A Planned Attack, An Ambush, Against A Pickering Councillor

by D. Lynne Associate Columnist This past Monday February 26th, at the monthly City of Pickering Council Meeting there was a planned attack, an ambush. I say planned because the topic was not on the agenda. The agenda is not posted until the Friday (or sometimes Thursday night) before the meeting. Then once the agenda is published one can register, before noon on the Monday, as a delegate but can only speak to the topics on the agenda. Here’s why I suggest it was a planned attack, an ambush! In order to speak on a topic Not on an agenda, one must register their name and the topic a minimum of ten days prior to a meeting. This Monday meeting had 18 delegates, all with the same or similar topic (Black History Month, Councillor Robinson’s Comments), all registered by the ten day requirement, the majority knew each other and were known friends and supporters of the mayor and some other councilors. Isn’t that Interesting? What was the topic you Ask? It was based on Councillor Lisa Robinson’s op-ed article Feb. 6th in Durham's, The Central Newspaper, “IT IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE”. The essence of the article was designed to question, are we not creating racism by singling out one group over another? It was not as some thought, a slam against Black History. The article was stating that the history of all peoples, regardless of race, should be taught together, and taught throughout the year not just singled out and prioritized over the accomplishments of other races. It’s this labeling that creates racism, pitting race against race, religion against religion, etc. ect. ect.. The CRT (Critical Race Theory) does a good job creating racism but that’s a topic for another day. Getting back to the councilor’s article, I would have to question if many, if any, actually read the full article and understood it or, did someone tell them that the councilor was racist and against Black History Month. Hmmm … wasn't that what the Mayor kept saying in his many speeches and attacks on Councillor Robinson? Did the Mayor read and understand the article or did he glance at it and then, for political gain, run to the Anti-Black Task Force along with the rest of council to fan the flames portraying Councillor Robinson as racist and that they, the rest of council would be supportive and help the taskforce with anything they needed? Hmmm … Talk about political posturing!!! And was it really necessary for the mayor to have his young grand-daughter at the meeting dressed in a Black Lives Matter Tee-shirt? More political posturing!! The Delegates spoke; 1 - only about the importance of the Black History Month because until this month they didn’t know the accomplishments of some Black people.; 2 - and that the councilor is racist based on their interpretation of the article. This actually proves what the councilor is saying, that the history and accomplishments of all races should be taught through out the year, and not just at one appointed time, prioritizing the accomplishments of one race. Wouldn’t that be a step to equality? After the meeting comments were flowing on social media, by the same few instigators, some using fake names (to hide from the nasty, hateful things they say), again attacking the councilor of being a racist, hateful etc. etc. etc. promoting others to say, the councilor is racist, that she should apologize, should resign, and asking where are her supporters etc etc. Well, in the galley there were many supporters of Councillor Lisa Robinson, who would have talked, but were not allowed to, remember this was a planned attack, not on the agenda so no one could talk as the topic was not on the agenda. These supporters quite often attend council meetings, because they like the fact that she raises questions, pushing for answers and doesn’t just rubber stamp things as the rest of council does, but again that’s a discussion for another time. I have to say Durham Region got one thing right when naming their committee, the Durham Region Anti-Racism Taskforce. It seems Durham understands everyone suffers under some type of Racism, where as Pickering named their committee Anti-Black Racism Taskforce, again isn’t that just political posturing and ignoring all others in the community, so much for neutrality and equality! Shame on you Mayor and the rest of Council, choosing sides thereby encouraging hate and racism, shameful! Bullies count on your fear of backlash to silence people, it’s time to push that fear aside and speak up?

Pickering Style LUNCHIN

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 - Let’s get it right.... so we don’t confuse me opening a can of tuna for a can of worms. Even though ‘can’ opening is involved. Two very different contents. By definition, Lunchin means: Urban Dictionary https://www.urbandictionary.com › define › term=lunchin It means to act stupid, or do something stupid. It also can mean to be burnt, meaning you are slow or blank, because you're zoned or high What does lunchin mean in slang? Lunchin – adj. Tripping; Off one's rocker; Something crazy; Acting a fool. Lunchin: acting crazy, doing too much. THIS IS THE CAN OF TUNA I WILL BE OPENING. NOT THE CAN OF WORMS BELOW: The title above is not a typo, nor a misspelling. Let’s not get the words confuse or make wrongful assumptions. Lunchin and Lynching are different. As Lynching by definition means: Lynching is an extrajudicial killing by a group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate people. I am sorry for the educated amongst us that know the difference. But in today modern society we have to be careful of those that become easily offended and intellectually challenged as many jump to conclusion without understanding the meaning and intent of the usage of words. Case in point the Pickering Paradox below: This past week I was witness to a real sad state of affairs. I attended the Pickering town hall where about 15 - 18 different people made public delegations against an article that was published by councillor Lisa Robinson entitled, “IT IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE”. An article that called to question the fact that by society having a ‘BLACK HISTORY MONTH’ in itself is it not counter productive to the whole equality movement. In my day I have attended some real interesting city councils. This one truly made me feel sorry for humanity. I say this because many of those delegating clearly never read the article in question. It appeared from afar as many of these folks were somehow used as political tokens. I say this because Pickering Mayor, Kevin Ashe and City councillor Lisa Robinson have been feuding for some time. The delegations in my opinion missed their mark. They were full of passionate personal experiences and almost out right hatred for anyone that did not support their particular agenda. I believe that many that made declarations were lunchin. Their passionate presentations were intended to attack the councillor without the understanding of the facts. I bring to question if any of those presenting had actually read the column in it’s entirety. I can appreciate the associations and groups that presented against the councillor. After all some of them are highly funded by the City. Therefore it is understandably so that they would support the Mayor. As the Mayor of Pickering in my opinion is responsible for fanning the fires of racism. Mayor Ashe should have never gone public and denounce the right of a City councillor to exercise her right to write an opinion piece in this great newspaper. He, has no jurisdiction and or authority to attempt to control what council member do on their spare time. He does by policy have the right to bring to question the integrity of the intent of the article. This meaning that he should have first consulted the councillor in question. Then the newspaper. At the least he should have read the column. As in my opinion he has not and Mr. Ashe was lunchin as he showed his hate for the councillor and truly showed himself to be a real Ash. OOOOPS that was a spelling error. 18 delegations attacking the councillor with the same rage and anger. Delegations representing the black community. The same community that demanded respect and equality. The same community that in a verbal lynch type mentality were not there to educate and or find peaceful resolve. Instead, they exhibited hatred towards the councillor and demanded more than in once instance her resignation. Now, I ask you is this not a form of oppression. The verbal lynching mentality that they exhibited was lunchin. Bringing forth the true militant purpose of their racial agenda. Leaving out equality. Two hours she endured by a lunchin mob attempting to socially lynch her character for exercising her freedom of speech. Sad society we live in. So many confused and hurting souls. In Rodney King words, “ “Can we all get along?” is a far distant cry... as shown at council.

The Erosion of XX

By Lisa Robinson - Pickering City Councillor In 2022, Matt Walsh from the Daily Wire, delved into the question “What is a Woman?” which went viral with over 177 million views on Twitter. I found his journey to be quite disturbing as he tries to get answers to questions that generations long before us never knew they needed to ask. Personally, being a woman myself, which is an adult female with XX chromosomes, I feel the concept of womanhood has been under continuous attack, as biological males encroach upon spaces and rights that women have fought tirelessly for decades to secure. The erosion of our identity as women, and the mockery made of our experiences from those like Dylan Mulvaney have become an injustice that cannot be ignored. Women have persevered through countless struggles to assert their rights and demand equality for centuries. From the right to vote in public elections to reproductive rights, we have marched, protested, and sacrificed much to establish and forge our path in society today. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, the very essence of womanhood is now being undermined by those who seek to erase our unique experiences and replace them with a distorted version of reality. One need only look at the absurdity of biological males pretending to menstruate, using tampons, and infiltrating women's sports and private spaces to see the extent of this mockery. The notion that calling mothers "birthing persons" and "breast feeders" somehow promotes inclusivity is not only absurd but deeply insulting to the sacrifices and struggles of women throughout history. Where are the feminists who once stood at the forefront of the fight for women's rights? Why have so many retreated into silence, cowed by the fear of being labeled as bigots, racists, or transphobes? The deafening silence of those who claim to champion women's rights in the face of such blatant erasure speaks volumes about the state of modern feminism. I want to be clear, biological men cannot have babies. It is women who bear the burden of childbirth and nurture the next generation. Women are the ones who keep society alive and populated, and our experiences as women are unique and irreplaceable. To suggest otherwise is not only absurd but an affront to our very existence. If one were to take 100 women and 10 men and drop them off on a deserted island, in 100 years you would find a thriving society full of men, women, boys and girls. Now what if one were to take 100 transwomen and 10 men and drop them off on a deserted island, what would you find in 100 years? Answer – You would find 110 corpses. This, I can say with certainty, is the unequivocal truth. I think it's high time that feminists reclaim their voices and stand in solidarity against this assault on womanhood. Time to reject the false narratives of inclusivity that seek to erase our identities and experiences. Time to demand recognition and respect for the struggles and sacrifices of women throughout history. Not only does this concern extend beyond matters of sexuality but it also encompasses the ongoing treatment women endure at the hands of the prevailing gender. For example, in the hallowed halls of council chambers, the struggle for gender equality rages on, with women continuing to face entrenched biases and discrimination. Despite making strides in securing seats at the table, the journey towards true representation remains fraught with challenges and obstacles. Certain men in positions of power still believe they possess the authority to dominate and exert power over women. As a strong, independent woman on the council, I have borne witness to the insidious tactics employed by certain colleagues to undermine my authority, diminish my contributions, and silence my voice. The pervasive atmosphere of the "old boys' club" rears its ugly head time and time again, with certain members using inappropriate and unwelcome conversations of a sexual nature and the use of psychological harassment. We have a mayor who resorts to tactics such as yelling and name-calling, all designed to belittle, discredit, and intimidate not only me but other women who attend Council chambers for refusing to sit down or because they did not obey when told to stop speaking. Despite the strides made by having 3 women on council, the unfortunate reality is that not all female councillors champion the cause of women's rights. In a disappointing turn of events, I have found myself isolated and marginalized, with no support. Instead of embracing diversity of thought and perspective, certain councillors persist in perpetuating a toxic culture of misogyny and disrespect. The struggle for gender equality extends beyond mere representation—it is about creating an inclusive and equitable environment where all voices are heard and respected. Yet, the journey towards this ideal remains fraught with challenges, as evidenced by my request for additional security measures at council meetings due to targeted harassment and intimidation towards women. As I prepare to once again speak truth to power on sensitive topics, I am bracing myself for the inevitable backlash and vitriol that will ensue. The prospect of being yelled at, called names, and ridiculed is a sobering reminder of the uphill battle that women continue to face in the pursuit of speaking the truth and fighting for justice and equality. I will continue to speak out against injustice, champion the cause of women's rights, and fight tirelessly for a more inclusive and equitable society that does not divide people by the colour of their skin, religious beliefs, or sexual preferences. "Strength Does Not Lie In The Absence Of Fear, But In The Courage To Face It Head-On And Rise Above It"

Doug Ford’s Ontario and the massive debt acquired by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East The Province of Ontario carries one of the largest debt burdens in Canada, largely due to the provincial government’s unwillingness to control spending. This represents a significant drag on provincial finances and a major cost to Ontarians. Heading into budget season, if the Ford government wants to finally tackle the province’s debt problem, it must restrain spending. However, they will obviously not be doing that, for selfish electoral gain. The Ford government released the 2023–24 Third Quarter Finances this week, to provide an update o

n Ontario’s economic and fiscal outlook since the release of the 2023 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (also referred to as the Fall Economic Statement, or FES). The Ontario government, through its Finance Minister Peter Betlenfalvy, tried to make the outlook of the Ontario economy look positive. Some of these whitewashing efforts include the following interpretations to soften the facts. The real GDP growth has been slowing, in part due to the impact of higher interest rates. Following a 0.4 percent increase in the second quarter of 2023, Ontario’s real GDP was unchanged in the third calendar quarter of 2023. The 2023–24 Third Quarter Finances projects a deficit of $4.5 billion in 2023–24, an improvement of $1.1 billion compared to the outlook published in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement. The improvement to the deficit is primarily due to increased revenue and lower interest on debt expense. The 2023 Budget published in March 2023 projected a deficit of $1.3 billion. The government plans to provide its next update by March 31, 2024 as part of the 2024 Budget. “As this year unfolds, our government will continue to take a prudent, responsible approach to managing Ontario’s finances, ensuring there is capacity to respond to economic headwinds while continuing to invest in building Ontario’s future” said Peter Bethlenfalvy. According to a recent study published by the Fraser Institute, Ontario’s net debt is expected to reach $416.1 billion this year, which is 84.9 per cent higher than in 2007/08. Moreover, government debt equals 38.7 per cent of the province’s economy (ranking below only Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador) and on a per-person basis ranks second-highest at $27,091 (behind only Newfoundland and Labrador). Clearly, Ontario has one of the highest debt burdens in the country. In an article in the Ottawa citizen of 21 February 2024 Grady Munro and Jake Fuss published an interesting analysis of the situation. In their opinion, very little attention is being paid to the increasing debt that the Province of Ontario is facing. Interestingly enough, on the election platform of Peter Betlenfalvy, there was a claim that he was pivotal in downgrading the financial rating of Ontario, during the time of the Kathleen Wynne Liberal government, due to excessive debt. High levels of government debt come with costs, including interest costs. Just like a family that takes out a mortgage, governments must pay interest on the money they borrow. Two main factors determine interest costs: the interest rate and the total amount of debt. An increase in the interest rate and/or an increase in the amount of debt will increase interest costs. Not surprisingly, Ontario’s significant debt burden has produced significant interest costs. In 2023/24, the Ford government will pay $13.4 billion in debt interest, making it one of the largest single items in its budget. This is money unavailable for services or tax relief for Ontarians. To put it into perspective, the government will spend more on debt interest than it expects to spend on post-secondary education. The Ford government borrowed substantial sums of money before, during and after the pandemic and consistently increased spending, thus racking up this massive debt, despite singing a different tune when first elected in 2018. At the time, former Ford finance minister Vic Fedeli pledged to take “immediate action to mitigate this fiscal mess”. Unfortunately, the Ford government’s promises have proven to be empty words. To be fair, successive Ontario governments have increased spending for many years, resulting in persistent budget deficits and ever-growing debt. Over the last 15 years, Ontario has run 14 budget deficits. However, despite promising to change course on the campaign trail, the Ford government has chosen to continue the trend of higher spending and debt accumulation. Even when the government ran an unexpected surplus in 2021/22 due to a revenue surge, it chose to further increase spending and run an unnecessary deficit the following year. Without spending restraint at Queen’s Park, Ontario’s debt problem will only get worse. It is time for the Ford government to finally break its spending habits in Ontario’s upcoming budget. Keep in mind that you, the taxpayer, are paying for the spending habits of this government. Beware! Be aware!

Liberal Amore

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. In Italian Amore means love. In American Love means sex. Well then, we surely are getting alot of Amore from the Liberal Party. Who is doing the driving Justin.... My ass is getting sore and I think I am government pregnant. We the people can barely pay for rent and food. Yet, we send millions if not billions to fight foreign wars. Just this week. The headlines read: Canada to send non battle troops to Ukraine. Enough is enough. I have a suggestion. Let’s stop the funding to a loosing war. Let’s stop immigration for at least 3 years. Let’s find good paying jobs for our kids and grand kids. Let’s put food on everyone’s table. Let’s make big corporations stay in Canada and cut all the business tax. Specially anything that has to do with employee benefits. Use the money we would give away to immigrants and assist people with rents and mortgages. Stop it Justin before the people vote you out. Then, what? We elect another Justin to continue the governmental legacy of wasting tax dollars. Where will it end. When will Canada come first? I worked all my life like a horse. Early up in the morning and barely walking back to my stable at night to only repeat the next day. I paid taxes through my ass. Still do. Yet, society keeps going down the tube. Gas prices through the roof. Where and or when will this all end? I am tired of the Liberal government loving me so much. I am on a pension and can barely get along. I am sure many of you are in the same boat. Should we continue paying for immigrants? Foreign wars? Foreign Aid? Canada is finished... if we don’t change fast.

AS A JOB SEEKER

As a Job Seeker What Matters Are the Choices You Make By Nick Kossovan Most people don't give their choices the seriousness they deserve. When it comes to your job search, the universal truth that your life is the sum of your choices is especially true. If your job search isn't going as you'd like, chances are you're making the wrong choices. When it comes to job search success and career advancement your choices are determining factors. Do you apply for the project manager job at Lomax Industries, even though you only have four years of experience and the job posting asks for "at least six"? If a job offer is $15K below what you want, do you accept it? Throughout your job search, you'll make choices (aka, decisions) that either positively or negatively impact your job search and career. "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." - Charles R. Swindoll, evangelical Christian pastor, author, and educator. The 90% is entirely your choice. Ultimately, your choices influence your outcomes, thus why you should take them seriously. You have no control over the job market, how employers decide to hire, or a hiring manager's biases, but you do get to choose… · whether or not you network. · what appears on your LinkedIn profile/resume. · how you physically present yourself. You have more choices that directly influence your job search than you probably realize. If you want a better job search—a better life—then start making better choices. Yes, it's that simple. Two mental states influence our choices: 1. Emotions at the time (e.g., anger, happy, in love, frustrated, offended) 2. Logical (e.g., financial situation, physical pain, available resources) The following two data points provide some context for human decision-making: · Every day, you make over 30,000 decisions. · 95% of your decision-making is subconscious. (read: on autopilot) When thrown into a job search, as 1,000s are these days due to layoffs, especially in the tech sector (Layoffs. fyi reports that so far in 2024, more than 42,000 employees have been laid off from 140 tech companies.) and media, most newly minted job seekers merely update their resume, browse job boards, and seek out job search advice looking for a magic bullet to landing a job fast. Job seekers who are more nuanced will strategically consider who their references will be and whether the navy suit in the back of their closet still fits. Job seekers rarely formulate a decision-making strategy for their job search, which begins with answering the straightforward question: What do I want? Admittedly, when looking for a job, what do I want? isn't a simple question, unlike choosing whether to have a cheeseburger, Greek salad, or turkey chili for lunch, which, since your diet directly affects your health, you should be taking your food choices seriously. What you want requires knowing… · your values · your non-negotiables Your Values: "It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are." – Roy Disney, Walt Disney Company's former vice chairman. Your values should always be clear to you. For example, if you value autonomy, you'll want to ask pointed questions during your interviews to ensure you don't accept (read: choose) a job where your manager will micromanage you. If you value flexibility, you'd be wise to choose an employer with a result-oriented work environment (ROWE) where results are valued over clocked hours. If growth opportunity is something you value, then start-ups and companies in growth mode would be your best choices. You'll make better choices throughout your job search and life when you make choices that align with and support your values. Take some time and list what you value in a job and employer, such as simplicity, acceptance, openness, diversity, and accountability. Then, define what choices you'll make and, more importantly, won't. For instance, because you value integrity, you choose not to apply to companies with a history of unethical behaviour. Your Non-negotiables: Most job seekers I talk to don't have non-negotiables and, therefore, compromise their needs and wants when accepting a job offer. Inevitably, usually in a short time, they're unhappy in their new job. (If happiness is one of your values, then stop making choices that compromise your happiness.) Accepting a job that pays $25K less than you'd like will only lead to you becoming another employee who complains they're not paid enough. Is that the kind of employee you want to be? As you made a list of your values, list your non-negotiables, such as minimum annual compensation, free parking, maximum commuting distance, number of paid vacation days, number of paid sick days, remote, hybrid, hours, benefits, etc. List everything you need and want from your next job that'll motivate you to stay long-term. Commit to accepting a job only if it meets at least 80% of your non-negotiables. (100% is unrealistic.) Once you’ve created both lists, which should be as comprehensive as possible, you're ready to ask yourself the ultimate question every time you're about to act on your job search, such as choosing whether to apply to a job posting, choosing the questions you'll ask your interviewer, choosing whether to accept an offer, "Am I making the best choice for me?" _____________________________________________________________________ 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

INHERITANCE

Inheritance from Wayne & Tamara I have a mother who is constantly yelling at me for the smallest things, regardless of whether or not it is my fault. She tells me how hopeless I am, even though I get really good grades and excel in all my extracurricular activities. Whenever I defend myself, she tells me I have an attitude problem. She puts words in my mouth and denies anything she ever did wrong. She told me she is going to kick me out of the house because she thinks I am rebellious. She doesn't even know what that means because most of the time I don't say anything when she makes false accusations and yells at me. There is no one at home I can talk to about this. My dad is literally afraid of her, and whenever I cry after taking all my mom says to me, he ends up telling me to apologize to her. The thing is, I know I may raise my voice sometimes when I am angry, but I am angry because she exaggerates and overreacts. I need help. I can't go on any longer. This happens almost every day, and I have been skipping meals and becoming depressed. The only time I can forget what home is like is when I am at school and with my friends. I suggested going to therapy with my mom, but she just yelled at me for telling her that we have problems. Emma Emma, there is a fable about an old man who lived with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. The old man was hard of hearing, and he sometimes spilled his food. His son and daughter-in-law were so disgusted by this they made the old man eat by himself out of a wooden bowl behind the stove. One day the old man's grandson, who was only four, began gathering bits of wood. When his father asked what he was doing, the boy replied, "I am making a wooden trough for you and mother to eat out of when I am big." Ashamed, the couple took the grandfather to the table, and if he spilled a little food, they never said anything. Emma, like the boy in the tale "The Old Man and His Grandson," there is a lesson you could teach your parents, but they aren't listening. You're really in a pickle! You are so grown up, we think you will understand this. Your mom is who she is. Whether there is provocation from you or not, she is going to act the same way toward you. But you have some real positives in your corner. You are good at school and extracurricular activities. Focus on them. Channel the maximum of your energies on them. They are your future. Once you accept that you can't talk to your mom or dad, there is another logical step. Who can you talk to? Try talking to your school counselor or favorite teacher, not with the expectation they can materially change your life, but so you can vent your feelings and frustration. Often venting feelings has two results. First, it releases pressure, thus reducing tension. Second, it acts like a sounding board for thoughts and ideas which can help you figure out how to deal with your parents. Your parents may be in power now, but in a few years the only power they will have over your life is the power you choose to let them have. We heard a story about a man, it might have been the writer Tracy Kidder, who worked on a project in a nursing home. When the project ended, he told his wife and young daughter that he never wanted to end up in a nursing home. His daughter then looked up at her father with a glint in her eye and said, "Well then, Daddy, you'd better be nice to me." 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.

A Failing Grade in Basic Mathematics

By W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford Have even one in a thousand North Americans ever heard of Kissick’ s Law? More than 25 years ago, if you were reading the Ontario Medical Review, you would have seen an article, written by Dr. Samuel Vaisrub, explaining the message. Kissick stated that if the U.S. Declaration of Independence was written in contemporary times, it would declare the pursuit of health, rather than happiness, after life and liberty, as the third inalienable right of Americans. About 50 years ago Kissick, a professor at the renowned U.S. Wharton School of Business, stunned Canadians and Americans with a showstopping speech about the economic laws of health care economics. Considering the ongoing healthcare mess in both countries today, it’s a shame his wise council never took hold. What did Kissick recommend? It was about what every family in North America knows. If you spend more than you earn, soon enough the laws of economics will trigger bankruptcy. Kissick’s warning was simple arithmetic. Readers should get up, find a pen, and write this principle down over and over. No society in the world has sufficient money to provide all the healthcare services its population is capable of using, Kissick warned. But he was not finished, so keep you pen handy and keep writing. He added that even if the nation’s gross national product were expanding at record-setting rates, it would still not be enough. People have a voracious appetite for spending on their health. If left to the forces of demand, healthcare spending would consume the nation’s entire budget. He said the problem was similar to giving his credit card to his daughter and saying, “Darling, go buy anything you want, and I will pay all the bills.” Kissick hesitated for a moment, and then added, “If what I have told you doesn’t alarm you,” he said to the audience, “I’ll loan you my daughter!” Economists have been saying the same thing. For decades, healthcare spending in many places around the world has been outpacing economic growth. It’s simply not sustainable. We are no longer approaching the time when we will be forced to accept the consequences. We have reached it. The pursuit of healthcare has limitations. Our collective psyche must face the reckoning. We will have less, not more, healthcare spending. And if refusing to accept this, then we will have worse roads, backed-up sewers, poorer education, and you name it, a lot less to invest in everything else that we like to take for granted. An old joke offers the definition of a healthy person. It’s someone who hasn’t been seen by enough doctors or had enough tests done. And this is true. Inevitably, everyone will find one health problem or another. But being obsessive about health, always wanting more and more care, is neither advisable nor feasible. As governments face the hard reality of cancelling their healthcare credit cards, you can be sure they’ll never tell you straight up about it. Voters don’t want to hear about it, especially that enormous cohort of the population that is aging into retirement years. There is a better alternative. People should be less obsessive about healthcare and more determined to avoid the need for it. The human body is an amazing organism, but only if not abused by cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, both legal and illegal, by junk food, by lack of exercise, and by the long list of environmental and other global problems. Can we make the shift? Or do we need to pray for divine intervention to avoid this disastrous train wreck. 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

PERSPECTIVES

By Lisa Robinson - Pickering City Councillor I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has shared with me their perspectives and concerns on a recent opinion editorial I penned February 6, 2024, titled “It is not black and white” While perhaps controversial, nowhere in this piece does it exhibit racism. After reading some comments, I understand that some may not have fully understood or accurately interpreted the column's true meaning, and for those individuals, I would like to offer my sincere apologies. Racism is a belief system or ideology that asserts the inherent superiority or inferiority of individuals or groups based on their race. It involves the belief that some races are inherently superior to others, leading to discriminatory attitudes, actions, and policies that treat individuals or groups differently based on their race. This is the very thing that I am fighting against and will continue to fight against. There is a grave need to put an end to the creation of an environment that fosters racism. That means we need to stop judging individuals solely based on their skin colour, religious beliefs, or sexual preferences. Dividing people into these political groups only perpetuates a harmful cycle of creating a breeding ground for racism to exist. We are all human, and to live in unity we need to stop with these divisive tactics. If we need to have a month dedicated to history, then let it truly be about history itself. It does not need to solely revolve around the colour of one's skin, as every culture has a rich and diverse history that deserves to be celebrated and shared. We only have twelve months in a year, and no race deserves to be inherently superior to another. It’s time to shift our focus from judging individuals based on their skin colour, religious beliefs, and sexual preferences, and start evaluating and lifting one another up based on one’s character. This kind of transformation is crucial in our collective journey towards a more inclusive and equitable society. I have said numerous times that the truth can sometimes be uncomfortable for some individuals, and it may sometimes inadvertently cause hurt or offense to one's feelings, but it is important to recognize that no one can control how people emotionally are going to respond to the truth, but one can affect how it directly affects them on a day-to-day basis. It’s extremely important moving forward to prioritize open, honest dialogue and avoid name-calling or labeling something or someone as being racist without having a complete understanding of the subject at hand or participating in open conversations. Approaching discussions with active listening, and empathy, is the only way that true understanding can be achieved. Discussing race and ethnicity does not inherently equate to racism. The aforementioned article may challenge conventional views on race relations, but it does not exhibit hatred, prejudice, or discrimination toward any racial or ethnic group. Instead, I hope it prompts readers to reflect on how we perceive and address issues of equality and

Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8

Tahir Khorasanee, LL.M. Senior Associate, Steinbergs LLP As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, it’s important to reflect on the significant strides women have made in Canada. From winning the right to vote in 1918 to securing a discrimination-free workspace in 1977, women have come a long way in the fight for equality. The journey towards equality has not been easy. Underneath the seemingly smooth surface lies the enduring struggle of those women who used their own experiences as an opportunity to lead by example. They have faced adversity head-on, taking legal action against discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and paving the way for safer workspaces for future generations. This International Women’s Day, we must pay tribute to these brave women. Their courage and determination have not only brought about change in their own lives but have also created ripple effects across the country. Their actions have led to the termination of employment for perpetrators and revisions to workplace policies, ensuring that all employees feel safe and respected. However, the fight is far from over. This is a call to action to all those who are or have suffered quietly – your action may end the suffering of other women. It’s a reminder that every voice matters and every action counts. One such woman was L.N who filed a human rights complaint in 2020 against her employer, Ray Daniel Salon & Spa and Mr. Reza Khosravi. Mr. Khosravi was the sole person responsible for the spa’s operations. L.N. was new to Canada when she commenced her employment in April 2019. The spa paid her $5 per hour (below minimum wage) and in the short time she worked there until May 31, 2019, Mr. Khosravi twice raped L.N, physically and sexually assaulted her and threatened her with reprisal. No investigation was conducted, and her employment was terminated. The spa did not pay L.N. for the month of May 2019. As a new immigrant, L.N. was not aware that Canada had a minimum wage. She was afraid to report the sexual assault and rape to the police for fear of being deported. In her application at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, L.N. sought a total of $250,000, comprising of $210,000 for sexual solicitation and sexual harassment; $30,000 for reprisal; and $10,000 for citizenship-based discrimination. The Tribunal settled on a figure of $180,000. Additionally, the ruling mandated human rights training for the managerial staff of Ray Daniel Salon & Spa and required the posting of the decision within the workplace to prevent future violations. On this International Women’s Day, let’s honor the women who have paved the way for us. As we celebrate the achievements of women, let’s also remember the ongoing struggle of women like L.N. Let’s continue to break the glass ceiling and strive for a world where equal opportunity is not just a concept, but a reality. This is not legal advice. If you need legal advice with respect to workplace violence, please email: tkhorasanee@steinbergsllp.com

4.7% tax on beer... that is call for action

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 - What is it with us Canadians. The price of gas fluctuates from 5 - 10 cents per day. No one says anything. We are taxed through our noses and we work harder. We have our civil liberties compromised we look the other way. Food prices get out of control. We as Canadians go on a diet. Thousands of people if not millions across the country are forced to live on the street. We snub our noses as a ‘not my problem’. Wake up people. But wait. Just this week the headline read: The Canada Revenue Agency reports a 4.7% increase in the federal beer tax effective April 1, 2024. on the one hand, we Canadian smile and hope that it is a misprint or a bad government initiated April Fools joke... On the other. “Whatcha talkin bout Willis,”, type of look and response. You mess with the golden gift from the God’s and you have a Canadian coup-de-etat on your hands. I heard by many that if this tax goes through. Canadians across the land will go on strike. Do a beer convoy to Ottawa. Join the Trump movement. Scream and yell. Some may even resort to stomping their feet and hold their breaths until such time as the government overturned the tax increase on the holy Canadian beer. What have we become in this Country. We put up with political reforms that fail. An economy that is a shame. An immigration policy that is turning our great nation to third world status. Touch our beer and boy hell breaks loose. Could it be that beer is call to action for Canadians. Imagine creating a new party. The Canadian Beer front. Could it be any worst than what we have now? As Canadians we should expect more. We should do more. But unfortunately we keep lowering out standards, looking the other way. Excuse me I am Canadian. Or maybe have one.

Canada’s Natural Resources and the Ignorance of Canadian Politicians

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As the geopolitical situation in the world is rapidly deteriorating, it seems that Canadian politicians do not have any ideas on how to position Canada as a strong nation for the future. Instead they quarrel in their respective ivory towers about how to make the climate conform with their desired phantasmagoric and beyond common sense ideas. No vision for the future of Canada has been expressed even remotely. They seem eager only to attack each other over verbiage without content. Unfortunately, they are the bad actors of today, playing with the future of Canada. Instead of looking at the blessings of this great country of Canada - the largest treasure of natural resources - which are there to be put in the service our people, they find numerous excuses to block their use. They do this by a complete ignorance of science, under the influence of dark ages-like theories fomented by the World Economic Forum. In the meantime, nations with more knowledgeable and responsible leaders are doing everything they can for the benefit of their people. Ranging from the acquisition of a rare earths stockpile from a mine in the Northwest Territories to the purchasing of stakes in Canadian mines Solaris Resources and First Quantum, a recent flury of Chinese investment in Canadian mining projects has rightly sparked questions and concerns. In the past three years, many Western nations including Canada have put out critical minerals strategies to promote friendly sources of supply and mitigate Chinese dominance in the sector. Yet Canada is still falling behind. At the same time, one empathizes with Canadian mines looking to China for investment; they are not finding it anywhere else. Junior and mid-sized mines are starved for capital even as Western politicians proclaim their commitment to the sector by words only, not deeds. Fortunately, there is a solution to the challenge of both reducing dependence on Chinese-controlled exports and boosting Western investment in Canada’s own supply. It is time to establish strategic reserves for critical minerals. The concept has plenty of precedent. While many today may know about the International Energy Agency (IEA) from its efforts to stabilize the fossil fuels market, they may not realize that the organization was originally created in 1974 to mitigate oil supply disruptions. Its members include most of Europe, North America, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and Australia. Its primary tool for managing oil supplies was the establishment of strategic reserves. IEA members are required, to this day, to hold oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports (Canada, as one of a handful of oil exporters in the IEA, requires no such reserve). The utility of those oil reserves was demonstrated in 2022 with the conflict in Ukraine that disrupted global commodity markets, leading to price spikes. A coordinated release amongst IEA members followed, which succeeded in bringing prices down at the pump. A number of forces are currently conspiring to make Western nations collectively establish critical reserves of minerals. First, they play a key role in maintaining technological advantages in many critical and strategical fields. Ironically, Canada’s own production of critical minerals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and zinc is actually in decline. Second, is the need to enhance Western supply chain independence.The most urgent problem is Chinese dominance in both the mining and processing of many critical minerals. In general, minerals are geographically concentrated, often in politically unstable regions, adding vulnerability to supply chains. The West must find ways to mitigate those risks by producing more of its own supply, diversifying suppliers where that’s not possible, and stockpiling for when all else fails. Canada is an ideal place to look but that means a complete change in political thinking. Third is the inability of mines to attract more investment despite expectations of growing demand. Global capital expenditures in mining peaked in 2013. While investment has risen since the market bottomed in 2017, spending levels are still only two-thirds what they were a decade ago. That figure doesn’t account for inflation and the addition of a billion people, which makes the situation look even more dire. Investors are still scared off by their losses from when the last cycle went bust, as well as a lack of public support for extraction, regulatory burdens, volatility, supply chain risks, long timelines, and other factors. Mining is struggling to compete with other sectors for capital due to incapacity of Western governments to understand science on which Canada bears the flagship. Some countries, such as Japan, already stockpile critical minerals, and commercial reserves exist across the world. The U.S. also has a National Defense Stockpile, but its current value is a rounding error compared to the height of the Cold War, and it is seeking to build it up. Canada does not seem to have any policies in this regards, and is missing in action. Minerals behave very differently in global markets than oil, and they vary from one to another too. It will not be as easy as replicating the system for oil. However, at some level, the concept of a critical minerals reserve should be to establish a floor for commodity prices that is high enough to spur development in Western and other friendly jurisdictions, perhaps in “take-or-pay” types of arrangements. The goal is not just to establish minimum reserves, but to incentivise new production. The question is: is anyone in the Canadian political environment capable of forward thinking? The devil will be in the details and thought will need to go into maximizing the security of supply without needlessly distorting market forces. However, governments should prepare to apply the one thing they have that the market currently lacks; a source of patient capital. There is no doubt that the collective security of the West is put at risk by the current state of the critical minerals market. Investment is not flowing at the rate needed to ensure balanced markets in the coming decade. Canadian foreign policy has been lacklustre of late. One area where we are still looked upon to lead—and retain some ability to do so—is in natural resources. Coming up with solutions to the problem of critical minerals supply that leverages the collective experience of our mining and investment community is an obvious place for Canada to contribute. This seems obvious for rational people, whether Canadian politicials are listening is another issue. Hope somebody wakes up soon to put Canada’s interests first.

BY-ELECTION BYE ELECTION

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. I don’t get it... but I am sure I will. Apparently we are at the eve of a by-election. Erin O’Toole decided ‘NO MAS’. Jumped ship and how the vultures are out in full hunt. Is this how we elect our official in Canada. PICK ONE FROM THE LIST - I did not know about the election until I seen an ad for the PPC in this great newspaper. Who is running? What credential do they have? Does it matter who wins? To me it appears that all those running are running to better their pocket book. I know one thing. Whoever wins won’t be doing a thing for my pocket book. I will still have to put up with Justin insanity. I will still have to live beyond my means as the economy is shot. I will still have to pay for my high property taxes. Pay for Durham Region bill, phone, water, electricity and all the others that someone decides to lick a stamp and send me a bill for. I have a suggestion. Why don’t we leave that seat open and distribute the annual salary among the taxpayers. Hey, a dollar here a dollar there. It makes a difference. After all is this not how the municipalities keep feeding it to us up the ass. Oh, the tax increase this year is only equivalent to and extra $30 dollars. Please... I strongly believe that democracy is dead. Just because you have the right to choose it does not ad up to shit. Think about it. We the people have no voice. No say and no real representation. No matter who wins. Our daily lives will continue the same. Even if a federal election was called tomorrow. Would a change really make a difference? Politics both in Canada and the U.S. have proven to be about wealth and power. It is not about the people. The people can cheer and chant. At the end of the day. He/She that gets elected is the only one that truly benefits. I have a message for the bi-elections. Bye bye. I am not voting. I am not wasting my time to help someone fill their pockets at my expense. I strongly support the idea of leaving the seat open as a show of rebellious intent from the voters. But what am I talking about. People will keep making the same mistake and turn out and vote for some token, only to turn around the next day and begin the criticism of their choice. Bahhhhh

‘ARRIVE’ SOON DEPARTED

By Dale Jodoin During the big COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone was really scared and trying to stay safe, there was this app called "Arrive" that got made. It was supposed to help people by keeping track of where they were if they got sick, to help stop the virus from spreading. At first, it sounded like a really helpful thing, but then things went super wrong. The app was only supposed to cost about $80,000 to set up, but somehow, the cost blew up to $59 million. That's a crazy amount of money, and it made a lot of people think that something shady was happening. It looked like someone was using the scary situation of the pandemic to fill their pockets with a lot of money, which is really not cool. People were already having a hard time because of the sickness, and then they had to hear about this mess. Some folks think the police, like the RCMP in Canada, should check into this to figure out what really happened. But, there are others who say this problem is so huge and might even involve people from other countries, so it's a job for the Canadian Intelligence Service. They're worried that if people in other countries find out who got all this money, they could use that info to mess with Canada's government later on. That's a big worry because it's about keeping the country safe, which people call "national security." The reason why the Canadian Intelligence Service should step in is also because this kind of money, if it's gotten through bad ways like bribery, could make it easy for foreign governments to try and take advantage later on in our country. They could try to influence important people in Canada or make them do things that aren't good for Canada. People are saying that whoever made this mess happen should be found and have to answer for it, especially if they tried to keep it a secret. It's super important to make sure something like this doesn't happen again, especially when everyone needs to trust each other during a big crisis like a pandemic. It's weird that not many people are talking about this, like in newspapers or on TV. But it's a really big deal, and everyone should want to find out the truth to make sure the people who did wrong are held responsible. This is all about making sure everyone plays fair and that the country stays safe and works right for everyone.

Trust Is the Key to Setting Yourself Apart During the Hiring Process

By Nick Kossovan One question is running through your interviewer's head: "Can I trust this person?" You never want your interviewer to think, "Something doesn't feel right." I once had an interview where my interviewer said, "I like you, Nick. I think you can improve our call center metrics and increase our CSAT scores." Being young, slightly cocky, but intuitively knowing I’ll not get hired if my interviewer didn't like or trust me, I replied, "Don't just like me, trust me." Yes, I got a second interview, resulting in a job offer, which I ultimately declined. There are keys to job search success: · Networking · Your LinkedIn profile and resume · Being likeable (Being likeable supersedes your skills and experience.) · Your communication skills If the employer doesn't trust you, all the above is irrelevant. Everything, especially when starting a relationship, begins with trust. Trust translates to confidence in. The opposite of trust is distrust, aka. doubt. As a job seeker, you must look, speak, and behave in ways that’ll establish trust with employers. Don't just focus on selling your skills and experience, which, to reiterate, are meaningless unless the employer trusts you based on these five "Will you?" questions: Will you... 1. Deliver results? (primary question) 2. Be easy to manage? 3. Not be a disruption to the existing team and the company? 4. Be reliable? 5. Show professionalism and integrity? Hiring is based on trust. When a hiring manager gives you the green light to be hired, they trust your ability to do the job, obtain the results required, be reliable, be manageable, and work well with the existing team. There isn't a hiring manager who hasn't been taken in (read: made a fool of) by a candidate who said all the right things and then failed to deliver. When you're being interviewed, you can be sure that your interviewer has been fooled by a candidate at least once and isn't looking to be fooled again, which you should empathize with. Among hiring managers, stories of candidates who didn't walk their talk are all too common, explaining why hiring processes have become more "stretched out." Therefore, to gain a competitive job search advantage, make building and establishing trust your primary job search strategy, not simply trying to sell your skills and experience, which I can't overstate, are worthless unless the employer trusts you. Holistically, the hiring process has two touchpoints that provide you with opportunities to build trust. First touchpoint: The application process. (Approaching the employer.) A hiring manager posts a job online. Within 24 hours, they receive 100's, if not 1,000s, of resumes, all from strangers. In this context, it is easy to understand why networking and being referred will shorten your job search. Who's more trustworthy, a candidate who's a stranger or a candidate who was referred? Having never met Bob, I don't know him. However, suppose Mary, whom I've known and trusted for seven years, refers Bob to me. In that case, I'll regard Bob as more trustworthy than a non-referred candidate who's literally a stranger to me. Whenever I advise a job seeker, I emphasize the importance of not being a stranger to employers as much as possible. Although it may not always be possible to network into a company, you have the ability, by using LinkedIn and other social media platforms, to create a personal brand and establish yourself as a SME (Subject Matter Expert). A low-hanging fruit for building trust is becoming known within your industry and profession. We tend to trust those we know, even if we only know them by their reputation. Presenting your results numerically, while your competition is just offering opinions ("I'm a team player," "I love to sell," "I'm a JAVA coding Ninja."), establishes trust. Your LinkedIn profile and resume should be void of opinions and solely populated with results you've achieved. ("In 2023, I managed an Inside Sales Team of 15 agents, generating $17.6 million in sales. The average order size was $4,250.”) You can further establish trust by offering documents supporting your claims about your skills and accomplishments. (e.g., productivity reports, 360 feedback, performance reviews) Proof = Trust Second touchpoint: The Interview(s) The first touchpoint lays down the foundation for trust. Establishing trust occurs during the second touchpoint: when interviewing. When interviewing, be honest, clear, and specific about your skills, experience, and career goals. Never make contradictions or exaggerations. Above all, be your authentic self. Authenticity is the primary driver to creating trust. I don't speak for just myself when I say, "I tend to trust candidates whom I believe I'm interacting with the real them. I'm not implying that the times you weren't hired were due to your interviewer not trusting you; many factors go into making a hiring decision. The harsh truth is that while your interviewer may have trusted you, they trusted the candidate they hired more. A great interview is one where you leave your interviewer(s) feeling they can trust you; therefore, a few days before an interview, begin asking yourself, "What can I do to get my interviewer(s)—most likely a stranger, even if you were referred—to trust me?” _____________________________________________________________________ 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

Ulterior Motive

from Wayne & Tamara Life was not this complicated a year ago--said laughing while banging head on keyboard. I can make this short, but there is so much and I want to be fair. Stage one: friends. A friend decides our relationship needs to be advanced to a sexual/dating level. This was probably his objective when we first started hanging out, however, I could not picture us together. He was not my type, the age difference was huge (15 years), and I just couldn't see an "us." Stage two: friends plus. Imagine my surprise when I fell head over heels in love. He quickly and effortlessly became my favorite person in the whole world. Once we started sleeping together, well, he's the best I ever had, and he's said the same about me. Regardless, it's been a huge headache. He's got this nice little routine that works for him, and I never once worried about losing my independence because he was so dead set against losing his. It didn't take long to realize I adore this man, and we fit great together. The beginning of the end was saying this aloud to him. I know the rules: always hang up first, leave them wanting more, never give details, blah, blah, blah. But I made the decision to love him and that negated the Barbie and Ken mating ritual in my mind. Not in his. The chase was the most exciting part to him. Stage three: stage fright. He "loves me but is not in love with me." (What does that mean, anyway?) We started the cycle of break up, just friends, get together, have sex, break up, etc. We finally stopped dating, again, two months ago. I've been heartbroken since. Valerie Valerie, in one of P.G. Wodehouse's novels, Bertie Wooster says, "It's like Shakespeare. It sounds well enough, but it doesn't actually mean anything." That is what we think of "I love you, but I'm not in love with you." It sounds well enough, but it doesn't actually mean anything good. What does it mean? It means "I don't love you." One line of your note jumped out at us. "He's got this nice little routine that works for him." That's the situation in a nutshell. He's got this nice little routine that works for him. Not for both of you, but for him. And he doesn't want to change. You believed his objective from the start was to advance your friendship to a sexual level. Friendship was never his objective. It might help you to think of this man as a confirmed bachelor who keeps women on a shelf until he needs them. Or think of him as a married man, married to himself. It is futile to pursue a confirmed bachelor or a married man. What is in your heart? That there is a purpose to dating. There is a goal. You want someone you love, who loves you, in a mutually exclusive relationship leading to marriage. Once you realize you cannot go there with this man, you can move on. Wayne & Tamara Science Fiction I recently had sex with a girl from work. It was only a bit of fun, and it only happened once, but now she says she is pregnant. I made it quite clear I do not want this baby, but she has not even considered what I have to say. She is keeping the baby. Now, it's like I have been used in some way. My head is in bits. Is there some way of dealing with this so she cannot come to me in the future asking for money? Earl Earl, if H.G Wells' time machine actually existed, you could go back in time and wear a condom while you are having your "bit of fun." That is no less a fantasy than believing you are not financially responsible for your child. 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.

Work Hard to Be 100 and Healthy

By W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford Few children have the good fortune of wishing “Happy 100th Birthday” to a vibrant, healthy parent reaching that esteemed age. But that’s what my brothers and I are doing this week. We’ve had the incredible journey of growing up with Dr. W. Gifford-Jones as our dad! Countless people have asked, what’s the secret to reaching 100? The truth is lots of people are figuring it out. In Canada, there are about 10,000 centenarians, people aged 100 or older. In the U.S., the figure is nearing 100,000. And worldwide, it’s an astounding 722,000 people. Some centenarians are living well. Unfortunately, there is a darker side such longevity, as many are not living well at all. There is wide variation in the research, but a conservative estimate is that 60% of centenarians suffer from dementia, a devasting consequence for them and their families. Living through old age can be an outright punishment if mobility is impaired, leaving people dependent on assistance with daily care. Better management of chronic diseases is a mixed blessing. Is extending life worth it when quality of life is gone? There’s no question. Following the formula for healthy aging is the right thing to do, and you know the components. If you need a reminder, read past Gifford-Jones columns. If you need motivation, volunteer your time in your local assisted living facility. Living to be 100 isn’t the only goal. You want to get there and be healthy! So, what might be key to the success of the “escapers”, the centenarians who keep their marbles and their muscles? What sets my father apart, and people like him? The answer might be that my father works hard at his health and everything else. If you break his life into decades, you’d have a story like this. A precocious childhood, with loving parents. An active youth, testing his mettle. In his 20s, scoring a seat at Havard Medical School. A career push into specialization in his 30s. By his 40s, Gifford-Jones emerged as an author, an advocate for a woman’s right to abortion, and a contrarian voice calling for common sense in the medical profession. In his 50s, he managed three fulltime jobs – a busy surgeon, a weekly columnist, and a fabulous family man to his wife and four children. The decade of his 60s marked a period of more fighting – for better pain management in healthcare, against obesity and diabetes, and for patients to use common sense in their lives. By 70, most people slow down. Not my father. He continued to do surgery until 75, and he saw patients in his office until the age of 87. Also in his 80s, he was writing books on alternative medicine, interviewing doctors and scientists around the world, and continuing his weekly column. The decade of his 90s was remarkable. That’s when he began yet another new career move, formalizing his role as an advocate for a powdered form of vitamin C and lysine supplementation that allowed for easier consumption of the high doses he advocated for protection against cardiovascular disease. This decade saw him traveling across the continent speaking in community after community about his medical lessons for a healthy life. At 100, what’s his message? “I’m not finished yet,” he says. “Stay tuned, because I have more to say and new efforts to champion in getting more people to lead healthier lives.” When, we ask, are you going to retire? “Ten years after I’m dead,” he replies. It’s his endless hard work that sets this man apart. We’re looking forward, and in the meantime, celebrating a 100th birthday! 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

NATIONAL NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS By Lisa Robinson - Pickering City Councillor The City of Pickering has recently become the subject of National News bringing with it a newfound awareness of the realities of how things are run at the Municipal level and other related institutions. This awakening, if you will, is an important step in holding those in positions of power accountable for their actions. Being a newly elected official of 2022, I have been doing my best to shed light on the underlying corruption I have witnessed during my short time on the Council. I have been steadfast in questioning the motives and “best practices” of those entrusted with decision-making while upholding my Declaration of Office. I had to solemnly promise and declare that: I would truly, faithfully, and impartially exercise this office to the best of my knowledge and ability; that I have not received and will not receive any payment or reward, or promise thereof, for the exercise of this office in a biased, corrupt or any other improper manner; I will disclose any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in accordance with the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third. While my Declaration of Office does not commit me to prioritize the needs and best interest of the people I represent, my focus is and will always be on the well-being and interests of the community, which is the very essence of why I persevered to join this political arena in the first place. Despite my attempts to make friends or become popular, I was quickly cautioned by various individuals within the City staff by a recurring cautionary note that struck a chord with me that I will never soon forget: “Councillor Robinson, these people are not your friends.” Today I find myself humbled by the wisdom of those words and realize just how accurate they were. I have grown from these very words and now champion myself to be not a nice person but rather a good person. In my humble opinion, a nice person is someone who wants to be liked and be popular. They will do anything they can to make sure they win the next election even if it is morally wrong and goes against the good of the people. A yes nodder, who doesn’t question one-sided narratives being pushed forward in fear of being disliked. A good person, however, does not care about being liked or popular. A good person will refuse to base their decisions on whether or not it serves their best interest and gets them re-elected. I want to be known as a politician who is a good person, one who consistently speaks the truth and is genuinely honest, putting the needs of the people first above all else. A good person who will not be coerced into political posturing, by colleagues or special interest groups just to win a popular vote. I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to being a principled independent thinker. I refuse to conform or vote along with my colleagues just for the sake of agreement. I thoroughly research topics brought forward in my agenda and ask pertinent questions. If I cannot obtain any, or at least satisfactory answers, then I refuse to vote in favour of said agenda item with my colleagues. I am still trying to understand how anyone can make informed decisions and prioritize the best interests of the community without having answers. Because I have the ability to see what everyone else can see, but I can think differently, raises grave concerns in some instances, resulting in many 6 to 1 votes, and judging by the transparency of staff and council expressions, my perspective of not following along is not popular and frowned upon. The same goes with my three draft motions that I was trying to bring forward for my constituents in which I lost one-quarter of my first year's salary under the recommendation of Principles Integrity. Whom I believe was biased, and based their report on double hearsay, her personal opinion and her personal views, while attacking my character and concluding that the following three draft motions somehow showed to be transphobic and homophobic in nature: a draft motion asking that we as a Municipal Government should remain neutral by only flying government flags (and the poppy/Veterans flag) on all government buildings; a draft motion that would give boys, girls, men, and women the choice to use either their biological changeroom or the choice to use a universal changeroom that is inclusive to all genders and/or families; and a third draft motion that would have placed an age restriction on drag queen story time and pride events. Unfortunately, none of my colleagues supported having open dialog surrounding the implementation of these policies, and instead voted to sanction my pay on the recommendation of “Principles Integrity.” I have since initiated a Judicial review of their report, and it is also worth noting that there seems to be a trend with “Principles Integrity” who were fired from another Municipality in 2022 on similar allegations of having a biased opinion and the way they attacked another Council member's integrity. Recently, I have become aware of the City’s decision to withhold payment for an ad I authored in this very newspaper at the end of last year. It seems they are dissatisfied with my proactive approach in reaching out to constituents and sharing information regarding all the 6 to 1 votes I lost during my initial year on Council. Consequently, The Central newspaper will be compelled to take legal action against the City of Pickering to obtain payment that was rightfully allocated within my 2023 budget. The punitive measures of depriving me of monetary amounts due to my exercise of free speech and expression, on top of my monetary sanction, serve to demonstrate the City of Pickering’s vindictive stance against me and the constituents perspectives I represent. It doesn’t stop there, as just the other week, on my way to a meeting, I overheard a conversation where a senior member of staff, who happens to be the mayor’s right-hand man, was instructing staff to meticulously scrutinize all my videos, social media, and op-eds in an effort to find grounds for code of conduct charges against me. I find it deeply concerning that the mayor has been engaging in this type of targeted action with the intent to undermine and harm me because I tell the truth, I ask too many questions, and I refuse to sit silently and obey. Not only does this type of behaviour violate the principles of fairness, respect, and professionalism as outlined in our Code of Conduct, but it is compromising the trust and integrity of the Council as a whole. Not to mention that this attack on me comes at a cost to you, the taxpayer, showing the lengths of just how spiteful and vindictive our mayor is willing to go to silence my right to free speech and challenge the status quo. CUPE 129 and PPFA have joined in, following the mayor’s narrative of calling me a racist for publicly stating a personal opinion, in a timely fashion. A classic playbook strategy in which they executed flawlessly, as they need to protect their interests and make sure their concerns are taken into consideration in future decision-making processes. Despite my willingness to engage in open dialogue, no one has directly approached me to discuss my opinion. Not the Mayor, Council members, staff, or either union. Instead, they have chosen to act against me covertly, betraying my trust with their secret meetings, whispers in the halls, emails, and phone calls. You the taxpayer should be concerned with this ongoing trend as this is not how leaders should behave. These undemocratic actions do not align with the principles outlined in our Charter of Rights and the Bill of Rights which should be guiding the conduct of these elected officials, and leaders of the community. As challenging as my path has been thus far, it only reinforces that more than ever I need to uphold values and fulfill the responsibilities that my constituents elected me to do. As for those individuals who take joy in resorting to hatred, name-calling, insults, and mocking my appearance through memes, I understand that your emotions may be sensitive, but I will always prioritize truth over feelings. Perhaps one day, you too will come to see this perspective. Until then, embrace the love within you, for it has the power to illuminate even the darkest paths of your journey. "Strength Does Not Lie In The Absence Of Fear, But In The Courage To Face It Head-On And Rise Above It"

No to brown

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 - Remember the days when you pull in a gas station and two or three guys would approach your car and ask you what you needed? While one asked the another cleaned your windshield and the third checked your tires. Then while you waited for the gas to be dispensed. One of the attendants would ask you if you like a tea or coffee. They ask you if you like your oil checked... It was a three ring circus of sort of service. Or how can you forget the gas stations that with every fill up they give you a free collectors mug and or glass. Those were the days. I remember the days when cars came out that took diesel. They were marketed as the game changer in fuel economy. They came and gone. Remember the 8 track tapes? You had to rush out and buy the latest player and the new high sound quality tapes.... They cam and gone. Today, the new diesel and 8 track tape fad appears to revolve around EV cars. With all this fuzz over the environment we are being led down a rabbit hole of misinformation... Buy EV it is good for the economy. So much so that it is becoming a political war cry. Ottawa has mandated that by 2035, all new vehicles sold in Canada must be emissions-free. In two years, 20 per cent of all cars sold must be zero emissions. It has laid out a road map of how to get there, but critics have said it’s unrealistic. According to Statistics Canada’s most recent data, EVs accounted for three per cent of light-duty vehicle registrations in 2022, up from 2.3 per cent in 2021. The total number of road motor vehicles registered in Canada was 26.3 million in 2022, and light-duty vehicles accounted for 91.7 per cent of that figure. Great stats. But let’s look at the writing on the wall. Here in Durham. During the summer are we not asked not to turn on our air conditioners due to grid over load. Specially if you live in the border of Oshawa and Whitby along Thornton. An area that has more brown out, and power failures during the summer than any other area. Now if we are to all have EV’s in the future. Where are we to plug them in. Are we to assume that a solar type of car charging station is in the cards? Governmnent is always quick to jump on the political band wagon without reading the writings on the wall. Can you read? I can. I see that EV will soon become another pet rock, 8 track tape and or a revolutionizing idea like diesel was supposed to be.

Canada the death of merit and quiet descent into intellectual corruption

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Success in Canada is increasingly a product of inheritance and connections rather than merit. Throughout Canada’s history, a humble yet profound dream has resonated: the belief that through diligent, honest work, one could secure a decent living and ensure a brighter future for one’s children. In the last few years, however this dream has rapidly evaporated for countless young and new Canadians who find themselves on the wrong side of a job market and facing a housing crisis that saw prices nearly double between 2015 and 2022. Rents also exploded by over 11 percent in 2023, continuing a decade-long trend of growth at twice the rate of inflation. In the same timeframe, Canada’s real GDP per capita, a measure of economic activity per individual, has barely budged—and may be lower at the end of 2024 than in 2015.This means that Canada has the poorest performance in the G7 and the second lowest among 35 OECD “wealthy” countries. Grimly, in 2022 the OECD predicted a generation-long stagnation, estimating this country would have the slowest per capita growth rate of members through 2060. Canada now faces a fast growing divide as society, which is basically segregated into two distinct classes: the affluent, wealth and property-owning class with considerable political and economic influence, and a new class of permanent tenants, for whom homeownership and long-term economic progress are out of reach. The malaise plaguing Canada’s economy stems from a deep-rooted socioeconomic shift that has simmered for decades. It is reminiscent of a historically long past era that has unfortunately been revived in a new scenario. While political discourse today is mired in the dichotomy of progressivism versus conservatism, with the so-called political correctness on center stage, the nation is actually confronted by challenges that are more archaic savor and far more insidious in nature. The malaise is akin to a resurgence of the black plague. Unlike the “deja vue” of historical feudalism, where monarchs and the privileged nobility subjugated the masses through land ownership and serfdom, today’s society in-the-making operates through covert manipulations of regulatory frameworks and economic policy by a new class of aristocrats with the same goal. The chasm between property owners and everyone else left behind by the housing crisis, has been driven by the actions of affluent and well-connected residents and major landholders and their dutiful servants. These interests have exerted their significant political influence over local and provincial land-use policies and usurped property rights for decades. Their sway over policy via deep political relationships has resulted in stringent growth regulations, rendering new housing development slow, prohibitively expensive, and dominated by big businesses. Consequently, the housing market has become increasingly inaccessible for younger and newer Canadians, furthering the growing chasm between owners and a burgeoning class of permanent tenants. While provincial and local governments throttle supply, the federal government’s recent management of immigration (despite a recent shift in policy) has dramatically boosted demand for housing and accelerated cost of rents. The last two years have seen an unplanned entry of over a million net temporary residents, particularly students, who have been exploited in low-wage work and by fraudulent educational institutions. The policies that led to this outcome were strongly advocated by influential business interests as a solution to labour shortages. The influx created a pool of low-wage labour for them to draw on, enabling them to forgo wage increases and investments in improved workforce productivity. While this benefits these businesses, it harms existing workers, undermines confidence in the immigration system, and hinders economic progress of the nation. The intersection of economic and political power, which was common in feudal systems, is highlighted by the increasing dominance of political dynasties like those represented by Justin Trudeau, Doug Ford, Bryan Mulroney, Olivia Chow (Layton family) and many more that manifest the emerging typical new feudal type structure of Canadian society. Doug Ford’s recent Greenbelt scandal, involving an opaque regulatory decision that conveniently favoured properties of a well-connected billionaire family is a blatant example of the entanglement. Their actions created an $8.3 billion dollar land value uplift, and while reversed due to public outcry, it demonstrates how politicians and economic winners covertly use the regulatory system against public interest. This dark economic shift extends beyond the housing sector, permeating across Canada’s economy in areas such as finance, wealth management, insurance, telecom, agriculture, grocery, natural resources, public service and media. A select group of billionaires, multimillionaires, and their agents who use their extensive networks, associations, relationships, philanthropy, and political influence to gain regulatory favour hold significant interests in too many areas of our national wealth. This trend now well entrenched is facilitated by the growing complexity of technological society and our governing bureaucracy’s reflexive reliance on increased regulation to superficially “fix” complex problems. It overlooks the need for a systemic understanding of issues and the political execution of challenging reforms that would produce better results. The outcome is a regulatory system developed in collaboration with existing economic winners that justify new rules as “in the public interest” but instead create barriers to entry for competition. This process has far-reaching effects on the Canadian economy. It has led to an environment that is counterproductive to innovation, equitable growth, investment, and our long-term prosperity. It basically undermines merit based employment. Canada’s innovation and productivity hurdles, often attributed to a “conservative business culture,” are more accurately the result of decisions by rational actors in sectors insulated from competition, such as the public service. Inter-provincial trade barriers that exist due largely to the influence of special interest groups, are estimated to raise the cost of goods by seven percent, impeding our economy’s full potential. Thus, Canada’s challenges in productivity and investment are not a result of a “conservative business mindset,” but rather a consequence of rational choices in private industry dominated by economic fiefdoms awarded by the subservient government. Our present faltering economy, besieged by escalating housing costs and a lethargic private sector, is accompanied by an eroding standard of living. In Toronto and Vancouver, our most productive cities, exorbitant housing costs fueled by crippling growth restrictions are severely hampering labour mobility. This has profound repercussions for national wealth and our collective prosperity. Canada’s gradual shift towards a new dark ages marks a fundamental departure from the liberal democratic system that once fostered prosperity and opportunity through economic freedom and effective governance. This transition, characterized by an increasingly burdensome regulatory landscape ostensibly for public benefit, paradoxically shields a new aristocracy and their servants and jeopardizes our socioeconomic vitality. The quintessential belief that hard work leads to a good life, including homeownership, is faltering as family wealth evolves from helpful to indispensable for the next generations’ prosperity. Like a dark past era, success in Canada is increasingly a product of inheritance and connections rather than merit, challenging a deep national myth that Canada is a free nation of free people. It requires a deep re-evaluation of our systems and commitment to substantive reforms aimed at rejuvenating the Canadian dream and upholding our core values as a nation. What do you think?