RUNNING ON EMPTY CAN’T RACE

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. This is a recent message released by the mayor of Oshawa in a desperate attempt to make it look like he is and has done something for the people of Oshawa. The release read: (in dark letters). Message from His Worship Mayor Dan Carter to Business Community Stakeholders, July 2022. As we enter the summer months in the great city of Oshawa, we’re seeing many residents and visitors exploring our community. Whether you’re seeking new parks, splash pads, cycling paths, walking trails, events or patios to spend time with friends and family, you will find many ways to enjoy the outdoors in our community. I would like to make the business community aware of great initiatives recently approved by Council and provide an update on events that have recently occurred. I believe these new programs and enhancements will have a positive and sustainable impact on our city. Does our Mayor know where our downtown is? “We’re seeing many residents and visitors exploring our community.” He claims. Where? People are staying away from Oshawa due to the problem with the homeless in our downtown. With the drugs and crime on our streets. You have to wonder in what dimension Carter lives in. Our parks!!! riddled with needles from his ‘Safe’ injection sites and free needle exchange program he allowed to operate downtown. Splash pads!!! yet Rotary pool sits closed. Really ‘Splash pads’... Then he goes to Cycling paths, where most of the homeless take refuge in make shift card boxes. Or in tents. People are afraid to ride their bikes in fear of being mugged. Could it be that Carter is talking about another municipality. Someone wake him up and tell him he is the Mayor of Oshawa for a little more time. Walking trails, come on... if you don’t dare ride a bike. Your going to walk it. Well, I guess the boys from Peterborough and Toronto probably would walk our trails as from police records prostitution is widely available. Carter continues in his release: Plan20Thirty Action Plan for Downtown Oshawa - Oshawa City Council has approved Plan20Thirty, a new downtown revitalization action plan. Plan20Thirty builds upon Oshawa’s previous downtown plan, Plan 20Twenty, and its successes to date, while addressing new challenges and opportunities. Plan20Thirty’s vision statement is: a lively and modern urban centre where all thrive. In other words 2030 plans more of what 2020 delivered. More homelessness, more crime, more drugs, more prostitution and higher taxes while the quality of life keeps slipping. Great forecast by Carter and his council. In other words nothing will change. Carter continues in his release: New Downtown Visual Brand Identity – DTO To better communicate the qualities that attract residents, businesses, students and visitors to our urban core, the City of Oshawa has developed a new visual brand identity for Downtown Oshawa: WHO SEES IT. HOW DO THEY MARKET IT? DTO. DTO represents the strength of the people who have built and continue to evolve Oshawa’s downtown core. The DTO shapes, inspired by the area's bold and iconic architecture, provide a flexible and adaptable canvas to showcase the creativity, innovation and humanity of our downtown. Talk about political BLAH BLAH BLAH. Can anyone translate to what that means? ‘Humanity of our downtown’....Carter wake up. People are sleeping in doorways. People are shooting drugs on our sidewalks. People die every night of overdose. He dare talks about humanity. Where is Carter’s conscious. Where are his moral value and commitment to the betterment of all citizens. The brand emphasizes photography of the people of downtown Oshawa – entrepreneurs, business leaders, residents, students, artists, and community-builders. Carter clearly has no clue where downtown Oshawa is on the map. It is like being in a sinking ship and the captain claiming we are not sinking. Look at the other end it is well out of the water and claiming we are on course. Is Carter for real? The brand is the product of a rigorous discovery phase and was developed with input from the voices and perspectives of those within and around downtown Oshawa. Like Downtown Oshawa, this brand is alive – always evolving and growing. We’re excited to share this brand with you; keep your eyes peeled in the coming months. Did he consult the this local paper that sits downtown Oshawa? The same paper that actually has been running a successful ‘SHOP LOCAL INGINO SHOP DOWNTOWN INITIATIVE’ since 2018. Did he consult all the downtown merchants. As a matter of fact did he consult any? When was the last time Carter has been seen visited any local merchant. Yet, he fills his mouth with a made up brand that is promoted no place with no one’s input. How is it he has yet to visit his local newspaper. He ends his pathetic attempt to make himself as if he has done something by bragging on how he wants to take credit for the downtown sidewalk cleaning program. A program that should have been implemented as a common sense project. He goes as far as attempt to take credit for ‘Convocation ceremonies’, a scheme design for him to use our tax dollars to campaign for the 2022 municipal election. More of the same. Is that what we want for Oshawa. By Carter’s own words. They did nothing in 2020. Now they are promising more nothing until 2030. Is this leadership? But wait. Be assure our taxes will keep going up to pay for their lack of vision or direction.WE NEED CHANGE IN 2022. I need your vote in order to bring Oshawa back to you. To stop the BLAH, BLAH politics.

My Side of the Hiring Desk

My Side of the Hiring Desk

There are two sides to every interview: Yours and the interviewer's. Here’s a pleasant truth: You and your interviewer have the same agenda: To determine if the job opportunity is right for you. Your interviewer isn't your enemy. They want to hire the right person. Job seekers never consider that their interviewer's hiring decisions are judged by their boss and their boss's boss, the team the new hire will join—essentially everyone at the company. I never want to hear: "Who hired Bob? He always comes in late, is rude, has yet to complete his assignments on time and has below-average Excel skills for a junior accountant. What was Nick thinking hiring Bob?" A hiring manager's ability to hire-their judgment skills-will be called into question if he or she makes "a few" bad hires. The same holds true if a recruiter presents unsuitable candidates to their client. It's good to be sympathetic to your interviewer's need to make a good hire; it'll help you bond with your interviewer. This is why there’s a great deal of vetting during the hiring process to minimize the possibility of hiring a liability. Your interviewer wants to know three things: 1. Can you do the job? 2. Will you like the job? 3. Will you be a good fit with the team and the company? I'm often asked how I hire. What do I look for in a candidate? I remind people there is no universal hiring process. I evaluate candidates differently than other hiring managers and vice versa. I know of candidates who weren't hired by me and went on to find a suitable employer. Truth: Human bias and gut feelings play a critical role in the hiring process, which is why a universal hiring method doesn't exist. Although you weren't hired by ABC employer, that doesn't mean that XYZ employer won't hire you. As there isn't a universal hiring method, there isn't a universal "must hire" employee either. Your interviewer doesn't owe you, a stranger, anything. Hence why networking, which many shy away from, and maintaining an extensive professional network is beneficial to your job search and career development; you become "familiar." We all gravitate towards what’s familiar. On the other hand, your interviewer is responsible to their employer, current employees and the business's customers. If you're speaking with a recruiter, they're accountable to their client. Your interviewer's objective is to judge whether you'll fit into the team, the culture (READ: Be accepted.) and contribute to the company/department's goals. With the above said, here's a holistic overview of how I evaluate a candidate, bearing in mind that I'm speaking for myself. (Remember, there's no universal hiring methodology.) • Above-average communication skills, both spoken and written, are a non-negotiable requirement. • I like—really like—candidates who have confidence in their abilities and are comfortable with themselves. • If you come across as having a sense of entitlement, our conversation will be short. • The more interest you show in the job and company, the more points you'll receive. Being interested is a powerful gesture. • If you seem burnt out or outdated (past your expiration date), I'll pass on you. Be relevant! • My focus isn't on your accomplishments or experience. My focus is on what you can do now and in the future for the company. • Show me you're listening. Refer to something I said earlier. "When you mentioned Genom Corporation was launching a new line of granola bars in mid-July to coincide with back-to-school sales, I was impressed with the strategic timing. You mentioned the company wants to capture 25% of Canada’s granola bar market by the end of 2023. How does the second half of 2022 look in terms of being on track to achieve this goal?" • Don't tell me what you want me to think of you. (e.g., "I'm a team player," "I'm detail-oriented," "I can sell.") Show me! Prove it! (e.g., "I'm part of a 20-person Inside Sales team. Daily I handle 60 - 80 calls. Last year I exceeded my quota of $1.5 million by $350,000.") • Your questions should demonstrate that you are evaluating the job opportunity, me, the company, and your fit. Connecting with their interviewer is a job seeker's foremost goal. Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Before you walk into an interview, ask yourself, What do I want my interviewer to feel about me? ______________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send Nick your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com.

Canada gas prices and inflation

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As we celebrated the 155th anniversary of the country still called Canada a lot of new, increasingly worrying trends are occurring in our country, led by a liberal government seemingly unaware or unconcerned about the meltdown of our economy. Soaring gas prices pushed the annual inflation rate in May to its highest level in nearly 40 years, as the rising cost of living increasingly squeezed Canadian household budgets and bolstered trepidations that the Bank of Canada will opt for a supersized interest rate hike soon. Credible sources say that the next interest rate hike, which is scheduled to take place on July 13, will involve an increase of 75 basis points. By the Fall, however, it should be clear whether or not the central bank's interest rate hikes have the desired effect on reducing inflation. If the annual inflation rate remains elevated, the bank will likely reconsider its target interest rate of between two and three per cent, and could aim for more aggressive interest rate hikes in the future. If interest rates increase quickly enough, they could very well result in an engineered recession. Statistics Canada reported last week that its consumer price index in May rose 7.7 per cent compared with a year ago, the fastest pace since January 1983 when it gained 8.2 per cent. That's up almost a percentage point from April's 6.8 per cent gain. The May reading came as energy prices rose 34.8 per cent compared with a year ago with gasoline prices up 48.0 per cent compared with a year ago. Excluding gasoline, the annual inflation rate in May rose to 6.3 per cent compared with 5.8 per cent in April. In the face of this staggeringly concerning data, the question is what the government is going to do to proactively deal with the galloping recession coming into full view. With the Prime Minister touring Europe on various summits and handing out tax payers' money left and right for causes far from the everyday worries of Canadians, for the moment it seems that the governing elite do not care about this very real threat. Bank of Canada senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers said last week that inflation is hurting Canadians and making things unaffordable. "We know inflation is keeping Canadians up at night, it's keeping us up at night, and we will not rest easy until we get it back to target," Rogers said at an event in Toronto. "We've been clear all along, the economy's in excess demand, inflation's too high, rates need to go up." Once again, an official is blatantly stating that interest rates must go high, not even considering that high interest rates are an equally big worry in the lives of everyday Canadians. It must be nice to live in the Ottawa bubble. In May, Statistics Canada said the price for food bought at stores rose 9.7 per cent compared with a year ago, matching the April increase, as the cost of nearly everything in the grocery cart increased by leaps and bounds. The cost of edible fats and oils gained 30.0 per cent compared with a year ago, its largest increase on record, mainly driven by the increased prices of cooking oils. Fresh vegetable prices rose 10.3 per cent. The cost of services in May also rose 5.2 per cent compared with a year ago, up from a gain of 4.6 per cent in April, as Canadians travelled and ate in restaurants more often. Prices for traveler accommodation gained 40.2 per cent compared with a year ago, while the price of food purchased from restaurants gained 6.8 per cent. It is clear by now that the energy crisis will be a major factor in increasing inflation on a worldwide scale, especially effecting the economies of countries who rely heavily on fossil fuels, but lack their own energy resources. So what does that say about the resource management of our country? Canada is a country rich in energy resources such as gas and oil, yet still imports oil from Saudi Arabia. One has to wonder why in a country like Canada, the population has to contend with such high prices at the pump. The answer is that we lack pipelines, have a narrow minded policy perpetuated by a government that wastes taxpayers' money on futuristic, pipe-dream projects. Justifications given in an attempt to explain high prices at the pump and inflation abound, especially those blaming everything that goes wrong on the war in Ukraine. But let's be clear. We need a real plan for helping our citizens face the upcoming economic challenge, and we need it soon. Is our government ready to face and cope with this challenge? I will let you to decide.

HOW MANY MUST DIE? BEFORE CARTER WAKES UP? CRIME - OVERDOSE DO YOU FEEL SAFE?

HOW MANY MUST DIE? BEFORE CARTER WAKES UP? C

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. Police report after report: ‘Firearm Seized During Traffic Stop in Oshawa.’ ‘Foot Patrol Officers in Oshawa Seize Cache of Weapons.’ ‘Firearm and Drugs Seized During Traffic Stop in Oshawa.’ ‘Police Looking for Male Wanted on Firearm Charges.’ ‘Charges Laid After Car Explosion in Oshawa.’ Firearms, firearms, firearms.... What has happened to Oshawa. Our taxes keep going up. We live in the highest property assessment values in Durham. Where are our taxes going? Surely the police services are a regional matter. But as a municipality that pays hefty amounts to the region for DRPS. We surely have a voice, why is it our mayor not using it. Well, sadly we have a voice but no direction. A voice with out direction can’t be heard. Our Mayor has sat for four years and has yet to work with Durham Regional Police to come up with a community based policing solution to the skyrocketing crime with weapons and drug related crime. We need a way to send a clear message to the criminal element in Oshawa. That Oshawa will not tolerate guns, drugs and prostitution. Not to mention the many that die every month on the streets of overdose. How is it that those numbers are not made public? People are getting killed by gun and knife violence. People are dying at a bigger rated due to drugs. Instead Carter blames the region the province.... anyone but take responsibility and do something. He has to go. Instead our mayor has allowed methadone clinics to open just about one every block. He has allowed for cannabis shops to open, one every ten feet. Do we really need 5 cannabis shops withing 1 miles of each other? Do we really need a needle exchange program in our downtown? Do we really need safe injection sites? Do we really need Simcoe St. United Church and The Back Door Mission in the downtown core. Attracting the homeless by the hundreds. We need to relocate The Back Door and the United Church services. By having these services in the downtown. Their client camp out on their property. or worst have them sleep on businesses doorways, alley ways and street. WHERE IS OUR MAYOR? WHERE IS OUR COUNCIL? We need to call for accountability. Our Mayor was quoted as stating that, “We are a lot better off than other municipalities.” or “that it is not his problem.” Well yes it is. 2022 is a very special year. It is the year for change. As it stand there are two of us in the race. Anyone else coming in the race will only split the vote and assure Carter another term. We need to do what is best for our city and lets make the right change.

Canada the NEW Reality

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As we celebrate the 155th anniversary of the country still called Canada a lot of new, increasingly limiting things are happening in our society, led by a liberal government savvy in exerting more and more control over us. Just days ago in a "remarkable" disclosure, Canada's national police force, the RCMP, described for the first time how it uses spyware to infiltrate mobile devices and collect data. Their methods include remotely turning on the camera and microphone of a suspect's phone or laptop. However, the RCMP quickly added that it only uses such tools in the most serious cases, when less intrusive techniques are unsuccessful. But until now, the force has not been open about its ability to employ malware to hack phones and other devices, despite having used the tools for several years. Maura Forest of POLITICO conducted an interesting investigation on this matter recently. In her article of June 29, 2022, she raised valuable points regarding privacy issues for ordinary citizens. She said that the police agency outlined the techniques used by its Covert Access and Intercept Team (CAIT) in a document introduced in the House of Commons last week. The RCMP provided the information in response to a question from a Conservative MP about what government programs gather data from Canadians. The team, which exists to intercept communication that can't be obtained using traditional wiretaps, uses "on-device investigative tools." The RCMP defines those as computer programs "installed on a targeted computing device that enables the collection of electronic evidence" - spyware, in other words. The RCMP can use spyware to collect a broad range of data, including text messages, email, photos, videos, audio files, calendar entries and financial records. The police can also gather "audio recordings of private communications and other sounds within range of the targeted device" and "photographic images of persons, places and activities viewable by the camera(s) built into the targeted device," the document says. These tools are only used, the force says, during serious criminal and national security investigations and always require authorization from a judge. In the document the RCMP also says it didn't consult the federal privacy commissioner before launching the CAIT program in 2016. However, it says the police force began drafting a privacy impact assessment in 2021 regarding CAIT activities, including the use of spyware, and plans to consult the privacy watchdog as part of that process. "RCMP's CAIT tools and techniques are not used to conduct mass surveillance," the document reads. "The use of ODITs [spyware] is always targeted and time-limited." A spokesperson for privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne confirmed that his office has not been notified about the CAIT program, and said the office will be following up with the RCMP. Government institutions are required to notify the privacy commissioner of "initiatives that may have an impact on the privacy of Canadians," the spokesperson said in an email. "The use of this type of technology raises important privacy considerations. We look forward to receiving a [privacy impact assessment] that describes when and how this technology will be used, and the measures the RCMP plans to take to ensure its use remains in compliance with the Privacy Act." As a way to protect the safety of our citizens and country, there may be justification for the police to use any tools they can, but the problem arises when under pressure from various levels of political power, deep state type, these tools can be misused for other, more sinister purposes of control. What I have said may only be speculation, but the latest controversy about the RCMP and liberal government pressure seems to confirm the fact that this danger exists in our current society. In news reported by the Canadian press on June 28, 2022 about a recently released, scathing letter from an RCMP communications manager, it says that RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki referred to direct pressure from the federal public safety minister Bill Blair to release firearm details in the days after the Nova Scotia mass shooting. The letter from Lia Scanlan dated April 14, 2021 - almost a year after the killing of 22 people - claims the RCMP's leader was focused on the Liberal government's agenda of passing firearms legislation when she criticized Halifax staff during an April 28, 2020 conference call. According to Scanlan, who was the strategic communications director at the time of the shootings, Lucki had come on-line, incensed that the Halifax staff hadn't released the gun details, suggesting they had let down surviving children whose parents were killed. Scanlan wrote that Lucki had informed those present during the meeting that she faced "pressures and conversation with Minister Blair, which we clearly understood was related to the upcoming passing of the gun legislation." Lucki told those present she had promised the federal Public Safety Department and the Prime Minister's Office that information on the guns used by the shooter would be released because it was "tied to pending gun control legislation." So with this said and the example of the federal government's Bill C-11 officially known as the Online Streaming Act, but probably more accurately described as the Internet Censorship Bill currently making its speedy way through the federal Parliament in Ottawa, we will be increasingly put under the watchful eye of the government. What you are allowed to see when you go online could soon be decided by the government. The Bill opens the door to regulating not just corporate media, but user-generated content too - everything from TikTok videos to podcasts, audiobooks and citizen journalism. The Bill gives authority to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to treat content creators as broadcasters and regulate user-generated content as a program. Governments rarely ignore their own sweeping powers - Emergencies Act, anyone? So even if you believe the *current* government when they say they definitely, totally, absolutely, won't ever use these new powers… do you trust that no *future* government will, either? Government control of what you see when you go online is an infringement on freedom of expression, as well as the free market. Canadians must be the sole deciders of what content they consume, not the government. In view of these examples we should get used to being watched by our big brother government and beware of false steps that can be costly to individuals in the future if things go ahead according to plan. Good luck and be safe! Happy summer.

Oogatz Customer Service

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. I am retired but still wake up every morning and work real hard. I try to contribute to society in any way I can. I love this great nation of ours. I love my city. But my heart aches when I look around me and see it deteriorating the way it is. Have you ever tried calling, Bell, Rogers or any major entity including banks? You get the usual automated voice machine. A machine that increased your blood pressure by a few points. First, to many choice. Second in some cases they are hard to underhand. They come at you to fast and my old brain can’t compute. Now you press the almighty zero. And you get some person with a heavy accent. They ask you a bunch of verification question to assure you the best customer service. BULL. Ok so I waste 10 minutes answering Rakishi’s questions only to be told I am in the wrong department. OH America, America. Only to be put on another que and wait another 20 minutes. What has ever happened to these big companies having the decency to hire people to answer the phones. I remember when I first came to Canada. Dialing zero and getting this very courteous operator. She was always very friendly and informative. She would talk to you for as long as you needed and she would enlighten you on many current event. Her main job it seemed was to serve the customer. I called Bell the other day. I got put out to some guy in INDIA. I knew it was going to be a bad day when he called me by the wrong syntax. Hallo Mr. Rosaldo. Hell, even I know that is wrong. Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Indians. But what is my personal information doing in India. Then he transferred me to some woman in the carib. I could hear chickens in the background. I asked her are those chickens. She apologized and said yes. Then I think out of embarrassment she once again transferred me. 36 minutes into the call and I just about forgot what I was calling them for. Oh yea. Cancel my service with them out of sheer frustration. What is happening in Canada. Don’t even get me started on my call to Rogers or my bank. We need to bring back the customer satisfaction. We need to bring back the customer first mentality. I feel like some of these companies treat us as cattle. Then again. I can tell that many of these people working in these call centers do not have the same social etiquette or principles we have in Canada. I want my Canada customer service back. Don’t you ? I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

3 Reasons You're Struggling in Your Job Search

3 Reasons You're Struggling in Your Job Search By Nick Kossovan I'll get right to it; the top 3 reasons why job seekers struggle with their job search are: 1. How you talk to yourself. The most important factor predicting success isn't your situation but what you tell yourself about it. Your mind never stops talking to you. Your internal dialogue (a.k.a. narratives) determines your actions, beliefs, values, and moods. If you tell yourself, "Hiring managers won't hire me because I'm overqualified and they think I won't stay long," you aren't getting to the actual "whys" of why you're not getting interviews. Instead, you're expressing the beliefs that absolve you from being responsible for your actions. It's easier to blame being overqualified than considering your LinkedIn profile, resume, interview skills, or lack of professional network as possible reasons why you're not getting hired. Say to yourself: "I have lots of qualifications and experience. It's just a matter of finding an employer who views my qualifications as an asset, not a liability. There's an employer out there who'll hire me!" Your mental narratives can inspire you or deplete you. A slight shift in your mindset can spark a cascade of changes so profound that you'll be speechless. As a job seeker, firmly believe, "What you believe, you'll achieve." 2. Your expectations. Having realistic expectations is the key to happiness. This is especially true when job hunting. Your expectations determine your attitude. You tend to have a positive attitude when your expectations are met or exceeded. The reverse is also true: You tend to have a less-than-stellar attitude when your expectations aren't being met. Often, I see job seekers attempting to duplicate their previous position, thus prolonging their job search. 15 years ago, you won the job search lottery. In your last job, you earned a base salary of $110K, plus an annual $20K bonus, full medical coverage, stock options, 3 weeks of paid vacation time, and 10 sick days. Unfortunately, you were downsized and therefore forced to move on. Due to my pragmatic nature, I assume your goal is to get back to work ASAP. You don't want to spend all your savings or go into deeper debt during your job search. The shorter your job search, the better; therefore, look for low-hanging fruits. $75K jobs are much easier to land than $110K jobs. (You don't need to keep a $75K job forever, right now, all you need is income.) Before beginning your job search, consider the compensation you require to cover your needs (not your wants). By eliminating or curtailing your "wants spending," you'll be able to live on much less. Ask yourself if maintaining the lifestyle you've created is stressing you out. Is the effort to hold on to your lifestyle worth it? Does your lifestyle make you happy or cause anxiety? Do the benefits of climbing the corporate ladder outweigh the mental fatigue caused by constantly navigating office politics and working long hours to appear like a "team player"? Can you imagine living a simpler lifestyle, thus needing less money, making you calmer and happier? A short as possible successful job search requires having realistic expectations-realizing there's fierce competition for the few "desirable jobs." 3. Not looking for your tribe. Here's my best job search advice: Don't look for a job; look for where you belong. Look for your tribe! I know an ex-midlevel marketing executive and avid golfer who worked for a large global consumer goods company. He was aiming to become the next regional vice president. Thus, he put up with the travelling, backstabbing office politics, and dealing with department heads who had agendas of their own. A shuffle in the leadership led to a new boss. Eight months later, at 49, he was shown the door. More than once, he told me that golf kept him sane. Today he manages a local Golf Town store, says he's happier, and his golf game has improved. Is he making as much money as he used to? No, but he's in a better place than before. Isn't that worth something? I've experienced working for "the money" versus working where "I belong." Working where I belong is much more satisfying and better for my well-being than working for money and being miserable. Consider what you're passionate about. Which values matter to you most? What skills do you enjoy using? Look for companies where you'll be a natural fit. Making finding where you belong a priority throughout your job search is the best compass you can use. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Tiger By The Tail

Tiger By The Tail I need help. The woman I am seeing is the most incredible person I have ever known. We get along wonderfully, love the same things, and the sex is indescribable. The problem is after orgasm I get very sick to my stomach. This has never happened to me before…ever! What's the deal? Ken Ken, a friend once told me about a dream he had. He was standing on a beach surf casting when he felt an enormous tug on his line. He jerked his rod back hard, and his catch flew over his head and landed behind him. When he turned to see what he caught, he saw he had a tiger by the tail. The tiger advanced on him, marching him into the sea. He woke in a sweat and instantly understood what the dream meant. He was having an affair with a married woman, and he needed to end it. Somewhere in your story is a tiger, though you omitted it from your letter. Is this woman married to someone else? Are you? Is she your student, or too young, or the child of a close friend? Is she your subordinate? What tiger has your stomach twisted in knots? When you answer that question, you will have our answer. Wayne All The Lonely People Hopefully you two can give me guidance. I am a 35-year-old woman living alone, never married. But that's not the problem. I feel like I don't know how to make friends. Okay, stop laughing. I was raised in a very lonely environment and had very, very few friends as a child. Now, as I have grown, I feel like I missed some lesson about how things go. And I feel particularly stupid asking for help. I am a massage therapist and have cursory friendships with a few clients. But nothing more ever develops. When I talk to the few people who know me well, they have no answers. They say, "You need to go out and make new friends!" But they don't have an answer when I ask, "How?" I admit I am shy, but I love to do all kinds of things and go out by myself often. I've gone to concerts, museums, gallery openings, and even into New York City just to wander around. I make small talk, but people just walk away. My breath does not smell, I bathe daily, I am attractive, I smile. I can't think of anything I do to make people turn around and go. But I must be doing something wrong. I just don't know what. I'm almost resorting to having my mother send me her worn-out old copy of "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Sheri Sheri, the easiest place to start is by going where you are wanted. There are a host of organizations and causes which need your help, places where you will be missed when you are not there. All that is asked of you is your time, your personality, and your willing heart. Some possibilities include teaching people to read, reading to the elderly, or joining a book club. Hospitals are usually desperate for volunteers, and every major disease has groups dedicated to finding a cure. There are environmental groups, food pantries, political parties, and community betterment groups. The list is almost endless. There are also good books on friendship, such as Val Walker’s “400 Friends and No One to Call.” One organization we recommend is Toastmasters International. They have clubs in more than 60 countries, and they are dedicated to helping their members improve their speaking and listening skills. At a Toastmaster meeting, everyone speaks. You need not be embarrassed by your problem. When Wayne's was in Toastmasters, he knew a career army officer who was a paratrooper. This man had no fear of jumping out of airplanes, but speaking to individuals and groups terrified him. Though personally, I can't understand why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Viruses Love a Weak Immune System

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones Justin Bieber, the mega-successful pop icon, has had better days. His mental health and addiction issues are common to many superstars. He’s had Lyme disease and infectious mononucleosis. COVID infections interrupted concert dates. Now, he is suffering from a viral disease that has affected his speech and made him cancel more concerts. At only 28-years of age and all the wealth one could want, what’s going wrong? Doctors have determined his latest problem, a condition known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome. It occurs when the same virus that causes chickenpox activates in the ear and facial nerves causing facial paralysis and hearing loss in the affected ear. He is being treated and will be back on the stage soon. But Ramsay Hunt syndrome is not the main culprit. It is the result of a weakened immune system that simply doesn’t have adequate store of resources to mount a successful fight against a virus. In Bieber’s case, the chickenpox virus has likely been living dormant in his nerves since childhood. Now that it has resurfaced in a painful and potentially damaging shingles outbreak, doctors are probably treating him with a combination of anti-viral drugs, corticosteroids, anti-anxiety medications, and pain relievers. How much better off would Bieber be, however, if the obvious risk factors were heeded prior to the development of the disease? At his age, he should be in the peak of good health. But his occupation and fame come with a lot of pressure. It’s no wonder, without sufficient care, his immune health falls down. Many North Americans had chicken pox in their youth. They ensure their children are immunized, and never think of it again. But when the virus comes out of hiding in the spine where it’s been hibernating like a bear for years, a shingles outbreak never leaves any doubt that something is happening. Victims usually detect a rash occurring along the rib cage. The degree of pain varies from person to person. The majority of patients suffering from shingles often say, “I can’t even stand the light pressure of clothing touching the skin.” It also depends on where shingles strike. Shingles in the eye, for example, can be very serious – not just in terms of the debilitating pain, but also potential lasting vision impairment. The best defence is a peppy immune response when the nasty virus surfaces. That pep comes from ample supply of the ingredients the immune system needs to fight viral infections. What are the most important of these? Always remember, vitamin C is more than a vitamin. It’s also an antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant. During infections, or trauma such as surgery, when the body is under significant stress, vitamin C levels in the blood can be reduced by as much as 90 per cent! Vitamin C can help prevent infections, shorten the stay, and ease the severity of symptoms. Likewise, vitamins E, A and D are essential. A balanced diet should include these vitamins and other key minerals like iron and zinc. In addition, exercise regularly. Drink plenty of water. Get good sleep on a regular basis. And minimize stress. In Bieber’s case, it’s doubtful he can achieve the prescribed balance. All the more reason he should be bulking up on the easier ingredients, like high doses of vitamin C, and the sooner the better. Fortunately, most cases of Ramsay Hunt syndrome have a good outcome. But the stakes are high for a superstar. More focus on prevention could mean the difference between decades of artistry or a tragically early end to a career. 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

Canada Day 2022

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East This year is the 155th anniversary of a country still called Canada. Mired by the dark shadows of history and the aftershocks of Covid-19 pandemic we need to remember that we are still Canadians and be proud of it. As we reflect on past events from the beginning of the year, we hope that this year Canada Day will finally bring the nation a glimmer of hope and a better half for the remainder of 2022. Let's take a moment to consider the incredible contributions made by Canadians throughout our history. Their efforts have helped to make the country what it is today; a country of vibrant cities and strong rural communities. Canada is a place where cultural freedom still flourishes, and Canadians from all backgrounds are still free to express themselves and help our country prosper despite recent tendencies to deny that. Successive waves of immigrants from France, Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries together with Indigenous people have helped to forge our nation's unique character. Through their efforts, our communities have become a distinct part of the Canadian identity which we need to preserve rather than deny. We should honour this legacy while we also recognize that we can do better in the future. Let's be proud of our combined anglophone and francophone heritage and seek a strong and constructive cooperation with our Indigenous people for a better Canada. Canada was not born of bloody conflict. It emerged from a lengthy process of brainstorming about practical matters, of negotiations, proposals, and legislative ratifications. On July 1, 1867, the Confederation of four Canadian provinces created our country and with the inclusion of Lower Canada - now Quebec - it ensured from the outset that Canada would be a blend of two nations, two cultures and two languages. The acceptance of both civil and common law systems is a factor that still makes Canada a helpful player on the international scene. And from the outset, religious tolerance was Canada's only option. The enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which confederated Canada, was celebrated on July 1, 1867, with the ringing of the bells at the Cathedral Church of St. James in Toronto and "bonfires, fireworks and illuminations, excursions, military displays and musical and other entertainments", as described in contemporary accounts. On June 20 of the following year, Governor General the Viscount Monck issued a royal proclamation asking for Canadians to celebrate the anniversary of Confederation. However, the holiday was not established statutorily until May 15, 1879, when it was designated as Dominion Day, alluding to the reference in the British North America Act to the country as a dominion. The holiday was initially not dominant in the national calendar; any celebrations were mounted by local communities and the Governor General hosted a party at Rideau Hall. No larger celebrations were held until 1917 and then none again for a further decade-the gold and diamond anniversaries of Confederation, respectively. Canada's centennial in 1967 is often seen as an important milestone in the history of Canadian nationalism and in Canada's maturing as a distinct, independent country, after which Dominion Day became more popular with average Canadians. Some Canadians were, by the early 1980s, informally referring to the holiday as Canada Day, a practice that caused some controversy. However, with the granting of Royal Assent, the holiday's name was officially changed to Canada Day on October 27, 1982. Canada Day coincides with Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador, with memorials typically held in the morning of July 1. As the anniversary of Confederation, Dominion Day, and later Canada Day, was the date set to commemorate a number of important events. It was the first national radio network hookup by the Canadian National Railway (1927). It was the inauguration of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's cross-country television broadcast, with Governor General Vincent Massey's Dominion Day speech from Parliament Hill (1958) and the flooding of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (1958); It was the first colour television transmission in Canada (1966); the inauguration of the Order of Canada (1967); and the establishment of "O Canada" as the country's national anthem (1980). Other events fell on the same day coincidentally, such as the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, shortly after which Newfoundland recognized July 1 as Memorial Day to commemorate the Newfoundland Regiment's heavy losses during the battle. .Our nation is facing great challenges today, as never before. These include the economic hardship and skyrocketing inflation, the issues related to a new conflagration in Europe, high unemployment and social unrest. Let us again show that we support each other. This community spirit is one of the most admirable characteristics of being Canadian. On July the 1st let's celebrate our country's achievements and use them, not our failings, as a foundation to build a better and a brighter future together. Let's celebrate our unity and our treasured country. Happy enlightened Canada Day!

Getting the Salary You Want Is Your Responsibility

By Nick Kossovan The number of people who accept a job and then complain about the pay afterwards amazes me. Didn't they know the salary before accepting the job? While money isn't everything, feeling you're getting paid fairly for your work is vital to your self-esteem and overall well-being. Getting the salary you want is your responsibility. Speaking of getting the salary you want, you probably hear all the "entitlement talk" about getting paid what you're worth, which is highly subjective. The "get paid what you're worth" movement causes many people to overestimate their worth to employers. Finding a job that offers the compensation, benefits and perks you desire starts with showing your value to employers. The passive (READ: lazy) attitude of, "I need more money, so I should be paid more," is common. The onus is on the job seeker to show their value. Before embarking on your job search journey: - Critically assess your skills and experience. (create a list) - Brainstorm how you'll show employers your track record of adding value to employers. - Research salaries in your job market. - Establish a realistic target starting salary, along with benefits you want. - Envision how you'll present yourself (e.g., resume, LinkedIn profile, interviews), so you're answering the question: Why are your skills and experience worth paying for? Career success begins with self-awareness. Being self-aware during your job search is crucial to accepting your weaknesses and evangelizing your strengths. Hence, you'll gravitate toward jobs that capitalize on your strengths employers are willing to pay for. (Employers don't pay for weaknesses.) As well, firmly knowing your strengths will empower you to convincingly explain (READ: sell) why your skills are worth paying for. On the other hand, knowing your weaknesses will help you determine what weaknesses hinder your career so you can work on overcoming them. Keep a work journal. 20 years ago, I started keeping a work diary, which has proved invaluable. I highly recommend you do the same. When you're preparing for an interview or want to ask for a raise, you'll be thankful you're keeping a work diary. Before leaving for the day, note your day's accomplishments, results you achieved, conversations you had, challenges you overcame, milestones you reached, new skills you acquired, fires you put out, etc. Your work diary will be invaluable when preparing for interviews, especially when it comes to providing examples of your achievements and creating STAR stories. Additionally, your journal will be your best friend when you ask for a raise since you'll have many reasons why you deserve one. Whether you're negotiating a starting salary or asking for a raise, you need to build a case. Your work diary will provide the evidence (e.g., process improvements, revenue generated, monetary or time savings) you need and may have forgotten. TIP: When talking about your accomplishments and results, use numbers to convey your value. NO (responsibility statement): "I inputted customer orders." YES (accomplishment statement): "I inputted no fewer than 60 customer orders per day, with an accuracy rate of 99.5%." The achievement statements demonstrate how candidates deliver value to their employers, value that's worth paying for. Establish firm boundaries. When you set non-negotiable boundaries regarding compensation, benefits, vacation and sick days, and working hours, you're in control of your job search and career. I've lost count of how many interviews I've ended because a box on my non-negotiable list-I have 20 boxes-wasn't being checked off. I don't want to be one of those employees I mentioned earlier who accept a job and then complain that they're underpaid. Getting the salary you deserve requires you showing your interviewer how your knowledge, skills, experience and abilities will benefit the company and-this is critical-not settling for anything less than the salary you want. It seems logical that if you only take jobs where you'll be paid what you feel you're worth, you'll always be paid what you feel you're worth. Never hesitate to say no to a job opportunity. If an employer or job doesn't feel right or ticks off all our "wants," walk away! When you walk away, you free yourself to continue looking for the job and employer that's right for you. Employers understand money. Next time you interview, demonstrate how you made money for your previous employers or saved them money. This is how you create value for your services. (As an employee, you're providing a service to your employer.) The more value your services provide, the more money you can ask for your services. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

LIE AFTER LIE YOU CAN’T BLAME THE MAN

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. Lie after lie. You can’t blame the man. Blame those that believe his lies. This seems to stand true with the many statement and attributes our current Mayor Dan Carter keeps putting out in hope for re-election. As recent interview he was quoted, “ I'm really proud that we went from the plant being closed, to us seeing over $1.5 billion invested and three shifts at 2,600 people back to work. That was a huge accomplishment.” he attempted to take credit for GM tossing a token back to Oshawa. What he fails to tell you that these 2,600. jobs are primarily at a minimum wage. Carter continues: ‘One of the biggest part of the story out of this is, over 50 per cent of the assembly line workers are females. And that is a huge cultural change. It's a huge statement in regard to the diversity.” Carter is so delusional that he attempts to hide behind diversity when in reality he is exposing GM for treating women as second class citizens and forcing them to work for minimum wage. This is diversity? GM knows that if they stop producing cars in Oshawa. All the land they sit on defaults back to Oshawa. Many people do not know that. But those lands GM sits on were awarded by Col Sam McLaughlin to GM for a dollar as long as GM produced cars. If GM ever stopped. Those lands were to be defaulted to the City. GM has played this game of a big announcement only to turn face a few months later with a song and dance for not living through the deal. Carter had nothing to do with this as they are playing him a fool. Much like the smoke and mirror facade he has presented for the past three years. Like they say proof is in the pudding. Our property taxes have gone up 12% over three years and our quality of life has drop to an all time low. You can’t claim gains when the losses are obvious. You can’t hide behind statistics when the reality of the poverty in Oshawa hits you in the face every time you drive downtown. Look around our neighborhoods. The quality of life has deteriorated. Folks are neglecting their property out of sheer lack of finance. We need to put money back in our citizens pockets by freezing all tax increases for the next four years. It many not be a lot. But something is better than nothing and during these times of hardship a little means a lot. Together we an work towards bringing Oshawa to the world stage. This will be a win, win for all of us. Good jobs, good developments and prosperity. Wake up Oshawa. Now is the time to make the right change. Let’s stop expecting results when our city is being operated like an institution and not a corporation. We have a Mayor that has shown to lack the understanding the intellect and experience to bring success to our city. Like the say the proof is in the pudding not on some statistics that do not reflect reality.

Canada's summer

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As we approach the most coveted Canadian summer, a time for us to relax and recharge our batteries, the liberal government is easing their control on us, by removing, albeit reluctantly, some of the Covid-19 generated restrictions. As of June 20th Canada has dropped the vaccine mandate for domestic and outbound international travel so that all Canadians are now able to enjoy their constitutional right to travel. However, all re-entry requirements will remain in effect, and all passengers will continue to have to wear face masks. The recent government change of heart will allow unvaccinated Canadians to board planes and trains heading to either domestic or international locations, but they will still be required to follow the current testing and quarantine requirements upon re-entry from international destinations. Foreign nationals coming to Canada will still be required to be vaccinated in order to enter, though they would be able to depart the country if unvaccinated. Not allowing unvaccinated foreign nationals to leave Canada was a breach of international law anyway, tantamount to holding foreign national hostages in Canada. Implementing these kinds of faux pas legislation reveals the status of competency of our current government, particularly highlighting the expertise at global affairs. As a control measure over the whereabouts of Canadian citizens, the requirement to use the ArriveCAN app to show proof of vaccination upon arrival to avoid a federal quarantine, will continue. On taking the floor for the latest liberal government stand on vaccine mandates, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, Treasury Board President Mona Fortier, and Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos made the announcement last week, alongside major updates to Canada's vaccine mandates for transportation workers, and federal employees. In revealing the updated policies, the government says the mandates have been effective through the thick of the pandemic, but were never meant to be permanent. Though, should case counts climb again, federal officials say they won't hesitate to reinstate any suspended COVID-19 travel restrictions. So beware of the monkey virus!!!!! "The decision today is not based on something that we woke up yesterday or this morning, and decided to do. We've done our homework… What got us [to] today was a period of discussions, of consultations, of looking at the big picture, of preparing ourselves for a potential wave in the fall, but [also] the current situation today. It's clear that the COVID situation is not the same now as it was last fall when we implemented the vaccine mandate." said Minister of Transportation Alghabra. So maybe he finally needs to wake up to the reality of the word around us. In recent months, pressure has been mounting for the government to lift the travel vaccination requirements from opposition politicians and the travel industry, citing the significant strains and delays at Canadian airports, as well as the easing provincial public health rules. The Liberals have defended the mandates, repeatedly referring to the need to follow the science and advice of public health officials. But the science seems to be more and more fictitious; more akin to political science than natural science. The liberal ministers said that the federal government's "top priority" remains keeping Canadians safe, and that this decision is not related to easing the strain at Canadian airports, which they attribute to "staffing shortages." Great political excuse! Rather, the ministers cited the virus' evolution, the current epidemiological and modelling projections, and the high vaccination rate in Canada as key factors in lifting the mandates now. All the excuses sound good, and more importantly, they're all politically correct. Anyway, this small step towards regaining our freedom, especially the freedom of movement, is positive. However, the policy change will likely prompt even more of an influx of travellers to descend on Canadian airports. Reacting to the news, the National Airlines Council of Canada-which represents Canada's largest carriers, including Air Canada and WestJet-said it views the move as a "major milestone for the aviation sector, the tourism industry, and for Canadian travellers," but said it is not enough to resolve the problems at airports. The Council is calling for immediate changes to ArriveCAN to eliminate duplicative health checks, end the mandate for inbound international travellers, and a commitment to make permanent the recent suspensions of mandates and random testing. "The government's decision to suspend the national vaccine mandate for air travel and transportation employees is a positive step, one that will simplify many aspects of travel and bring Canada closer to the emerging standard currently in place around the world. Airlines will work diligently to implement these changes," said the Council's interim president and CEO Suzanne Acton-Gervais in a statement. In conclusion, enjoy the upcoming summer. Big Brother seems to be relaxing too, and maybe even travelling.

HA WE GOT YOU BELL ENOUGH IS ENOUGH STOP THE RIP OFF

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. We the people have won . For those that read my last week column. I called out BELL CANADA on their business practices. This week this news items came out on Wednesday June 15, 2022. CRTC imposes $7.5 million in penalties on Bell Canada for violations of Canada's Telecommunications Act OTTAWA, ON and GATINEAU, QC, June 15, 2022 /CNW/ - Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Today, the CRTC announced that it has imposed a total of $7.5 million in penalties on Bell Canada for three violations of the Telecommunications Act. The CRTC found that Bell Canada denied permit applications for access to its telephone poles from Videotron, its main competitor in Quebec. As a result, Videotron was not able to access Bell Canada's poles, which delayed its network deployment and created a competitive advantage for Bell Canada. The CRTC's decision issued today sets the penalties for these three violations of the Telecommunications Act at $2.5 million each. Ha, a that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind as it was noted when we first moon landing. Mind you $7.5 million to BELL is like issuing a parking ticket. A minor nuisance to a company that makes billions a day. What is happening to corporations. Starting to look like a monopoly game. Take a hit here and there as long as the goose that lays the golden eggs keeps producing. Rogers, Enbridge, Hydro One are no better. I feel for our youth in Canada. They are slowly being turned into modern day slaves. From the so called “convenience’ charges and services to the ridiculous automated answering machines that only facilitate the corporation masqueraded as in the best interest of the consumer. Come on people. When I call I want a real person to answer. One that can be clearly understood and in English please. To think now the tech world is talking about introducing Artificial Intelligence. Boy are we going to be screwed.... What do you think am I crazy? I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

Why Is It Difficult to Get Hired During the Supposed 'Great Resignation'?

By Nick Kossovan The media is selling the narrative that a "Great Resignation" is taking place. However, many job seekers are having difficulty getting hired. Here are a few reasons why. COVID caused significant economic damage. Yes, pandemic restrictions are being lifted, and, for better or worse, we're moving back to our 1st world lifestyle. However, the pandemic isn't officially over, and nobody knows when it will be. Small businesses, those that survived, have been severely damaged by COVID, leaving many in a precarious position. According to the latest Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) Small Business Recovery Dashboard, only 40% of businesses have returned to normal sales. Many employers are struggling and therefore can't afford to backfill vacancies. Instead, they're increasing the workload of their existing employees and/or cutting back business hours. Layoffs are happening. The number of layoffs since the start of the year has been alarming. Some of the layoffs that made headlines: - Netflix (150 employees) - Canopy Growth (250 employees) - Noom (495 employees) - Zillow (2,300 employees) - Carvana (2,500 employees) - Peloton (over 2,800 employees) - Better.com ( approx. 4,000 employees) The hot job market is cooling down. This post-pandemic reset, caused by employers having overhired, a bear market, business growth slowing (With inflation hovering around 8%, consumers are spending less.), and higher labour costs, feels like a reckoning. The "Great Resignation" is morphing into the "Great Termination." There's talk of a looming recession. "We will get a major recession." - Deutsche Bank Economists, in a report to clients on April 26 Employers, who, for the most part, are risk-averse, become nervous just hearing of a possible recession. Fear causes employers to slow, if not freeze, their hiring. There is intense competition for desirable jobs. It's raining resumes, especially for desirable jobs at desirable employers. The jobs people quit, they quit for a reason-poor working conditions, low pay, and bad management. These are the jobs that are going unfilled. My neighbourhood bar & grill has yet to open despite the lifting of pandemic restrictions months ago because they can't find staff. Finding a job isn't difficult if you view work as a means to an end-you're just looking for a paycheque. However, most job seekers are searching for jobs that offer fair compensation (extremely subjective), comprehensive benefits, the flexibility to work where and when they want to, and a manager who'll take an interest in cultivating, developing, and growing their skillset. Finding a job that ticks off all your "wants" and "nice to haves" is difficult even in the best of times. If you're having trouble finding a job, re-evaluate which of your criteria are non-negotiable and which you can be flexible on. You may have to admit that you lack the required skills, experience, or connections (Knowing the right people opens doors.) to land your dream job at your employer of choice and need to work on acquiring them. Employers aren't in a rush to fill vacancies.Despite media reports of a labour shortage, employers are being selective when hiring, perhaps even more so in the current uncertain economic climate. As I've mentioned in previous columns: Employers own their hiring processes. (and the results of) Just because how an employer hires doesn't serve the job seeker's self-interest doesn't mean it doesn't serve the employer's. Onboarding a new employee is a lengthy, costly process, fraught with risks, especially with the current unstable economy. A bad hire can quickly become a liability. Businesses are operating with fewer employees. You've seen this: A colleague leaves and the work continues to get done! Want to gauge your value to your employer? Ask yourself this uncomfortable question: What would happen to my employer if I left tomorrow? I've yet to meet an employee who can answer: My employer will go out of business. Employers have many options for running their business with less employees: AI, robotics, self-checkout, automation, using contractors/freelancers, and outsourcing, to name a few. Furthermore, companies are restructuring responsibilities and redistributing work instead of backfilling. Bottom line: There aren't many "great jobs" out there, and the number is declining; therefore, it's a tough job market for "great jobs." Don't let all the Great Resignation talk lull you into believing employers, especially those everyone wants to work for, are begging for employees. Your job search still requires your A-game, which means: - Have clearly defined career objectives. - Make networking a habit. - Optimize your LinkedIn profile. - Communicate your achievements over your responsibilities. (Use numbers to show how you provided value to your employers.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

‘The Hearing’ nothing short of Democratic hypocrisy

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” hypocrisy by definition: 1. the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case. It is important to start with a clear dictionary definition as not to seem bias in the following opinion. By now most of us have had a peek at the so called ‘January 6th Hearing’. A process to determine facts that by their own claims is supposed to be bipartisan. It is a clan of hypocrites on an attack. By definition ‘BIPARTISAN’: 1. involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies. Now for anyone that has watched the first and second round of this so called ‘Hearing’ can attest to the fact that there is nothing bipartisan about it. It appears as a one side bashing. From the opening words. It was an all out assault on former president Donald Trump. A president that has taken more abuse in the media than any other president in the history of the United States. Yet, this horrible individual, womanizer, tax evader and now the hearing attempting to make him out a terrorist managed to bring our gas prices to a historical low. Managed to put an end to terrorism in the middle East. Managed to create jobs for Americans and finally put the Arab oil producing nations in their place.... by deflating their price for crude. As I listen to the hearing. I can’t help to hear the envy, the anger, the hidden agenda by those in the committee. What was supposed to be bipartisan fair and fact finding. Has become nothing but a school yard name calling, finger pointing, feet stomping exercise. We are showing the world that we can’t lead. That our political integrity has been compromised by our own ignorance. America like most other empires in history is about to fall. We in history classes always wondered what ever happened to the AZTEC for example. All of a sudden a once mighty civilization gone. Could it be that they also reached a point in their greatness and became so greedy that stupidity, arrogance caused their extinction? We never listen to history. If anything we attempt to erase it and reconcile something that can’t as content and context at that time can never be brought back or changed. This hearing is an insult to democracy and the people’s right to demonstrate as prescribed in the constitution. Stop looking for blame and look for reason, logic.

THE FLEA MARKET GREAT SUCCESS

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. I like to begin this column by thanking all the citizens that took time to come down to the Oshawa Flea Market this weekend to meet with me. I also like to thank the many that stopped by and asked questions. Raised concerns and expressed their disapointments over our current municipal government. Many expressed what a good idea it was for someone like myself to take the time to actually sit and listen to their concerns. Many pledged to support my campaign by either volunteering or financially. We in Oshawa have the nicest people. Many would stand and look at me from afar first.... Then they would pick the right moment to approach me and tell me... that they normally do not like to complain or talk about people. They have had enough. Many seniors expressed concern over the 11% tax increase over four years. Not to mention the skyrocketing sub tax we pay in Durham to the region in the form of a water bill and sewer. Others felt the need to express their concerns over public safety. Seniors are not feeling safe walking our streets. Specially our downtown core. One couple thanked me for taking my time and coming out to the flea market to meet citizens. They express their concern over how they have called city hall. Many times their council member and they never received a call back. This in my book is so wrong. I if with your help blessed to be elected. I will take one day a month. This day will be an open door to city hall and council. The purpose will be to hear anyone and everyone that has a concern or just something to say. I as lead of council will want to hear ideas and opinion on how to make our city a better place to live. I want people to feel as they belong and as they have a voice in Oshawa’s future. The Oshawa Flea Market is a great place for people to come together and experience the open market concept. A place where you can still negotiate a price. Where you can pick up one of a kind type of item. A true community place creating a great place for commerce to thrive. I plan on being at the flea market until election day. I plan on meeting as many people as I can and express the word that ‘HOPE FOR OSHAWA IS COMING”. That a vote for INGINO will not be a wasted vote but one of unity of all people for the betterment of all our lives. A vote to improve the quality of life so that we may thrive. A vote for prosperity and development that will put Oshawa on the global stage. A vote that you can benefit from directly by having access to make a real impact on the future of our home city of Oshawa. Look forward to meeting with you at the flea market. Or if you like just come down to our offices and bring your opinions, ideas and thought. I CARE. I WILL LISTEN.

D-Day anniversary 2022

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As in Canada we are at war with high inflation, uncertain economic times and international tension due to the continuing war in Ukraine, we need to remember as never before and reflect on the sacrifices that our forefathers have made for us. They should not have fought in vain to secure our freedom, to keep democracy alive in our country, to maintain the rule of law and the comfortable standard of living that we enjoy today. It is time to cherish their memory. To ensure that their efforts to win over the evils of fascism were not in vain and that, particularly during this new dark period that threatens our very existence, we keep up our courage and stand up against our adversaries as our forefathers have done. We are currently facing a crucial time in our history in fighting the evil of an unknown upcoming new world order and related societal malaises. In combination, the consequences of the past pandemic and social dysfunction are similar to fighting a new kind of world war with worldwide consequences and yet unforeseen effects on Canadians. On the 6th of June we marked the seventy-eight anniversary of D-Day, the beginning of the Battle of Normandy, along a 100 km stretch of French coastline across the English Channel from Great Britain. This was the largest seaborne invasion in history and a crucial day in winning the war against evil; Nazi Germany. The assault on the beaches of Normandy by British, American, and Canadian troops on the 6th of June 1944, who would then fight their way across Europe, has gone down in history as a memorable event. The codenames of where the troops landed - Omaha and Utah for the Americans, Gold and Sword for the British, and Juno for the Canadians - remain familiar today. The Normandy landings, Operation Overlord, marked the beginning of the end of six long years of conflict between Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany and Allied forces. The development of the role for Canada in the D-Day invasion has a history going back a few years. Following the Dunkirk evacuation Canadians began to come over to Great Britain. They were well-prepared and took on the role of defending the British Isles. They built up around the south coast of England and operated in a defensive and anti-invasion role from May 1940 to July 1943. At that time the 1st Canadian Division was detached and sent to Italy, but the bulk of Canadian forces remained in Britain for all those years. Canadian sailors, soldiers and airmen played a critical role in the Allied invasion of Normandy, beginning the bloody campaign to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Nearly 150,000 Allied troops landed or parachuted into the invasion area on D-Day, including 14,000 Canadians at Juno Beach. The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and 10,000 sailors and the RCAF contributed 15 fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons to the assault. Total Allied casualties on D-Day reached more than 10,000. By the end of the Battle of Normandy, the Allies had suffered 209,000 casualties, including more than 18,700 Canadians. Over 5,000 Canadian soldiers died. From the D-Day landings on the 6th of June 1944 through to the encirclement of the German army at Falaise on the 21st of August this was one of the pivotal events of the Second World War and the scene of some of Canada's greatest feats of arms. Juno Beach was the Allied code name for a 10 km stretch of French coast. It fell to more than 14,000 volunteer soldiers from across Canada, under Major-General Rod Keller, commander of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, to storm the Juno Beach coast line. They seized the beach and its seaside villages while under intense fire from German defenders - an extraordinary example of military skill, reinforced by countless acts of personal courage. The 3rd Infantry Division took heavy casualties in its first wave of attack but took control of the beach by the end of the day. There were 1,074 Canadian casualties, including 359 killed. All things considered, the Canadian troops did very well on D-Day. The Canadians and the British in the Gold and Juno sector made it farther inland than any of the other invasion forces. They had managed to link up their forward units some distance inland, which was a measure of success. At the end of the day, the Queen's Own Rifles had actually captured its objective, which was short of the overall divisional objective but goes to show that some of the Canadian units were quite successful in the first hours. Their sacrifices will be not forgotten even though their generation is starting to fade into the fog of history. For the time being D-Day still seems to be in the Canadian public's consciousness. Their memory must be preserved for the millennials and generations to come in order to eliminate the causes of further conflagrations. D-Day embodied the courage and determination to prevail in that war. It was fought over issues that are still alive today - such as ideology, globalism, nationalism and injustice. It was an exceptionally difficult and hazardous military operation. It was an operation in which Canadians took a major central role in the war to preserve freedom and democracy. For these reasons and more, it's important to keep the memory of D-Day alive. The dead, along with scores of other Canadians killed in the fighting during the weeks that followed, are buried in the serene and beautiful Canadian War Cemetery at Bény-sur-Mer, just behind Juno Beach. This, and numerous other memorials throughout Courseulles, Bernières and St. Aubin-sur-Mer, commemorate Canada's sacrifice on D-Day. A private museum, the Juno Beach Centre, overlooking the beach at Courseulles, also tells the story of Canada's role in the invasion of Normandy. Every year on the 6th of June, the people of the villages along Juno Beach pay tribute to the men and women who fought and died there. They parade through streets festooned with maple leaf flags and hold services and vigils along parts of the seawall, in memory of their Canadian liberators. Long live their memory! Long live the courage those men and women demonstrated. May our current generations and governments show just as much courage in our current hour of need. We can't afford to wait for someone else to fight for our rights and freedom. We must all take a stand against the tyranny of incompetent leadership, political correctness at the expense of merit, and the stripping away of our individual freedoms in the name of political expediency. Wake up Canada! Have we forgotten; what we are waiting for?

DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE DEMORECRY

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. Ha, the lowest voter turn out. Wonder why? Democracy as it was originally intended is broken and there is no hope to fix. No matter who we vote. We the people end up paying for it. This explain the poor vote turn out. It is not about majority or minority voters. It is about who cares and within that group. A perceived majority. On the one hand it is our fault for not voting. On the other. Why bother when no matter the side they are all about the same. Making a career for themselves. Looking out for themselves. I am disgusted on how our standard of living is being compromised. How are laws are being manipulated and how the quality of life keeps going down. No real jobs, house prices going through the roof. Our economy on a downward spin. Look at the gas prices.... Come on people. Where are we going with this. It is like we are in an airplane. The airplane is going straight down... and the politicians seem to be turning their seats up to not see what is coming and claiming how good it looks up. No matter who wins... the people pay. We change governments from Liberal to Conservative. DEMORECRY... as who ever takes power will blame the previous administration for the poor condition it was left in and tax us even more. Much like this carbon tax crap. Really. One day they are going to come up with a way to tax us for farting... you weigh so much you fart so much. Methane is bad for the environment. You pay. LIke it or not. It is not a democracy it is a DEMORECRY. We need a new system. We need to revamp this so called democracy by the people for the people crap. The more they feed us political lines THE MORE I CRY. What if all of a sudden a group of people get together and may actually influence the outcome of elections. What is someone paid you to vote for someone. Would it make sense to sell your vote. At the least you make something out of it. Let’s say $1,000./vote? For some easy money. Would that still be a democracy? Think about it. What different is it then now. We are fooled to believe empty promises. We are mislead to believe. If we are going to get screwed over let’s at the least get paid. Much like the world’s oldest profession. Make them pay for it. Nothing is for free in this world and no one will ever give you or do something for without a price attached. I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO