There are few topics that get my blood boiling more than health care – my beloved Montreal Canadiens is one of them. What once was a trademark of Canada and a symbol of Canadian goodwill has become a shadow of its former self, run down by too many people, not enough money and inefficient practices. Something I was once very proud of, I am now very ashamed of. Oddly, my feelings on healthcare seem to mirror my feelings on Les Canadiens. But my focus here is not on hockey, or on what I’m sure is the top quality health care the members of the Canadiens receive, but the health care we receive, specifically we Albertans, since that is where I am speaking from.

Growing up under the realm of King Ralph, i watched health care fall on Alberta’s priority list. Our hospitals became crowded and seeing people sleeping in hallways became common to the point where they were simply a reality, just like filling up on gas. Small town doctors became fewer and further between, MRI’s became harder to get and hospital triage areas became backlogged and neglected. Slowly but surely, and right before our eyes, our system became based on dealing with emergencies rather then preventing them. And if you had the money, privatization was introduced as an answer to all of your problems; all of this when ironically our province was doing the best it had been doing since health care was introduced. And now, under Steady Eddy, it seems the only thing that is steady is the poor decision making streaming out of the Legislative building, beginning with the LPN vs RN debacle.
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There’s a familiar joke in my province that “B.C.” stands for “bring cash”. The sentiment is fueled by the far-above average house prices in most of the major urban centres in British Columbia. According to the CBC the average house price in Canada is about $330 000 whereas Vancouver is about $610 000. Prices are above Canadian averages in smaller B.C. urban centres like Victoria, Kelowna and Kamloops as well. Affordability hits Canadians hard, especially in B.C. The joke is that average Canadians can not afford to buy houses. For example, Stats Canada lists the average wage in Canada as $22.21 as of September 2009 or approximately $40000 per year. According to the CMHC’s affordability calculator, a person making this wage can expect (with a 5% down payment; $100 per month heating cost; $250 dollar debt repayment; $150 property tax and assuming 4% over 30 year amortization) to be able to afford about a $200 000 house. I admit that I was generous with the numbers as often people have more than $250 debt especially with credit cards, line of credits, and car payments. With higher debt, the affordability drops significantly. This affordability is about $130 000 less than the average house price in Canada. Where I live, in Kamloops, $200 000 will usually buy you a small apartment or mobile home. This may be adequate for an individual but often these are too small for families who need 3 or more bedrooms. To make up for this both parents work usually work to buy a starter home or townhouse.

This is not new news to anyone. Most people are aware of the crunch and that two people need to work to pay a mortgage. However, are most people aware of how the government’s policy with CMHC may be contributing to this affordability crisis?
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I recently had the opportunity to visit a Waldorf school. I was intrigued by the earth friendly curriculum and surroundings: natural beeswax crayons, other supplies made with natural fibre, the chemical free garden, and the holistic and artistic approach to learning. However, although I am not one who likes to challenge other people’s personal beliefs, I found the mythical and spiritual thinking a little disconcerting. I don’t believe that there are little gnomes living in the forest. I have always been a bit of a party pooper. Even as a child, I did not believe in things like Santa, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy, although my skepticism did not prevent me from accepting gifts from these mealy-mouthed fraudsters.

We all have knowledge that others consider fantasies, whether we are adults or children. As a child, I did not believe in Santa or fairies, but I knew that there were giants who strode across the countryside. I saw them occasionally on television, in newspapers and magazines, in school auditoriums, and in the streets. They were our political leaders who seemed like supreme parents who commanded even our parents. In effect, they were guardians of our country. I still see them that way.
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I can’t bring myself to sing the national anthem in public. On the rare occasion (probably the last time I was at a hockey game) where I am required to stand as it plays, I fight the following battle within myself: Sing; No. You’re supposed to; I don’t want to. You’re standing anyway, sing; No, I’ll feel stupid. Isn’t that sad? I’m too cool to sing the Canadian national anthem in a roomful of other Canadians; I haven’t opened my mouth and joined in since elementary school, when it didn’t faze me at all and I belted it out every morning. And I’m not alone – look around your local sporting event – most people are like me, standing silently, waiting for it to be over, or at the very most, mumbling the words quietly under their breath. To be fair, there will always be one or two shameless diehards, bellowing along energetically, bless their hearts.
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One thing that seems to come up when the spotlight shines is the question of how one wants to be seen. The spotlight is only a few short months from shining on Vancouver during arguably the most impressive show of athleticism in the world. The pressure of hosting the Olympics comes from a need to showcase the country’s personality and promise. But what is the image that Canada has chosen, and more importantly who has defined it?

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has been guided through the process by 20 individuals nominated by the Federal Government, the Province of Vancouver, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paraolympic Committee and the local First Nations. The Chair of VANOC is Jack Poole, a prominent Vancouver businessman who is involved in everything from marinas to golf courses, malls and car dealerships. The remaining members of the board of directors are in business, finance, politics and athletics. Our elected politicians have entrusted these people to make decisions that will determine how the world views this country.

VANOC has set its values as Team, Trust, Excellence, Sustainability and Creativity. This reads like a list of most corporate values, values which one cannot help but wonder what would happen if the choice came between making a profit or having environmental sustainability – a look at Alberta’s oil and gas industry would seem to indicate a clear answer.

VANOC has chosen to showcase the multiculturalism that Canada has been famous for. Canadian musicians, dancers and artists have been slated to perform their various acts at locations around the city during the Olympics. From rappers, to Ugandan Dance troops to Jazz musicians – Canada is hoping to prove that they can offer a lot to the international artist community.
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Auditor General Sheila Fraser has made the assertive announcement that despite billions of tax dollars being poured into airport security over the past few years, an act as simple as a background check on the people who work there are run without much thought at all.

If at all…

Day to day, we are led to believe that there is a chance that authorities would not know if those working behind airport security lines were terrorists or drug smugglers.

Fraser’s latest report, zeroing in on wasted government money, includes an account of airport security clearance being granted to someone with assault and weapons convictions, and someone who was under investigation for a murder relating to drug smuggling at a large airport.
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Since its inception in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Canada’s anti-terrorism laws will take effect for the first time. On Thursday, Mohammad Momin Khawaja will be sentenced after being convicted last fall of five counts of facilitating and financing terrorism. For the full story, click here

The budget better be a good one. Canada lost 34,400 jobs in December and 70,600 jobs in November. Now, January’s report indicates that Canada has lost 129,000 more jobs. Again, the manufacturing sector was hit hard primarily in Ontario, with BC and Quebec also taking a significant loss. I hope Prime Minister Stephen Harper will begin to take this situation seriously.

Last month, Harper said that while our job losses are “troubling,” the US is far worse off. It’s time for him to stop looking to the US and to take action to fix Canada’s economy.
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When I first heard about the Canadian do-not-call list a few months ago, I was ecstatic. Finally, I thought, I would be able to get rid of the endless, annoying and constant telemarketing calls that put me past the point of frustration. At the time, I was getting around 2-3 calls per day. It was unbearable. So without thinking twice, I signed up.

For those of you who don’t know, the Canadian do-not-call list allows Canadians to decide whether or not to receive telemarketing calls. Signing up takes about 5 minutes, and upon doing so, a large portion of telemarketers will be forbidden from calling you. If they do, they can face up to a $15,000 fine.

But it’s not all that rosy.
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Barack Obama Being Sworn in as President of the United States

It is inauguration day. Today, we watched history enfold itself. Today we watched a man dedicated to change, dedicated to a world of peace, dedicated to his fellow citizens stand and take power – not into his own hands, but rather into the hands of the future. Today we witnessed the start of a long journey, but one filled with hope. As the torch gets passed from the old generation to the new, questions linger in everyone’s mind, questions only answered by time itself.

During his speech, President Obama did not once look down at his notes, he did not once look down to collect his thoughts, he looked forward. He looked to the seas of people who had been awaiting this day. He looked towards what lies ahead, the heavy tasks that lay in the future to correct this faltered world. He looked towards those who stood in the way of progress and denounced their heavy-handed ways. His action is symbolic of the man he is. Far exceeding his words – which was like poetry, sending chills down my spine and a tear down my cheek – his body showed the world what the future will bring. We must all take sight of this and do the same. Look ahead to your opponents, look ahead to your battle, look ahead to the future, and not at your feet or any small obstacles in the way. Do not shy from any problem, take courage, honor and truth by your side and take the 21st Century as we should have 8 years ago. Above all else take hope, imagination and solidarity for change to create a world of peace, started not by countries, not by politics, not companies or organizations, but started by individuals. Do what is in your power to change the world into a better place.
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