Work Life Balance Doesn’t Exist in Canada

A recent study by an Ontario college says over a third of Canadians spend 10 hours or more at work (though those hours also include the travel time to and from that work).

Everest College in Toronto claims Alberta has the most dedicated workers, with 44 percent of those surveyed saying they spend 10 or more hours per day on office related tasks. Manitoba and Saskatchewan tied at 39 percent, while Ontario and the Atlantic province came in at 38 percent. The west-coast is often mocked for it’s casual hippie-type lifestyles, but maybe that image is true, as only 28 percent of people surveyed from British Columbia said they spend 10-plus hours per day at the office.

Funny thing, when computers were just beginning to enter homes back in the 1980’s, futurists, technological gurus, and computer geeks everywhere were saying that those magic mechanical boxes of blinking lights and whirling noises were going to cut the amount of time spent at work. Some even boldly declared we’d have four-day work weeks by the dawn of the new millennium.

I should have known that was flawed, when 1999 rolled over into 2000, and although everyone was worried about the dangers of Y2K, the work week still was five long, laborious days.

Computers actually in more instances than not, INCREASED our amount of time at the office. They constantly fill our minds with emails, instant messages, and manage our overflowing voice-mails. Instead of walking over to our colleague’s desk to discuss that new report, we just send it through email – and in turn, that once 25-page report comes back to us through email, often hundreds of pages more, and requiring a read through.

Thanks to computers, we can work at home – many offices have secure networks you can link to, and our voice networks – run by computers – allow us to call into conference calls from anywhere around the world.

That also means we can be reached at anytime, anywhere by work. How many of you have taken your office-issued BlackBerry or other smart phone with you on vacation, only to find yourself reading and responding to work related emails?

And if your co-workers can email you even when you are on vacation, they can call you too. “Just email that contract to my BlackBerry, I’ll sign it right away.”

As the labour market continues to shift from an employee-based one, towards contract and temporary consultant-based, more people are burning the midnight oil at the office.

Companies generally don’t care if they burn out a contracted consultant, they don’t have to pay for your benefits, so if you get sick or develop psychological issues from being constantly under the gun, it’s no skin off their back. Need to take time off to deal with that overtime-related stress? Doesn’t bother your “employer” – contractors don’t generally get sick days, extended medical coverage, or other benefits, so it won’t cost your boss anything if you take it off. Worse still, consultants only get paid for the time they spend working, so anytime of is lost wages.

And as more and more full-time staff jobs are lost in the new economy, there are suddenly a whole lot more people willing to work those excessive inhumane hours, just to keep a roof overhead, and food in their tummies.

Statistics Canada’s employment numbers for this month weren’t very good – the Canadian government department which keeps tabs on these things says the economic recovery has slowed down, as thousands more full-time permanent jobs have disappeared, most likely forever.

This tosses fear into the working world, causing those with staff jobs to do whatever it takes – even if it means working more hours than are healthy – in the hopes that our employers will spare our jobs from the cutting block.

And so continues the cycle of constantly increasing working days, and shorter recovery times.

Time for a break . . . I think . . .

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The Real Humanitarian Thing to do is Often Just Say NO

Last week, a rag-tag cargo ship with almost 500 Tamils from Sri Lanka docked at a Canadian Navy base in British Columbia. The people on board were trying to sneak into Canada undetected, but thankfully our authorities were more than aware of their presence.

Many of the 490 people on the ship were sick, and carrying highly deadly and infectious diseases. Had they managed to cross into Canada undetected, they would have put many lives at risk.

They are all claiming refugee status, saying that they fled their homes because their lives were in danger.

Federal and local authorities are investigating as to whether the cargo ship is part of a people smuggling operation linked the Tamil Tigers, a terrorist organization which has been banned in Canada, the States and many other western countries.

People smugglers often lure poor people in third world countries to first world countries (such as Canada and the States), saying for a small percentage of their earnings, they will earn their citizenship. However, once here, these unsuspecting people find themselves working in prostitution, drug trafficking, weapons shipping, or as slaves to crime family members, for little or no pay.

Today, rumors spread as other cargo ships, crammed with men, women and children – there were 50 children on the ship that docked last week – are en-route to Canada, all aboard seeking illegal entry.

Canada is known for being very friendly to people from all over the world who want to call this place home. We rarely turn away anyone, so why then, would people who wish to live here try to sneak in?

Granted, the immigration procedure to get into Canada, as with most things run by the government, is a long and tedious process – as it should be.

We have to look out for ourselves – as the Canadian Border Patrol can attest too, letting in people who carry infectious diseases could cripple this country. 

Those who bring with them weapons banned here could endanger the lives of all around them. And then there are those who are terrorists or human traffickers, bringing people in to run their crime syndicates.

Clearly, there is more here than just rubber stamping everyone that claims refugee status into the country.

Granted not everywhere around the world enjoys the freedoms we have here, but that doesn’t make it right for unscrupulous souls to sell over-priced admission on cramped ships, to sneak others into the country.

Anytime you have to sneak into something, chances are it just isn’t right.

There are Canadian embassies the world over, even in war torn Sri Lanka where the latest boatload of refugee claimants originated. The right way to come to Canada, is through official channels.

You don’t barge into someone’s home unannounced, expecting to be welcome with open arms. Why should we expect any less from those seeking to come to our country?

The Canadian government should do the right thing – check on the medical needs of all those who were on the ship, to ensure their medical needs are looked after. And then, they should be sent back to Sri Lanka, and instructed on how to apply to come here the legal and proper way.

By doing this, we aren’t shirking our humanitarian responsibilities, yet we aren’t allowing others to walk over our openness and acceptance of others either.

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A War Zone For Sale – Canada’s New Global Image?

This week, Canada plays host to the most economically potent, politically powerful world leaders, as the country hosts both the G8 Summit in Huntsville, Ontario, and the larger G20 Summit in Toronto, Ontario.

Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper says this is a time for the country to shine, to show us off on the world stage.

That may be true, as media from around the world will be following the antics of world leaders during both summits.

However, consider this, in order to host both these events, security measures so stringent have been put in place, the image these international media-types are getting isn’t the Canada that we’ve come to know and love – or the rest of the world for that matter.

Internationally, Canadians are thought of as being a peaceful lot. Overly polite, friendly, beer drinking hockey fans – that’s us.

Thousands of riot police on horseback, foot and in armoured vehicles, waving batons, armed with fully automatic weapons, while military helicopters hover overhead. Huge concrete barricades, and solid steel fences surround designated “security zones,” as supposedly peaceful Canadian citizens are thoroughly questioned by heavily armed police prior to entering or leaving these “security zones.”

That’s the image the media are seeing now – today – right this very moment, because all the above is going on right now in Huntsville and Toronto.

Statues and historic buildings have been boarded up to protect them from battle. Mailboxes, newspaper stands, even some trees have been removed, because the lame-ass security company – which isn’t even licensed to practice security in Ontario (they are from British Columbia) – says they can be used as weapons against police.

Peel and stick Plexiglas – I didn’t even know they made that stuff – has been applied to the first three stories of all windows on all buildings within specific security zones. Other buildings have been boarded up with planks of wood.

These are the images the media from around the world are getting of peaceful Canada.

Famous tourist attractions are being shut down. Toronto’s most internationally recognizable symbol – the CN Tower has been ordered closed by the police, for fear it could draw protesters or even terrorists.

Toronto’s Major League Baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays were scheduled to play a game here in Toronto this weekend – that’s been moved, again for security concerns.

Family-run mom and pop shops and restaurants – which really give Toronto it’s peaceful, multicultural spice – are allowed to be open, but as the concrete barricades separate them from the rest of the city, they won’t have any customers and stand to lose thousands of dollars.

Tourists are being warned not to come to Canada during the summits – the American State Department even issued a travel advisory for Toronto, advising American’s not to come here.

The international media is being shown a Canada which resembles a country in the midst of a civil war, where the totalitarian government dictates where its citizens can and can’t be by use of military law.

That’s not really Canada – honest. Unfortunately seeing is believing.

What’s to come?

If history repeats itself – as it unfortunately often does – thousands of angry people will rattle the cages setup around the security zone, throwing things, challenging the police, military and security persons on site.

Then the media will see a war zone, as riot police go in with their water cannons, tanks, and weapons, to quash the riot, all under the guise of protecting the peace.

Funny, how whenever the world’s most powerful leaders get together, the issues they came to discuss are always overshadowed in the media by the violent protests.

But then, everyone loves to see someone get shot by a water cannon – those images attract more readers and watchers, which in turn brings in more advertising dollars, which is why the media from around the world will be wined and dined, but still focus on the violence on the street, rather than the stuffy suits and ties in the boardrooms.

Yes Prime Minister Stephen Harper, by playing host to the G8 and G20 Summits, the world will see Canada front and center. But it isn’t the Canada you wanted them to see now, is it?

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So Much for Our Polite National Pride

Tomorrow, Canada’s ruling Conservative government launches a new session of Parliament, with a throne speech, and then the day after they release their new budget outlining how the federal government will spend Canadians hard earned dollars.

A mere days after the amazingly warm – and sadly rare – outpouring of Canadian pride thanks to our country’s hosting of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, our politicians are going back to their old tricks, which may be the reason we generally only see Canadian red and white spirit on Canada’s Birthday July 1.

American news anchor Brian Williams, of NBC fame, was so touched by our honest to goodness polite national nature, he wrote a thank-you note upon wrapping up his broadcasting of the Olympic Winter Games.

“Thank you, Canada: For being such good hosts,” he wrote. “For your unfailing courtesy.”

NBC’s Williams saw our Canadian pride, and was touched, he continued: “For your unique TV commercials -- for companies like Tim Hortons -- which made us laugh and cry. For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon. For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games -- you've made wearing your name a cool thing to do.”

For the 17-day run of the winter games in Vancouver, BC, Canada, we Canadians witnessed something we just don’t see enough of in this country – national pride.

Every day and night in the stands Canadian flags flickered from the waving hands of proud Canadians wearing our national colors of red and white. The streets of Vancouver were completely covered with many more fans in red and white, sporting jerseys with “CANADA” on them.

Even during the games, bars, restaurants, clubs and streets in cities and towns from coast-to-coast-coast were plastered in red and white. A portion of Yonge Street in Toronto, Canada had to be shut down when the Canadian Men’s Hockey team won the Gold against a game with the rival American team. While our Canadian Women’s Hockey team drew public scrutiny for being typically Canadian in celebrating their Gold medal victory – they were apparently being very loud, drinking beers and smoking cigars in a pub shortly after their win. Also in typically Canadian fashion, we apologized for their behavior – Hockey Canada issued a public apology on their behalf.

Both the opening and closing ceremonies were wonderful examples of pure Canadianna, filled with national symbols and treasures, and many moments when many Canadians – including this one in particular – were so filled with Canadian pride, tears welled up in our eyes.

But that Canadian pride, as amazingly wonderful a thing it is to publicly display and to share, disappeared just as quick as the last flame was extinguished in the Olympic Cauldron.

Instead of carrying the energy, drive and determination which a strong sense in one’s country fuels, our federal politicians have chosen the easier, and less Canadian route.

The opposition parties are already plotting how they can “de-throne” the throne speech, by re-igniting the burning tensions which caused Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to delay Parliament in the first place. Some will use his delay as fuel to their flames no doubt, as that decision in of itself placed the Prime Minister and his party on lose footing with the public.

In business, a sense of pride in one’s professional accomplishments often comes from the leaders at the top. Companies which have open, honest and publicly proud leaders, have open, honest and publicly proud employees.

Just as in business, countries leaders often set the tone for their citizens. So when a country sees its leaders display dishonestly, and bicker and fight with each other instead of doing things which demonstrate pride and the typical politeness of Canadian values, is it any wonder why we Canucks suffer from a lost sense of national pride?

Even during the enormous emotional Canadian pride sweeping throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, our nation’s top dog continued his usual lackluster ways.

There were times when the camera focused on our Prime Minister during the closing ceremonies, where our nation’s leader actually appeared bored. There is still the question as to whether or not he was actually singing our national anthem during the closing ceremonies – from the images captured of him during the event, he may not have even been doing this simple gesture – which any nation’s leader should be more than willing to do.

There is more to building a strong and progressive nation than creating public policies. Leading by example is the most important thing – and in terms of leading a nation, that means oozing national pride to the point of excess. That excessive sense of pride filters down, and fosters that one thing we lack most in one of the richest countries on the planet – national pride.

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Airport Security Sees You Naked – Even While Wearing Clothes

Just how comfortable are you with your body? Now imagine complete strangers eyeballing you up and down – just how comfortable are you with your body?

You may be asking yourself just that question if you catch a flight at Canada’s busiest airport – Lester B. Pearson, in Toronto, ON.

The airport is considering implementing a new scanning technology being tested in several airports in the States, and already in use in one airport off Canada’s west-coast in British Columbia, which scans through clothing.

The scanner in question uses the latest in X-Ray, heat sensing, and other technologies – which have been deemed “classified” by the American government’s Department of Homeland Security – to get up close and personal with passers-by. It can even detect body piercings and some tattoos (depending on the type of ink used).

Air travel has undergone quite the transformation over the years – thanks to terrorist activities, most notably those on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on what has been branded as “9-11.”

Image by wallyg via Flickr

I remember a television commercial back in the 1980’s for American Airlines, where a couple of cute kids (a boy and a girl) run past security, down the boarding tunnel, and into their grandparents arms. Everyone turns and sighs “awe” all teary-eyed, as the jingle began in the background.

These days, even the cutest kids running past security at an airport could easily be shot dead.

That is unless security first scans them from head to toe, sans clothing.
Just how much more of our private selves must we sacrifice to travel by air? It is one thing to scan people as they board a plane for things on our person, in our luggage and carry-on bags. But does some complete stranger, have to see us completely naked?

In the American airports where this scanning technology is in place, they have placed the monitors in a small locked room, with one sole security guard, who watches them, only alerting the guard at the actual scanner by pressing a button when he suspects something isn’t just right. Then the guard at the scanner will take the suspected person into custody for a “chat.”

At the British Columbian airport where the scanner is in use, passengers have the option of being manually scanned instead of being forced through the scanner.

But the fact that any airport anywhere in the world is using technology which can show, record, and store images of our naked bodies is wrong.

The American Department of Homeland Security assures us that the images will only be retrieved and reviewed if absolutely necessary, and for the safe

Image via Wikipedia

ty and security all those involved.

Still, despite all the security checks and balances, there will always be the odd ball employee who sneaks through the cracks. How would you feel if nude pictures of you suddenly appeared on the Internet?

Or what about celebrities – just think how easy it would be for one of these security guards to access the scanned images of some famous person, and then sell them on eBay for a small fortune.

Regardless of what is done with the images once captured, the fact that a complete stranger is watching my bare body as I walk through the scanner freaks me out.

As impressive as the technology is, it is overstepping the line between acceptable levels of security and paranoia, which breaches the right of individual privacy.

What business is it of the airline or the government what piercings or tattoos people have as they board a plane?

In this era of pandemic viruses spreading like wildfire, what’s stopping the governments from using these scanners to detain people who appear to have some rash, or other physical signs of illness?

Imagine being stopped, strip searched, fingerprinted, and being poked and prodded by some strange medical practitioner because the security guard operating the scanner thought you were carrying some strange disease – when the rash on your chest was nothing more than an allergic reaction to last night’s dinner?

There is security for the sake of actually protecting people and property, and then there is overkill. This new see-through-the-clothes scanner is overkill, and hopefully the government does the right thing and kills this project, before it begins.

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Canadian Study Claims Flu Shot Increases Chances of Contracting H1N1 Swine Flu

For many in Canada and around the world, it is an annual fall tradition – rolling up your sleeve for the once-a-year flu shot.

Medical experts for years have been telling us these shots are good for everyone, as they really do help keep society safe from the flu, by reducing contamination rates.

This may change, if an unpublished Canadian study proves to be true. The series of studies from British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario says that those who got a seasonal flu shot last year are almost twice as likely to catch H1N1 Swine Flu when compared to those who have not had the annual vaccination.

The study’s lead writer’s have submitted a scientific paper to a medical journal, but won’t comment on it until it has been reviewed by other medical experts.

Image via Wikipedia

Traditionally, medical journals prohibit researchers from discussing their unpublished work, prior to it being reviewed and published.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned that this unpublished study will deter people from getting their annual flu shot, and is encouraging its member countries to promote and provide both seasonal and H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic flu shots.

News of the unpublished study isn’t new – the Public Health Agency of Canada knew of this study some time ago and has been keeping a low profile while it tries to determine the validity of the research.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control also knew of the unpublished study, and has dismissed it due to lack of similar evidence in the States.

Whether the study is accurate or flawed remains the question for medical experts – but the immediate concern remains: should I or shouldn’t I get a flu shot this year?

Flu shots aren’t golden tickets promising those who get them a flu-free season. Every year, microbiologists, virologists and other scientists work together to crack the flu vaccine secret code for the following flu season. Their research is based on the trends going on around the world with the current flu variants, and the seriousness of those infections.

The flu virus is usually made to counter the effects of three strains of the flu – and these three strains are the ones those medical miracle workers believe are the most likely ones to harm the public.

That’s why the flu vaccine may differ in results from year-to-year. Usually the brains behind the vaccine are pretty accurate, but just two years ago they admitted defeat, as they publicly stated that they had predicted the wrong variants, and so the flu shot didn’t do as much good as it could have.

But with this new unpublished study making the rounds of medical experts desk’s the question isn’t if the annual seasonal flu shot will work, but rather, will it make you more likely to catch the deadly H1N1 Swine Flu?

And that’s the question I’d like to know the answer too.

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