I CANT SURVIVE ON MY PENSION

I CAN’T SURVIVE

ON MY PENSION 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. Excuse me. Is this still Canada? I get a pension like most of you. I paid my taxes and still pay my taxes. I pay capital gain tax, income tax, retail tax and just about every tax that our government decides I should pay. After exhausting my cheque book. I sit here and think. How are other people doing it. How are people my age surviving. With taxes continue to go up. I would not be able to pay my taxes based on my pension. I am disgusted at the Prime Minister. At our Provincial elect. Without doubt with our Mayor Dan Carter. Here is guy that never held a position of responsibility as he has now. He makes mistakes we pay with tax increases. Yet, he goes around spewing how great his administration is doing with all the contruction statistics. Statistics that only prove his incompetency. Our beloved incompetent leaders is allowing for the raping of our prime farm land by greedy developers that see an opportunity to make billions. They dont care about erecting two by four lego type homes and charging our kids million dollars. It is disgusting. Then guys like me that worked our asses off all our lives. Are mailed an envelop demanding we pay our taxes or else. What kind of freedom is this. Pay or else. After all the years of hard work to contribute to this country. My fellow countrymen threaten me to pay or else. Men like Carter a former homeless, drug addict illiterate. Come on people. It is time to rise and send a message. No more. Who votes these idiots in office? I sure did not. You would think that fellow countrymen would be of like interest. Now don’t get me wrong. I have limited education. But I know right from wrong. I know the value of a hard days work. I know the value of every dollar earned. I came to this country not with the expectations to be awarded, given and or treated special. I came to work hard. Contribute and give back. Even in times of hardship. I refused hand outs and any form of charity. Now in my last chapter of life. I feel for the youth of tomorrow. I feel for seniors like me that are forced out of their homes, because they can’t pay their taxes. Am I preaching to a deaf society. To a numb heart? I pray to god not.

Before Accepting a Job Offer, Know the Expectations

By Nick Kossovan After not being "a fit," employees are most often terminated for not meeting the expectations of their position. (READ: expected outcomes) When offered a job, the cliche advice is to evaluate: · Salary · Benefits · Working hours · Commuting distance · Opportunities for career advancement These focus on you… wrong approach! Your top priority should be knowing and evaluating the employer's expectations against your skills, aptitude, and energy level. In other words, before focusing on whether the employer can meet your needs and wants, focus on whether you can meet the employer's needs. Think of it as John F. Kennedy's maxim when he said during his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." Compensation, benefits, and career advancement are meaningless if you fail to meet expectations. Be honest about your capabilities, experience, professionalism, and capacity to handle stress from being held accountable. (READ: Don't lie to yourself.) Taking on a job that exceeds your capabilities is a recipe for "brief employment." The best way to set yourself up for success at your new job and have fewer surprises is to know what'll be expected of you. By now, you're probably aware of Brittany Pietsch, the 27-year-old Cloudflare account executive who infamously filmed herself being let go after three and a half months due to not meeting expectations. (I'm taking Cloudfare's HR words at face value.) It's painful to watch as she tries to direct the conversation, attempting to orchestrate a "GOTCHA!" moment so she can gain Internet fame, clicks, and likes. If you haven't seen Brittany's video, you can view it here: https://bit.ly/3HuHT0g Brittany took on a sales role. Every sales role has one deciding metric: Number of sales. Brittany admits she had yet to make a sale. No sales = No value to the company. She goes on to say that she's had "good meetings with my manager" and has been "working really hard." In sales, these are not metrics of success. The language of business is numbers! It's critical to be clear about the expectations of the job you're interviewing for, such as targets and goals and the timeframes you're expected to achieve them within. · Sales quota (weekly, monthly, quarterly) · Net promoter score (NPS) · Number of calls (outbound, inbound) · Number of units produced · Average handle time, average talk time, first-call resolution · Order picking accuracy · Customer satisfaction score (CSAT) · Number of new followers, click-through rate, ad clicks, cost per click, page likes. · Days payable outstanding (DPO) · Time to hire There isn't a job that doesn't have, or can't have, any success metrics attached to it. At any given time, you should know what your employer is measuring you against (key performance indicators, benchmarks) and your current productivity stats. Though I don't know Cloudflare’s hiring process or how Brittany was onboarded, she took on a sales role that, like all sales roles, was 100% performance-metric-driven, which she shouldn't have. Not everyone is cut out for sales. More and more job seekers, desperate to get hired, are accepting jobs without fully understanding what the job involves and what they'll be held accountable for. The next time you find yourself in an interview, make it a point to delve into the expectations of the job by asking the following questions: · "How is success measured in this role? How often?" (You want numbers!) · "What should be the immediate priorities for me in this role?" · "What reports or dashboards will be available to me? Will I receive them daily, weekly or monthly?" · "How often are performance reviews conducted?" · "Can you provide me with an example of someone who wasn't meeting expectations and got themselves back on track? What did they do?" · My favourite: "Please walk me through your management style. How will you manage me?" When formulating your expectation questions, think: How much? How high? How low? Increase by how much? Save by how much? Within what range? Ask about benchmarks and KPIs. Know deadlines. (e.g., You must submit the company's 450 employee payroll no later than 2:00 PM every Tuesday.) Don't rely solely on the job description, which most likely had vague expectations such as "meet monthly sales quota," "or increase social media engagement." You want to know that your monthly sales quota, as a pharmaceutical rep for the territory you'd be assigned to, is $65K or as the company's social media manager, the expectation is to increase social media engagement—you'll also want to define how the company defines "engagement"—across all five of the company's social media accounts by 25% before the year's end. It's pointless to take on a job if you feel you will not be able to deliver. When asking my above-mentioned discovery questions, I keep reminding myself of the adage, "Forewarned is forearmed." The last thing I want to say to my boss when discussing my performance is, "I didn't know." As the global economy continues its surreal rollercoaster ride, understandably, companies are expecting more from their employees. Knowing and assessing the performance expectations of the job you're interviewing for is essential to avoiding expectations mismatch. ___________________________________________________________________________ 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

Reviving Education: A Call to Reform the System for the Next Generation

By Dale Jodoin In a rapidly changing world, the education system has become a subject of intense debate. Some argue that it has failed the current generation, particularly Generation Z, and that the blame cannot be solely placed on the young minds navigating through it. The transformation of education into a more left-leaning system has led to concerns about its impact on the development of young adults and children. Critics contend that today's students are being pushed through the system without learning one of life's most valuable lessons – the ability to fail and learn from their mistakes. In an era where a mistake is often seen as a reason for coddling rather than growth, the importance of resilience and personal growth is being overshadowed. Moreover, there are concerns about the curriculum itself. History, once considered a cornerstone of education, seems to have taken a backseat in the modern classroom. Financial literacy, which includes essential life skills like balancing a bank account and understanding work ethics, is often absent from the curriculum as well. These omissions can leave young adults ill-prepared for the real world. One of the criticisms centers around the perception that the education system values activism over academics. Some argue that teachers are pushing their own agendas, and this may be particularly true in certain regions like Canada. Instead of instilling critical thinking skills and a well-rounded education, the focus has shifted towards pushing students to engage in protests or furthering a particular ideology. When these students eventually reach university, they are met with a new set of challenges. Many claim that universities are breeding grounds for propaganda, cancel culture, and socialist behavior. This has raised concerns about the impact of higher education on the formation of young minds. However, it's important to consider the unique challenges that Generation Z has faced, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns and remote learning becoming the norm, many students have missed out on the social interactions and hands-on learning experiences that are crucial for their development. These disruptions have undoubtedly impacted their ability to learn and adapt. Blaming the young generation for these shortcomings may not be fair. Instead, it's essential to recognize that they are products of an evolving education system that needs reform. If we wish to move forward, it is imperative to acknowledge that the system has failed in some aspects. To ensure a brighter future, we must revamp our education system, reintroduce essential life skills, and place a renewed emphasis on academic excellence. the issues facing Generation Z and their education are complex and multifaceted. While there are valid concerns about the direction of the education system, it is essential to approach this matter with nuance and empathy. Rather than placing blame on the young generation, let us work together to reform the education system, preparing future generations for success in a rapidly changing world.

Heavy Weather Guide

from Wayne & Tamara My girlfriend and I are basically the same age, just a six month difference. When I went to buy the engagement ring, I felt certain she was the right one. She accepted my proposal by saying, "If we go slow…" We've been doing that. We had the ring resized to fit her finger, and the wedding wasn't to be for two years. This morning she broke it off. We were happy and taking it slow, but for some reason it felt fast to her. Right from the start, her relatives pressured her to break up. She asked me questions, I answered honestly, and my answers were acceptable. I want to get married and have my own happy family in the next five years. Preferably in the next two. This afternoon I even cried. What can or should I do? I know suicide's not the answer, but maybe it would make a difference to her and them. No, I don't want to do that, but like I said, I'm feeling sad today. Michael Michael, on a merchant ship the second mate is responsible for navigation. Traditionally, each morning the mate would rise, take a fix on the stars, and recompute a fresh course to the destination. This is necessary because the wind and sea push the ship off yesterday's course. The mate can chart a course and ring up the speed, but the sea determines when the ship will arrive. There is no point fighting against the sea, or against life. Ordinarily when a person thinks of suicide, it is because they are holding to a fixed idea, and they cannot imagine life in any other way. But life is full of possibilities. If your depression is serious, seek help. But your sadness seems based on rigid expectations. You have a schedule in your head, and you want life to conform to your schedule. In the next two years you want to find a woman who loves you, whom you love, who will marry you and produce children. That sounds more like ordering a new car than love. Out of great love for someone who loves you, come a family and happiness. Where is the great love for this woman in your letter? No, what we hear is the two year schedule. What we hear is the difference between this woman, and your plans for a woman. Life, and people, cannot be bent to your will. Surrender your schedule and allow your life to unfold. A mariner’s traditional farewell is wishing a friend fair winds and a following sea. But the truth is, we learn more about ourselves in a storm than in calm waters. Wayne & Tamara Seesaw I'm a single woman who is intelligent, kind-hearted, and attractive. I recently ended a relationship with a man I'll call Jordan. Jordan slowly moved from wanting to spend every moment with me to "needing some space." Jordan is bipolar and refuses to seek help, and my attempts to help left him better and me with an hour of sleep. Recently we enjoyed a great afternoon when he invited me to a party. Well, the last time we went to a party, I was basically left by the punchbowl. When I gently expressed my concern, he screamed, "Get out!" Which I promptly did. I realize I'm stupid to want anything but to move on, but for curiosity's sake, because it's driving me crazy, what on earth is his problem? We seem to want the same thing, each other, yet he's going back and forth faster than a swing. Darlene Darlene, you ask what on earth is his problem. To borrow a teenagers’ phrase, "Duh?" He is an unmedicated, bipolar person. As long as he won't address the problem of his mood swings, there is no place on the swing for you. Tamara SEND LETTERS TO: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

In the Lab with Natural Immune Formulas

By Common Sense Health – W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford This week let’s look behind the scenes, in the labs where doctors and scientists are designing health supplements that address specific goals. What’s motivating them? What are they trying to do? And how successful are they? There are thousands of natural health supplements on the market – from vitamins and minerals to botanicals and proteins, plus all kinds of things falling into categories like enzymes and fatty acids. Then on top of this, there all the natural therapies offered by physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and so on. Collectively, it’s a mega-billion set of industries. Complicating the scene are corporations, like Proctor & Gamble, Bayer, and Abbott. Going toe to toe in the marketplace with these giants are small businesses, whom we can say from working with them for so many years, are the experts most worth listening to. Let’s talk then about that profit motive of either the drug companies or the natural health industry. What’s important is not that they are making money. If we all were as industrious, the economy might be better. No, we have no issue with making money from products that genuinely help people. The worst to come of it might be a small dent in the wallet – nothing in comparison to gambling, junk food, tobacco, and countless other industries that destroy lives and deserve our wrath. Specific to healthcare products, it's the pharmaceutical ones, with their side effects, that should trouble us. We need to scrutinize them carefully, because they come with risks and sometimes when they work well, they give society a “get out of jail” pass. What’s the incentive to work at health if a pill will do it? It’s no good when drugs are just treatments, not solutions to the root problems. Next, let’s look at the people in the labs working on natural products – like a powdered form of a root. You can take your chances with the lady growing the root in her backyard, or you can find umpteen versions of the same thing produced by those who test and validate the potency, cleanliness, and ethical sources of the root. Either way, unless we are talking about mushrooms, you are likely not going to get sick – and you might find help for your problem. For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been writing about postbiotics. The product getting the Gifford-Jones stamp of approval is Certified Naturals Postbiotic Immune Formula containing Epicor, a fermented yeast that has all the important metabolites that probiotics produce ready for immediate absorption. Unlike prebiotics and probiotics, postbiotics are already fermented before it gets to the gut. Here’s an example of scientists in a lab creating a product that clean, stable, and loaded with the nutrients beneficial to the gut and fueling the body’s natural immune system. Does Epicor have any negative side effects? No. Is it backed by clinical trials evaluating effectiveness in reducing the risk of colds and flus? Yes. Is it designed by credible scientists in trusted labs? Yes. Is Certified Naturals Postbiotic Immune Formula, the product we recommend, manufactured in inspected facilities? Yes, it is. A Gifford-Jones mantra is “all things in moderation”, and that goes for feeding your gut too – with food or supplements. Always be sure to keep your doctor informed of what supplements you are taking. For people with low or high blood pressure, this is especially important. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also take extra care in what they eat and what supplements they take. Never forget, keep your pills, supplements, and any other dangerous substances well out of the reach of children. 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

When did Canadians and Politicians lose their compassion

By Lisa Robinson - Pickering City Councillor Mental Health Week and Bell Let’s Talk Day, hold great importance dear to my heart as it sheds light on the urgent need for support and assistance for those struggling with mental health issues. However, instead of providing people with the necessary help, it seems that we are offering excuses and enabling harmful behaviors. In the past, when someone was mistaken for another gender, we would offer them the support they needed to get to the root of the problem. If one had an addiction, we would again offer them the support they needed to help stop the addiction, yet in today’s world because of a very loud minority that believes that the rest of society should just play along with particular narratives, we are now being forced to support certain fantasies, delusions, and addictions. Some of these may hold no validity as they have not been confirmed or substantiated by concrete evidence or professional assessment. One must be aware of the human desire to want to receive recognition and thus sometimes plays a significant role in who or what one wants to portray themselves as because without it they receive little to no recognition from their peers. Help is no longer sought to get to the root of the problem, but is now given to perpetuate certain behaviors, and this is deeply troubling, even more alarming is the fact that the government itself also promotes these narratives as a way of political posturing rather than genuinely addressing or solving an issue to help those with mental illness. The very individuals who claim to advocate for mental health are often the ones who contribute to its deterioration. Take for example the Mayor, who released a video addressing mental health and portraying himself as a champion for the cause. However, his actions contradict his words. He has caused significant mental distress for many, myself included. Incidents of bullying, name-calling, and the silencing of opposing voices. Voting to sanction my pay as a single mother for three months, with no other support or income coming in leaving me unable to provide for my family or even pay my mortgage. I was on the verge of resorting to the use of a food bank. It is hypocritical for someone who causes such hardship, to then expect people to approach him for support and raise awareness. This same individual, along with another member of the previous Council, violated the stay-at-home orders during the Covid pandemic. While families were suffering, losing loved ones who died alone, unable to visit loved ones over Christmas, the list goes on, council members were traveling and prioritizing their own mental well-being. It is deeply distressing that they would promote isolation and abandonment for others while enjoying their freedom. This issue of politicians dismissing the mental anguish this isolation caused on its residents soon became a global concern, and not just confined to the boundaries of Pickering. I also recall Bell Let's Talk Day, where they claimed to be advocates for mental health. However, shortly after the event, they terminated all their unvaccinated staff, causing significant mental anguish. It is alarming that the very institutions and individuals who claim to support mental health are now offering an escape of using (MAID) medical assistance in dying, instead of providing the necessary help for individuals to understand and address their challenges. It's challenging for me to fully trust the credibility of politicians when it comes to their understanding of mental health, especially when claims have also been made by a couple of my colleagues on council that artwork improves one’s mental health. I think it is important to recognize at this time after much research that the true benefit lies in the act of creating art rather than merely observing it. The same council member also stated that because of the division of city and regional responsibilities, we as a city should not use our resources to help fund the less fortunate. Canada has become a world leader in euthanasia. Since the introduction of Federal Legislation in 2016, there have been over 44,958 of these medical-assisted deaths and each year it keeps rising. In 2022, there was a 30% increase over the year before in the number of MAID deaths as reported by a Health Canada report. Very few criteria need to be met to end your life, but what concerns me is that as of March 2024, Canadians whose only medical condition is mental illness will also be eligible for MAID. I brought this to the attention of the Council back on February 27, 2023, when I lost in a 6 to 1 vote on moving forward with the Ontario Big City Mayor's recommendations on the health and homelessness crisis. I fear that most of our homeless have a mental illness, and with Durham Region creating low barrier hubs and/or housing that may give access to physicians and nurse practitioners, it may make this type of program easier to access and administer medical assisted dying to the very vulnerable people that we are trying to protect. Instead of offering genuine assistance and understanding to those in need, we are now presenting them with an option to no longer exist if they find their situation unbearable. This approach is not only deeply saddening but also highly problematic. Individuals with mental illness deserve proper care and support, not an easy way out. It is disheartening to see that large corporations and the government often show up for photo opportunities like flag raisings, and speak convincingly about mental health, but their actions reveal them to be hypocrites. We as a society must return to a time when seeking help was met with compassion, free from fear of repercussions, or being told that the only solution is to make oneself disappear. "Strength Does Not Lie In The Absence Of Fear, But In The Courage To Face It Head-On And Rise Above It"

Public Transit From the Lens of Human Rights

By Maurice Brenner Deputy Mayor/Regional Councillor Ward 1 Pickering On January 1st, those who use Public Transit (DRT) across Durham woke up to a new reality. The under funded service taken for granted by many, implemented a series of cuts and realignment of routes with no consultation with riders, but in the name of efficiencies. This weeks Column will take a deep drive through the lens of Human Rights, and why the Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee feels that DRT has violated the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code) and the AODA. On January 17th, as an appointed member to the Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee, I presented an overview of the DRT reductions in Service level triggering a wholesome discussion and a powerful statement through a resolution that will be presented to Pickering Council for ratification February 26th. Given the urgency that DRT was commencing a month end review of the impacts of the changes, I felt it was prudent to provide to DRT in advance of the February 7th DRT Executive Committee a copy of the resolution “That the Accessibility Advisory Committee finds the Service Changes implemented by Durham Region Transit implemented on January 1, 2024 to be in contravention of the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA); and, That the Accessibility Advisory Committee requests that the Council of the City of Pickering send a letter to the Region of Durham requesting that they reverse the service changes immediately and consult with Pickering residents and key stakeholders; including those with accessibility needs; on any future services changes.” The Committee applied the lens under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the AODA with-in the context that DRT is considered a service provider and while changes may have been made to achieve maximum performance and utilization of existing resources, it failed to look at the impacts the changes would have on a cross section of persons with disabilities. The DRT changes made assumptions that all customers could meet the distance requirement of 800m to a stop when in fact those with mobility issues and invisible disabilities can not. It made assumptions that routes where only a small number of customers were using Transit needed to be cancelled and failed to take into consideration if the cancelation denied persons with a disability access to Transit which factored in the criteria for who qualifies for Specialized Services which further placed the emphasis on the utilization of DRT regular services. Under the Code, service providers have a legal duty to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities who are adversely affected by a requirement, rule or standard. In this instance while not intended this shift has resulted in systemic discrimination. Accommodation is necessary to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunities, access and benefits. When the changed to service levels were being considered, it lacked inclusively and failed to accommodate the needs of a person with a disability in a way that promotes integration and full participation. What Is the Duty To Accommodate: The duty to accommodate has both a substantive and a procedural component. The procedure to assess an accommodation (the process) is as important as the substantive content of the accommodation. In a case involving the accommodation of a mental health disability in the workplace, the court said: “a failure to give any thought or consideration to the issue of accommodation, including what, if any, steps could be taken constitutes a failure to satisfy the ‘procedural ’duty to accommodate.” In Ontario, a failure in the procedural duty to accommodate can lead to a finding of a breach of the Code even if there was no substantive accommodation that could have been provided short of undue hardship. Failure to perform either component of the duty is a failure to carry out the duty to accommodate. DRT is a Public Sector organization and can not argue that providing accommodation would cause undue hardship. Having failed to explore accommodations and a failure to take positive steps to ensure that disadvantaged groups benefit equally from services offered to the general public, DRT has contravened the Code. DRT also failed to take into consideration The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Under the AODA, government public service providers are required to comply with accessibility standards in varying degrees relative to an organization’s size and sector. There is an expectation to prevent barriers at the design stage including Policy, organizations should be aware of systemic barriers and should actively identify and seek to remove these existing barriers. Public Participation: This item will be discussed February 7th at 1:30 at the DRT Executive Committee located at Durham Regional Headquarters in the Council Chamber 605 Rossland Rd E, Whitby, ON L1N 0B7 and is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

DA PLANE! ~ DA PLANE! BOSS WELCOME TO FANTASY ISLAND “OSHAWA”

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - Remember the old ‘FANTASY ISLAND’? With my favorite actor Hervé Villechaize -Tattoo and Ricardo Montalbán (Mr. Roarke). It appears that Oshawa has become ‘FANTASY ISLAND’ of sort, as it can only be described as a delusional fantasy the way our city elect govern the city or the island we become within Durham Region. Before you stop laughing... We do have our own Mr. Roarke. In Oshawa we call him Mayor Carter. Our Tattoo is our Mayor brown nosed want to be Mayor in the next election side kick. Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee. Talk about make believe. Tattoo as Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee. How are we expected to grow in a positive way with someone that has never held a real job that demanded the same skill set that is expected for such chairship. An individual that out of office at best held a realtor job. Really, a realtor is making million dollar decision on our behalf? Is there any wonder the city wasted 30 million on a south end park. Made numerous taxpayers waste of money, then the city turns around and hits taxpayers with a hefty property tax increase. Only in fantasy Island you are led to believe that the City is prospering.... while citizens sleep on our city streets and along ravines in -20 weather. The City Mayor loves to spew development statistics while he allows our prime farm lands to the north to be raped by developers looking to make millions off our incompetency. If we need housing would it not make more sense to go high rise instead of spread across prime farm land? But wait. Just this week Fantasy Island released: City of Oshawa launches new 10-year Economic Development Strategy. Pure, insanity and a desperate attempt to fool taxpayers in thinking that those elected care about the city. The release claimed: The City of Oshawa is pleased to announce the launch of its new Economic Development Strategy that aims to drive job growth and further investment in the city. The Strategy focuses on enhanced trade, diversification and quality of life and positions Oshawa for future economies, opportunities and overall growth. This is the same administration that allowed GM to walk away from Oshawa as they left us with a huge environmental mess while giving every Oshawa citizen the famous Trudeau salute. The same administration that feared accountability from GM. I guess that the saying you get what you paid for is so true here: We elect incompetency and we get incompetency. How are we to expect prosperity when those making the decision have never had or will ever have the business experience, academics and or related discipline experience to make the decisions they entrusted to make. So what do we the tax payer get. Pipe dreams. ‘focuses on enhanced trade, diversification...’ Really, this is the same administration that practices, corporate bias, prejudice and discrimination against local businesses. The same administration that fails to acknowledge 30 year old business operating in the City Downtown. The released continued: ‘To complement existing sectors such as healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing and energy generation, emerging sectors were identified in high-growth fields such as: Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Cybersecurity, eSports, EV and Automotive Technologies.’ Wake up. Who put this together. Do they even know where Oshawa is. Have they driven downtown Oshawa. Are they blind? The City practically gave away strategic properties to the College/University in hope that the walk traffic would revive the core. This only accomplished the few parking spots in the core to be used by students. This taking away from the possible patrons to local downtown business. Look at the vacancies in the core. Have anyone at the city approached any downtown local businesses and asked what is the biggest issues. I am sure none will tell you. Artificial Intelligence, Augmented reality, Cybersecurity or EV. Like really... EV. Taking up more parking spaces in the core. Who is doing the thinking here Tattoo. How about tackling the high taxes. How about complementing the creating of more housing in the form of high rise. How about complementing the drug/crime/homeless in Oshawa. In 20 years. I have yet to see my local or regional councillor walk in to my place of business and ask me what the core needs. I am the media. Do you think they have any other business? But wait... Let the city put out another pipe dream and overlook the white elephant in the room. I think Mr. Roarke and Tattoo are way out of touch with reality. They have no real grasp of reality and it shows in their 10 year pipe dream. Da Plane, Da Plane is going down Boss. Da Plane.

Canada’s politics and the military

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East While many things are happening in the world in quick succession, some interesting things are evolving in Canada too. On the political side, we are sensing some sings of panic in the Liberal minority government. On the military side, a continuous lack of funding for infrastructure and equipment and frequent changes at the chief of defence staff level serve to further weaken an already struggling organization. In a landmark ruling, the Federal Court found that the issuance of the Proclamation and associated Regulations and Order under the Emergencies Act used to disperse Freedom Convoy protestors, was unconstitutional and unreasonable and exceeded the act’s intended scope. The court highlighted violations of the Charter rights, specifically encroaching upon freedom of thought, opinion, and expression, along with an infringement on the right to security against unreasonable search or seizure. The Federal Court decision also touched upon special economic measures taken by the Trudeau government to freeze the bank accounts of Freedom Convoy organizers and protesters. Justice Richard Mosley rejected the government’s claim that freezing the accounts represented minimum impairment under the Economic Measures. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland who just returned from the World Economic Foundation (WEF) summit in Davos where she is a trustee, has announced the government’s intention to appeal. “So we are aware of the court decision. We have discussed it with the Prime Minister, with Cabinet colleagues, with senior federal government officials and experts. We respect very much Canada’s independent judiciary. However, we do not agree with this decision. And respectfully, we will be appealing it,” said Freeland. “I was convinced at the time, it was the right thing to do. It was the necessary thing to do. I remain and we remain convinced of that,” Freeland re-iterated when asked about the special economic measures. Leaving this evolving political scenario for the moment, let us take a look on what is happening or what should be happening in our military. In view of the extensive military action around the world, in which Canada is also called upon to contribute, the status of our military is of concern. Lack of political attention and lack of adequate funding have been problems for decades. The leadership of the armed forces is in disarray and more interested in politics than looking to strengthening our armed forces in a very dangerous world. Emerging technologies in the contemporary period are developing at a rapid pace. Artificial intelligence, for example, is quickly changing the ways in which we gather and interpret data. Failure to adopt technologies means that the Canadian military risks being deployed in future operations against adversaries who have existing access to such modern technologies. However, technology will not revolutionize operations by itself. Its effective implementation will require new ideas about how it can be used. Senior Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) leadership should foster and maintain a feedback loop among officers concerning their views on the introduction of emerging technologies. Special attention should be paid to military engineering skills, which seem to take the headlines today. One of the main outputs of a new technologically inclined organizational culture would be the generation of new ideas towards doctrine, strategies and operational methods. Essentially, leadership needs to enthusiastically embrace the introduction of the new technologies and focus on it instead of other issues. A realistic field experience is also an incredibly important element of the innovation process. This will unfold either during active operations or through major training and tabletop exercises. It will allow officers to gain as much direct experience with the emerging technologies as possible, which in turn can help allow the officers to build trust and acceptance about its usage. It is best if this can occur prior to the start of any major conflict as learning during combat operations carries the risk of greater numbers of causalities. Overall, undergoing realistic field and tabletop exercises are the best ways for a military to judge the success of innovation efforts during peacetime as they will provide CAF leadership with direct evidence and data. Success will be determined by analyzing the CAF’s performance during the exercises to identify if the new technologies allowed for new or more effective operational methods to unfold in terms of lethality, speed, or other metrics of efficiency. To help evaluate the success of new technologies the CAF should also continue to participate in as many multinational allied field exercises as possible, as they allow the CAF to evaluate whether the new technologies have helped bolster their interoperability capabilities, which have been prioritized as a goal for the CAF. Considerations beyond operational effectiveness will always be taken into account when evaluating the impact of innovation efforts. States will often be politically motivated by a broad variety of intentions, such as a desire to be seen as a more reliable ally. However, sometimes-complicated situations may unfold where new technologies help the military meet certain goals, but not others. For example, new technological investments may create new interoperability opportunities, which satisfy certain political considerations. At the same time they may also hamper the operational effectiveness of the military. Leadership will eventually need to articulate and prioritize which goals they want to use to measure the success of innovative efforts. The current generation of technologies are continuously evolving, while militaries now also face a growing need to focus on multi-domain operations. These blur the lines between conflict and peacetime, and so faster solutions are required to meet the demands of these combined challenges. To mitigate costs during complex innovative efforts under such circumstances, defence officials need to lay as much foundation for change as possible to avoid any organizational obstacles that can further constrain the integration process. Building such a foundation will allow the Canadian defence community to approach new technologies in a less risk-averse manner and quicken the decision-making cycle. Technological innovation requires new methods of management to allow the CAF to meet current and future challenges. Civilian and military leadership will need to engage in quicker decision-making cycles and reform the equipment procurement process to allow for the rapid acquisition of emerging technologies. This however requires funding, which is nowhere to be seen, and the Minister of Defence, Bill Blair, with his only extensive experience in policing and no military background, does not seem interested in fighting for some. What are your thoughts?

GOV VS MEDIA

By Dale Jodoin The relationship between the government and news media in Canada has entered a new phase, one that significantly blurs the lines of journalistic independence. This development has become a subject of intense debate and scrutiny, especially with the major news outlets in Canada receiving direct financial support from the government. In the heart of this debate is a simple yet profound question: How does government funding affect the objectivity and independence of the media? This question becomes critical when we consider the traditional role of the media as a watchdog of democracy, tasked with holding the government accountable and providing unbiased information to the public. Let's explore the current landscape. In Canada, major news outlets, both in print and television, have started receiving financial aid from the government. This move, ostensibly aimed at helping these media organizations navigate through financial difficulties, has raised eyebrows and questions about the future of independent journalism in the country. This government funding is not a trivial matter; it directly impacts the operational dynamics of these news organizations. Critics argue that accepting financial support from the government could lead to a conflict of interest, where news outlets might hesitate to criticize government policies or actions, fearing the loss of funding. This could potentially lead to a situation where the media becomes less of a watchdog and more of a mouthpiece for government narratives. The implications of this development are far-reaching. One of the primary concerns is the erosion of public trust in the media. When the audience starts to perceive news outlets as extensions of the government, rather than independent entities, it can lead to a significant decline in the credibility of these outlets. This loss of trust is not just a problem for the media organizations; it undermines the very foundation of a healthy democracy, where access to unbiased information is crucial for informed decision-making by the public. Moreover, the situation in Canada reflects a broader global trend where governments are increasingly intervening in the media landscape, either through direct funding or regulatory measures. This trend raises important questions about the future of press freedom and the role of media in democratic societies. However, it's also important to understand the challenges faced by news media in the digital age. The traditional revenue models, mainly based on advertising and subscriptions, have been disrupted by the rise of digital platforms. This economic pressure has made some media outlets more receptive to government assistance, viewing it as a necessary measure for survival. In light of these developments, it becomes crucial for media organizations to find innovative ways to maintain their independence. This could involve diversifying revenue streams, investing in investigative journalism, and strengthening editorial independence to ensure that their reporting remains unbiased and fact-based, irrespective of funding sources. For the public, this situation underscores the importance of media literacy and critical thinking. It's vital for the audience to be aware of the potential influences on the news they consume and to seek out a variety of news sources to get a well-rounded view of current events. In conclusion, the direct funding of major news media by the Canadian government is a development that warrants careful scrutiny and open debate. While the financial support might offer a lifeline to struggling media organizations, it also poses significant risks to journalistic independence and public trust. As we navigate this complex landscape, the need for a free, independent, and diverse press remains more important than ever. The future of democratic discourse in Canada may well depend on how this delicate balance is maintained.

The Ultimate Job Search Hack: Know Your Limitations

By Nick Kossovan The adage, "You can achieve anything you set your mind to," is a cruel lie. You most likely heard this phrase when you were young, your future was wide open, and your world was filled with possibilities. Due to your youthful, hopeful, and irrational perspective, you likely interpreted this phrase as referring to karmic or cosmic rewards, thus creating the false belief that if you wish for something, work hard enough, and want it badly enough, it'll somehow materialize. That's not how the world works. Wishing, wanting, and working towards will increase your chances of success, but they don't guarantee it. Searching for a job emphasizes "not a guarantee" while humbling you. Many job seekers cling too tightly to their definition of career success, likely shaped by their environment. During our youth, many things we wished for were long shots, such as becoming an actor, filmmaker, writer, rockstar, or CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It's common for a high school student to dream of becoming a professional athlete and devote enormous physical and mental energy to trying to achieve their dream without considering their odds of success; after all, they're young. Maybe you were such a student. Less than 0.1% of players—one out of every 1,000—participating in organized hockey in North America make it to the NHL. Statistically, only 3 in 10,000, .03 percent, male high school basketball players will join an NBA Roster. Having experienced high school, you know how much the captain of the football team identity derives from being "the captain of the football team." When he doesn't make it to the NFL, what becomes of his identity? As adults, we identify with our job title and employer. "You're a Senior Technical Program Manager at Google... impressive." Then, when you're part of a layoff, your identity is shattered. A job search not going as "hoped"—rarely does a job search go "as hoped"—hurts. You know what's even worse? Putting all your blood, sweat, tears and time into trying to obtain a job, career, or position at your dream company that isn't meant to be. Even positions you feel should be within your reach—you believe you have the skills, experience, and qualifications—may be a long shot, especially in today's hyper-competitive job market. As I age, I'm mindful that there's always someone younger and hungrier who wants my position. Then there's AI, advancing exponentially daily, and low-cost overseas labour nipping at my heels. Never underestimate whom and what you're competing against. Your qualifications and skills aren't as unique as you think. Moreover, success is influenced by a complex interplay of internal and external factors. I see it all the time: job seekers refusing to accept that no matter how much they want a particular job or how hard they work or network, it's simply not meant to be. The sooner you come to the realization you're not going to be a rockstar, make a living as a social media influencer, that you don't have what it takes to lead and manage people—something more people need to come to terms with—then the sooner you can start reframing what "success" means to you. "We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." - Epictetus, Greek Stoic philosopher. Based on my observations, I've come to realize that trying to portray ourselves as we wish to be perceived and identified as (e.g., financially successful, confident, a leader) is what trips us up. I find it fascinating how married some people get to their idealized image of themselves and then blame everyone when it doesn't materialize, instead of asking themselves, Do I have what it takes? Do I really want what I'm aiming for? My oldest friend's entire working life, still ongoing, has been washing cars for a car rental company. He's one of the happiest people I know. His inner peace is Zen-like because he accepts who he is and is thankful for what he has rather than focusing on, as most people do, what he doesn't have. As I see it, job searching, your chance to reinvent yourself, is hard enough without chasing what's not in your cards. We all know someone, perhaps yourself, who has been pursuing a career goal, in various degrees of effort, for quite some time without success, hitting their head against the proverbial brick wall. More than once, I've given a job seeker, after listening to their job search frustrations and how much time and effort they devote to their search, the advice, "I think you'd be happier pursuing a different goal that better fits you and your life." Why spend your life feeling like a failure and your life's on hold while trying to attain an unattainable career status? There's no better time than when you're job searching to explore employment options that fit your inherent capabilities better. Acknowledging your limitations (READ: your probability of success) and accordingly adjusting your job search is the best job search hack I know. ___________________________________________________________________________ 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

CALLING ON DEREK GIBERSON RESIGNATION

WHY AM I BEING ATTACKED BY CITY COUNCILLOR DEREK GIBERSON. IS THIS WHAT WE ELECTED HIM TO OFFICE FOR. I CALL FOR HIS RESIGNATION. Oshawa mayoralty candidate and newspaper publisher Joe Ingino will face an audit over his 2022 campaign expenses because “of a number of questions that remain over his advertising.” That was the decision made Thursday by the Joint Compliance Audit Committee, which looks into and evaluates complaints made by members of the public regarding spending or contributions made to candidates for the 2022 municipal election. The committee heard from Ingino, who was the subject of a 99-page complaint over the amount and value of election advertising he placed for himself in the Oshawa/Durham Central newspaper, of which he is owner and publisher. Ingino was also a candidate who ran in the 2022 election, declaring his candidacy on May 4, 2022. Oshawa Ward 4 councillor Derek Giberson was one of six complainants who filed the 99-page complaint against Ingino. He and Roger Bouma, who also signed the complaint, spoke to the committee in support of the complaint on Thursday. At issue was the rate card for candidate advertising Giberson said candidates received from the Central, after nominations opened May 1. Giberson said that rate card valued ads in the Central at amounts going from $250 for 1/16th of a page to $400 for 1/8th of a page to $600 for 1/4th of a page all the way up to $2,250 for a full page. Giberson then added up all of Ingino’s ads throughout the election period to come up with a total ad spend of $219,687. Giberson pointed out that the total spending limit for mayoral campaigns in Oshawa was $111,153.25, calculating that Ingino spent $108,000 more than allowed under election spending limits. Ingino said that he had taken what he called a “gold” package for advertising which he valued at $3,000 in total. He didn’t provide the committee with a receipt at the time but said he would provide it to the auditor. Ingino’s total campaign expenses came out to $6,586.63 of which he said he spent $3,000 on advertising and $3,028.40 on signs, his two biggest expenses. YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK... IF THEY DO THIS TO ME IMAGINE WHAT THEY DO TO YOU. GIBERSON I CALL FOR YOUR RESIGNATION IN THE NAME OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SLEEPING ON OUR STREETS. IN THE NAME OF ALL THE CLOSED BUSINESSES. INSTEAD YOU WASTE OUR TAX DOLLARS IN WITCH HUNTS....

LET’S TALK NUMBERS

Tahir Khorasanee, LL.M. Senior Associate, Steinbergs LLP I am often asked about the amount of notice or severance employees are entitled to upon termination. Answering that question requires me to first review the employment agreement. Many times, there is an employment agreement, but it contains a termination provision that has been struck down by the courts and is therefore unenforceable. Most of the time, there is no written employment agreement at all. In both instances, the employee's entitlements upon termination are based on several factors, including age, salary, position, and length of service. There are often other considerations as well, which I will discuss in subsequent columns on a biweekly basis. As an example, Nemirovski was employed with Socast Inc for 19 months. He was a project manager and was awarded 19 months by the courts because Socast refused to provide Nemirovski with a reference letter, and his employment agreement had an onerous non-competition clause. In the absence of an enforceable termination provision that limits employees' entitlements to the minimums outlined in the Employment Standards Act, employees are entitled to anywhere between 2 to 30 months' notice or pay in lieu thereof. In some instances, such as with construction workers or those in seasonal industries, there may be no obligations upon termination. Failure to consult a lawyer initially to determine appropriate employee obligations upon termination results in wrongful dismissal claims, increasing costs significantly. The same holds true for employees who are often provided with a termination package paying only the Employment Standards Act minimums, which do not reflect the employee's actual entitlements. For many small businesses, having to pay 2 to 30 months' notice is a significant cost. These costs can easily be avoided if businesses consult a lawyer and conduct a human resource audit, reviewing existing employment agreements and policies, identifying deficiencies, and recommending strategies to limit liabilities. This involves an upfront cost but saves tens of thousands of dollars in the short term and even more in the long term. Employment agreements drafted after the COVID-19 pandemic prioritize reducing costs and providing businesses with flexibility. Many businesses went under during the COVID-19 pandemic, and those that survived did so because they sought legal advice early on. Businesses with employment contracts with an enforceable termination provision limiting the employee to the Employment Standards Act minimum can provide as little as 1 weeks’ notice, as opposed to 2 months to 30 months. In my next column, I will be answering employment law questions from both employees and employers. If you want me to answer your questions, email me at tkhorasanee@steinbergsllp.com. Tahir Khorasanee is currently the Vice President and the incoming president of the Employment Lawyers Association of Ontario. He is a Senior Associate at Steinbergs LLP. Tahir Khorasanee, LL.M. Senior Associate Steinbergs LLP

Conversations in the Community Page: Hidden Agenda’s and False Narratives.

It appears that the City of Pickering is following a familiar playbook employed by governments to control the narrative surrounding certain discussions. The Corporation of The City of Pickering has recently launched a 'Conversations in the Community' page, presenting it as being the sole destination for information on topics of community interest. However, it is essential to recognize that truth, like a flowing river, cannot be contained. It will always find its way to the surface, shining a light on hidden agendas and false narratives. One of the topics being discussed on this platform is the Changerooms at Pickering’s Chestnut Hill Recreation Centre. While the City is now encouraging us to seek facts exclusively from them, we must not forget that numerous individuals, myself included, have been advocating for months to allow individuals the choice to use a gender-specific change room. In 2022 Pickering decided to use a blanket approach that only members over the age of 18 are allowed to use gender-specific changerooms, while members under the age of 18, or non-members of any age are not allowed to use the gender-specific changeroom, and are forced to use the Universal changeroom which is inclusive to all and families. When did it become ok for a government to decide who does or does not have the right to deserve privacy when using vulnerable personal spaces? Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of such spaces, especially considering the increase in incidents worldwide, towards women and children when using these shared personal spaces. This notion of forcing someone into an environment that elicits discomfort and unease is not an approach I am comfortable with, nor am I comfortable with the excuse that because nothing serious has been reported at the Recreation Centre as of yet, they refuse to pursue the issue any further. So to make it clear, unless something terrible happens to an innocent person, nothing is going to change. And those are the facts, but that conversation is not being discussed on the new Community page. Another topic being discussed in this “only get the facts here page” is the concept of 15 minute and smart cities. It is perplexing that the city now presents themselves as experts on this matter when just a couple of weeks ago, they dismissed my having any discussions on the topic during a council meeting. The fact that both the Mayor and the CAO confirmed that they have never had any conversations or received any information on these topics amongst themselves or with any other level of government, is disheartening as Oshawa signed up to be a 15 minute city, quite some time ago. After inquiring about Pickering’s future, the Mayor yelled at me saying “We are not going down the rabbit hole” and “stop on the crazy street”. I was then silenced and not allowed to speak as the Mayor turned off my mic. I’d like to note however, burried within the budget, Two Hundred Thousand Dollars is going towards Pickering’s Smart City initiative for technology and data collection. So now the question arises, why would one choose to deceive the public in the first place, especially when we as a government are supposed to be open and transparent? Personally, I am of the opinion that if the City cannot engage in truthful transparent communications then how can one expect the people of Pickering to trust “Pickering’s Conversations in the Community” page as the sole destination to get the “facts” on any topic. Thus far, the contents in the community page, have not exhibited a resounding sense of truthfulness. Another interesting subject was how the city continues to speak about the Pickering Integrity Commissioner and their role as an “independent and impartial official”. I think it is worth asking the question of how is it possible for an Integrity Commissioner to truly remain unbiased, impartial, or truly independent when they are being paid by the corporation of the City of Pickering? Does this not raise concerns about the objectivity and independence of the office. Not to mention, it was only recently that the Council passed a bylaw that no one can speak to an Integrity Commissioner report as a delegate. That seems pretty odd in a democratic society. I even found myself in the unfortunate position of experiencing the impact of a biased integrity commissioner firsthand, and it was disheartening to witness the lack of regard for ethical standards in fairness, objectivity, and the pursuit of truth, not only in the report but surrounding the process, again being silenced to ask any questions. While I have merely scratched the surface on a few of the issues raised in Pickering’s new “Conversations in the Community page”, I intend to delve deeper into it in future columns and shed light on hidden agendas and false narratives. Presenting to you the other side, not just the government of Pickering’s sole narrative that they want you to believe. John C. Maxwell said it best when he said “Leaders can see what everybody else sees, but can think differently.” Until then, I invite you to follow me on social media. Twitter -@lifelibertylisa Facebook - Councillor Lisa Robinson, YouTube - Lisa Robinson and subscribe to my newsletter at www.lisarobinsonpolitician.ca for further updates, videos, and discussions, and I will see you back here again next week. Sending hugs I will always continue to seek the truth, challenge narratives, and foster meaningful conversations that truly represent the community's interests. "Strength Does Not Lie In The Absence Of Fear, But In The Courage To Face It Head-On And Rise Above It"

Hello Doc

By Maurice Brenner Deputy Mayor/Regional Councillor Ward 1 Pickering When we think of growth, the topic of infrastructure comes to mind. But infrastructure goes well beyond what’s physical which is why this weeks column will focus on how Durham Region is facing a Health Care Crisis caused by a lack of Family Physicians. During the pandemic, we got our first glance at what it was like to not have direct ability to access your family doctor followed by the virtual doctor. Then post pandemic we thought things would go back to normal, but it couldn’t as increasing numbers of our Doctors faced burnout, retirement and an inability to keep up with increasing pressures of growth. Today, 24.3% of Durham residents do not have access to a family doctor. Durham needs 145 new Family Physicians. When we put the City of Pickering under the microscope 25.2% of residents do not have access to a family doctor equaling a shortage of 19 Family Physicians. But Pickering is not alone, at this weeks Durham Regional Committee of the Whole, the Durham Physician Engagement Team reported similar alarming trends across the Region in every Municipality. Adding to the problem is a lack of Family Health Teams with only 2 across the entire Region with one in Pickering and one in Scugog. In an effort to address this crisis Durham and all 8 lower tier Municipalities need a coordinated approach for recruitment and need to band together to pressure the Province of Ontario to create and fund more Family Health Teams To learn more about our Doctor Shortage and the recommendations for moving forward check out Report #2024-COW-2 available on the Durham Region Website and watch for this item appearing on the agendas of your lower tie Municipality.

BRAVO TO THE RED CROSS ORCHARD PARK NY

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States This past week, I was transported in time to a time in America where all was good and fair. A time when you could smell apple pie in the air even thought no one was baking. That warm fuzzy feeling that only pure wholesomeness can offer. Ok, let me explain. This past week. I passed by Buffalo, NY. as I do every month. This time it was different. The highway I was to go on was closed due to a real bad storm blowing from Lake Erie. I decided to take the side roads. All was going well until such time as the wind Gods decided to dump four feet in 10 minutes. Life became strange. I was the only one on the road. With the exception of snow plows. It got so bad I had to pull off in a gas station parking lot. The wind was blowing hard and you could barely see your hand infront of your face. As I waited the storm out. A state trooper pulls behind me and informs me that there was a travel ban and that I was not supposed to be on the road. The officer beyond nice. He directed me to a warming center at Orchard Park Middle school. I never been to a ‘warming center’. I was preparing for the worst. Instead, I was transported back to the 50’s. The people at the center were beyond friendly. Beyond courteous and helpful. I was shocked. I felt I was in a ‘LEAVE IT TO BEAVER’ episode. Everyone at this center were so attentive and caring. It blew my mind. As we waited out the storm. It appeared it was Canadian night at the Center as most of the occupants were from Canada. Some had driven off the road into ditches others car break down. My mission for that day was to get from point A to B. I decided to coordinate intel on road conditions and radar weather patterns. Cross reference them with eye witness on road conditions. I also had to keep in mind the fact that if I did leave the safety of this sanctuary. I would face a fine and possible towing charges if in a wreck. The more I stayed the more comfortable I felt. The red cross volunteers even offered me an IMP. This further blew my mind. IMP (Individual Meal Pack). Believe it or not. Ravioli in a bag... Wow. Finally when the intel was in and the conditions looked favorable to continue my journey I took that leap of faith and connected with my highway. Even thought still closed it was plowed. I just like to say thank you, thank you to all the volunteers that night. I felt really at home. Thank you for the humanity, hospitality and the welcoming attitude and feeling. I can’t say thank you enough. Great work. I truly appreciated.

Winter Sitting—What’s Up in the House of Commons?

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East After a long vacation MPs head back to the Hill, to work on the bills that are still being debated or awaiting debate to begin. As in every winter session of Parliament, follow-up work is to be done. The House of Commons witnessed its fair share of chaos during last year's fall sitting. Speaker Anthony Rota resigned in disgrace after recognizing a war veteran who fought alongside the Nazis as a "Canadian hero." His replacement, Greg Fergus, also faced criticism for appearing in a video tribute to an Ontario Liberal MPP while wearing his Speaker's robes. In addition, Government House Leader Karina Gould has begun her maternity leave, leaving Government Whip Steve MacKinnon to oversee the legislative agenda in her absence. Housing, affordability, and the economy in general, continue to be major concerns. However, there seems to be a stalemate, with the Liberal government trying to find solutions but finding themselves overwhelmed by issues. A more comprehensive approach to strengthening Canada's national security legal framework appears to be underway. The promised online harms legislation is still delayed. With responsibility for the file shifting from Canadian Heritage to the Department of Justice, the government seems to be slow in calming rising antisemitism in the country. Pharmacare legislation that New Democrats demanded as part of their supply and confidence agreement with the government has yet to be tabled. The rest is work as usual, with motherhood legislation waiting to be approved. Notably, there is nothing about the real issues confronting the country. Interest in Canada’s science and industrial development has eluded current House of Commons legislators. At present, there are no MPs who understand the crucial role that applied science can play in the development of Canada. We are lost in space on this file. For example: once a leader in nuclear science and associated industries, today Canada is far behind other nations. A Chinese company has developed a nuclear battery that could keep your phone running for 50 years without recharging. Betavolt Technology claims to have successfully miniaturized atomic energy batteries, with dimensions that measure less than a coin at 15 x 15 x 5mm. The compact battery uses the radioactive isotope Nickel 63 to generate 100 microwatts and a voltage of 3V of electricity through the process of radioactive decay. Betavolt plans to mass-produce them for commercial devices like phones and drones, but also states nuclear batteries could be used for aerospace equipment, medical equipment, advanced sensors and micro-robots. The company is presently working hard to design multiple atomic batteries that could power automotive technology, as well as AI systems just to name a few. The advantages of atomic energy batteries are their lightweight, long service life, high energy density, and ability to work normally under extreme temperatures (-60 to 120oC). The company seems confident that its development is way ahead of European and American scientific research institutions and enterprises. My question: Where is Canada? It is quite clear that politicians invested in costly EV batteries for cars produced by foreign design and with foreign workers on Canadian soil, are not au current. Wouldn’t it be better to support Canadian scientific development? Both for the environment and our economy? No wonder Canada’s economic future looks grim. Lagging productivity means a declining standard of living and the emigration of our best and brightest. Let us face reality; Canada’s per capita GDP has yet to return to its pre-pandemic level. Indeed, it has been declining. The implications of this lack of productivity growth for our long-term standard of living are dire. The reasons for this can be summarized across five closely interconnected areas: unprecedented population growth, capital investment decline, neglected investment in research and development, structural economic issues, and finally, the policy environment. More people could potentially fuel extensive economic growth, but unless capital investment also grows to boost productivity, economic growth will not follow. Given our population growth rates, we would need to devote nearly 30 percent of our GDP to capital formation. That has not happened in Canada since the wheat boom era of the early 1900s—incidentally also the era of Canada’s fastest population growth. However, the quality and composition of investment also matters, and Canada’s spending on research and development as a share of its GDP has been declining for the last two decades. As a share of its GDP, Canada spends about half that of the U.S., spending less than any other G-7 country. How long will that policy keep us in the G-7? Fossilized structural economic issues persist, and despite the country’s population doubling over the last forty years, our markets are apparently still “too small” to allow for more competition. Combine this with provincial and federal implementation and regulatory environments that have raised the cost of starting just about anything, and you have a recipe for long-term economic decay. The final drop in the bucket in explaining our productivity malaise is a Canadian policy environment, which can be described as frozen in space federalism. At its best, Canadian federalism co-ordinates regional economic policies and practices to promote overall Canadian economic performance. At its worst, Canadian federalism can be a petulant collective of myopic jurisdictions operating at cross-purposes that frustrate any attempts at national coordination. Canada’s provinces and the federal government have become increasingly prone to bickering. Canadian federalism in action has Ottawa controlling the levers of immigration and using this power to increase the population to address aging populations and labour shortages. Unfortunately, they have not considered the consequences on health services and housing stock. The provinces control health and education services but in the wake of rising population and demand both sectors are highly stressed and finding it hard to cope. Then there are the municipalities, which control the key levers for land zoning and housing construction. Yet, despite what seems to be a roaring demand for housing, they are moving slowly, if at all. Canada’s economic strategy seems to have focused on increasing population size while assuming that anything needed to boost productivity would simply take care of itself. (Like Trudeau’s budget?) As a result, we now have a growing population and a bigger market but less competition, resulting in higher prices and fewer services. We are spending more on health and education, but reaping hallway health care and students with declining test scores. Are we really getting our money’s worth? The long-term implications of Canada’s falling per capita GDP is a declining standard of living and ultimately the out-migration of the best and brightest. We are on track to becoming a poorer country with a more fractious political system unable to get things done. Is this the country we want for our children? by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East After a long vacation MPs head back to the Hill, to work on the bills that are still being debated or awaiting debate to begin. As in every winter session of Parliament, follow-up work is to be done. The House of Commons witnessed its fair share of chaos during last year's fall sitting. Speaker Anthony Rota resigned in disgrace after recognizing a war veteran who fought alongside the Nazis as a "Canadian hero." His replacement, Greg Fergus, also faced criticism for appearing in a video tribute to an Ontario Liberal MPP while wearing his Speaker's robes. In addition, Government House Leader Karina Gould has begun her maternity leave, leaving Government Whip Steve MacKinnon to oversee the legislative agenda in her absence. Housing, affordability, and the economy in general, continue to be major concerns. However, there seems to be a stalemate, with the Liberal government trying to find solutions but finding themselves overwhelmed by issues. A more comprehensive approach to strengthening Canada's national security legal framework appears to be underway. The promised online harms legislation is still delayed. With responsibility for the file shifting from Canadian Heritage to the Department of Justice, the government seems to be slow in calming rising antisemitism in the country. Pharmacare legislation that New Democrats demanded as part of their supply and confidence agreement with the government has yet to be tabled. The rest is work as usual, with motherhood legislation waiting to be approved. Notably, there is nothing about the real issues confronting the country. Interest in Canada’s science and industrial development has eluded current House of Commons legislators. At present, there are no MPs who understand the crucial role that applied science can play in the development of Canada. We are lost in space on this file. For example: once a leader in nuclear science and associated industries, today Canada is far behind other nations. A Chinese company has developed a nuclear battery that could keep your phone running for 50 years without recharging. Betavolt Technology claims to have successfully miniaturized atomic energy batteries, with dimensions that measure less than a coin at 15 x 15 x 5mm. The compact battery uses the radioactive isotope Nickel 63 to generate 100 microwatts and a voltage of 3V of electricity through the process of radioactive decay. Betavolt plans to mass-produce them for commercial devices like phones and drones, but also states nuclear batteries could be used for aerospace equipment, medical equipment, advanced sensors and micro-robots. The company is presently working hard to design multiple atomic batteries that could power automotive technology, as well as AI systems just to name a few. The advantages of atomic energy batteries are their lightweight, long service life, high energy density, and ability to work normally under extreme temperatures (-60 to 120oC). The company seems confident that its development is way ahead of European and American scientific research institutions and enterprises. My question: Where is Canada? It is quite clear that politicians invested in costly EV batteries for cars produced by foreign design and with foreign workers on Canadian soil, are not au current. Wouldn’t it be better to support Canadian scientific development? Both for the environment and our economy? No wonder Canada’s economic future looks grim. Lagging productivity means a declining standard of living and the emigration of our best and brightest. Let us face reality; Canada’s per capita GDP has yet to return to its pre-pandemic level. Indeed, it has been declining. The implications of this lack of productivity growth for our long-term standard of living are dire. The reasons for this can be summarized across five closely interconnected areas: unprecedented population growth, capital investment decline, neglected investment in research and development, structural economic issues, and finally, the policy environment. More people could potentially fuel extensive economic growth, but unless capital investment also grows to boost productivity, economic growth will not follow. Given our population growth rates, we would need to devote nearly 30 percent of our GDP to capital formation. That has not happened in Canada since the wheat boom era of the early 1900s—incidentally also the era of Canada’s fastest population growth. However, the quality and composition of investment also matters, and Canada’s spending on research and development as a share of its GDP has been declining for the last two decades. As a share of its GDP, Canada spends about half that of the U.S., spending less than any other G-7 country. How long will that policy keep us in the G-7? Fossilized structural economic issues persist, and despite the country’s population doubling over the last forty years, our markets are apparently still “too small” to allow for more competition. Combine this with provincial and federal implementation and regulatory environments that have raised the cost of starting just about anything, and you have a recipe for long-term economic decay. The final drop in the bucket in explaining our productivity malaise is a Canadian policy environment, which can be described as frozen in space federalism. At its best, Canadian federalism co-ordinates regional economic policies and practices to promote overall Canadian economic performance. At its worst, Canadian federalism can be a petulant collective of myopic jurisdictions operating at cross-purposes that frustrate any attempts at national coordination. Canada’s provinces and the federal government have become increasingly prone to bickering. Canadian federalism in action has Ottawa controlling the levers of immigration and using this power to increase the population to address aging populations and labour shortages. Unfortunately, they have not considered the consequences on health services and housing stock. The provinces control health and education services but in the wake of rising population and demand both sectors are highly stressed and finding it hard to cope. Then there are the municipalities, which control the key levers for land zoning and housing construction. Yet, despite what seems to be a roaring demand for housing, they are moving slowly, if at all. Canada’s economic strategy seems to have focused on increasing population size while assuming that anything needed to boost productivity would simply take care of itself. (Like Trudeau’s budget?) As a result, we now have a growing population and a bigger market but less competition, resulting in higher prices and fewer services. We are spending more on health and education, but reaping hallway health care and students with declining test scores. Are we really getting our money’s worth? The long-term implications of Canada’s falling per capita GDP is a declining standard of living and ultimately the out-migration of the best and brightest. We are on track to becoming a poorer country with a more fractious political system unable to get things done. Is this the country we want for our children?

UNDERSTANDING, EMPLOYERS ARE SKITTISH

Understandably, Employers Are Skittish When Hiring. Job Seekers Need to Ease Their Concerns. By Nick Kossovan 15 years ago (I'm ballparking), employers hired after two or three interviews. Today, it's common to have five to seven interviews. I seldom encounter a job seeker who empathizes with employers and grasps that hiring is a significant risk, thus understanding why employers tend to be skittish when hiring. Employers are risk-averse. Hiring involves assuming a liability risk. Candidates often, without realizing it, present themselves in a way that gives employers the impression that hiring them would be risky. Will the candidate... · be a fit? · be easy to manage? · look after the company's best interest? · make them (the hiring manager) look good? Add to the above the persistent talk of a looming recession, along with AI rapidly advancing; thus, AI may soon be able to fill the current vacancy. It's no wonder why employers are hyper-cautious when hiring. Think AI won't have an impact on jobs? 37% of 750 business leaders surveyed by ResumeBuilder said AI replaced workers in 2023. 44% predict AI efficiency will lead to layoffs in 2024. The good news is that 96% of companies hiring in 2024 say candidates will benefit from having AI skills. In a recent column, I wrote that I consider AI a human replacement tool, not a productivity tool. As AI adoption increases, employers will closely monitor their employees' productivity versus AI's and lean towards which best serves their self-interests. No employer wants to hire a candidate only to let them go a short time later. "Sorry, Bob, the second and third quarters weren't as strong as we'd hoped; unfortunately, we need to let you go." Today's economic and political climate, combined with seismic changes in the psyches of the younger generation, which are adding fuel to the always-existing discourse between employees and employers, explains why employers hire with extreme caution. As a job seeker, you need to figure out ways to present yourself as a candidate who isn't high-risk. Write the following quote on a Post-it Note and place it where you'll see it daily while job hunting. "Business is all about solving people's problems — at a profit." - Paul Marsden, British writer, businessman and former politician. Job searching is about selling yourself as the solution to an employer's problem. What's the employer's problem? Read the job description. Ask yourself: Why does this position exist? Why was it created? When you answer these questions, you are forced to focus on what the employer wants rather than what you want. Instead of focusing on what you want, get deeply and intensely curious about the employer's needs and wants, increasing revenue and reducing costs being the obvious. (READ: creating a profit ) What do you offer employers that are tangible and measurable that'll facilitate their earnings and, therefore, are worth paying for? If an employer hired you, what kind of ROI would they receive? Employers don't give money to their employees because they want it or feel they deserve it. Employers aren't concerned with what their employees want or feel they deserve. Employees are paid by their employers in exchange for results that help them achieve their business goals. You can gain a significant advantage over your competitors by understanding and empathizing with the risks employers take when hiring. "If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from his angle as well as your own." - Henry Ford In a time of economic uncertainty, rapid technological advancement, and cultural fit becoming increasingly important, job seekers need to address these factors directly. · Economic uncertainty Hyperinflation is shifting consumer behaviour. Geopolitical tensions are becoming more pronounced. There's constant talk of a recession looming. We live in an angst-filled world. In order to ease employers' concerns about where the economy is heading, candidates must demonstrate flexible problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. To be seen as someone who can help the company weather difficult times, prepare a couple of STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories demonstrating you have handled challenging situations or helped your employer through tough times. · Technological advancement It's no longer enough to know the basics of Word and Excel. Today, employers expect their employees to be able to proficiently use multiple tech tools, such as data analysis, online collaboration, project management and, of late, AI prompting. Using tech tools (e.g., QR code, Zoom, Slack) throughout your job search shows that you are tech-savvy without having to say so. · Cultural fit The importance of cultural fit is greater than ever. The slightest sign that you won't fit in - you don't align with the company's values, mission, or work culture - will end your candidacy. By researching the organization's culture, mission, and values, you can then position yourself to demonstrate how your values and work style match the organization's mission and culture. Showing enthusiasm for the company's objectives and illustrating experiences (STAR stories) that resonate with its culture will ease employers' concerns about cultural compatibility. Understanding and mitigating employers' hiring concerns will help you stand out in today's fiercely competitive job market. ___________________________________________________________________________ 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