WE ARE NOT LAZY WE ARE CANADIAN KUNTZ

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 - Have you heard the latest? According to our beloved Canadian government we in some magical place have more jobs than people. With this fallacy they are attempting to sell us the idea that we need to bring more foreigners to our beloved land. What they are not telling us that by doing so the Liberal party is buying future votes. It happened before and it is happening now. How dare the government come out and make such statements that there is a shortage in Canadian laborers. That is insulting. Then they go as far as making assumptions that we are lazy. That many rather live off the system then be employed. I find that utterly insulting. If the government is going to insult us. Let them at the least get it right. We are not lazy. We are proud lazy Kuntz. Now that is more aligned with reality. After all is it not the government that wants us to work the Costcos, Walmarts of the world... paying such great wages of minimum wage. Of course we don’t want to work those jobs. We want good paying jobs. We want jobs that at the end of the week we can afford groceries, rent and the odd beer. I can just telepathically sense the many of the anal readers fuming on how dare he call us Canadians Lazy Kuntz. Ok let me explain, the word Kuntz as per dictionary: Kuntz is a German surname. The name originated as a short form of Konrad meaning "bold adviser", or being "crafty" in German. In Yiddish the word is associated with a clever trick. Now that we got that out of the way. Are you not feeling foolish and lucky I did not call you a Canadian, cock or pussy? As by any grade 1 student would quickly recognize one a rooster and other a cat. Anyway. The point I am making here is simple. We as Canadians are privy to technology. Most of us educated in one way or another. We are very crafty at whatever we profess to be experts in. We are bold adviser on just about any topic. As some go as far as claiming status on opinion and obtain academic accreditation. With this said. We as Canadian Kuntz, have learned to enjoy curtain comforts. It is not that we shy away from hard work. Sacrificed and or hardships. The problem with modern Canada is that our beloved government is openly violating us Canadian Kuntz and forced to like it. They go as far as call us names and force us to accept or face replacement by some foreigner that can barely say “HELLO” in the English language. We Canadian Kuntz want good paying jobs. We want our government to assure us god paying jobs. We want to be able to afford homes and cars as we once use to. The question that lingers who are the bigger Kuntz here? We the people that allow to be constantly violated by a government that has truly proven to be master Kuntz. I feel for future generations as little Kuntz will be forced to become third world. Sadly we live in the land of OZ. We have no real choice when it comes to Canadian politics, all parties are infected with the gree virus and there is no antidote. No matter how hard we click our heels Dorothy. We will always be Canadian Kuntz. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

I Canadian Global Affairs in a changing world

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East In recent decades, Canada has generally been content to view its foreign policy aligned with the foreign policy of the United States. It is obvious that in the last decades Canada has abandoned a tradition in foreign affairs that formerly allowed Canada to be noticed on the world scene. Year after year, Canada's involvement in international organizations it helped create has decayed in a manner that has turned Canada into a forgotten entity on today's global stage. During my service as an MP, when I participated in many foreign parliamentary missions, I noted with sadness, the diminished diplomatic presence of Canada in many important places in the world. I especially noticed such a lack of presence in Strasbourg, where many important international organizations make their home. Let us face it; practicing diplomacy from a distance is no way to build international relationships. In today's complicated world, where events transpire daily, that can lead to major world difficulties, Canada is missing in action. Previous generations of Canadian politicians and foreign affairs public service employees had a sense of their country's foreign policy often framed proudly through the lens of Canada's "role in the world". For them, foreign policy meant making an important contribution to the world, and a pride of national identity. For much of the Cold War, as a leading member of one of just two international power blocs, Canada could carve out a role as an "honest broker" and defender of multilateralism amidst a superpower standoff. In the unipolar era that followed the cold war, the world seemed ripe for Canadian engagement based on true liberal values. The period of unrivalled American power allowed for the expansion of a Western-backed "liberal international order" which went beyond mere rules-based cooperation between states. It aspired to a global transformation rooted in a newly defined "liberal democracy" and "market interests" based diplomacy. Emerging challenges to this "only power" from China, and the latest flexing of military muscles by Russia, have created a new reality where Canada seems to be lost. No initiatives, no ideas and no action; in essence, no Lester Pearsons. The rise of these rival powers, combined with Western missteps such as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the Great Recession of 2008, have rendered the vision of a global order based on new liberal values and a Western hegemony, increasingly implausible. While the "liberal international order" may have declined over recent years, Canada's relative influence in global affairs has waned even more markedly. The terms of today's international order are no longer static, they are dynamic. The new global context calls for a Canadian foreign policy that is active and not reactive. It is not enough to be comfortable speaking the language of just values, supportive action is required. You have to put your money where your mouth is. Canada's shrunken global profile due in part to free-loading and partly to neglect, is in serious need of new energy and vision. The country's last foreign policy review was undertaken nearly two decades ago. With the world no longer divided into capitalist and communist blocs, Canada now finds itself positioned in a terrain of global scope in which the West's share of global GDP is in relative decline. Geographic isolation, combined with a reactive, rather than proactive approach to foreign policy, have resulted in Canada's back-burner position in both European and Asian security dynamics. Where much of the future of global order will be played out these two theatres. The failure to craft a global liberal order coinciding with the advent of multipolarity suggests that we now inhabit, at least in certain respects, a post-liberal order. In such an order, a Canadian foreign policy rooted in values-centric megaphone diplomacy is a recipe for isolation rather than influence. In an international order where liberalism no longer holds a monopoly on conceptions of modernity or universality, albeit one still undergoing a transition whose endpoint remains uncertain, the task for the next generation of Canadian foreign policy thinkers will be twofold. First, can Canada genuinely learn to think about its international engagement in terms of interests rather than only values? And second, can it come to a consensus on a unified list of objectives that represent national interests to present beyond its borders? Highlighting the need to preserve the "rules-based international order" glosses over the crucial and more fundamental question of what truly remains a core national interest in a world where the rules are already being litigated among the great powers. Given Canada's reduced international stature, the aforementioned questions may tilt toward encouraging acceptance of a foreign policy of reduced - albeit more targeted - scope. Canadians could embrace the notion of having a smaller global footprint. A strategy focused on securing core national interests could be easier to sell than some vague and grandiose idea that "the world needs more Canada". As an example, and let's ignore the recent, difficult conflagration in Europe, an active presence of Canada in the Indo-Pacific region would be beneficial in re-establishing Canada's traditions in foreign affairs. Many countries in the Indo-Pacific region have refused to pick sides in the deepening US-China rivalry. While they may view Beijing's rise with a degree of apprehension, and therefore welcome a greater Western security presence in their region, Canada still has to show itself capable of availing itself of a favourable position to interact that this opportunity may present. Situated closer to China than Canada is, local actors in the "Indo-Pacific" are clear-eyed about Beijing's intentions and do not need to be warned about its incisive behaviour. Despite their misgivings, they have a nuanced understanding of their own interests. Many cannot ignore that China remains the lifeblood of their economies. As such, they do not wish for an extra-regional power like the US to exacerbate tensions needlessly by bisecting the region along ideological lines. Such a dynamic would undermine the inclusive and integrated regional order underpinning decades of Asian peace. In this situation, I can see a valuable role for Canada as a diplomatic bridge between Asia and North America, as a mild and well-mannered still a middle power. A national rethink of foreign policy and affairs is long overdue. It must be aimed at arresting decades of intellectual inertia and policy drift. If Canada continues lack new ideas on the world stage, the terms of our national foreign policy will be set by the United States, through default. The problem is that a radical change in thinking is hard to bring about, when a "laissez faire" attitude has been so firmly established in recent decades. What do you think?

Focus on the Value You Create for Employers, Not Your Skills

By Nick Kossovan "I don't believe in work, I only believe in creating value." - James Blacker. The value created by employees determines a company's survival and future. Therefore, when hiring, employers focus on the candidate's potential value to their company. Most people see work as nothing more than a means to an end-a way "to make a living." Therefore, when searching for a job, most people simply list their skills on their resume and LinkedIn profile and rattle them off when interviewing. Conversely, hiring managers are more interested in finding out how you can add value to their company with your skills and experience (READ: track record). Every time a candidate, during an interview, cites their list of "skills," which I have read on their resume or seen on their LinkedIn profile, I think, "How will these skills help me achieve my goals?" Hence hiring managers need to play detective by asking discovery questions such as, "Tell me a time when..." to identify how, for example, your claiming to possess "wizard-like" Excel skills will be of value to the company. Rather than waiting for your interviewer to ask you discovery questions, you can earn mega points when you are inevitably asked "Tell me about yourself" by: - Describing how you have used Excel to solve problems or improve processes. For instance, you might mention how you created a complex financial model, analyzed data to identify trends or patterns, or used advanced functions to streamline a process. - Explaining the potential cost savings and revenue generation resulting from your Excel skills. For example, improving financial reporting accuracy, reducing data entry errors, or accelerating decision-making through data visualization. - Discussing how your Excel skills can help the employer achieve their goals. For example, if the employer is looking to improve their supply chain management, you could discuss how you have used Excel to track inventory and forecast demand. Bottom line: Hiring managers are looking for candidates who show they understand the role and are hungry to deliver massive results. As I have stated in previous columns, employers hire candidates who they feel will achieve results and create value. You are not getting selected for interviews, or rejected after being interviewed, because... - Your resume has horizontal lines or red font. - Your resume lacked the right keywords. - Instead of five paragraphs, your cover letter had four. - Your interview attire was blue rather than grey. You are getting rejected because you are not persuasively explaining how your skills will add value to the company. There are three ways an employee creates value (Which value have you or do you currently, create?): 1. Revenue Growth: Without revenue, a business ceases to exist. Therefore, revenue-generating employees are highly valued by their employer. These employees are eliminating what every employer stresses over, keeping revenue, the lifeblood of every business, flowing. If you are a sales or marketing professional, you should be able to easily show, using numbers, which every employer understands, how you have contributed to your employer's bottom line. Tip for those looking to make a career change: Jobs are generally more secure in professions that generate revenue. 2. Cost Reduction: Cost control is crucial to a business's survival and profitability. Therefore, employers are constantly looking for ways to keep their expenses as low as possible. Consider your past and present roles. Did you save money? Did you improve delivery efficiency resulting in increasing customer retention? As a manager, do you have a track record of employee retention, thus not necessitating your employer having to go through the expense of hiring replacements? There are opportunities to control costs in virtually every position. 3. Freedom: Employees who give their employer the freedom to focus on the big picture are highly valued. Do you deliver consistently, within expectations, so your boss can focus on more than just managing your work and results? I have never encountered a manager who does not want to give their employees autonomy. However, many managers believe their employees have yet to show they can work autonomously and consistently deliver results. Call it what you will, power-hungry, micromanaging, your boss is responsible to their boss for your results, and therefore they must feel comfortable allowing you to work autonomously. In contrast to proving you can generate revenue or reduce costs through numbers, proving you can work autonomously can be challenging. I advise having at least 2 STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories ready to showcase your ability to work autonomously. When job searching, remember your skills are the tools you use to provide value to an employer and that employers are looking to hire the candidate they believe will provide the most value for their salary. Look at it this way: If someone asked you to list all your skills, they would be impressed. But if they were to ask you how those skills have created value for your employers, they would be even more impressed. It is not just the possession of skills that employers want. Employers want employees who can produce tangible value for them through their skills. ___________________________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

A Teller Of Tales

I told my daughter I didn’t think my daughter-in-law paid enough attention to her oldest son, 8. He has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and lately has been kicking and hitting little kids. My daughter and I had a falling out, and she told my daughter-in-law what I said. My daughter-in-law was furious. I tried to explain that I did not call her a bad mother. Well, you can imagine what happened. We haven’t spoken in a week. Do I let time take care of this, or do I send her the letter I wrote trying to explain myself? I am very family oriented and, most of the time, pretty direct. Probably to a fault. My daughter and I are not speaking either, so at this point I am estranged from both girls, and my four grandsons. By the way, I am 57 and divorced. Selma Selma, you shouldn’t be surprised by your daughter’s actions. As she grew up, how many times did she watch you make statements about others when they were not around? This time the person not present happened to be you. You fashioned your own punishment. The statement you made about your daughter-in-law accomplished nothing. It was nothing but criticism. It wasn’t said to aid or assist. She is dealing with a difficult problem which medication helps but doesn’t cure, and you offered no solution. Now you are estranged from your daughter, daughter-in-law, their husbands, and your grandchildren. Is this what you want? Doesn’t it indicate a need to look within yourself for a solution? Someday, you may finally say something that an apology won’t fix. It is never too late to admit we have more to learn. If family is what you value, then redefine your role within the family. Your role is not to speak whatever thought crosses your mind. Your role is to love, care, and help. If what you are thinking doesn’t do one of those three things, don’t say it or do it. It will be easier to get past this if the other family members believe you are going to make a true change. But if you apologize and don’t change, that will make your apology worthless. The others will say, “She wasn’t really sorry. She’s at it again.” Revise the letter to your daughter-in-law, then send it. Strive to be the person admired by your family as the one they can trust to help them when possible, the one who maintains a confidence when she can’t help, and the one who loves them always. Alice Roosevelt Longworth said, “If you can’t say anything good about someone, sit right here beside me.” It’s a clever line, and criticism makes us feel superior to others, but there is always a price to be paid. Wayne & Tamara Backlash I’m 17 and have been going out with my girlfriend for five months. She has a lot of male friends, about eight close ones, and she is very outgoing. I completely trust her, but I get really mad when I see her talking to other guys. My jealousy is tearing our relationship apart, and we’re going to break up for a couple of days so she can think about things. I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her, but I need help fast. Steve Steve, jealousy is about ownership and control, snooping and suspicion. It has nothing to do with love. You cannot get love by grasping too tightly. The only way you can get it is by giving another the opportunity and freedom to show they love you. Jealousy puts a damper on a relationship from both directions. One grasps, the other wants to flee. Grasping accuses another of doing something wrong, and they will seek to escape. When someone loves you, a tight grasp is not required. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com Wayne & Tamara are also the authors of Cheating in a Nutshell, What Infidelity Does to the Victim, available from Amazon, Apple and most booksellers.

Fire the Canons! It’s

Daylight Savings Time! W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones In a letter to the editor of the Journal of Paris in 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote, "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." In his advocacy for people to wake up and leverage the day, Franklin joked there should be a tax on window shutters, candles should be rationed, and canons should be fired at sunrise! But it was the small town of Port Arthur in northern Ontario that first changed the clocks by enactment on July 1, 1908. In recent times, one of the main arguments for shifting the time to align with the sun focuses on energy savings during evening hours. But dozens of studies have shown the effect to be negligible. Now, the health implications of Daylight Savings Time (DST) are becoming the hot topic, with researchers investigating its impact on everything from sleep patterns to heart health. The effect of DST on sleep is significant. Numerous studies have found the time change can disrupt our sleep patterns, leading to sleep deprivation and increased fatigue. This is particularly true in Spring, when we lose an hour of sleep and our bodies struggle to adjust to the new schedule. The time change and associated disruption to sleep patterns can have more serious health consequences. One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the risk of heart attacks increased by 25% on the Monday following the springtime change. This is powerful evidence that disturbed sleep patterns can be highly stressful on the cardiovascular system. Mental health can be another victim. One study published in Sleep Medicine found the springtime change was associated with increased symptoms of depression, particularly in people who already had a history of depression. The study’s findings further suggested that the disruption to sleep patterns might even trigger the onset of depressive symptoms. One strategy to mitigate these problems is to adjust sleep patterns leading up to the time change. For those observing a regular nighttime routine, this means going to bed and waking up 15 minutes earlier each day in the week leading up to the change. Even for those without a firm pattern, making the effort to shift forward in advance – both physically and mentally – should help. Another strategy is to prioritize good sleep. Create a comfortable sleep environment, establish a regular sleep schedule, and avoid caffeine and alcohol in the hours leading up to bedtime. Are you tired of the debate about DST? Worse, are you “tired all the time”? You may need to take a closer look at the benefits of getting a good sleep. Sleep scientists can present compelling evidence showing how being tired leads to increased risk of traffic accidents, for example. Studies also link poor sleep with obesity, diabetes, cancer and dementia. Abnormal sleep and psychiatric conditions go hand in glove. Don’t forget the function of sleep as a sort of garbage collection system. During sleep, the body rejuvenates the brain by sorting “keeper” information from “trash”. Sleep also helps the body clear out and clean up waste in the cardiovascular system while refueling immune function. If there is a good argument in favour of DST, it might be Franklin’s suggestion to fire a canon each morning at sunrise. That would surely get people on their feet and outside to take a look. An early morning experience in the outdoors – whether it be a walk or even just a few moments of quiet contemplate about the new day – is an excellent step to good health. 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

Oshawa Becoming A Police State

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 - By definition: Police State - A police state is a state with authority which uses the police, especially secret police, to maintain and enforce political power, even through violent or arbitrary means if necessary. A police state typically exhibits elements of totalitarianism or other harsh means of social control. On Monday, Oshawa council voted to extend the city’s contract with a downtown security firm. Logixx Security Inc. will keep dedicated patrol teams in the downtown core for another year, which will be worth about $893,000 for 2023. Logixx will also continue its corporate security services and parking garage patrols at City Hall, which will be worth about $1,534,500 for 2023. With HST and a tax rebate taken into account, the contract is worth a total of $2,467,245 for the calendar year. In Oshawa, we have Police to deal with the criminal code infractions. By-law to deal with by-law infractions. Logixx to deal with security? How many million are we spending? The police comes out of our taxes. By law comes out of our taxes. 2 million to Logixx, at least 2 million to by-law and through our taxes I am sure we contribute another 2 million. This is 8 million dollars to control the masses. If this is not police state mentality. I do not know what is. It is rumored that the mayor has a body guard. Really!!! Never in the history of Oshawa. Have we had this problem. I strongly believe that the people have had enough of being treated as second class citizens. City elect have proven to do little if anything when it comes to citizens coming forth with concerns. Look at the welcoming citizens get when they visit City hall. Three security guards at the entrance. Citizens can’t access the city elevator. Citizens are forced to deal with Service Oshawa in a very stand offish customer service approach. You express the least dis-satisfaction and security is called and you are asked to leave the building or face ‘trespass’. Really. The City has clearly failed in dealing with the homeless situation and the drug trade. This infuriating many local citizens. The City of Oshawa has no leadership. We are being led that by his own admission our mayor was illiterate until his late 30’s. A former homeless and drug addict. This is what is suppose to be making multi million dollar decision on our behalf. Clearly, lacks the intellectual properties to perform his duties. Even by Mayor Carter’s own public record admissions. Of course people are going to get upset. City of Oshawa by-laws have become so restrictive. That any by-law officer can approach you and write you up on a series of non public known citations. God forbid if you happen to share a sandwich with a homeless person. That will get you a $250 ticket. By-laws are supposed to make our lives easier... The City of Oshawa uses them to control and restrict access. This is wrong. The Mayor may be under threat due to his arrogance and lack of doing something positive for the people of Oshawa. Unfortunately, only 18% of the population voted and made the mistake of voting him back in. The 82% are to blame for lack of involvement as many have speculated that the 18% that turned out. 10% were die hard conservative party card holders. Oshawa has become a police state. Try to challenge it and you will face a ‘trespass order’. An order that is used to enforce restriction to public building and facilities... as trespass orders originally designed for private property matters and must show some sort of fear of threat to harm by an individual. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

The Chinese Are Not Our Enemy - We Are

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 wrong with modern society. We want to appear as we are so advanced. Yet, by our own design we are becoming a civilization of ignoramus. One would think that with the overwhelming amount of information circulation online that we all be geniuses by now. In reality this proves a the theory that we all profess to know everything and in fact know nothing. That we the masses are nothing but sheep to a habitual go around that is controlled by misinformation, too much information and or information overload. The media plays us like a social fiddle. Just this week it hit the news.... The headline read, “Was there foreign interference in the 2021 election? What a new report says”. Followed by, “Overall, the system in place to alert Canadians of foreign interference threats to the 2021 election worked well but there are areas for improvements.” In other words they know something is up, but the power in the clouds can’t prove a thing. It appears that we go from one war right in to another. Covid kept us in fear for almost 3 years. Then came the Russians. Now the Chinese. I am sure that the Chinese are laughing about us. Saying things like, “Ha, they worry about balloons. Those are just distractions.” Think about it for a moment. Without knowing it we have slowly been invaded for the past 40 years. From our industry, to our commerce not to mention our manufacturing to our financial economies. China, owns a large part of Canada. Both in hard assets and finance. Then why worry about balloons, electronic tampering when they are basically already running the show. To boot we have a Federal government that admires the communist regime. Why should the Chinese waste a bullet. They have won the war without a single fight. Now deaths are a different thing as their negligence in the release of the COVID virus took out people all across the world. If it had been an oil spill would we the world not wanted retribution, some sort of compensation. Why should we not demand retribution for the COVID spread? Well, the Chinese are obviously smarter than we are and know how to push our social buttons. How are we Canadians with more social hang ups then the Chinese have grains of rice compete with a regime that is calculative, organized and focused on winning at all cost. We the Canadian people that would gave up our lives during world wars to protect the integrity of Canada are already dead. They hit us with vaccines that till today are truly unproven and unknown. They hit us with the control of our internet and our media. They control our financial institutions and buy lands at large. We the people are our own worst enemy. We have to awaken to the reality that China is our master and there is nothing we can do. Or can we. I would say. We need to devaluate their currency. Stop depending on their goods. And make Canada first and once in for all bring back what worked in Canada. What am I saying. This is Canada. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Canada and nuclear energy

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East I have spoken on the importance of nuclear energy several times in past articles, in the House of Commons and at some public events. During the time I was an MP in the House of Commons in Canada, I raised the importance of Canadian Nuclear energy on several occasions. I tried to impress upon my colleagues, the need to continue developing it, and the tremendous advantages of recycling spent nuclear fuel. The latter is a hidden resource of inestimable value. Unfortunately, this advocacy lead to me being sidelined, ignored and looked upon as a kind of strange entity. I excuse my colleagues because they were not technical people, and the civil servants and staff advising them were frequently incompetent. However, I cannot forget the ignorance displayed, and the serious mishandling of the future of nuclear energy in Canada. Now, more than a decade later, the powers-that-be, are awakening to the possibilities of nuclear energy. Will wonders never cease!? Ontario is exploring the possibility of building new, large-scale nuclear plants in order to meet increasing demand for electricity and phase out natural gas generation. A report late last year by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) found that the province could fully eliminate natural gas from the electricity system by 2050, starting with a moratorium in 2027, but it will require about $400 billion in capital spending and more generation of nuclear energy, including new, large-scale nuclear plants.Decarbonizing the grid, in addition to new nuclear, will require more conservation efforts, more renewable energy sources and more energy storage, the report concluded. The IESO said work should start now to assess the reliability of new and relatively untested technologies and fuels intended to replace natural gas. To accomplish such a radical change in how power is generated, we will need to set up large, new generation sources such as nuclear plants and hydroelectric facilities. The province has not committed to a natural gas moratorium or phase-out, or to building new nuclear facilities other than its small modular reactor plans, but it is now consulting on the prospect. A document recently posted to the government's environmental registry asks for input on how best to engage the public and Indigenous communities on the planning and location of new generation and storage facilities. Building new nuclear plants is "one pathway" toward a fully electrified system, Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith said in an interview. "It's a possibility, for sure, and that's why we're looking for the feedback from Ontarians," he said. "We're considering all of the next steps." Not surprisingly, interest groups such as the Environmental Defence oppose new nuclear builds, as well as the continued reliance on natural gas. "The IESO's report is peddling the continued use of natural gas under the guise of a decarbonization plan, and it takes as a given the ramping up of gas generation ... and continues to rely on gas generated electricity until 2050, which is embarrassingly late," said Lana Goldberg, Environmental Defence's Ontario climate program manager. "Building new nuclear is absurd when we have safe and much cheaper alternatives such as wind and solar power." Does Ms Goldberg live in Canada or some tropical paradise where there is constant sunshine and the trade winds operate like clockwork? Is she so naïve as to dismiss the reality of the harsh and cloudy climate we enjoy here, that make solar and wind energy so inefficient and unreliable in Canada? The IESO has said the flexibility natural gas provides is needed to keep the system stable while new and relatively untested technologies are explored and new infrastructure gets built, but also as an electricity supply crunch looms. Ontario is facing a shortfall of electricity with the nuclear plant in Pickering set to be retired, others being refurbished, and increasing demands put upon the system by such innovations as electric vehicles, new electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, electric arc furnaces for steelmaking, and growth in the greenhouse and mining industries. Therefore, the need to have more nuclear plants is becoming a reality. I just wonder how long it will take for this realization to sink in and for effective action to be taken in Canada, and especially in Ontario. Other countries in the G7 and European Union are already thinking of building more nuclear plants. In France for example: President Macron recently said, "What our country needs, and the conditions are there, is the rebirth of France's nuclear industry." Promising to accelerate the development of solar and offshore wind power, Macron also said he wanted to extend the lifespan of older nuclear plants. In the world's most nuclear-intensive country, he proposes to extend the life of certain reactors to more than 50 years (currently rated for more than 40 years), provided it was safe. Is this something Canada and Ontario can learn from? President Macron's thinking has been reshaped by the European Union's ambitious goals for carbon neutrality within three decades. This goal puts renewed focus on energy forms that emit fewer, or zero, greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. Nuclear is one of these forms. So, whether for better or worse, Europe is moving to considering nuclear energy more and more. Is Canada up to the task? I hope that this will be a wake up call for Canada. Once at the forefront of development in nuclear energy reactors and power plants, Canada is presently lagging far behind on the international scene. Maybe the recent turmoil in the world will be a warning call for Canadian politicians to come out of hibernation and start looking out for the interests of Canadians first. We are a rich country and must make it a priority to use our resources wisely for the benefit of future generations. What do you think?

Shorten Your Job Search by Writing a Compelling Value Proposition Letter - Part 2

By Nick Kossovan In this column, I will be keeping the promise I made in my last column (Part 1) to provide examples of value proposition letters you can send unsolicited to employers as part of your job search activities. In other words, you are not responding to a job posting with your resume and a value proposition letter; instead, you are fishing for possible employment opportunities now or in the future. Before you get to my examples, here are a few recommendations to increase the chances of your email being read and acted upon: - Keep your letter to a maximum of 300 words. - Copy/paste your letter into the body of your email. Never send your letter as an attachment. - Always address your letter to a specific person. - Make your email subject line compelling enough to get the recipient to open it. Your email subject line determines whether or not your email will be opened. Spend extra time crafting an eye-catching email subject line. EXAMPLES: - In 3 months, I grew my employer's Instagram followers by 30%. Now I want to be your next social media manager. - Social Media Manager with Non-Profit Expertise Interested In Helping Your Team - Revolutionize Your Call Centre Operations with My 20+ Years of Experience First value proposition letter example (171 words): Dear [Executive], More than 20 years later, I still recall first eating Kay's Potato Chips, your Sour Cream & Onion, while visiting an aunt who lived in Dayton, Ohio. I was immediately hooked. Therefore, I was thrilled to see you breaking into the Canadian market and your chips now available in grocery stores throughout Ontario. Given your expansion into Canada, I would not be surprised if your Procurement team is pushed to the limit. (This is your pain hypothesis which in this case is not a stretch when you consider the demands on a company expanding into a foreign market.) When I was a Senior Buyer/Planner at Deep Nutrition Corp. before its acquisition by Soylent Industries, I created the company's first Supplier Quality Assurance program along with negotiating cost-saving long-term agreements with Deep Nutrition's top four suppliers. Those agreements helped Deep Nutrition grow sales volume from $14 million when I arrived to over $31 million within three years. Can we talk over the phone about Kay's Potato Chip's expansion plans for Canada and your current supply chain? With my background, I can help your company's expansion plan proceed as smoothly as possible. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Nick Kossovan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkossovan/ Second value proposition letter example (265 words): Dear [Executive], I am writing to express my interest in bringing my sales skills to Prescott Pharmaceuticals. With over 24 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, 16 with Edgars Industries, I have a track record of successfully selling pharmaceutical products to healthcare providers and institutions. As I am sure you are aware, Umbrella Corp. has expansion plans to come to Canada in the latter part of this year. Therefore, you and Prescott Pharmaceuticals' leadership team are likely brainstorming how your company will maintain its current market share while staying ahead of Umbrella Corp. Having someone like me, who has built a successful pharmaceutical sales career on the premises "relationships are everything" in the field, would notably differentiate Prescott Pharmaceuticals for Umbrella Corp. My high-level achievements include the following: - Developed and executed business plans for various pharmaceutical products in the Prescott Pharmaceuticals portfolio targeting primary care and specialty physicians throughout Canada's Atlantic region. - Exceeded sales targets by 10% every quarter and beat department averages by 25% every quarter for the past 7 years. - Grew market share by 20% for 30+ products in the Atlantic region. (my territory) - Generated an average of $18 million in revenue per year. - Two-time recipient of the Albert P. Johns internal company award for sales excellence. As you can see, my core capabilities are selling a portfolio of pharmaceutical products and developing local strategic business plans to increase market volume. I would happily jump on a call with you over the next few days. If nothing else, I can share insights about how I achieved the abovementioned results. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Nick Kossovan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkossovan/ It is no secret that there is a lot of employee churn happening. Hence, you can be certain that most employers have several current, or soon-to-be, openings. So, put yourself in an employer's shoes. If an opening suddenly arises, especially an unforeseen opening, say due to an employee moving on, what is more straightforward, posting the job opening and spending time shifting through 100s of resumes, mostly from unqualified job seekers and then conducting interviews, etc., or reaching out to someone who sent a value proposition letter? Yes, some recipients will delete your letter. Some will forward it to HR, where it will languish in the "black hole," however, there will be those who will email or call you, especially if your timing happens to be right. Incorporating sending value proposition letters as part of your job search strategy gives credence to the adage, "You have nothing to lose and everything to gain." ___________________________________________________________________________ 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

Vicious Cycle

My mother and I are in yet another silent period. Again, it is her choice. She is 70 and I am 48. Mother and I were reminiscing, and the conversation to that point was pleasant. When I was a child, we had a caretaker with a distinctive cry for my brothers. I mimicked her cry, and mom and I both laughed. Suddenly, the tide turned as if I stabbed my mom with a knife. It all has to do with mom’s mother. She died when mom was nine, and after this my mom’s life was tough, going from home to home, never fitting in. Her father did not handle the death well. Mom felt he blamed her for the death of his wife. When I was born, mom named me after her mother. My relationship with mom was not much better. I was a behavior problem, tall and overweight. At nine I was sent to live with my father, and at 11, sent to boarding school. The birth name mom gave me was a name other students made fun of. I wanted to die. One wonderful friend suggested, if it was so bad, why not get rid of the name? So, with much protesting from my family, I created a new identity for myself with a nickname. I cannot tell you what it was like not to be teased anymore! As a graduation present, my father allowed me to go to court and make it my legal name. Thankfully, 12 years ago I found a great therapist who helped me look to the future, but my mom never has warmed up to me. I am a fly she would like to swat and can’t. Add to this all my brothers’ wives are thin college graduates, and you get the picture. When I said my birth name in the voice of my old caretaker, it brought all this back to my mom. She said, “When you changed your name, it was like you killed all of what I had of my mother, and I had to lose her a second time.” The name change happened 30 years ago. Part of me wants to tell mom off. Part of me wants to comfort her. I am sick of trying to bend myself into something she can deal with, yet I fear doing more damage to our relationship. Sylvia Sylvia, you do see the pattern, don’t you? At nine, your mom loses her mother. Then she names you after her dead mother. When your mom sent you away at nine, she accomplished two things. She deliberately punished you in the way she had been punished by life, and she got revenge on her own mother for dying, the event she felt estranged her from her father. Some people say the family is the best of institutions, and they are right. But the family can also be the worst of institutions. It can be the home for incest, beatings, insult, and ridicule. As John Douglas, the famous profiler of violent criminals, said, “In all my years of research and dealing with violent offenders, I’ve never yet come across one who came from what I would consider a good background and functional, supportive family unit.” The biological link we value with our parents only goes so far. It can be destroyed by the lack of the important elements of caring, love, and protection. You are an adult now. Weigh in your mind what position in life your mother holds. As you make strides to move forward emotionally, you must decide how much distance to place between you and your parent. Your mother may call you selfish, but trying to make you replace a dead relative, and holding a hurt from over half a century ago, is selfishness raised to the level of cruelty. Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com Wayne & Tamara are also the authors of Cheating in a Nutshell, What Infidelity Does to the Victim, available from Amazon, Apple and most booksellers.

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones Vitamin D is often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin". This is because it is synthesized in our skin in response to sunlight. The beauty of Vitamin D is that it's free – a great model for “all things in moderation” too. There are two main forms of vitamin D: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is the form that is synthesized in the skin, while vitamin D2 is found in some plant-based foods and supplements. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health by promoting the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the diet. It also helps to regulate the immune system and may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon, breast, and prostate cancer. Despite the importance of vitamin D, many people are deficient in this essential nutrient. In fact, studies suggest that up to 50% of the global population may have insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D! Symptoms of deficiency can vary, including fatigue, depression, cognitive decline and dementia. Bone density loss increases the risk of fractures and falls in older people. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Why does a deficiency develop? It can be difficult to get enough vitamin D from sunlight, especially during the winter months. Additionally, vitamin D is found in relatively few foods, so it can be challenging to get enough vitamin D from the diet. Scientific studies have found income, gender and ethnicity differences in vitamin D status globally. One study looked at the vitamin D status of over 1,000 healthy Japanese adults and found that 40% of women and 26% of men had vitamin D deficiency and that individuals of non-Japanese ethnicity were more likely to have vitamin D deficiency than those of Japanese ethnicity. A study in the US found that people with higher incomes were more likely to be using supplements, and therefore less likely to suffer deficiencies. Consumer choices and food prices may also be important. Studies have found that consumption of fortified milk and mild products, or example, has a major effect on likelihood of deficiency. If you need to know your vitamin D level, a blood test will determine it. But as the philosopher Voltaire once said, "the best is the enemy of the good." Getting regular intake of Vitamin D should be the goal, not trying to measure daily levels. Make it a habit to get some vitamin D everyday. The most effective way is to get sunlight directly on your skin. Spending 10-15 minutes outside in the sun each day with your arms and legs exposed will help your vitamin D levels, plus sunshine is a “feel good” prescription in general. Be sure to protect your skin with sunscreen if enjoying longer exposure. But getting outside without layers of clothes can be difficult during the winter months, especially in northern latitudes. So don’t forget you also get vitamin D from certain foods include fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel), egg yolks, and fortified foods (such as milk, orange juice, and cereal). If you're not one for being in the sun and concerned the Vitamin D is your diet is insufficient, a daily supplement can help. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D varies depending on age, sex, and other factors, but in general, adults need between 600 and 800 international units (IU) per day. The upper limit for vitamin D intake is 4,000 IU per day for adults, and it's important not to exceed this amount unless under medical supervision. 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

The Next Elections will likely occur under a new Election Boundary Map

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East It is well known that every 10 years the federal election map of Canada is updated to reflect growth and shift in the population. The number of seats in the House of Commons is also modified accordingly. As the country moves from 338 electoral districts to 343, new seats are created. Overall, of the existing 338 ridings, 271 will see their boundaries changed. Three of the next electoral map's five new seats are going to be in Alberta. British Columbia is getting one more seat; a seat carved out of southern B.C.'s interior. Ontario gets one more seat but Toronto itself loses a seat, dropping from 25 to 24. It is worth noting that the system of independent provincial commissions re-drawing riding maps has been in place in Canada since 1964. After each decennial census, Elections Canada makes a recommendation on the adjustment of the number of seats to be added to the House of Commons, a recommendation which must be approved by the House of Commons. After that, though, it is up to three-person commissions in each province to re-draw existing maps to account for those new seats or redistribute existing seats based on population shifts. The head of each provincial commission is a judge appointed by the chief justice of each provincial court. The other two members of each provincial commission are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons and tend to be academics or retired civil servants. So far, at least, the Canadian system of re-drawing electoral districts has avoided the gerrymandering controversies of the United States where state legislatures get to re-draw electoral maps and often do so to obtain a partisan advantage for the party in control of that legislature. The "final reports" of each provincial commission are put forward after public consultations and after an initial report is tabled with a first draft of new riding boundaries. At this stage, the discussion on the boundary changes in many ridings continues in the various provinces and territories, carried on by the respective election commissions with input from the public, parliamentarians and other communities of interest. 'Communities of interest' refers to concerns that are relevant to the people of the particular region. It could be urban versus rural, it could be linguistic minorities, or even racialized minorities. The commissions are supposed to take those factors into account in trying to keep communities together, or at least avoiding the division of their voting power in a way that's harmful to those groups." Trying to keep communities of interest together when re-drawing riding boundaries is a concept that may appear sound, but can be quite tricky to implement. The commissions have to consider all factors and to make many tough choices. It is clear that we will see some changes in the future and the political parties are fully engaged in examining and defending their future election chances. It is a fact that realignment of the electoral boundaries creates new issues for both sitting MPs and future candidates. A new reality is being established. The commissions are expected to make their final decisions in April. By law, the new boundaries would then be in effect for any general election that occurs seven months after the finalization of boundaries. As things slowly develop across the country, it is interesting to see how the Province of Ontario deals with electoral boundary realignment. Not only because we live in Ontario, but because the sheer number of MPs elected in this province, represent a sizable portion of the House of Commons. The Ontario commission had a tendency to make changes in the electoral boundaries based on many factors, but essentially taking into consideration an argument based on urban-rural splits and communities of interest. Proposed changes in the Durham region are especially interesting, and the riding of Pickering Uxbridge, where I was a candidate in the past, stands out in particular. The Ontario commission took the Toronto-area riding of Pickering-Uxbridge and divided it up along urban-rural lines. The southern half of Pickering-Uxbridge, currently held by Liberal Jennifer O'Connell, becomes the riding of Pickering-Brooklin, picking up some polls from the northern part of the riding of Whitby. While those northern Whitby polls tended to vote Conservative, Pickering-Brooklin, because it is now more urban, should be more favourable to O'Connell's chances of re-election. The rest of the former riding of Pickering-Uxbridge, the northern, rural half, moves to a new riding to be called York-Durham that contains a much higher proportion of rural areas than urban or suburban areas and, as a result, would likely lean Conservative based on previous voting patterns. In conclusion, I ask you to follow these changes in the electoral boundaries, especially here in the Durham region. As the situation stands today, the next election will operate based on these new electoral boundaries. Be aware and be informed!

Shorten Your Job Search by Writing a Compelling Value Proposition Letter - Part 1

By Nick Kossovan This is part one of a two-part series on writing a compelling value proposition letter. There are many activities involved in job searching, such as networking, having an active result-oriented LinkedIn profile and resume, applying to jobs, interviewing, etc., to name a few. Aside from these job search activities, have you considered sending an unsolicited value proposition letter to potential employers? What I am proposing is a networking technique that you should find comfortable. It is especially effective if you work in a niche industry (e.g., biofuels, pet insurance, medical tourism, hydroponic farming) where there are few players or if you possess a set of highly sought-after skills (e.g., cloud computing, network security, auditing, fluency in multiple languages). A value proposition letter's objective is to show how your skills and experience can solve, or at least be part of solving, an employer's problem(s) (READ: pain points). "Yes, in next week's column." (Answer to the question you are now asking yourself, "Will I be providing examples of a value proposition letter?") "Yes, actually, several." (Answer to, " Have you ever hired someone who sent you an unsolicited value proposition letter?") In order to write a value proposition letter that will resonate with your target companies, begin by doing some research while asking yourself, "What are some of the possible problems they are facing? How can I be of assistance in solving them?" For example, is it your belief that long delivery times are causing an e-commerce site you visited to lose customers to Amazon? As a supply chain analyst with 15 years of experience, how would you address this issue? Writing a value proposition letter requires using your right brain, where your emotions, intuition, and creativity reside. This is not a fill-in-the-blanks exercise. It is essential that your letter appears human-written, something that is becoming increasingly rare with AI technology becoming more easily available. It is you, not AI technology, who is offering your skills, knowledge, and experience to help an employer address pain points they might be experiencing, according to your best guess. Something to note; your "pain point guess" guess may point out something the company's leadership team has never considered. In my above example, it is possible the company's leadership team may not have thought their long delivery times discourage potential customers from purchasing their products. (Do they look at their cart abandonment rate?) The most common pain points employers face today are: - Keeping and expanding market share. - Enhancing profitability. - Increasing productivity and efficiency. - Keeping up with and implementing technological advancements. - Supply chain issues causing order fulfillment issues. - Managing employee benefits and payroll costs. - Recruiting and retaining qualified employees with the right mindset and attitude. If you have the skills and experience (READ: a proven track record) to address any of the above-mentioned pain points, then most employers will view you as gold. With all the talk about a recession on the horizon, how can your skills and experience help employers weather the predicted economic slump? Once you have identified your targeted employer's potential pain points, you can start crafting your value proposition letter to sell your skills and experience to address those pain points. There are four elements to a pain letter. 1. Hook 2. The employer's pain point, which is either explicit or you believe exists. 3. Persuasively describe how your skills and experience can address the employer's pain point. 4. Closing It is essential to show that you understand the company's goals and values. For instance, not every company is concerned with increasing its market share. Some companies are more focused on becoming environmentally sustainable or being seen as socially conscious. With this understanding, you will be on point explaining, confidently, how your combination of skills, experience, and knowledge can help the company achieve its goals. Also important is being specific! Use numbers to quantify your achievements and results. Your opinion has no place in a value proposition letter. Likewise, your opinion has no place in your job search. At all times, you need to provide a solid, undeniable reason why you would be a value add to an employer, not your opinions of yourself, which is what most job seekers do. Numbers, the language of business, helps employers see your impact in your previous roles. TIP: Throughout your job search, you do not want employers struggling to figure out what value you can add to their organization, hence why they should hire you. Therefore, use quantitative numbers throughout your LinkedIn profile, resume, cover letter and when interviewing… and in your value proposition letter. A compelling value proposition letter convincingly conveys to potential employers how you would be a value add to their company. In my next column, I will provide examples of a value proposition letter, as promised earlier. In the meantime, compile a list of employers you would like to work for (Why not go one step further and find the contact information of those most likely to make hiring decisions, such as managers, directors and C-suite executives?), their possible pain points, and how your skills and experience can ease their pain. ___________________________________________________________________________ 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

What a wonderful world we live in!

As we move into this new year of 2023, we need to reflect on what is going on around us; not much to rejoice about. Let’s start with the war raging in Europe and the endless loss of lives there. It seems to be escalating instead of winding down, after a whole year of fighting. For the moment, it does not affect us directly, so we don’t seem to be taking it very hard here in Canada. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, I do hope that cooler heads will prevail and end this nonsense, so close to devastating the start of this brand new century. Another half–laughable, half-serious happening in the world, involves the quite old-fashioned balloons, which rose to worldwide attention, making busy work for politicians, taking sides and pointing fingers. Let’s take a closer look at this new affair, since our esteemed Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, finds himself in the balloon business as well, if not the chief ballooner. It started in the United States, where a balloon that originated in China, flew over US national territory, creating havoc at the highest political level. On their end, there is one thing the White House would like you to know about the unidentified flying objects shot down over the U.S. and Canada this past weekend: aliens probably didn’t send them. “There is no, again, no indication of aliens or extra-terrestrial activity with these recent takedowns,” US press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphatically told a briefing this week. The balloons seem to have created a new subject for eager politicians, possibly to distract them from more serious and more stringent issues such as the welfare of their own citizens. Indeed, it is unclear how NORAD, the joint US - Canada air defence system, set up in 1958 to intercept hypothetical Soviet attacks via the Arctic, did not react to the balloons and did not order their destruction. The balloons seem to have defeated the costly system set up to identified enemy ballistic missiles. The balloon saga started sometime on or before Jan. 31, when Canadian fighter jets began tracking a suspicious Chinese spy or non-spy balloon over the Rocky Mountains. President Joe Biden himself becoming a chief ballooner said it was too dangerous to shoot down over land, for fear of killing or injuring someone on the ground, so the US waited until it drifted off the South Carolina coast to fell it with a missile ordered by the President. (The second missile succeeded). However, The US and Canada have not explained yet why NORAD didn’t shoot the balloon down before it reached populated areas. Was it a deliberate decision in order to study the object, or did they simply fail to detect it until it was too late. Then last week, US fighter jets shot down three more unidentified objects, presumably more balloons, over the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Alaska, the central Yukon wilderness and the waters of Lake Huron. Canadian warplanes were also involved in the pursuit of the second object, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau authorizing the shoot-down. Balloons eh…. Both governments say they don’t know what these last three objects were or who sent them. By these admissions, it seems that these kinds of balloons have been circulating over Canada and the US for a long time without detection. In a briefing last week, NORAD commander General Glen VanHerck said that the system’s radars are usually set to filter out slow-moving objects, presumably to focus on more obvious potential threats, such as planes or missiles. After the detection of the Chinese balloon, NORAD readjusted the radars and started picking up the objects (other balloons) President Biden and PM Trudeau subsequently ordered taken down. “We’ve been able to get a better categorization of radar tracks now. And that’s why I think you’re seeing these overall. Plus, there’s a heightened alert to look for this information,” General VanHerck told reporters. So, the Victorian era balloons defeated a multibillion dollar defence system! To add to the circus people started to speculate about aliens, UFOs and ETs. Asked about this, General VanHerck made the mistake of not answering the question directly. “I haven’t ruled out anything,” he replied. After the internet exploded with variations of “high-ranking general won’t rule out aliens” posts, the White House decided to act proactively and pour cold water on the speculation. At the start of the White House briefing, Ms. Jean-Pierre the US President’s spokesperson; repeatedly made it clear in her way, that there is nothing to suggest that extra-terrestrials sent craft across the galaxy only to see them felled by a species that has never travelled farther than the moon. Returning our attention to our national turf, we see things happening in Toronto the good that are from an outside world. Just re-elected Mayor John Tory suddenly said that he would resign over an intimate extramarital affair with a young staffer in his office. However, he has not resigned officially, and his office has declared that his departure won’t be immediate. “Mayor John Tory will be attending the upcoming budget meeting to ensure the 2023 City of Toronto operating and capital budgets are finalized. The budget makes key investments in housing, transit, and community safety and the Mayor will be working to ensure it is approved,” said a written statement from Taylor Deasley, Tory’s press secretary and issues manager. In the mean time, the crimes on innocent people are skyrocketing in downtown Toronto. What next? Should we be laughing or crying?

COULD THIS BE “A NEW Age of Aquarius

” 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 - Are we on the cusp of moving into the Age of Aquarius, where we are being asked to relinquish the old ways and harness the creative new. The Age of Aquarius—made popular by the 1967 rock musical Hair—is a period of about 2,160 years that is characterized by the passage of the vernal equinox through the air sign Aquarius. Opinions differ about the exact timing of this passage, but it is undisputed that we are now in a transition phase from Pisces to Aquarius. Symbolizing the start of a new era, the characteristics of the sign transiting the vernal equinox dominate earth’s collective energy. This move into the Age of Aquarius stands to impact the ways we make and connect with art to the ways we buy and sell it. Affecting elections much like in the U.S. According to astronomers - This past December 21, we saw the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius. It was the first time in more than 800 years that this Great Conjunction returned to the air element, and it will remain there for about 200 years. This is critical for the arts, as Aquarius symbolizes a break from previously established traditions, thereby allowing for new and unusual ideas to flow more freely and for new pathways to emerge. Aquarius points to a newfound sense of hope and a strong desire for collective change—some of which we have already experienced in the Covid-19 pandemic and the protests against racial violence in the United States—and, when combined with Jupiter’s energy, encourages us to expand our thoughts. We will see a continued and deeper shift toward a greater awareness of the collective consciousness. This shift in energy will also serve cutting-edge and outside-the-box mediums like digital, video, performance, conceptual art, and similarly experimental forms—all of which will act as a catalyst for inventive change. But we must remember that change takes time. The U.S. department of defense in 2022 made it public that they are dedicating a special unit to look into the ever surging reports of UFO’s. With the threat of COVID slowly falling into the horizon and the war against Russian not having the same impact as it once did. Many are wondering if the new threat to national and personal security may not be in the cosmics. After all it seems that governments of the world thrive during times of chaos and uncertainty. During COVID governments of the world shut down countries and kept citizens under military rule. They went as far as force vaccine injections in the name of national security. Just this past month. The treats of Chinese flying balloons. Short time after that. In northern Canada, three UFO’s shot down of unknown origins. Could this be the era/age that we finally make contact. That we the people of earth find a new enemy and thru this phantom enemy, it unites all countries in the fight of a common interest. Could this be the beginning of one world government in the best interest of Global security. Could through the assistance of the ever surging technology of Artificial Intelligence. We the common folk may become the robots to the doctrine of a world order transcribed and delivered through fear mongering and sophisticated AI technologies. They can see us. They can hear us. Soon they will be able to direct us and even tell us when we can leave our homes. We the people must awaken and take control before it is taken from us. The new age of Aquarius is upon us. Who will come to liberate us? REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Being Charismatic Greatly Benefits Your Job Search

By Nick Kossovan We all know someone who walks into a room and instantly turns heads. There is an immediate attraction to them without any apparent effort on their part. Their company makes you feel good. They seem cool, confident, collected, self-assured and comfortable in their own skin. They may not be attractive, wealthy, or intelligent, but they have a certain something-charisma. In my opinion, there is nothing more advantageous for a job seeker than having a magnetic personality-attracting rather than repelling. It is comfortable for job seekers and employees to believe that their education, skills, and experiences are what will lead them to be hired and receive promotions and raises. Such a mindset leads to frustration and disappointment. I firmly believe that the ability to become charismatic is not innate and can be learned. This is an important trait to have, especially when interviewing. Understandably, employers are attracted to candidates who can effortlessly establish friendships, influence people, and collaborate well with coworkers, managers, clients, and others. After all, relationships are the backbone of business. Possessing charisma will make you more desirable, especially when compared to your less motivated competition, and thus give you a competitive advantage. In my last column, Employers Buy Into You Based on Emotion, I mentioned two interview truisms: 1. Being likeable trumps your skills and experience, and 2. Throughout your interview, your interviewer is asking themselves: "Do I like this person?" (Worth repeating: The deciding factor in all hiring is the interviewer asking themselves, "Do I like this person?") Even for a hard-to-fill position, I have yet to know a hiring manager who has ever hired someone they did not like. Since job search and career success rely heavily on your people skills, you should develop your people skills and make yourself a charismatic individual that employers, and your colleagues, will want on their team. According to social psychologists, charisma is made up of three primary qualities: - Presence - Power - Warmth The most effective interviewees know how to engage their interviewer with candid, stimulating conversation, drawing them into their way of thinking through their charisma and confidence. More precisely, charismatic interviewees can persuade their interviewer to open up to them by coming across as authentic, knowledgeable and attuned to their interviewer's and employer's needs. The most effective job seekers employ three communication "tactics" in order to connect with their interviewer and professionals they meet (Networking is effortless when you have a charismatic personality. 1.They listen and maintain consistent eye contact. "One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say." - Bryant H. McGill, American author. A charismatic personality is built on attentive listening; therefore, the first step to becoming charismatic is: Be present in the moment! Turn off your smartphone or leave it at home or in your car. During your interview, refrain from staring at the view outside your interviewer's window, scanning their office, looking at the employees walking by, or thinking about what you want for lunch. Give your interviewer your undivided attention throughout the interview. Focus on them, not the surroundings or any of the monkey chatter that may be going on in your head. 2.Rather than avoid possibly making a bad impression, they say what they think. Interviewees do little to impress and connect with their interviewer by answering questions in such a way as attempting to avoid making an unfavourable impression. Cliched answers are unimpressive and forgettable. Charismatic interviewees aim to build a trusting relationship with their interviewer, not fly under the radar. Consequently, they are sincere and upfront about who they are and what they stand for. Due to their desire to be authentic, they are willing to take the risks that come with being upfront. Their self-confidence motivates them to adopt a mindset that if their interviewer cannot accept them as they are, then they are not a fit. 3.They appeal to the traits and ideals their interviewer assigned themselves and their company. This is an aspect of charisma that is tricky. Fundamental to building a relationship is showing respect for how the other person sees themselves. Your interviewer has an image of themselves and their company; whether it is accurate is irrelevant. During your interview, listen carefully to learn what are your interviewer's pride in themselves and their company. A great question to ask: "What is your proudest achievement while working here?" It should not be surprising that most hiring managers view themselves as competent, innovative, and influential, possessing inherent leadership skills. Interviewees with charisma leverage these perceived traits and emphasize that they are interested in the job due to the organization's leadership team, culture, and reputation. The key to being a charismatic interviewee is developing an ability to make your interviewer feel understood and respected, which is an ability you should be using throughout your life to enhance your various relationships. Interviewers (READ: all human beings) crave sincere appreciation and perceived importance from candidates. Therefore, charismatic interviewing involves effectively conveying such a message and feeling. Showing interest in your interviewer is always an effective job search strategy.

NO TO PRIVATE HEALTH CARE

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 - People wake up. Private medical care will never be good for us. It is a cash cow for insurance companies and for doctors. If we can send billions to foreign lands in the form of humanitarian aid. I am sure we can invest billions in our own people. Primarily on the way we dispense health care. Let’s get real. The real problem is not the doctors. It is not the people. It is the government and the Canadian Medical Association. If they don’t graduate more doctors the demand for doctors will always be high. Doctors will complain that they are over worked and under pay. The taxpayers will have to deal with the brunt. Forcing the average person to put pressure on the government to come up with alternatives such a private insurance. THIS IS NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST. Pay out of pocket does not mean more or quicker care. So stop pushing insurance companies interests and agenda as the solution. The Medical Association has no interest in having more doctors than patients. The Association looses political might. This recent so called problem in Ontario. Is shameful. Doctors blame COVID - and just about everything under the sun. The reality is that doctors and all in the medical profession are under staffed and under paid. This is an administrative problem that the Federal government can fix very easily. First, graduate more doctors. Double the output per year. Second, asssure a minimum guaranteed income for every doctor. Three, make accessible funds for specialty surgery so that our doctors do not end up in other countries. Four, assure that all nurses and subsequent related peripheral services have ample resources to expedite procedures. Five, cut back on hospital administrator perks and wages. Have them be accountable and assure they uphold strick standards of service. One thing that must be taken into account is that as a responsible government we must always assure that our population has the best of everything out there. If we don’t take care of Canada first. Why should we be taking care of the rest of the world. The medical problem is not a problem. It is an example of all that is wrong with our modern society. People playing politics to benefit their own pockets. Can’t blame the doctors. If they are over worked and they get the same pay. It is only human nature to look for ways to compensate for work performed. The Medical Association appears to be in the thought that keeping doctors demand high will achieve them getting more funding. Wrong. Privatization will hurt all Canadians. The only ones to benefit will be insurance companies and the medical profession as they will be in a position to pick and choose based on what they get paid. It is not working in the United States. Why would it work here. For those that tell you that it is working in the U.S. They are probably doctors. It is not about communism/capitalism. It is about being human. It is about being responsible. If we have billions to take care of foreign interest. We have billions to take care of our people. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Canada and the Health Care fiasco

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East This is a subject I have touched on in the past, but it has become such a major issue in the lives of Canadians that the time has come to take a serious look at it. It is time to fix the system, but the issues are complicated and I doubt that the ruling political class is able to do anything more than patch it up; apply a temporary fix which will not resolve the problem. Let us see what will emerge from the Canadian Premiers' meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau, regarding this issue. In truth, we probably should not expect it to be much. The traditional microphone-hogging parade of Premiers whining on national television about having the constitutional responsibility of delivering health care without a fully paid-up federal partner will continue. It is an old battered song being replayed like a broken record. That charade will be followed by the Prime Minister declaring his version of a funding fix for a generation, which will probably only buy a few years of quiet time before the bellyaching ramps up and the next health-care crisis begins. So what is the Prime Minister proposing to do with your hard-earned taxpayer's money? In a long-awaited deal aimed at addressing Canada's crumbling health-care systems, the federal government is pledging to increase health funding to Canada's provinces and territories by $196.1 billion over the next 10 years, with $46.2 billion in new funding. This new cross-Canada offer includes both increases to the amount budgeted to flow through Canada Health Transfer (CHT) and federal plans to sign a bilateral deal with each province and territory that will be mindful of each system's unique circumstances. This funding influx is coming with an expectation that in order to access new federal dollars, provincial and territorial governments will maintain their current levels of health care spending and commit to new transparency and accountability requirements around how health information is collected, shared, used, and reported to Canadians. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented a proposal this week to his provincial and territorial counterparts at the first in-person meeting of all First Ministers since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, indications are that the offer has not satisfied provinces' demands. This seems to be the usual scenario, often seen before. If we look at the current situation of our Health Care system, we perceive a huge crisis in the making. Without improved home care, you cannot ease pressure on long-term care. If you cannot expand decent long-term care, you just fill up hospitals with people who should not be there. When regular hospital beds are full, patients overflow the emergency wards. That leaves paramedics stuck with patients, some with minor ailments, until an overworked physician finds a corridor bed so the paramedic can return to urgently required ambulances. So the story goes on, a vicious cycle with sick Canadians dying in queue, waiting for better care. Even when staffing resources would be adequate, they are royally wasted. Millions of Canadians are scrambling to find family doctors, for example, but those doctors are forced to spend far too much time on paperwork instead of patients. They work under a compensation schedule, which rewards bringing patients into their office for a paid appointment even when an unpaid text message or email response would suffice. Meanwhile, doctor specialization, which is getting more and more scarce, is rewarded handsomely while family practice and psychiatry are not, despite similar training. A future as a general practitioner in rural Canada, where hours would be long and vacations short, is a hard sell in medical school. Yet the Medical Association turns a deaf ear to the systemic needs and shortages, doing nothing to alleviate the problems. In particular, they ignore or sideline foreign-trained doctors, and limit the number of physicians graduating from Canadian medical schools. So, what have desperate Canadians resorted to doing lately? Those who cannot access an emergency ward and do not have a doctor, must head to a walk-in clinic which is, like most doctors in this country, a private enterprise. If you need a hernia fixed in Ontario, chances are you will join the 7,000 others who go to the privately run Shouldice Hospital every year. In view of these now routine Canadian experiences resorting to privately offered medical care, talking about a certain kind of privatization of medical services should not be treated as a bogeyman. Not only does a government-covered procedure in a private clinic not violate the Canada Health Act, but recent polling shows that the public no longer sees the use of a for-profit provider as the axe coming down on the sacred medicare cow. Therefore, let us hope that the widely touted meeting this week between the Prime Minister and the Premiers of Canada will have some positive outcomes for the future of Health Care in Canada, so it can serve Canadians more efficiently and more effectively. However, it seems that proposed changes intended to radically improve our Health Care system are looking only marginally better than believing in the recent episode of China's balloon thaIt is clearly time for the 50-year-old dream of medicare as a Canadian birth- right to be reformed in order to serve Canadians better. We need to move forward towards new horizons. What do you think?

Alcohol vs. COVID Vaccination. Alcohol vs. COVID Vaccination. When the Science Does Not Suit Us We Question It

By Nick Kossovan WARNING: My enjoying playing 'devil's advocate' has been pointed out on many occasions-it makes for thought-provoking writing. I assume you are aware of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) having issued revised alcohol consumption guidelines. The new guidelines, released after a two-year research project funded by Health Canada, are shocking, which the media, not surprisingly, has taken full advantage of. Media coverage of the findings was spun to scare even casual drinkers straight, so it elevates above all the current "news noise" contributing to our constant anxiety. (e.g., runaway inflation, the Russia-Ukraine War, the U.S. hitting its debt ceiling) It is as if all the mainstream media outlets gathered for a brainstorming session and decided, "Hey, it's a new year; why not create a new health crisis?" Nothing keeps the collective angst elevated and everyone addicted to the news, like a continuous flow of health crises. CCSA's 89-page report can be summarized as follows: "We now know even a small amount of alcohol can be damaging to health. Research shows that no amount or kind of alcohol is good for your health." This is a 360-degree change from Canada's former alcohol consumption guidelines, released in 2011. The 2011 guidelines defined as "low risk" up to 10 drinks per week (no more than two per day) for women and up to 15 drinks per week (no more than three per day) for men. At this point, there are two things about me you need to know: 1. I am far from what you would call a teetotaller, especially during my younger days, and 2. My firsthand experience has taught me that people drink primarily for reasons of social interaction (liquid courage), not because it is nutritious. I get it; the CCSA has a duty to provide information that they feel is in the public's best interest when it comes to making informed decisions about one's health. I also understand that media outlets now find themselves in a new world order requiring they dramatically change their business model. Understandably media outlets will do whatever they feel is necessary to keep us habituated to the news-they need our eyeballs for ad revenue. The media's behaviour is not what concerns me. I have come to expect their constant "crisis spins." What concerns me is what I am hearing and not hearing from those around me and seeing on my social media feeds. Those who uncivilly freaked out when anyone questioned the science behind COVID vaccines are questioning the science used by the CCSA to revise Health Canada's alcohol consumption guidelines. This, "I will question, even denounce, any science that does not suit me," hypocrisy is telling of our society where most of us go along to get along. For your reference: In 2020/2021, according to Statistics Canada, liquor authorities sold 3,180 million litres of alcoholic beverages to Canadians of legal drinking age, an equivalent of 9.7 drinks per week per Canadian. In the coming months, it will be interesting to see whether Canadians who followed the government's vaccine guidelines because they believed in the science will now follow Health Canada's new guidelines to limit their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per week. Will bars become dispensers of club soda and non-alcoholic fruit cocktails? Will liquor stores be shutting their doors and joining the 'For Lease' retail landscape? Will grocery stores be emptying their shelves of alcoholic beverages and stocking the new shelf space with gluten-free offerings? Will the Canadian government see a dramatic decline in alcohol sales, a significant source of government revenue, along with other vices they tax (gambling, cigarettes), forcing them to raise taxes elsewhere to maintain the money flowing into Ottawa's coffers? .. or will Canadians shrug their shoulders and keep raising glasses of beer, wine and hard liquor, saying to themselves, "What does the CCSA know? I bet their studies were commissioned by the Dairy Farmers of Canada." Yes, deciphering the science is difficult, especially when filtered through mainstream media which greatly benefits keeping you and me in a constant state of anxiousness. Nevertheless, because of the science the media reported, most Canadians quickly rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated and then boosted. Only a small percentage of Canadians questioned the vaccine's science and possible side effects down the road. Those who were, for lack of a better word, brave enough to challenge the science publicly or said they were not comfortable getting vaccinated were pummeled with insults, labelled negatively, had their beliefs and values ridiculed and were ostracized by family and friends and their employer. Civil dialogue never took place. Why are those who are publicly saying they will be ignoring Health Canada's new alcohol consumption guidelines not being publicly burned at the stake? Unvaccinated Canadians and those who went out in public unmasked experienced outrage, which their attackers justified by claiming that their "rebellious" behaviour (READ: Exercising their right to body autonomy.) was burdening hospitals. If the media is to be believed, those who refuse to get vaccinated and/or wear a facemask are bringing Canada's healthcare system to its knees. Many will argue; if a person decides to drink, that is their business. The logic being drinking is not contagious like COVID. Point taken. However, assuming CCSA's science is credible, and therefore alcohol is literally poison, I would expect people to be upset about all the drinking Canadians who are using Canada's taxpayer-funded healthcare system to treat illnesses and diseases that could have been prevented if they had abstained from alcohol, according to the science presented by the CCSA. Where is the outrage against those who continue to smoke in 2023, despite decades of undeniable science that has clearly said smoking kills? It is inevitable that those who smoke end up using Canada's healthcare system more than Canadians who take their health seriously. The non-existent outrage against those who question CCSA's science or dismiss it outright is mind-boggling hypocrisy. No wonder there is so much discourse when hypocrisy has become the norm. Undeniably, most health issues Canadians face and seek treatment for through our healthcare system are preventable. There is no doubt that a person's lifestyle choices have a direct impact on their health. Hence, are not all unhealthy lifestyle choices deserving of outrage, judgment, condemnation, and ostracization? Or is cherry-picking which science to believe-namely, the science that suits us-the new thing? I am curious to see how much alcohol Canadians will consume in 2023. ___________________________________________________________________________ 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