opposition to the initiative being proposed. That person was Ward 4 councillor Derek Giberson.
This should come as no surprise to anyone in the community who has taken at least five minutes to listen to anything the councillor from downtown Oshawa has had to say during this term of Council.
In an age where municipalities across Canada are starting to enact zero-tolerance policies on open-air drug use, including efforts to redirect offenders to court-ordered diversion programs and addiction support, it would seem unfathomable for a member of Oshawa Council – in a city severely burdened by the effects of so much drug use – to actively oppose the initiative.
The tide is finally turning toward an approach that balances compassion with accountability, and it’s no stretch to suggest those who live and work downtown would welcome such a move on the part of councillors to seek a degree of sanity in the area of public safety standards.
During the debate on this issue, councillor Giberson lamented the very idea of incarceration as a partial means of dealing with these problems. His comments bore all the hallmarks of the failed ‘soft-on-crime’ social experiment taken up by the courts over the last decade. Reasonable people understand that enforcement is not the only solution, and that the crisis over addictions we now face is primarily a healthcare issue. However, the public sphere is not the place for intravenous drug use. Expanding access to detox beds, treatment centres and recovery programs – coupled with limits on public consumption, is the best formula.
One has to ask oneself, at what point will the Ward 4 councillor actually start agreeing to anything whatsoever to make downtown Oshawa a better place?
We must first recall his failed attempt to erase much of the city’s artistic history by promoting the removal and partial replacement of the downtown murals. We can then look to his refusal to support the redevelopment of the Athol Street parking lot nearest to City Hall – an initiative that will soon see a multi-story parking and residential structure occupy what is now a sea of asphalt. We can further look to his oft-repeated stance against planning policies that favour more opportunities for additional parking spaces throughout the downtown, and his fixation on somehow mandating a made-in-Europe model for North American transportation needs.
Finally, there was councillor Giberson’s failed attempt to sway councillor’s opinions in the matter of the By-law which now requires an 800 metre distance between existing and proposed social service locations.
Remember, this is the same councillor who was found by the Integrity Commissioner to be in breach of the Code of Conduct that governs how members of Council are expected to behave, both at City Hall and within the public realm. Do you see a pattern of political self-destruction in all of this?
Meantime, downtown businesses and those who live in the areas that surround social services agencies like the Back Door Mission are all too aware of the effect that open-air drug use has had on their community. They also see the results of so-called harm reduction and safe supply programs whereby discarded needles are now as plentiful as dandelions in springtime.
It doesn’t take much imagination to foresee the effect that an actual crackdown on open drug use would have on the mandate of the Mission and its collective determination to carry on for as long as possible, seemingly without concern for area residents or those trying to run a business downtown.
Ward 4 is in desperate need of change. When residents are forced to endure so much uncertainty at the hands of one or more ideologues whose self-interest appears to be all encompassing, they necessarily become victims who must stand and watch as their rights to security of property and personal safety are literally snatched from them.
As soon as someone begins to treat public affairs as something removed from actual public service, they become a menace to society. In that regard, residents can certainly make their concerns known at the ballot box.
The next municipal election is scheduled for October 26, 2026.
HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH IT
God, Family, Country
And the Courage to Speak:
A Tribute to Charlie Kirk
By Councillor Lisa Robinson
On Monday, September 29th, at one o’clock in the afternoon, while most people were at work, Pickering Council held a Special Meeting where they voted to approve the Seaton Recreation Complex and Library — the most expensive project in our city’s history.
In just a little over three and a half hours, Council committed taxpayers to a $266 million build that will potentially drive your property taxes up nearly twelve percent and blow our debt wide open. To put it into perspective, for every single minute during that meeting, Council was committing 1.4 million dollars of your money.
Right now, Pickering carries about 5 million dollars in debt. By this January, that number will already rise to 57 million dollars in debt with other projects now in the pipeline. And by 2027, with the Seaton project added in, our debt will skyrocket to 331 million dollars. That’s an increase of over 570 per cent coming to you the taxpayer in less than 458 days. Think about that. That’s like a family jumping from a five-thousand-dollar credit card balance to over three hundred and thirty thousand — and being locked into paying it off for the next twenty years.
Even our own Treasurer called this one of the most difficult financial decisions the city has ever faced. He recommended caution. He recommended deferral. And what did Council do? They ignored him.
I tried to move a motion to defer this decision until at least 40 percent of Pickering’s population had the chance to comment. I suggested a mail-out survey to every home that would clearly state the eleven-point-seven-one percent tax increase if the project was approved. Not one councillor would second my motion. The Mayor shut it down immediately, saying, “I don’t think that’s the way to do fiscal responsibility. That would be a huge undertaking.”
But since when is mailing residents the truth a huge undertaking, while spending two hundred and sixty-six million dollars without their informed consent is considered fiscal responsibility? Make it make sense.
Meanwhile, staff and the Mayor insisted that just over 3,000 adults responding was an “exceptionally high” number. They even went so far as to boast about community engagement, claiming they had logged 82 hours in the field holding twenty pop-up events, three in-person sessions, and circulated surveys through schools where even children were counted as respondents. Yet not once in any of this engagement did they mention that approving this project would mean a 12 percent property tax increase.
That’s not consultation. That’s manipulation. And the irony? Just months ago, I was punished with three months’ pay taken away for saying surveys can be skewed. This one proves my point exactly. If a survey doesn’t disclose the real cost or consequences of what people are “agreeing” to, then it’s not an honest survey.
When I pressed on the financial realities, the Mayor didn’t respond with facts. Instead, he tried to smear me personally — falsely claiming once again that I wanted a 10 percent tax hike for snow removal. Let’s clear that up right now, once and for all: that was their inflated consultant’s estimate, not mine. My proposal never involved a tax hike at all.
And while the Mayor told residents in his Council Meeting recap that taxes were going up because of a $2.3-million-dollar fire truck, he left out the $266-million-dollar decision made that very same afternoon just hours before. Ask yourself: why?
Here’s the reality: the Treasurer confirmed this project alone adds approximately $255 dollars a year to the average homeowner’s bill. Every year. For the next twenty years. And to make room for it, other critical needs — like the Seaton Fire Station and the Northern Operations Centre — were shoved onto the “parked projects list,” indefinitely delayed. And not to mention this nearly 12 per cent tax hike is only for this single project aloan. It doesn’t include the other tax increases the city will need for roads, sewers, infrastructure, and everything else we do. It doesn’t include the school board increases. It doesn’t include the Region’s increases. And if I’m not mistaken, it doesn’t even include the additional 2.7 percent Council already approved under the so-called climate adaptation plan if I'm not mistaken. Add it all together, and you’re looking at tax bills that will climb far higher than what I’m even admitting to you today.
Look around the region. Whitby’s new complex came in at 160 million. Clarington’s is projected at 180 million. Pickering’s? 266 million — and staff already admitted it could climb to over 300 million by the time it’s tendered in 2027. And this was all decided in one Monday afternoon, in a little over three hours, with a six-to-one vote.
I was the only councillor who voted no. Not because I oppose recreation, libraries, or community spaces, which I am sure will be the rumour spread by the Mayor or Council, but because you deserved the truth. You deserved real consultation. You deserved to know that your taxes will rise 12 per cent, that your debt will explode from 5 million today to 57 million in January and to 331 million dollars in less than 458 days, that other essential projects will now be shelved, and that only 3 percent of adults were consulted — without ever being told the real cost.
This isn’t about building community. It’s about building a political legacy — on your back.
Rob Ford reminded us all that respecting taxpayers isn't just words — it's action. Yet, when decisions are made without transparency, that respect is lost.
As your servants, we must do better.
Councillor Lisa Robinson
"Strength Does Not Lie In The Absence Of Fear, But In The Courage To Face It Head-On And Rise Above It"
Another Attack on Free Speech: The Government’s Push to Punish Words Before They’re Spoken
PULLING TEETH…
PULLING TEETH...
By Wayne and Tamara
I am employed by a dentist who is a specialist. He has a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. For the most part the staff has learned to deal with this, but not accept it. The rest of the staff has been with him for years, as have I. Our boss is generous in many ways, but his behavior often leaves us wondering if it is all worth it.
We are told to take an unpaid hour off for lunch, yet we are expected to pick up the phone and deal with his interruptions. The company he hired to do payroll handed us an office manual with the intended rules, yet it states they can change the rules at any time because he is an “at will” employer. I checked with a state agency and they agree.
Everyone in the office is grateful to be employed, but at the same time we are frustrated by the lack of respect we receive from him and by the overall standards that apply to “at will” employees. When we try to talk to him on issues, we are reminded of our place in this office with a you-can-move-on-if-you-want reply.
He knows that is not possible for most of us. What I’m looking for is guidance from someone at how to approach an unequal situation.
Tabitha
Tabitha, the great unspoken topic in psychology is dominance. People resist even bringing up the subject. What people are more than willing to talk about is communication skills. There the core idea is: I believe this, you believe that, and I can get you to change your actions through some words.
It is all misdirection. If there were a simple way to make your boss agree with what you are saying, then you could, for example, make anyone come to your religion. All you would have to do is figure out the right words to say, and they would accept your way of thinking.
Words don’t determine behavior, power does. In most situations, one person or group has power. What they say goes. People love to explain behavior in ethical, economic or social terms, but behavior most often comes down to a simple matter of power.
The easiest representation of power is dollars. I have so many dollars, so I can send my kids to the best schools. You cannot. I can buy lobbyists and influence. You cannot. Rightly or wrongly, your boss has a sense of entitlement in the workplace. His people are telling him the legal minimum requirements he has to meet, and that is where he is drawing the line.
Someone like you, in a subordinate position, can make inroads only by being creative. In a weak position, you must act like a martial artist. You can step to one side or use your opponent’s leverage against him, but a direct counterattack will not work.
As a staff, find ways to minimize the lunch interruptions. On Monday one person might handle the phones; on Tuesday someone else. If one of you is disturbed at lunchtime, then find ways to lessen that day’s burden on her. Supporting and caring for one another will lessen the stress of the job.
Since your boss has a generous side, try assaulting him with kindness. That often defuses people who are carrying an emotional load they cannot discharge. Even small actions, like bringing a plant to the office or voting for candidates who support your view of employee rights, will make you feel better.
Some people reading your letter would count you lucky to be working in an educated, safe, clean environment. Many people work in dangerous environments for little pay. But what it comes down to is this. You know where your boss sits, you know where the law sits, now look for the parries and countermoves which work for you and the rest of the staff.
Wayne & Tamara
Fights Over Drugs Have Enduring Meaning
Fights Over Drugs Have Enduring
Meaning
By Diana Gifford
Every so often, history taps you on the shoulder. That happened to me recently when I discovered a book on the science, culture, and regulation of drugs by Professor Lucas Richert, a historian of pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The book devotes its entire first chapter to none other than my father, Dr. Ken Walker — better known to readers by his penname, W. Gifford-Jones, MD.
Richert’s book, Strange Trips, presents the history of recreational, palliative and pharmaceutical drugs and the tension in debates between evidence and opinion, compassion and politics.
Readers may not know that in the late 1970s and early 1980s, my father became Canada’s most vocal advocate for the legalization of medical heroin. He had lost close friends to cancer and seen his own patients suffering in pain. At the time, heroin was widely used in Britain for pain control, yet Canadian patients were denied access. Why? Not because of science, he argued, but because of “political, not medical, decisions.”
Richert captures this clash well. As one expert observed, “heroin is particularly good at inducing opinions which conflict with all the evidence and ‘evidence’ that is then moulded to fit the opinions.” My father’s campaign forced Canadians to ask: should terminally ill patients be denied effective relief because heroin carried a stigma?
He didn’t stop with advocating for change in his column. He collected more than 30,000 signatures on a petition, received another 20,000 letters of support, and presented them in Ottawa to Health Minister Monique Bégin. He flew to the UK on a fact-finding mission, speaking with doctors, nurses, and patients. Scotland Yard officials, he noted, brushed off the claims of critics that medical heroin stored in hospital pharmacies would increase crime. They had far bigger problems to worry about.
When political action stalled, he doubled down, placing full-page awareness ads in newspapers. In one, he accused opponents with the blunt headline: “Will the real hypocrites please stand up.” That kind of language didn’t make him friends in the medical establishment or in policy circles, but it drew public attention to the cause.
Support began to build. Editorials in The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail endorsed his position, pointing out that British cancer patients had long had access to heroin without social upheaval. The Canadian Medical Association ultimately supported legalization, after uncovering how Canada had been pressured decades earlier by the United States into banning the drug. Dr. William Ghent, a leading CMA figure, didn’t mince words: “We followed the US like sheep, and now, like sheep, we’ve got their manure to deal with.”
By the mid-1980s, the government relented. New trials were approved, and eventually heroin was legalized for cases of severe chronic pain and terminal illness. The fight didn’t end debates in palliative care, and experts then and now would argue the focus should be broader than drugs alone. But it was a turning point. Canada acknowledged that compassion had a place in drug policy.
The debate continues today in a new form. Researchers now point to psychedelics such as psilocybin as tools to ease end-of-life distress, yet patients face the same barriers of politics, stigma, and delay. Humans often fail to learn from history, and as Richert’s book shows, the fight over heroin was just one of many stories.
For me, it is a point of pride to see my father’s efforts remembered, not only as a medical crusade but as part of the larger story of how societies negotiate the meaning of medicine. Readers who want more detail can find a synopsis of Richert’s chapter, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, available through our website.
==================================================================
This column offers health and wellness, not medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones
Saturday, September 27, 2025
When Disaster Strikes, You Need to Be Ready
When Disaster Strikes,
You Need to Be Ready
By Diana Gifford
Are you in the group of people who treat insurance the way you do exercise? You know it’s good for you, but you put it off until it’s too late. Human behaviour can be so irrational! But insurance really should be a priority for your attention among the list of things that keep you well.
A thoughtful look at what determines your wellbeing includes preparations for disasters of all kinds – not just the risk factors for disease. A burst pipe, a fire, a car accident, or a sudden illness abroad can be as bad or worse than a slow march to a chronic health program. Disasters, many of them entirely out of your own control, can undo a lifetime of careful living in a single day.
I recently attended the Canadian Health Food Association show in Toronto where I met Leigh McFarlane, owner of a growing soap business, who knows this from experience. A fire tore through her home and shop, and she discovered too late that her insurance policy was woefully inadequate. She lost everything. Today, with grit and resilience, she is rebuilding The Soap Company of Nova Scotia. But the hard truth is that much of her suffering could have been prevented.
McFarlane’s is a story not just about fire. It’s about health. Yes, financial health for sure. But also physical health. Nothing raises blood pressure, shatters sleep or wears down the immune system like the anxiety of financial ruin. Insurance, dull as it can be, is a prescription for peace of mind.
Think broadly about what insurance means. House and home: a burst pipe in winter can flood a basement and rack up bills that rival the cost of a heart bypass surgery. Income security: a sudden disability or the closure of a small business can wipe out years of hard work. Health coverage: travel insurance may seem optional, until you’re on vacation and a heart attack strikes.
Canadians abroad have found themselves facing bills of $50,000 or more for emergency care and medical evacuation. In the United States, where health insurance is tied to employment or costly private plans, uninsured patients often delay treatment, sometimes with deadly consequences from a heart attack that could have been prevented with treatment.
People fall victim for different reasons. The optimist says, “It won’t happen to me.” The penny pincher buys the cheapest plan, only to discover exclusions result in inadequate coverage. The inattentive forgets to update coverage after a health change or assumes the details don’t matter. And the overconfident believes government or credit card policies will cover everything. Any of these errors can leave a family shattered.
Insurance is not a solitary matter. Families need to talk about it. When an elderly parent lets a policy lapse, or a young adult travels without medical coverage, the burden rarely falls on them alone. It falls on spouses, children, and siblings. A parent falling sick abroad without travel insurance may need tens of thousands of dollars wired in an emergency. A flood in an underinsured home may force relatives to step in. An accident can derail employment and wipe out a family’s security.
Talking about insurance may never make the list of life’s great pleasures. But getting the right insurance coverage is a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-accomplish determinant of your health. But remember, most insurance agents earn commissions on the policies they sell. You need to shop around, read the policies including the fine print, and ask lots of questions.
Then purchase the right coverage. You will sleep better knowing that, whatever comes, you are ready.
_________________________________________________________________________
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
A Never Ending Expectation The Millennia Old Consequences of Beauty Standards
A Never Ending Expectation
The Millennia Old Consequences of
Beauty Standards
By Camryn Bland
Youth Columnist
Growing up we are often taught, “what matters is on the inside.” Every individual is made of inspiring strengths through their personalities, hobbies, and achievements; attractiveness and aesthetics are the least interesting aspects of a person. This reminds us to judge others by their character, not appearances, as there is much more to know than what’s on the outside. This is a lesson still important today. However, it is difficult to prioritize when constantly surrounded by contradicting messages. Our society places overwhelming attention on beauty and aesthetics, making it impossible to overlook the appearances of both yourself and others.
Beauty standards have existed for thousands of years, playing a large role in the history of our society. Thousands of years ago, expensive accessories and symbols of wealth were what defined beauty. A few centuries ago, both women and men were expected to be full-figured, as a sign of prosperity. In recent years, standards have shifted, glorifying small bodies and clear skin.
Time period is not the only factor which changes expectations; even now, standards vary based on the region and culture you are immersed in. In North America, women are expected to be thin, with an hourglass figure. Men are desirable if tall and muscular, with masculine features. Slim and pale body types are seen as attractive in East Asia, which contradicts the tanned and curved ideal of Europe. Although these standards change based on time period and location, there is one thing they always have in common; their effects on mental and physical health. From unhealthy skin products to body dysmorphia, beauty standards have been negatively influencing individuals for millennia, as they fight themselves for the “perfect body.”
As a teenager, I am no stranger to beauty standards. I constantly find myself comparing my appearance to that of others. I overanalyze every outfit, constantly reapply makeup, and have an overcomplicated skincare routine. I panic at any sign of imperfection, whether that be a pimple, weight gain, or a bad hair day. Despite understanding the insignificant nature of beauty, I cannot help but critique every aspect of my own appearance.
Following beauty standards is about more than a quick hairstyle or makeup tutorial. They control body image and insecurities in an extremely damaging way. In North America, the idea of the perfect, thin body is forced onto every young girl, leaving millions of teenagers and young adults dissatisfied with their bodies. Individuals force themselves into a mold much too small through diet, binges, or purging, all for nothing.
The reality is, no body is the same. It does not matter how little you eat or how many workouts you do, you will not be able to perfect yourself in the way you hope. As people continue to pursue their dream bodies, their mental health may continue to decline. Regardless of how hard you work to achieve perfection, you may never surrender the dream of being a little skinnier, a little stronger, a little prettier.
Satisfaction with your appearance seems impossible, which is where so many mental health problems originate. Body dysmorphia, anxiety, and countless eating disorders can be inspired by the need to match beauty standards. It is a system which strives off insecurities and struggles, and in 2025, it’s stronger than ever. Millions of people worldwide struggle with body image, each in their own way. They chase their dream bodies, in hopes they will one day achieve perfection. The issue is, the finish line keeps moving, as the idea of beauty continues to shift. A perfect body is unattainable, as it is impossible to please anyone. Yet, individuals continue to obsessively diet, workout, or purge in attempts to reach the unattainable. These actions may seem insignificant, but if taken to the extreme, can be fatal.
Symptoms may begin small, however, rejecting a snack can soon lead to skipping three meals a day or purging every calorie. This lifestyle will only lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety, and in time, these habits may make it impossible to survive.
Beauty standards and body image are not insignificant issues regarding hairstyles and fashion sense. Instead, they are dangerous expectations which have been ruining lives for thousands of years. Our society places an immense emphasis on physical beauty, which can destroy the confidence of any individual. This is not an issue focused on one gender, age group, or culture; it is a global tragedy which society needs to stop normalizing.
The irony of body image is that you will never please everyone. Each culture has their own expectations concerning skin, weight, and style. What one culture sees as skinny, pale, and fashionable may be seen as overweight, tanned, and unattractive to another. It is impossible to reach every beauty standard, to be seen as perfect by all.
Instead of chasing an unattainable standard, chase what makes you happy, confident, and satisfied. As individuals, we are made of more than our looks, we are made of our personalities and character. As a society, we need to leave behind our lives of insecurities and unrealistic standards, and embrace a new age of individuality and acceptance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)