REAL PROBLEM OR PERCEIVED

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” I have a very serious concern. News reports have been hitting the airwaves with intensity over the problems ports in North America are experiencing. It appears that we have a shortage of drivers to get goods from point A to B. That somehow after almost two years. Truckers are in short supply. Really? To boot the government blames it on COVID of course. Just last month I had an interesting running with the trucking industry. I cross the border every month as an essential service provider. I use the trucking lanes. As I was approaching the border. The line up was five miles out of trucks waiting. I thought, “Oh my it will take hours to cross”. I decided to use the non commercial lane to see what the hold up was. Well, I was shocked to see that trucks space themselves out five truck lengths and at times 10 truck lengths crossing over the Peace bridge. I thought why are they doing that. These trucker are slowing down the flow. After crossing I stopped at a local truck stop and began a conversation with some truckers and they explained that it was part of a national protest. That the trucking industry was under direction to slow down the flow of goods in and across North America. I was floored. Just recently The Regional Municipality of Durham announced yard waste collection delays in the Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog and Uxbridge. Collection delays are expected to continue on a weekly basis until the last seasonal collection date on Friday, December 17. Why: There is an industry-wide labour shortage of truck drivers across Canada, which has impacted the region’s contractors who provide waste collection. This is in addition to other factors causing delays, such as the seasonal increase in yard waste materials set-out in the fall. Really!!!! The trucking industry is purposely crippeling the supply chain. WOW. For what gain? Could it be to force the government to invest in that particular industry? It is beyond words on how we are impacted. Did we not have garbage pick up last month? The month before that? Then why is it that now we experiencing contractors driver issues? DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? Will they attempt to rationalize that all of a sudden garbage truck drivers have contracted COVID? That for some unexplained reason they are not showing up for work. How is it that the Region and it’s contractors not prepare of such unexpected situation? Then you begin to look at the bigger picture. As it stands we are holding strong in Ontario to 500 cases per day. The so called experts predict another surge to over 1,000 per day. They are pushing people to get vaccinated in order to offset the burden from ICU’s. People should we not be getting ready now by opening more ICU’s? Why is it that we as human are so slow at the draw? Why must humanity suffer before we get it right and put forth all the safeguards to prevent suffering. Personally I think this trucking shortage is nothing short than a political message to government to invest taxpayers money in an industry that is widely used. Political, organized crime based, Covid related. We the people will never know. In a society that prides itself on freedoms and rights. We sure dropped the ball on the truth. How are we to have world peace when we still employ modern day slavery. We the slaves are kept ignorant and only attended to when our services to society are compromised.

The Green, the Red and You and Me

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As the psychopathic obsession with green energy continues relentlessly, pursued both in the media and in politics at all costs, the country is sinking further and further into the red and be assured that you and I, 'Joe public', will have to pay for it. Prime Minister Trudeau and his Liberal government took pride in recently announcing hard caps on emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) for Canada's oil and gas sector. In his wisdom he thinks that this will help to achieve Ottawa's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. As is so often the case with the current government, there are serious questions that have not been asked-let alone answered-about this new policy and its consequences for Canadians. But never mind, the leading politicians are all aces and current in their scientific knowledge as well as being advised by the most science loving and practising public servants. In the hands of such luminaries we are bound to do well in the near future. It is important to understand however, that the design of the cap on emissions, at least given current information, is to restrain current levels of production and gradually reduce them over time. In other words, they're designed to limit increased production and expansion of the oil and gas sector in Canada. This is a serious threat to the livelihood of Canadians living in the of western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It seems, though, that the savants in Ottawa will have a solution for them. Based on the latest data from Statistics Canada, and this is not fake news, the oil and gas sector represents 26.2 per cent of Canada's total GHG emissions. The remaining emission sources are exempt from the cap. It's not clear why the production of GHGs in the oil and gas sector are more harmful or damaging to the environment or the economy than GHGs produced in other sectors. It is clear however, that somewhere, someone has the intention to cripple the exploration of Canada's natural resources, especially the oil and gas sector, in order to implement a globalist agenda and a new world order. Common sense is telling us that given population growth and increases in income, the demand for goods and services that generate GHGs across all sectors, including oil and gas will increase. So unless there are breakthrough technologies, which the government is counting on but which only exist in some nebula at the moment, emissions will also increase. In other words, it's not clear how constraining one-quarter of GHG sources (the oil and gas sector) can help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 if emission levels from the other three-quarters are growing. This logic amounts to a cancel culture approach taken by the current government. There are certainly unanswered question regarding home energy consumption, which includes heating and cooling homes, preparing meals and providing energy for the comforts of life. According to the latest available data from Statistics Canada, in 2015, 51.0 per cent of home energy consumption was provided by natural gas, 45.2 per cent by electricity and 3.8 per cent by heating oil. If the government constrains oil and gas production, and the population continues to grow, a marked shift to electricity must occur, particularly with respect to heating homes. However, the government is silent on nuclear energy, because it is taboo and not politically correct to speak about reducing GHGs by any means other than solar and wind power. Moreover, in its professional enthusiasm the government has provided no information about who will pay these enormous costs or where all the new electricity will be produced. There's a real possibility that Canadian families will have to pay to remove natural gas and oil-fired furnaces and replace them with electric heating systems, and that the cost of electricity will increase dramatically. Indeed, who else but the Canadian public will likely bear these significant costs in the near future? So why have there been no disclosures or information on this subject? Ottawa continues to present these 'green' decisions as if they're costless. Oh yes… the budget will balance itself - by reaching into your pocket. Let us also consider the question of GHG reductions in the transport sector, which is the second-largest source of GHGs in Canada at 25.4 per cent (2019). By the way - we live in a big country and we really need our transportation. The vast majority of Canadians are not living in the Ottawa bubble. The Liberal campaign platform in 2021 called for half of all "passenger" vehicles sold in Canada to be zero-emissions by 2030 and all must be zero by 2035 - and they formed government. According to Statistics Canada, in 2020, there were 1.5 million new vehicle registrations and 39,036 (or 2.5 per cent of the total) were electric-battery vehicles (the percentage increases if hybrids are included but they are also potentially emitting vehicles). When we only look at "passenger" vehicles, aka yours to drive, the numbers drop to 498,031 total registrations and 28,007 electric-battery vehicles (or 5.6 per cent of the total). In my humble opinion it is not clear how Canada moves from 1-in-20 vehicles being zero-emissions in 2020 to 1-in-2 within 10 years and 1-in-1 in 15 years. And again, it's entirely unclear how all the new electricity and infrastructure to power these vehicles will be generated. Maybe the government's next step will be a call to some shamans to ask the gods to intervene for a miracle. With the COP16 climate conference over in Glasgow, and Prime Minister Trudeau home again but preparing to take his fearless team to Washington DC soon for the meeting of the new Tre Amigos, what can Canadians expect? The meeting will likely achieve nothing except more GHGs, and Canadians should get ready to pay the costs of more unrealistic globalist promises. In conclusion, the more these clowns pursue green, the more red they create, and they leave ordinary citizens like you and me holding the bag; to pay for generations to come. Maybe the time has come to make some changes in Ottawa. What do you think?

The Swimming Pool

My wife and I separated, and she has found her happiness away from the marriage. I was happy in the marriage. Last conversation, she admitted she was never happy during our 12 years together. She won’t discuss why she stuck it out other than to say, “I’m a bitch. What can I say?” I have both good and bad memories from those 12 years, and now I feel I don’t know how to cope with them. If I thought it was good and she thought it was bad, how do I remember our time together? How do I get rid of those memories? I am in the second month of a yearlong wait for a divorce, and I am struggling with being alone. I feel like a fool for being tricked all these years. At this point I don’t see myself ever trying another relationship, but I am so lonely each day is 100 hours long. I haven’t found a way to reinvent myself into a social creature who makes friends. Do you have any suggestions? Luke Luke, your wife married you with a list of reasons she thought added up to love. It was only a matter of time before her list failed her, and she told you the truth. Don’t bash yourself over this. Her secrets don’t change your memories. When you leave a child’s plastic swimming pool in one place too long, it squashes the grass. When you finally move the pool, the grass below is yellow, damp, and sparse. But once the pool is moved, the sun shines on the grass, the air flows over the grass, and the rain waters the grass. In time the grass lifts toward the sun and becomes lush and green. You are like the grass under the pool. In time you will grow once again. Start with the basics. If you can’t remember or figure out what makes you feel good, what you are interested in, then you need to reconnect with yourself. Perhaps for now, all you can see is that one thing feels a little better (or maybe not quite as bad) as something else. Always pick the better over the worse. Choose what seems like the better course for yourself. Eventually following the path of greater awareness will get you where you want to go and give you the happiness you deserve. Tamara Night And Day How do you know when you’ve crossed the boundary between liking and loving someone? What is the difference? Kirby Kirby, it’s hard to talk about this boundary without using example and comparison. They don’t give an exact picture, but they suggest and give you a sense of the reality. If you say, “I love my dog,” but look at an apartment that doesn’t allow pets, you only liked the dog. Whoever said, “You can fall in love with a rich man as easily as a poor man,” never loved. Whoever thinks love can be measured by a bathroom scale or diminished by age, never loved. Love is like the answer to a riddle. Other answers may seem good or clever, but only this one answer is perfect. Love is like the right job. The job inspires you and feels like play. You crave the work, you are passionate about it. It lifts you up and drives you to new levels. Love is the color which connects with the deepest level of your being. It is the music which speaks to you. When you love someone, you are totally yourself with them. Nothing can drive a wedge between you. Whatever life throws at you, you deal with together. When you reach the boundary between like and love, you know you are entering another country. You are beyond newness and infatuation. You know what Shakespeare meant when he called love “an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.” Wayne Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

You’ve Discovered a Thyroid Lump, What Does It Mean?

Waking in the morning, the last thing you want is a health shock before you begin the day. If you are like most people, feeling a lump for the first time at the Adam’s apple, the thyroid gland, you will immediately jump to one conclusion, “I have a cancer.” But is this the right conclusion? So, let’s report some good news that will decrease anxiety while you have your morning coffee. Fortunately, the majority of thyroid nodules are not cancers. Besides, the majority don’t even require removal. Thyroid nodules are common in elderly people. In fact, a report from the University of California states that if you’re over the age of 60, there’s a 25-to-50 percent chance of developing a thyroid lump. The older you are, whichever sex, the more likely that a nodule will develop in the thyroid. And the more likely the doctor is also going to tell you, “It’s not a cancer.” You should also know these lumps are three times more common in women. But there’s a good possibility that neither women nor men will ever know that one or more nodules are present. This is because thyroid nodules do not always cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, patients may notice hoarseness, difficulty breathing, a voice change, the feeling there’s a lump in the throat, and sometimes discomfort in the throat. The thyroid is a busy organ. It secretes the hormone that regulates metabolism. But its also responsible for heart rate, cardiovascular function, the central nervous system and bone remodelling. If finding a nodule, the doctor will order thyroid tests of the blood to evaluate thyroid function. Usually, the test will show nothing wrong. The doctor will also order an ultrasound to obtain a general look at the gland. The important test is what’s called a fine needle aspiration. A small needle is inserted into the thyroid gland to obtain tissue or fluid from inside the gland. This can be done in the doctor’s office. Usually, the doctor applies an anesthetic to the skin, then inserts the needle into the nodule. This takes only a few minutes. Thyroid nodules are 90 percent benign non-cancers. In general, if a nodule is under two centimeters (a little less than one inch), it’s less likely to be a malignancy. If a cancer is found, surgical removal is done. This means hormone replacement medication may be required for the rest of the patient’s life. Fortunately, the 30-year survival rate for the most common type of thyroid cancer is 95 percent. As we age, the thyroid gets smaller. Or it starts producing less of the hormone, an immune condition that damages the thyroid. Or, it may become more active with increased levels of hormone, a condition called Graves disease. This is why doctors are always feeling the neck for lumps. Since prevention is always better than cure, there are tips to decrease the risk of a thyroid nodule. Researchers at the University of California report you are more likely to develop a thyroid nodule if you have a history of some type of cancer, such as a lymphoma, breast or kidney malignancy. Your risk also increases if you are obese, have had radiation to the neck or head during childhood, or have been exposed to nuclear radiation. Finally, why do we have to keep saying it? Do not smoke. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter.

Influence What Your Interviewer Thinks of You

By Nick Kossovan There's a good chance you've read Dale Carnegie's best-selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People. Carnegie's book details how to leverage human psychology to influence people, which is gold when your goal is to get your interviewer to green light hiring you. The sections 'Six Ways to Make People Like You' and 'Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking' offer suggestions that can be incredibly potent to your job search success, as well as career success. Everyone has felt anxious and powerless talking to a hiring manager. I know I have when I was first interviewing, especially if my interviewer was the gatekeeper, between me and what I thought was my dream job. I finally realized my nervousness was because I wasn't setting the stage for the discussion I wanted to have. I wasn't controlling the "conversation frame." Only one person controls the conversation frame: Either I or the other person. (e.g., my interviewer) When my interviewer does, they're calling the shots. They're expecting me to chase them, demonstrate my value as an employee, impress them with my background, show how much I want to work for them, etc. Sound familiar? When I allowed my interviewer to control the frame, I had no control over the outcome-I was hoping to "get lucky." Years ago, after walking out of an interview, I knew I could have done better; I asked myself, what if I had controlled the frame of the conversation? How would my interviewer have reacted differently? I'll tell you how. There's a good chance (There's no guarantee, humans are unpredictable.) they'd have said to themselves, "Wow! Who is this person?" and think, "This person knows who they are and what they want." Of all the personality traits you can project, having confidence is by far the most attractive. All of us are attracted to those who exude confidence. Think what makes Brad Pitt "BRAD PITT!"; it's how he exudes confidence. When you control the frame of the conversation, your interviewer will seek your approval. (Yes, I've experienced this.) They'll start talking to you more. They'll care more about what you think of them and their company. They'll want you to like them. Now, you're the one calling the shots, and your interviewer is the one responding, reacting, and chasing. When you own "the frame," you have the power to control what your interviewer thinks of you. So how do you control the frame? You start by not treating job interviews as a delicate ego dance in which you're bending over backwards trying to present your best self while hoping to not cross the line between enthusiasm and groveling. The notion of a job interview as an audition is antiquated. Such a mindset doesn't do you any favours. When you overly focus on impressing your interviewer(s), you lose sight of whether they're making an effort to impress you. Flip your thinking. Stop thinking you're in the hot seat! Instead, ask yourself how an in-demand candidate (Envision yourself as being such a candidate.), one who's constantly head-hunted, would treat a meeting with a potential employer. They'd use their face time to ask questions to evaluate the employer and gauge whether the opportunity fits their career plan. Candidates I gravitate to ask me straightforward questions (Being unambiguous is a huge plus with me.) that show they're curious and serious about a mutual fit. Such candidates get me talking. Ask questions to fully understand the job opportunity, which'll shed light on the company's operations and your future boss's management style. "How will you manage me?" (Presuming you're speaking with the person you'll be reporting to.) Don't waste your questions on softballs. If you're interviewing at a company that's undergone a round of layoffs, address it head-on. "In August Burns Industries laid off over 250 employees in its Alberta manufacturing plant. How do you see the next 2 years looking like for Burns Industries?" If the role is new, ask why it was created and why no one internally was promoted? You want to get a semblance of what you may be walking into. Because interviews involve human bias, which you can't control, they're unpredictable. However, there's one thing you'll always be able to control, the "conversation frame," which'll greatly influence how your interviewer thinks of you. On an end note, if you haven't read How to Win Friends and Influence People, I recommend you do; it'll significantly impact your job search and career.

Hey where are we going with this!

By Rosaldo Russo OUR RIGHTS IN CANADA ARE BEING VIOLATED Allow me to begin this column by thanking the newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. The other day, I went to one of my buildings tenant. A restaurant. As I was about to order from him. He tells me he can’t serve me unless I showed him my vaccination papers. I told him I was not vaccinated. He threw me out. Funny to get thrown out of your own building by your tenant. WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH THIS PEOPLE. Come on. The government has over stepped it’s authority. They have us fighting one against the other. People are confused. I am not more of a virus spreader than the guy that has been vaccinated. I am old and it should be my choice if I want to die sooner by vaccinating or later by taking a chance. All the vaccine does is lessen the severity of the infection. So then why do we have to utilize Gestapo tactics when it comes to order a meal. Hell, when I got thrown out of my own building I could not even retaliate and throw him out as he is protected by law. How do you like them potatoes. I own the building and I have no rights. Not even if he chooses not to pay his rent. What kind of world do we live in. People are starving in our cities. People are living on the street and our government donates 14 million dollars worth of vaccines to Uganda. Really, are we that wealthy or are we that hypocritical? The world is in the brink of disaster. At least during war. The intent is clear. They want to kill you. During this modern war. We do not see the enemy. We only know that they are trying to kill us by turning one person against another and inject us with an unproven agent that will expediate illness and death. Come people Wake Up.

THANKING EVERYONE...

A King f

or the People by Alex King When most of us consider this time of year, we imagine family gatherings, robust meals, carbohydrate-induced naps, songs of carolers echoing down our streets, familiar TV programs paying tribute to the season, and of course the exchanging of presents. Then, there's the gift that keeps on giving: leftovers. I appreciate those annual customs as much as anyone else, but I feel the need to suggest a new tradition. As we're surrounded by the people we love and care about the most, perhaps we should etch out a little time to discuss politics. Sure, it apparently goes against the rules. We're not supposed to broach certain topics when we come together for the holidays. The idea of doing so may fill you with dread, causing you to imagine arguments, food fights, and other calamitous scenarios. You may even worry that bringing up a particular subject will result in less people around the table during next year's banquet. I must ask several questions, however. When did it become the norm to think we can't share our opinions without arguments breaking out? How do we challenge, communicate, and shape our own values if we aren't taking the opportunity to do so with the people who are most important to us? And finally, if we are willing to do the work, could such discussions serve to strengthen our bonds rather than weaken them? Please don't get me wrong. My goal is not to distract from the true meaning of the holidays. What I'm hoping to accomplish, as we join together in celebration of shared beliefs, is a renewed infusion of those core principles into this country's political discourse. I'm not some bleeding heart or phony intellectual who prescribes that the woes of the United States, or the world for that matter, can be solved with conversation alone. It all takes work, but that work begins by challenging our own views in a legitimate attempt to find common ground with the views of others. It is important to listen deeply, ask sincere questions, and practice your own discretion. So, instead of arguing with the in-laws about which election was stolen, maybe address how both Republicans and Democrats are waking up to how easily compromised a president might be and why that is terrifying. And, rather than debating your cousin about where tax dollars should be spent, focus on the need for a tax system that doesn't compel any citizen to finance programs that go against their morals. Those are just a few ideas. Most importantly, try to appreciate the special people in your life… regardless of how your opinions may differ. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

CHINA GIVES THE FINGER TO THE WORLD - AGAIN

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” It appears that in the never ending quest for politicians to find new ways to tax us they hit the mother load with this so called “GLOBAL WARMING”. Common sense will tell you the more people in the world. The more need for resources. The more pollution of all kinds will be produced. The modern day trend for most politicians is to make it look like they one understand the theory of Global Warming and the other that they care about the environment. In reality their care and perspective comes from interest on how this new golden goose that will lay hefty golden eggs can be implemented without much opposition. After all one ignorant pill for the politicians to push the cause. Another ignorant pill for the population at large based on the fear that the end of time is around the corner if we do not do something about it today. What better way to tackle the problem of global warming if not by taxing industry and making costly changes to our communities and societies... Meanwhile not showing the taxpayers the books of where these so called carbon taxes end up. How much kick back do some of these politicians get in supporting billion dollar so called energy efficient and carbon cutting programs. What next they will want to tax you on how much methane you excrete? They will have a formula. Height x Weight x Age, you will be responsible for so much. The same tax formula could be used to tax you for the air you consume yearly. Imagine having to pay all that tax. Income, Sales, Property, Carbon, Methane, Regional, Municipal, Water, Carbon, Oxygen.... the thought is insane. I have a question. Why is it ever since Trump lost the election. Our gas rates at the pump have gone sky high almost to Obama’s administration levels? Trump seen the rip off of saving the planet so he pulled out. He stuck it to the Oil producing nations and he was keeping China on a short leash. China felt threatened. The oil nations, cut throats by nature. Had to take out Trump. Assassination would have been to easy. How about going after the West success. Their economy, their people. COVID in my opinion will go down in human history as the ultimate biological weapon. A weapon that hit the world like no other. A weapon released by a nation that has had world domination on it’s sights for thousand of years. The world should be worried about retribution not a long standing theorem of global warming. Under Trump. He was slowly getting America back to where it should have been. China for the longest time has been chipping away at the west. So much so that our Imports from China are at an all time high. Western jobs have gone to the orient. What better way to destablize the enocomy of the West if not to throw in a shut down virus. Ever since the virus hit our shores. Our economies have fallen. Our people are turning one against the other. Today, our supply lines have been compromised. We in the West have been brought to our knees. Is there any wonder China does not want to hear about global warming? They are one of the major contributors. In China they do not care about their own people. It is do as we say or suffer the consequences. In China people are less than a number. Remember pre-covid. All the pro-democracy demonstration in China. Trump was a moving agent and it had to be brought down. China does not believe in using military force. They rather work at weaknesses and compromise the integrity of their enemy. COVID million more effective than any nuclear weapon. Yet today. We worry about amunization instead of holding those responsible accountable. Global warming... come on people.

Climate change, Mark Carney, Justin Trudeau and the Flintstone Syndrome

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East The climate is changing anyway, as part of the nature of things, yet there are people so bent on controlling climate change that they imagine themselves close to God if not superior. They try their best to control the Universe and be the immortals of the future. Just last week a physician in British Columbia actually diagnosed a patient with climate change disease. That was definitely a first, and one for the Guinness Book of world records. Does this mean we are desperately looking to cure a pandemic just about to happen? Fed by such alarming issues, world attention was focused on COP26, the global conference on climate change attended by close to 30,000 people. Politicians, bankers, movie stars, billionaires, experts, activist and such debated ways and means of stopping the climate from changing. Schwab, Soros, Bezos, Bloomberg, Gates, DiCaprio, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, the host, Boris Johnson, and many other heads of state seemed so alarmed by what is going on with the climate, that they just had to attend the conference in their private jets. Blah, blah, blah were the new wise words of advice from the world expert on climate change, Greta Thunberg, which made the day. In addition to these fruitful meetings ,the Bankers of the World met to put money on the table to stop the climate from changing. Notably our own Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and subsequently of the Bank of England, and now UN Special Envoy for Climate Change, has had a huge impact on getting financial services firms to align their lending and investment activities with the net-zero goals of the Paris agreement. On November 3, brandishing a Midas touch, Carney revealed that the total assets of combined companies committed to achieving net-zero emissions had risen to $130 trillion from $5 trillion at the beginning of the year. A consortium of over 450 financial firms across 45 nations chaired by Carney and known as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero (GFANZ), have committed to align not only their own businesses, but more importantly their lending and investing practises, with net-zero goals, in order to fund the $150 trillion estimated price tag required to blunt the worst impacts of climate change. The importance of the GFANZ commitment is that it leverages the power of large financial institutions to align with the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal of Paris. Guess where the money is coming from. Ironically, and without burning more words or emitting additional green house gases, they said that this is not meant to withdraw funding from carbon-intensive industries altogether. Instead, GFANZ members should engage climate experts, the NGO community, and governments, to develop "sectoral pathways" or road maps to net-zero for key sectors. They are to better advise and support their client companies in their own transition plans. Governments must also do their part by providing policy clarity and coordination for an orderly transition to net-zero. They claim their policies and words are clean and free of green house gases, but isn't it just more hot air? Climate-related disclosure is on a fast-track to becoming mandatory. Following Carney's speech on GFANZ, Erkki Liikanen, Chair of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS), the international accounting body whose standards are used in 140 jurisdictions around the world (though not the U.S. and China), announced the establishment of a new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Its role will be to develop a globally consistent and auditable sustainability reporting framework for the financial markets, in the same way that it has done for financial accounting standards. Here comes Big Brother, and he's watching… Ashley Alder, Chairman of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the standard-setter for the securities sector, took the stage after Liikanen and said IOSCO would work closely with the ISSB, adding that IOSCO's endorsement would help speed the adoption of mandatory climate-related disclosure. This was a real touch of genius to a Comintern based thought. Lenin would be proud. One of the stars of COP26 was our own Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made it clear that the rest of the world should be following Canada's example in putting a price on carbon. "We know it, leaders know it, scientists know it and the private sector knows it: putting a price on pollution is the most efficient and powerful way to keep 1.5 alive," he stated, referring to the goal set in the 2015 Paris agreement to keep temperature increases limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But we don't need to look to the future to understand the devastation of climate change. The dinosaurs perished and climate change isn't some abstract event of the far-off future. Beware when a new asteroid hits the Earth along with the Paris accord. In a falsely conciliatory way climate change is almost always presented as pitting the environment against the economy. That is why the Trudeau Liberals often tout their talking point about the economy and the environment as going hand in hand. Never mind that our Canadian economy is largely based on exploiting our mineral resources like oil and gas. The wise men in power will print more money to deal with climate change. As long as the population pays their increasing taxes, climate change will be dealt with gracefully. However, in their wisdom, the attendants of COP26 didn't say a word about the role of nuclear and hydro power, neither of which emits greenhouse gases. Natural gas - ironically used in Ontario to back up unreliable wind and solar power - is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. But all three are under relentless attack by environmental protesters and know-nothing politicians. Even the UN (surprise, surprise) says nuclear power is a key component to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. But in Canada, the NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Green party, Greenpeace and other environmental groups, oppose nuclear energy. In Ontario, politicians sitting on 31 municipal councils have irresponsibly called for eliminating the use of natural gas in the province's energy mix by 2030. The province's Independent Electricity System Operator, which manages the provincial power system in real-time, says this would "lead to blackouts and … increase residential electricity bills by 60%." Welcome to the dark ages… In the real world, no form of energy production is without environmental consequences. However, if we cut emissions by abandoning low-emitting practical solutions like nuclear, hydro power and natural gas, while relying on intermittent wind and solar power instead, global blackouts will inevitably follow. So are we planning to freeze in the dark? To live like the Flintstones did? That's the not too distant future being set up. Remember. The calamity of 'climate change' is just starting to be hyped, sucking up your tax dollars. Forget about Covid 19 and prepare for the next major crisis, the pandemic of all pandemics, otherwise known as 'climate change'. Hope you've been saving for that rainy day because the storm clouds are gathering…

Fishing Out Of Season

I am a legally separated man who is going through a divorce. A friend introduced me to his girlfriend about a year ago. We immediately took to each other, but until a month ago, we didn’t realize how the other one felt. I was happily married when we met, but my wife fooled around on me so we split up. Anyway, I started talking to my friend’s girlfriend. While he was away for two weeks of job training, we began seeing each other. We both want to be together but don’t know what to do. She is four months pregnant by him and is happy with him. On the other hand, she wants me and I really want her. Do you have any suggestion on how I, or we, should handle this situation? Ron Ron, the last time I saw anything this tangled, it was opening day of trout season. Fishermen were lined up elbow to elbow on the bank, and there was not enough room to cast. Two guys even caught the same fish, which sounds a lot like your situation. I would think pregnancy would set the hook for this woman, but your lure caught her eye. She doesn’t act like she’s been caught, though. At any moment she could reject both of you and move on to someone else. This woman is not a keeper. You are involved with a woman like your wife. The difference is you are in another role, about to betray a friend. This is not a positive direction for your life. Play out your marriage to its conclusion, and let this woman determine the relationship she will have with the father of her child. There will be another trout season next year. Give yourself a break. Next season when you are free to go fishing, find a quiet stream before you drop a line in the water. Wayne Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Celiac Disease: Has the Diagnosis Been Missed?

Some health problems can be hard to pinpoint. An accurate diagnosis of celiac disease can be easily missed. Among adults in particular, symptoms can be so subtle it can go undetected for years, causing other problems that further complicate a definitive diagnosis. Researchers at Duke University examined a randomized sample of 2,835 people over the age of 55, finding 2.13 percent had this disease but didn’t know it. Today, celiac disease affects one percent of the population in Western countries. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. Sufferers encounter trouble when eating foods containing gluten, found in wheat and other grains. The immune system attacks small, finger-like protrusions, called villi, lining the small intestine, causing inflammation and scarring of the intestinal wall. As the Gifford-Jones Law states, one problem leads to another. The villi in the small bowel become less effective in absorbing nutrients from food. Poor absorption of nutrients leads to problems for bones, muscles, and organs. Research has shown that people recently diagnosed with celiac disease are commonly deficient in fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, folate, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. If celiac disease is not treated, nutritional deficiencies can cause more problems, such as anemia, neuropathy (nerve disorder) causing pain, numbness, tingling in the extremities, and weakening of the bones (osteoporosis), along with fatigue. Classic symptoms are diarrhea, bloating, pain, and weight loss. But since these symptoms may not be severe enough to prompt attention, people may live with it for years before the progression of disease leads to the medical tests required for diagnosis. For example, a study published in Digestive and Liver Disease found that of more than 2,000 adults tested 52 to 74 years of age, two percent were diagnosed with celiac disease. Most of the people had mild or no symptoms. To diagnose celiac disease, physicians look for a family history of type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, or liver problems. Blood testing follows. It’s important the blood tests for celiac disease are done before trying a gluten-free diet. Eliminating gluten from the diet might make the blood test appear normal. A serological test looks for antibodies in the blood. Elevated levels of antibody proteins indicate an immune reaction to gluten. There is also a genetic test to rule out celiac disease. The challenge is that a genetic mutation causes the problem, but unlike some conditions in which positive genetic tests confirm disease, a positive result for a celiac suggests a small likelihood, not certainty, of disease. The next step is endoscopy. A small tube with a tiny camera is passed into the intestines and a biopsy is done to analyze damage to villi. There’s good news from Johns Hopkins University. Older people who have gone undiagnosed for years usually have a milder form of celiac disease. They therefore show less damage to the intestinal villi than those who encounter the disease earlier in life. Although new drug treatments are being explored, at the moment the only treatment is lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. This can be daunting as many foods contain gluten including pastas, breads, and baked goods. And it’s hard to avoid gluten when eating out. Dieticians will advise focusing on “whole” foods that are naturally gluten free, such as brown rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and lean meats. Monitoring vitamin absorption is key. After adopting a strict gluten-free diet, intestinal villi take about two years to heal. Most people notice symptoms dissipating and enjoy a new feeling of well-being. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter.

Red Flags to Watch Out for When Choosing an Employer

By Nick Kossovan We all create narratives based on what we think is important. We see what we want to see. Just because you're not looking at something doesn't mean it's not there. I'm telling you this, so you know as a job seeker I've been there. Job seekers desperate to get back on a payroll to pay their bills and stop using their savings tend to overlook red flags. With your fingers crossed that the ensuing employer/employee relationship will work out, they want an employer to make them an offer. Employers own their hiring process. They design their hiring process to ensure they hire the best person-the candidate that best serves their self-interest. Your self-interest is not the employer's concern-nor it should be-and therefore is on you to look after. Complaining how employers hire is futile and wasted energy. As a job seeker, you need to be diligent in determining whether a potential employer is right for you and your career. Before accepting a job offer vet the employer to make certain the opportunities and work environment is accurate and will serve "most of" your self-interests. You don't want to find out, after joining, that the company, your job, or your boss isn't a good fit for you. I've been there-not fun. Don't ignore red flags because you want to see an end to your job search. When assessing an employer, look for these red flags: 1. They're too eager to hire you. I'll admit more than once I was taken in by a hiring manager stroking my ego. ("You're just the person we need.", "You have much more experience than the candidates who've applied for this position-Thank you for applying.", "I can see you doing great things around here and moving up fast.") Gushing flattery feels good; however, it usually comes with an agenda, an agenda not always in your favour. There's a big difference between an employer pursuing you versus being too eager to hire you. Be wary of employers who move quickly through the hiring process. Depending on the position, expect at least three interviews (a video teleconferencing "get to know you" interview and two face-to-face interviews, one with the manager you'll be reporting to.) 2. The employer is always hiring. An employer having many job postings can mean they're in a growth phase; it can also mean they're having problems with retention. This may especially be true if the employer is reposting the same roles repeatedly. I always ask my interviewer what's their tenure with the company is. Then I ask what's the tenure of certain key people (Regional Managers, Directors, VPs, the President) and who's the most tenured in the department I'll be joining. 3. You're not comfortable with the work environment. From the moment you start the video call with the interviewer, when you visit the company, or meet employees you'll be working with, if something doesn't sit right with you-something seems off, you're getting a bad vibe-don't ignore your feeling. I believe in feeling negative energy just like I can feel positive energy. If the employees don't seem actively engaged, that's a telling sign. TIP: Since my career revolves around people management, I always ask to meet, ideally over coffee or lunch, with those who'll be reporting to me. A few times, I've been discouraged from doing so (e.g., "Their schedules varies, it'll be hard to arrange.", "Raj is off for the next two weeks, and we'd like to make you an offer today so you can start on the 21st.") and ended the interview then. Being discouraged from visiting what'll be your actual workplace, meeting your potential team members and reports, if applicable, is a huge red flag! 4. Unfavorable reviews. Your employer's reputation has a significant influence on your career. Go on Indeed, Glassdoor, MouthShut, or type in Google the company name and then "reviews." See what employees, current and ex, are saying about the company you're interviewing with. As well, check out the comments on the company's social media channels. I've gone as far as to look up on LinkedIn past employees and reach out to them. In several cases, I was glad I did. Don't dismiss negative reviews as disgruntled employees venting or trying to get back at their employer. As you conduct your job search, pay attention to your instincts-your gut feel. A gut check can save you from ending up in a terrible company or job. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Hey where are we going with this!

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. I remember when I lived in Europe. The government there was different. They gave you choices. Unfortunately the choices were all the same. So the only freedom you had was to choose.... the outcome was the same no matter what you picked. Is that freedom? Well my friends. I find that the same is starting to happen in Canada. God please don’t let it happen here to. Without choice we are nothing but a number in a roster of modern age slaves. Working for a minimal reward while our masters take home the big pay. In Canada I am seeing this type of mentality. Specially with this so called forced vaccination. Let’s make this wild assumption... Let’s assume that after a period of time... it is found that the vaccine even though helpful in the fight against COVID it operates as a catalyst for other existing medical conditions and people start dying right left and center. As is stands those receiving the vaccine can’t sue the manufacturers. Can’t sue the government. What would happen? Great Question. The government I am sure would get all defensive and give the usual line of vowing to get to the bottom line. They will turn to the manufacturers. The manufacturers would turn to their lawyers and accountants and go bankrupt. Then what? As it stands the World Health Organization is the governing voice acting on the word of United Nations to find a vaccine. In turn world government and related association and regulatory body are under immense pressure to find a solution. In turn. We the people are the victims of desperation and so called experts in taking shots in the dark until they find an answer. Now we are forced to take it or loose privileges and rights. This is wrong and harmful to society and freedom as we know it. I think that as a society we are venturing into dangerous, deep waters that will set a historical precedent like no other. I hope I am wrong.

BEFORE YOU BURN OUR FLAG WALK IN MY SHOES FOR A MILE

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” It has been a long 10 hour trip out to the middle of no place. The closer I get to my destiny the louder the gun fire and artillery shell sounds echo in my ear. With excitement and anticipation I await mile by mile as we reach our point of destination. Tired and under fed. I can hardly wait until this day is over and hopefully return to our bunkers for some sleep. As the truck suddenly stops. The order to move out is given and we fall in line one after the other to position. At first it looked like we were storming into a field. Cold and light rain made it difficult to advance. Suddenly we reach a barrier at the end of the field and one could clearly see the enemy about 40 yards away. My heart raced, my hands shake uncontrollably as my training has left my mind. All I can do is sit there behind this barrier afraid for my life. My mind races to my loved ones back home. To the thought of ‘’what am I doing here”. Only to hear the Sergeant yell. Move out. At first I did not think much of it as a quick prayer to the Lord got me up and running towards the enemy. As shells exploded all around me I lost my footing and ended up in the mud face first. My eyes burning, my equipment and riffle scattered. I tried to get up only to be told to take cover. Wet, scared and partially blind I took cover behind this wall. There was seemed to be one of my fellow soldiers. I asked him, “what do we do now”. As I pushed on him. I could tell he had been shot in the face. Blood gushed from what was left of the back of his head. As I look beyond in total fear. I see another fellow soldier attempt to climb over the wall only to be shot dead on the spot. Death was all around me. I closed my eyes temporarily and prayed for God to take me out of this hell I was facing. As I ended my prayer, something exploded near by and sent me flying once again into another puddle of mud. In that hole there were all kinds of dead soldiers missing all kinds of limbs. Sitting in this watery hole surrounded by death. I could not move. I was so afraid I defecated and urinated in my uniform. I remember what they told us in training. To not let fear get the best of our commitment to the fight for freedom. I volunteered to fight for my country but never in a million years could I be prepared for what I was facing. Complete chaos and death. I could barely hold my weapon as my hands shook so badly. I reached into my pocket and took one last look at my love’s picture and stood up yelling in fear towards the enemy. As I ran into the enemy trenches I came across a lone soldier there standing, I could see in his eyes the fear that I was experiencing only to be first at the shot that killed a man I never met. His lifeless body laid there as I could not bare the damage I had caused another human being... only to look down at his hand and realize he was also holding tight to the picture of the love he left behind. They say you become battle hardened with time... that may be true but you never forget the faces of those you killed. Strangers killing strangers in the name of a cause. In mine freedom and liberation. I volunteered to serve to assure future generation could live free and not have to be faced with the reality that stood before me. In the memory of all those around me that died protecting our rights and freedoms I proudly hold this flag up in memory of their sacrifices. No man or woman shall be so below in human standards as to question the loss of a life in the name of humanity, liberty for all men. This flag is our soul, our being the body of civilization. You burn it, stomp on it and God will deal with your soul as he has with that of our enemies.

This Remembrance Day with our flags at half mast, will be unlike any other and it is time for reflection and action…

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East COVID-19 has cast its influence on Remembrance Day Services for November 11, 2021 together with the residential schools' drama. Regardless of the regulations brought by public health officials and other politicians to prevent the spread of the virus and the issues connected to the indigenous children's unmarked graves, we must take the time to remember our veterans in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month just as we have done every other year before the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic and other politically correct issues. The alterations to this year's Remembrance Day are unhappy ones, yet safety regulations are important to follow as a fourth wave of the virus has appeared in different parts of Canada since the late summer and early fall. The limitations on gatherings, along with social distancing measures, have transformed important annual events across Canada, including the upcoming Remembrance Day. Regardless of the 2021 pandemic, Canadians shouldn't forget to show their respect for our veterans this year on November 11 as in times past, but public safety must be kept in mind too. Wear a poppy with pride. The remembrance must go on as it went on in 1918 despite the deadly Spanish flu which continued to inflict a devastating blow on a nation that had already faced the trials of war. Their endurance and sacrifices in face of the war and pandemic should be an example for our generation and generations to come, in preserving our national unity and identity. November 11th is a day to stand in silent reflection of so many other days that have come before it. It is a day that remembers those brave Canadians who consolidated our nation. At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, more than a century ago when the guns of the Great War at last fell silent, the fury of conflict was replaced by a deafening silence. After more than four years of this intense conflict of country against country, human being against human being, we were faced with all we had done, all we had lost and all we had sacrificed as a nation. Despite detractors and those who would rewrite history today, in an attempt to minimize this important event for our nation, Canadians will stand strong in defending the sacrifices of their ancestors for a better, free and strong Canada for centuries to come. We need to remember the wise words of Nobel peace prize laureate and holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel: "Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future." Remembrance Day isn't just about war and those we've lost. It is also about ideals and what we stand for. It's about respecting our past and looking hopefully forward, and more than anything, thanking those who have served our country, Canada, with pride and dedication. From the trenches of the First World War, to the Second World War and the Korean War, to the deserts of Afghanistan, years and generations have passed defending the beliefs and values that we as Canadians stand for. One hundred and three years ago, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the armistice between Britain, France, and Germany went into effect, bringing an end to the First World War. More than 625,000 Canadian men and women had served, 154,361 had been wounded and 61,082 had lost their lives-a full 10% of those who served our country, lost their lives for our freedom. The year 1918 and the end of the First World War-the origin of Remembrance Day-seem so very long ago in the context of many of our lives here today. But at the same time, the reality of war is only as far away as a veteran, a family member, friend or neighbour who has been touched by that war or those that have followed. Similarly, much of who and what we are as a nation, was defined by war. And so today, we take the time to reflect, remember and honour those who fought for our freedom in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, Peacekeeping operations and the recent war in Afghanistan. We also remember those who stayed in Canada, and served on home soil in supporting the war efforts. On this day we remember the brave members of our Canadian Armed Forces who left behind what they loved and lived for to carry out their job with purpose and pride. It's a feeling many of us will never have to experience. As husbands and wives, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and brothers and sisters, these brave citizens are certainly not faceless. They are friends and neighbours. They have dreams and goals. And they have plans for the future. That's why it's important that Remembrance Day has become such a significant part of Canadian culture and will continue to be. Over the course of November 11, communities across our great country will gather this time merely spiritually around cenotaphs and war memorials to honour our men and women in uniform and the sacrifices they have made and will continue to make for this great country. We are not celebrating war; we are celebrating freedom and nationhood thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us and future generations of Canadians. We pause to reflect on those who've, indeed, made the ultimate sacrifice. They put themselves on the line out of a sense of duty, to defend our freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Their unwavering bravery has made all Canadians proud. That these brave citizens would put themselves on the line to defend freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law is most honourable. We owe them a debt of gratitude the rest of us can never repay. Let us also remember in these difficult times the words of John F. Kennedy: " Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." The least we can do is to come together in spirit to show our respect during a moment of silence, to think of them, the risks they took, and their sacrifices. We'll forever remember, never forget. Lest we forget!

The Life Of A Double Agent

from Wayne & Tamara

Okay, I know what I’m about to say sounds bad, but I could really use a nonjudgmental opinion, so please be gentle on me. Here’s the deal: I’m 24 and have been married for a year to a great guy. Problem is, I am having an affair. This is not the first time I have cheated on him. I dated someone seriously while he was working overseas. I thought after we got married my infidelity would cease, but I recently met someone and it started all over again. I love my husband, but I just can’t help thinking if I really loved him, I wouldn’t do such things. The guy I am seeing is a lot like my husband: smart, handsome, ambitious, with a great sense of humor. He tells me he is falling in love with me. I have very strong feelings for him too, although I can’t quite put a label on them yet. My husband doesn’t know about the last affair, and of course he doesn’t know yet about this one. What is wrong with me? Why do I do such relationship-risking things? My husband and I do not have a bad marriage. We get along great and he loves me very much. Somehow, it just isn’t enough. I would sincerely appreciate your advice. I can’t talk to anyone I know about this so I’m turning to you. What should I do? Veronica Veronica, of course you can’t talk to anyone. You’re a double agent. Deception, schemes, subterfuge, and covert action are part of your daily life. No one knows who you really are. To be a successful double agent you can’t be loyal to anyone, not even yourself. How else could you live this life? It’s time to get out of the espionage business and find a country you can love and be loyal to. Your letter is not only a letter of resignation, but a request for help to make the transition to a better life. Two lies are holding you where you are. You say you and your husband don’t have a bad marriage, and you say your husband loves you very much. Your husband doesn’t know who you are. He loves who you pretend to be when you are with him, the lies you tell him, and the secrets you keep. He doesn’t know you married him with only a hope marriage would make you faithful. Without truth, trust, fidelity, and love there is no marriage. Marriage is for two people who bind themselves to each other, excluding all others, for the rest of their lives. How is this possible? Because each knows this is the person I am absolutely myself with, the person who puts all others out of mind. With the right person, you don’t lose yourself, you become fully yourself. With this person you can accomplish miracles. When you feel these feelings for another, when another has these feelings for you, that is love. That is the basis for marriage. Veronica, it doesn’t matter what your parents did, what your childhood was like, or what you are trying to reenact. You can’t change the past but you can let the past ruin your future. You know what you are doing is wrong, and no excuse will overcome that knowledge. This sense of what is right and what is wrong is your beginning. It is what will keep you from making the same mistake again and again. It is your ticket to a new life. To stop living this life of lies, you must take whatever comes from telling the truth. You cannot make excuses, minimize, or try to deflect any of what may come because of what you have done. It sounds like bitter medicine. But continuing the life you are leading now is far more painful. Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

The Ultimate Disease: Too Many Rats in a Cage

What catastrophic event could end all lives on this small planet? Some say nuclear war; others, another pandemic worse than the current one that’s caused over 700,000 deaths just in North America. Still others, the failure to tackle the problem of climate change. But here’s a surprise. The ultimate disease is a population time bomb that keeps ticking every second of the day – and we all ignore it. It took 123 years for the human population to grow from one to two billion people. Then, only 40 years to reach six billion, and now the population is 7.8 billion. This year, 82 million people will be added to an already packed planet. It’s like adding another city the size of Richmond Virginia, or Buffalo, New York, to our planet every day! Increased population is now causing huge health and migration problems. Recent years have seen enormous waves of refugees fleeing conflict in desperation using any means to get somewhere better. We’ve all seen the gut-wrenching images of flimsy boats in the Mediterranean, and now hundreds are attempting to cross the English Channel from France in the same manner. The U.S. southern border with Mexico offers more scenes of chaos. All need housing, food, and health care. In nature, if too many deer, wolves kill them. But humans have a different problem. Too many of us, and the threat arises of our own makings: poor quality air, water, land and sea. What is going on is frightening. Climate change is just the start. This year, the heat dome in western Canada caused 446 deaths in British Columbia. Floods in Europe and China ravaged entire villages. Massive fires destroy forests and choke the air with smoke. Polar bears can’t find the sea ice needed to keep alive. A seminal experiment years ago provided an important lesson about animal behaviour. Two rats were placed in a cage. They survived without hostility. But with the addition of another rat or two, the fighting began for space. Similarly, humans do not fare well in confined settings when resources are lacking. Conflict inevitably ensues, not peaceful rethinking and behaviour change. We have always been a waring species. Like too many rats in a cage, we turn on each other. So while you are reading about carbon taxes so complex they are impossible to understand, think about what’s causing the root problem. There will be more people on this planet. Projections suggest the global population will level out at 11 billion around the year 2100. That’s about 3 billion more people we need to accommodate. To do so, will we keep cutting down trees, demanding more energy, tossing more plastic in the sea? Very likely, yes. Some good people will do all they can to find solutions. But efforts to fix those problems will have little impact if we keep behaving like rats. We can all do some finger pointing. It’s easy to find somebody else who is making things worse. We can all disagree about solutions too. But we have got to get better, and quicky, at living together without conflict every time we don’t see eye to eye. Yet, we couldn’t do it where there were only 1 billion on the planet. We aren’t doing it now with 9 billion. Squeezing in 3 billion more, what’s our plan for getting along? We must take care of the planet. But we must also start taking better care of each other. Or are we going to be like rats in a cage? Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter.

Commenting on LinkedIn Will Get You Noticed

By Nick Kossovan If you're searching for a job, your priority needs to be having, and maintaining, an employer magnet LinkedIn profile. This includes, but isn't limited to, a current profile picture, a summary that compellingly tells your career story, plenty of quantified achievements (In business numbers are king.), uploaded projects, articles, and videos-anything that clearly demonstrates the skills, experience, and possible results you can bring to an employer. Your LinkedIn profile, which employers will read through to decide whether you're "interview worthy," needs to answer one question: Why should I take a risk hiring this person? Once you have a WOW! LinkedIn profile, your next step is to get employers, hiring managers, recruiters, human resources managers and executives to view your profile. Unless your profile is getting views, it's simply floating around on LinkedIn among the hundreds of millions of other profiles. The more views your profile receives, the greater the odds you'll receive reach outs regarding job opportunities. While there are several ways you can influence the number of views your profile receives, the easiest method is to comment on LinkedIn posts. Before you start commenting, you need to realize not all comments are created equal. You want your comments to stand out and create engagement with the comment's author and the other commentators. So, before hitting the "comment" button, consider the following: 1. Mention/Acknowledge the author. When commenting, the golden rule is to mention (reference or acknowledge) the post's author, to get their attention. To mention the author (or anyone on LinkedIn), type the '@' symbol (at sign) and begin typing the person's name, which will show in a dropdown box. Important to note: Just typing the author's name will not notify them they've been mentioned. When using the aforementioned method, the person's name will be bold, thus indicating they'll receive a LinkedIn notification you mentioned them. Example: "Nick Kossovan Depends on your position. Higher in the hierarchy? Don't do it!" You can also get the attention of other commentators by mentioning them, thus keeping the conversation going. Example: "I agree with this completely, Nick Kossovan. Many folks kept their communities afloat with volunteer work, which I know Jughead Jones, and Archie Andrews can attest to. They may not be getting paid for their efforts, but they're gaining and enhancing skills that can benefit employers." 2. Read the post. Comments such as "Great post!", "Thanks for sharing.", "I completely agree." and "You nailed it!" in no way shows you actually read the post, understood it or why you agreed/disagreed with it. Take two to five minutes to read the posts and give thoughtful feedback. Example: "Nick Kossovan, I understand what you're saying. From my experience, some employers are hiring based on who they know for jobs that pay at least $21 per hour. If employers were only hiring based on educational level and qualifications, I would have already gotten a job that pays at least $21 per hour at my educational level." Example: "Thanks for sharing, Nick Kossovan! Indeed, job seekers need to show who they are professionals in a way that sells their skills and abilities. You mentioning in business numbers are king resonated with me." 3. Ask a question. The most effective way to bond with someone is to ask them questions. Also, asking questions shows you're open to learning, which is a turn-on with employers. Is there anything you didn't understand, you would like to know more about, or you feel could be viewed from a different angle? Ask! Example: "Nick Kossovan How were you able to increase your call centre's customer satisfaction score from 72% to 94% in less than 8 months?" Choosing the best posts to comment on is critical-choose strategically. (e.g., posts by executives of companies you want to work for). Look for posts that have a high number of comments, and therefore popular. Commenting on popular posts increases the likelihood other commenters will read your comment and engage with it. TIP: Research who the thought leaders are in your profession and industry. Find them on LinkedIn and start building a relationship with them by commenting on their posts and comments by their followers. (Many of whom will be in a position to hire.) Make commenting on LinkedIn posts part of your job search and career management routine. Aim to comment on three posts in the morning and three in the evening, and you'll start seeing your profile receiving more profile views, which can do wonders for your job search. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

THANK YOU DURHAM REGIONAL POLICE SERVICES

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher “I live a dream in a nightmare world” I knew it was none of my business. But I thought I watch from afar. After all the bad press the police receive. I thought to see first hand police in action. Most of the international media tend to take particular incidents and blow them out of proportion. Sensationalize them in order to keep ratings up. Well on thursday October 28th 2021 at about 9pm or so. On Simcoe St. South. At the old BMO location. Three individuals laid on the entrance way of the empty building. I looked at these folk with a broken heart as any one of us could end up there. Maybe not today nor tomorrow. But if life was to get real hard. That is not a real possibility. Sure I can hear the inflated egos claiming. Never me. If I had a dime every time I hear that. Never me - will i get sick. Never me - will I loose my job. Never me - will social unrest drive me to no food or shelter. I can hear international Never me - in Syria when over taken by foreign forces. Never me - in Afghanistan as the Taliban take control. Never me - as one nation after the other keep falling to COVID. The point here. NEVER EVER SAY NEVER.... As I looked at these three individuals. One of them began shaking uncontrollable.... The other two did nothing to help. Just as I was about to pull out my cell. A Durham Regional police cruiser appeared. He stopped and got out of his car. He attempted to talk to the woman and two men. She seemed lifeless at times. The officer and you could see in his face that he was concerned. I truly believed that this officer cared for those people and carefully was analyzing the situation. Personally I think that the officer showed great character. The smells, the filth, the risk to his health. As the officer attempted to talk to this woman. She was obviously under the influence of some sort of drug. As the officer interacted. You could tell that he was flustered but kept his cool and tried to give as much assistance as possible. Even asking if she needed to go to the hospital. The woman refused. The officer stood there and kept an eye on things. I was overwhelmed at the patience and the professionalism of this officer. My thought kept running to all the negativity the police get. How their profession in many cases becomes politicized and used as a tool to spearhead budgets. People if anything the consideration of cutting police should never be part of the budgetary process. Look at all the U.S. cities that have cut back. Crime rates have gone through the roof. We need to treat our police like we do our professional athletes. Policing is not an easy job and one that is crucial to our civility. Cutting the police only means slower response times. Limited resources in a time when we need all hands on deck. The police can’t become pieces picker uppers. They can’t become after the fact collectors. I give praise to the officer in Oshawa and all police doing a very difficult job. It is not about doing a difficult job it is about the people respecting and appreciating a very difficult job that most would not qualify to do. We need to teach our children respect for authority and to appreciate the fact that police are human also. That if we all do our part we all end up having a great day.

Canada - the road ahead

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East With Fall upon us and a new federal government sworn-in in Ottawa, Canadians have been set up for the road ahead. With inflation at a record high and the pandemic still lingering in the background, are we all set to face winter with the usual winter blues? Let's take a look at the instruments of survival put in place for us by the newly elected government. It looks like we have a lot of new and inexperience people in ministerial portfolios. This is not the relevant news, however, because we should be used to unqualified people running ministries by now. The bad news is that people with a record of openly opposing Canada's resource based wealth are now in charge. This does not bode well for an optimistic future. Steven Guilbeault, who was one of Quebec's most prominent environmentalists before entering politics, is now in charge of Environment and Climate Change Canada. He can be expected to bring an unusually activist perspective to a ministry that, among other key responsibilities, will soon be tasked with making good on the Liberals' campaign promise to impose greenhouse gas emissions caps on the oil and gas sector. Jonathan Wilkinson, who has a history of more than 20 years of promoting green technologies, has been shifted to Natural Resources, the department primarily responsible for relations with fossil fuel producers. He is clearly being sent there to make changes in a department that has been relatively deferential in that relationship, and has slow-rolled the many components of the Liberals' climate agenda for which it is responsible. The Natural Resources shake-up, in particular, is a bold and probably necessary move if the government is to have much chance of meeting its new commitment to a 40-per-cent reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. And Mr. Guilbeault's new role in the Environment Portfolio will be well received at COP26, the two-week United Nations climate summit bash set to begin in Glasgow in just a few days. As a result, we can expect new and rapid increases in gas prices both at the pump and at home. But never mind, this government continues to print money. However, it occurred to me, that all this green financing might be a new way of recycling dirty money; this time generated by clean energy projects and climate change excuses. Just look at the facts and consider… A recent report commissioned by the United Kingdom (host of COP26 in Glasgow Scotland) and prepared by then Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson (our current Minister of Natural Resources) and his German counterpart, Jochen Flasbarth, documents the progress richer countries have made to date in financially supporting less affluent countries with climate change mitigation efforts. It notes that the 2009 goal to deliver $100 billion US a year in support by 2020 was almost certainly not met and more aggressive action is needed over the next half-decade to spur change. The $100 billion annual commitment was first made more than a decade ago at COP15 in Copenhagen, Denmark, based on the recognition that the developed world is largely responsible for producing climate change-causing emissions that have now disproportionately affected poorer countries. What developed nations are bringing to the table is not nothing: an OECD report in July estimated that the richest countries contributed $79.6 billion in 2019 to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in lower-income countries. And Wilkinson and Flasbarth's report estimates that the annual total will reach $100 billion in 2022 or 2023. But that's not what those countries promised in 2009 when they set the goal of reaching $100 billion in annual funding by 2020. Affluent nations obviously have the desire to help poorer countries mitigate climate change, while developing nations, are being asked to forgo some of the high-polluting activities (such as using coal for power generation) that helped developed nations get rich in the first place. So for the sake of fighting climate change and reducing global instability, the wealthiest nations have both a moral and a practical stake in the developing world's mitigation and adaptation efforts as many pundits contend. In November 2015, just three weeks after being sworn in as prime minister, Justin Trudeau went to Paris and announced a commitment of $2.65 billion over five years for developing nations. That promise still fell short of what some groups consider Canada's "fair share." But this past June, Trudeau announced that commitment would double to $5.3 billion over the next five years. The report also states that developed nations were far too optimistic about the role of private finance when they released a "roadmap" for reaching the $100 billion goal in 2016. At the time, it was suggested that private funds contributing to the cost of fighting climate change would account for $33 billion annually by 2020. However according to the OECD report, private sources only provided $14 billion in 2019. With all this money spent, mostly by the taxpayers of the developed world (including $5.3 billion by Canada) the question is, where did it all go and how was it spent? We have people howling for more money for climate change projects but it seems to me that no accountability exists. In this situation it might serve us to remember that Al Capone was also a great contributor to charities. As all these billions of dollars seem to be going down some bottomless pit, apparently without anyone knowing where, or how it is used, might it not be time for spenders to beware? Is the time not ripe to find an Environmental Eliot Ness who will identify the culprits and hold them to account? Best of luck.

from Wayne & Tamara Fish On A Stringer I need advice on how to get over a married man I have been seeing for six years. I fell deeply in love with him and he loves me, too. He is almost to the point of being obsessed with me. I am tired of the charade. If he loves me like he says, then I want him with me not with someone else. He comes up with all kinds of excuses why he is still with her… “Now is not the right time. I’m working on it. I have to be sure it will work with us. I’m getting older and don’t want to be left with nobody.” I want him to be here with me when things are going bad in my life. I want to spend holidays and vacations with him. I know I never will, but it hurts to lose him, so what am I to do? I can’t go through life like this. What if I don’t find anyone else, then spend the rest of my life alone? Cheryl Cheryl, the easiest way to get over something that is not good for you is to shine a true light on it. You have been looking at this man through the lens of your own want, needs, loneliness, and desire. When you see him in the right light, you’ll realize the object of your desire is anything but desirable. Who is this man? A guy who cheats on his wife and strings another woman along for six years, using the word “love” to trap her. If he loved you, he would want to make you his own and you wouldn’t be in this position. He is not obsessed with you. He is obsessed with himself and his own future. He is like a fisherman who has caught two fish—you and his wife—and is still fishing. He has both of you hung over the side of his boat on a stringer, controlling your lives. He doesn’t know who he will keep in the end—you, her, or someone else. All he knows for sure is that he is not going to end up in your position. For the last six years, you have been unavailable to available men because of a man who is himself unavailable. Your eyes have been closed to the possibilities around you. If you want to get married, if you want someone of your own, you need to look for someone who wants what you want. The hurt you feel is from investing six years in a man who never married you. The pain you feel is from finally acknowledging your mistake, the wasted time and energy, the feelings of being used because the next steps never occurred. Nothing good will happen for you until you trust that the happiness other people have found can be yours as well. You need to choose the uncertainty of the future over this known wrong. Not long ago we received a note from a woman in Oregon. She wrote: “People told me I was waiting for a fairy tale. So I lowered my standards and almost settled for something that wasn’t going to make me whole. I almost married the wrong man because I was lonely. I’m glad I listened to the warning signs and backed away.” About the man she eventually married, she said: “People at our wedding commented on how different it was. They felt the sincerity of genuine love in the air. Neither of us has ever felt so whole in our entire lives.” Cheryl, the way you get more in this life is by not settling for less. You have pinned your hopes on a liar and a cheater. He has kept you like a fish on a stringer. He doesn’t deserve another day of your time, or another moment of your trust. Get off his stringer and set yourself free. Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com