WHO IS THE FRASER INSTITUTE?? AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

The beauty of living in a country such as Canada, in this day and age, is that we have free speech.  Sure, but some free speech has a much bigger impact than other free speech.  Especially not-for-profit free speech with millions of dollars backing it, in addition to money OUTSIDE of Canada!  Yes.

The Fraser Institute is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Now, British Columbia is a bad-boy province in terms of its social safety net.  In fact, they made the news in March 2010- click on the "date" to go to website- for their proposed cuts.

The Fraser Institute is classified as a non-profit, registered charity.  Since it is a registered charity, you can go on the Revenue Canada website and read the annual submission and financial information.

According to the Fraser Institute website, they have 50 board members.  I started to check out who these people are- well, as you would guess, some of the top earning people in the country.  With a huge stake in ensuring they and their companies pay as little in taxes as possible.  I found a site that did a little resume on who the board members are/were.  Check it out at

http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/09/fraser

The Fraser Institutes's mission statement is "A free and prosperous world through choice markets and responsibility".  Hmmmm world- market- but in my opinion, the only responsibility is to themselves.  If they were responsible and wanted a prosperous world they would be in favour of stabilizing the economies by lobbying for fair taxation.  Just in case you missed a post- we did have a good long stretch of time when we had a very prosperous society- after World War II- at that time the wealthy and the big corporations were taxed highly.  This created huge growth in our economy and stability.

According to their 2009 charitable return - here are some highlights I cut and pasted in - bold, italics and underline all mine: 

FRASER INSTITUTE ISSUES REPORT ON HEALTH CARE- BE VERY CONCERNED

The Fraser Institute, not for profit- but very very rich- a right wing Canadian Think Tank- with 50 Board Members-  has issued a report in support of the Provinces  ( they left out the Territories- I think they need a geography lesson) suspending the Health Care Act.  This is going to be a long post.   I am going to just paste in the report for you to read.  I will then do a separate post on the Fraser Institute.  According to their submission to Revenue Canada, they do not partake in any political activities.

The Canadian Health Coalition has really good, reader friendly, info on our health care system and some of the background of big Pharma Companies.  For example, did you know that Canadians spent $21 billion in prescriptions in 2007.  This was more than the money spent in 2007 on all doctor services in Canada.  With our aging population you can bet the big Pharma Companies are seeing big pots of gold!

Be informed...the report is below.

Love and All Good Things,

The Peaceful Matriarch


Here is the report and the initial email from the Canadian Health Coalition:

FIRST REAL SNOW

Our first foray into winter.  It came savagely.  Howling winds, blowing snow, freezing rain.  Yet, what is not to love? 

I had to go out eventually- one does have to eat.  I bundled up in my windpants, anorak jacket, my knit scarf, warm warm mitts, my big sorrell boots...and loved every minute of being in the wildness of it all.

As my car warmed up enough for the slabs of ice and snow to slide off, I shoveled what little snow had accumulated.  It was an easy shovel job- the snow was more powdery than heavy.  I breathed the air- feeling the snowflakes catch in my nose and throat.  So very cool and refreshing.  The snow melted on my cheeks and I could feel them go rosy red.

As I headed out to do errands I felt such gratitude for the beauty before me.  The snow dresses up the world.  The snow forces everyone to slow down. 

While waiting at a light I was transported back to some of my winters in the NWT.  Evenings so crisp with the cold- greenish northern lights like flowing ribbons in the sky- the stars twinkling- everything feeling so close.  My favourite evenings were at 30 below zero.  The absolute best time to breathe the cold air into your lungs...And the best time to split wood.  The kids would be sleeping...I would steal out feeling the sheer joy in the exercise and the time alone.  Due to the dryness and cold, the wood split swiftly as the axe hit.

Snow and winter mean warm crackling fires; hot chocolate; curled on the couch with the kids watching movies- eating popcorn.  Or reading.

HELENE (CROFT) GIRARD- CANADIAN ARTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE

ocean sculpture- helene g. croft

Tonight I was looking at an art card that was given to me when I lived in the Northwest Territories.  It is called "Ocean Sculpture" by Helene G. Croft. As you can see, it is a stunning piece of art.  Helene gave me a box of the art cards one year for Christmas. I have given a few of the cards away but always keep one on my mantle.

I will often go on to her website just to look at her breath taking work.  I could sit for hours exploring through her paintings so vibrant and rich in colour. They make me homesick for the North!   You can feel the beauty, the strength, the isolation come through in her paintings. And yes, the colours you see in her paintings are true to the colours of the North.  Helene has skillfully captured our True North Strong and Free.  Her work will give you a taste of Canada you have never yet seen unless you have been North of 60.

Her works are mainly in acrylics and watercolours.  You will find nature and aviation are her favourite subjects. Birchwood Gallery in Yellowknife, NWT carries her work.  She is now residing in Gatineau, Quebec.  

Need a unique gift for someone special?  Check out her website at http://www.arthelenegirard.com/gallerygalerie.html. 

Feeling like you need a break?  A pick-me up? Some beauty to make your heart warm? Go to Helene's website, click on an image and you too could spend a few hours immersed in a slide show of her extraordinary Canadian Art.  I promise you will be overwhelmed with joy!

It appears she is still doing commission work and teaching violin.  I wish her all the success, abundance and joy!

I will own one of her paintings...the trouble is I will have a very tough time choosing just one.

Love and All Good Things,

The Peaceful Matriarch

STARTING FINANCIAL PLANS FOR CHILDREN

I am often asked about what kind of financial plans would be good for children.  You can start a financial plan for your child from when they are newborns. 

(Note:  I can not be held responsible for how you use this information.  Always consult your financial advisor, accountants and tax specialists.)

Here are some frequently asked questions and some approaches:

What would be the purpose of getting a life insurance policy for a baby or a child under the age of 18?  They do not have any assets or tax issues.

Starting a permanent (whole life) or permanent participating plan for babies/children is a very wise decision.  

Although we do not want to think of our children passing away before us, we do not have a crystal ball.  If they should, the cost of a funeral is quite high. In addition, you will need time for the grieving process.  The last thing you want to deal with is financial issues.  I urge every single parent to make sure they have a small policy.

Permanent life insurance policies for children are very inexpensive.  For anywhere from $10 a month cdn and up, you can have a very nice plan.  Especially if they are participating plans.  (Participating means that the policies are pooled and then dividends issued once a year to the policy holders.  Dividends can be used to purchase more insurance within the plan or can accumulate or pay out.)

Insurance is based on age, health and gender.  If you purchase a plan while the child is young, you lock in the premiums for life. (If the plan costs $10, the premium will stay at $10.00 for the life of the insured.)  Many companies have plans that can be paid up in 10 15 or 20 years.  The premiums are higher to cover the cost of insurance.  After the 10, 15 or 20 years, you have a paid up plan.  We have policies that are paid up by age 65.  There are lots of choices.  Pick a plan that meets your objectives.

MYTH #4: GET A JOB AND AVOID POVERTY!

The following is extracted from Canada Without Poverty's presentation in Yellowknife, NWT, Canada Oct 2010.

"True, having a job makes it more likely that an adult will not be poor, and having two

working adults in a household makes it even more likely that that household will not be poor. But having a job isn’t necessarily a ticket out of poverty. Canada has one of the highest proportions of low-paid workers among industrialized countries. About one in six workers, one in five female workers, and one in 10 full-time workers are low paid and earning poverty wages.No minimum wage rate in Canada comes close to reaching the level of a living wage: the highest minimum wage rates pay about 66% to 75% of living wage rates.

Moreover, it is clear that social policy, or the strength or weakness of the social safety net, is as important as employment, and perhaps even more important, in poverty prevention, alleviation or reduction. "

See tables from the National Council of Welfare.

Here are some facts from the National Council of Welfare (an advisory board of the Federal Gov't.  Lots of advice- but how much is heeded?  Poverty Profile Report 2007.

• Poor Seniors receive most of their income from gov't transfers
• Very few working-age families living in poverty rely only on welfare.  
• Most depend on employment earnings to get by

"Often the stereotype is that all poor people live off welfare.  It's just not true.  Welfare does play an important role in providing income to some of those living in poverty.  However, many people living in poverty depend on income other than welfare to get by."

" Female lone-parent families living in poverty were the most likely to rely primarily on welfare (36%).  However, an almost equal number (31%) depended mainly on earnings."

And the inequalities continue.  The gap between the rich and the more grows each year.  Specifically, the top 1%. Lets face it, how much can a wealthy consumer consume? Betcha they consume in many other places than Canada!

ENERGY HEALING

Today at 11:22 pm marks the end of the New Reality Transmission Project.  I will be looking forward to hearing what they have to say.

I love Sunday.  Sunday has beautiful energy.  A time to wind down, a time to get ready for the next week.  A time of reflection of what has happened during the week.

I have been posting a lot of information about Poverty, the Gov't and Corporations.  I am doing this not to dwell on these issues but to accumulate all the information into one space- to remind people, to educate people.  Hopefully over the coming weeks I will be able to articulate the purpose.  For now, it is like I said before.  All of this is a result of past action, past decisions.  More importantly, you, me- all of us- we can change the world, just by how we think and feel.

We are going through a major transformation- we are lucky to have so many choices before us.  The most powerful force on this planet is love, then gratitude.  How we feel creates our thoughts and actions.  We have more control than we realize.

To help us along the way, we have energy workers trained in many many modalities.  The modality does not matter- what matter is the healing.

Reiki.  I love Reiki.  It is a powerful force not only for deep healing but as a way of life.  Many energy (or light) workers have more than one career. Sometimes we get so bogged down in the hard matter of every day life we compartmentalize ourselves between the spiritual and the physical work we do.  I think many of us have these challenges to overcome- healers or not.

SIMPLE SCARF PATTERN

Blue Water Creations- Arctic Ice- 2009

I picked up this scarf pattern while shopping at Stychentyme, Jasper, Alberta, Canada .  I modified the pattern - I believe that "Kathy" was the pattern maker.

What you need:

• Gather all the scraps of yarn, fibers, wools etc you have.One of my favorite yarns to work with is a rayon that is no longer being produced- too bad because it was soft, strong and gave a beautiful strength to the project.
• Separate into pleasing combinations of colour, texture etc.
• Make sure all the balls are wound and ready to use.
• Select anywhere from 1 type of yarn to 10- totally your choice
• Use the longest circular needle you have- the size can range from 5mm-7mm. It depends on the wools etc you are using. I generally use a 6 mm.
  
  
• If you want to add to your stock pile, purchase single balls of wacky yarns, fibers, etc.  I checked on line and a good place to look at a wide variety is http://www.woolneedlework.com/Yarn/fancy_effect_yarns.htm

The beauty of this project is you can design the scarf as you go along.  You will be knitting the scarf length wise.  By the time you finish all the rows, your scarf will be finished.

OUR HOODWINKED SOCIETY

Yes, I know, you expected a knitting pattern.  And, I will post it. But not today.

I am not able to post it tonight as I am highly agitated and, frustrated- feeling as if I need to mobilize. 

It is true you know, when you need information, all you need to do is ask the Universe, your guides, angels- whatever you believe in.  Ask clearly and directly- then let it manifest itself.

I am deeply troubled by the Canadian Health Coalition Pledge.  Not by anything they have done, but because of our Government.  Having worked with National organizations and committees on issues of poverty, child care and human rights, I know the solution is so very simple.  It angers me that we live in such a wealthy, beautiful country and we see our safety net in health, welfare, pension, employment insurance- desecrated before our eyes.

And Prime Minister Harper is standing there oh so woefully- yes, it is going to cost billions and oh my, just how are we going to fund it!  Well, Prime Minister Harper, you may think we are all unsophisticated, easily hoodwinked country bumpkins, but there are many many people in this country that know the truth.  The answer is - tax the wealthy and our corporations.  Now, before you stop reading in disgust, let me tell you here and now that if you think for one second that the wealthy people and corporations are fairly taxed - you truly are hoodwinked.

So, I stopped fuming and put it out to the Universe- answers please!  Then I took my kids off to a used book store as they needed some magazines for projects they were working on.  As I lost myself in the miles of books (truly in heaven)  I came across Linda McQuaig's book- "Behind Closed Doors- How the Rich Won Control of Canada's Tax System...And Ended Up Richer".  Well, I also grabbed her other extremely controversial book of the year (1995) "Shooting the Hippo".  Interestingly enough, on the back of the latter book, Conrad Black is quoted as saying " She should be horsewhipped."  Hmmmm- definitely need to read! I am familiar with Linda McQuaig's newer books such as in "It's in the Crude, Dude".  (Go to your local bookstore-used or new; the library- you will be in for a real education.)

We got home and I could not wait to start reading.  Utter and total disbelief! This book was published in 1987.  Nothing has changed, in fact it has gotten worse. 

What are we hood winked about?  How deeply entrenched our government, our money, our lives, our future is with the wealthy and the BIG Corporations.  Laws governing our taxes, the investment industry, tax shelters, getting rid of the inheritance tax, increasing the principal residence deduction, no taxes on capital gains, tax subsidies, tax credits and best of all- corporations deferring taxes and simply not paying them at all.  Billions of dollars lost. Billions.

What it all boils down to is huge grants being given to corporations and using our tax system/governance as a gigantic ATM machine!!!

CREATIVE POWER

Did you join in the meditation tonight at 11:11 pm?  We are on Day 8 of 11...if you have not heard about this, see my blog of Nov 15, 2010 or go to the New Reality Transmission Website (click here).

Creative Power is love.  Love creates.  We all have a need to create- whether it be through art, music, gardening, construction, quilting, sewing.  We all create in our work- if we have passion for what we do.  Have passion or find another outlet! 

Thurs night for over 30 years has always been a sacred time for me to delve into another aspect- that of creation.  I see my knitting needles or some beautiful fabric and I am immediately transported....the colours....the textures....the vision of the finished piece.  I itch for the time the kids are in bed and I can start my latest project.

Every year at this time, when the days are short and the air is cool it is almost like some instinct takes over!  I take out all my "books" and begin going through and picking out what I am going to make everyone for Christmas.  Of course, starting these projects at the end of November is slightly ridiculous and often garners huge guffaws from my close friends.  It gives one such a warm feeling when you have people who know you so well!!!  What can I say?  It is like that huge buffet of food- so many choices, so little room (or time)!

MANAGING YOUR RISK TO RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS

(Note:  I cannot be held responsible for how you use this information. Please contact the professionals in your life.)

(Note #2: I am adding this link for an article in the Globe & Mail: Protect Your Biggest Asset: Your Future Income from Nov 16, 2010.  Added Nov 18, 2010 at 4:05 pm.  Someone brought this to my attention- synchronisity!)

Watch this and come back to the post....Suzanne Aucoin Story

One burning desire I have is that financial information be taught in school.  It is so important in this changing world to be knowledgeable about risk management.  Everything from life insurance to vehicle insurance- this MUST be taught in high school. 

I think of the months I spent studying my courses- often people do not pass on the first try- it is a lot of information!  Even with all my financial background, I found I was so sadly misinformed about risk management and wealth management.  (I was able to pass my exams on the first go!)

The foundation of my business is education to my clients.  From my reading of our professional journals, it seems the Federal Gov't is waking up to the reality as well.  More on this later.

Earlier this week I invited you all to join the Canadian Health Coalition's campaign.  

I know what to tell you how you can minimize your risks, protect your assets and your future in this day of raising health care costs.

Not sure- need proof- check out the documentary Poor No More. Or what about Suzanne Aucoin - she had Group Benefits.  She eventually succombed to her cancer.  See more on her story

LIVING BENEFITS...

Living Benefits have evolved to fill in the gaps left by our Health Care System, Employment Insurance and Workers Compensation, Canada Pension Plan Disability - name a few.

Most advisors can offer:

• Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Long Term Care Insurance 

All of these plans were designed to a) work together  b) provide an income benefit should you become disabled, critically ill, unable to perform any two of your daily living activities.  There are usually provisions for dementia, mental illness, alzhiemers etc.

Here is a quiz for you....

1. What are your chances of having your house burnt to the ground?
2. What are your chances of having your vehicle demolished in a car accident?
3. What are your chances of dying before age 65?
4. What are your chances of suffering a disability for longer than 90 days before age 65?
5. What are your changes of becoming critically ill before age 65?

MYTH #3: CANADA IS GETTING RICHER AND POVERTY IS DECREASING

...THE RISING TIDE OF WEALTH CREATION IS LIFTING ALL THE BOATS....

"On the whole, Canadian wealth, by net worth 1, is increasing, but essentially only for the top 50% of Canadian Households, in particular for the richest 30% of households, and even more specifically for the top 10% of households, driven principally by massive gains for the top 1%. 

Over the past several decades, Canada's poverty rate (inferred from the Low Income Cut-Off After Tax) had generally oscillated between 10-16%" Extracted with permission from  "Debunking the Myths of Poverty" Prepared and presented by Rob Rainer, Executive Director, Canada Without Poverty- Yellowknife, NWT Oct 2010.   1 Net worth is the total assets-liabilities

Check out the reports and graphs prepared by Dr. Lars Osberg, Dalhousie University.

HOW ABOUT THIS...DID YOU KNOW...

KIEFER SUTHERLAND & CDN MEDICARE PLEDGE- PART ONE

This week - November 15th- is National Medicare Week in Canada. 

Kiefer Sutherland's (actor- 24 tv series) grandfather Tommy Douglas founded our Medicare System in 1947.  You can Kiefer speak out, via video on the Canadian Health Coalition Team website, about his support for Canada's National Medicare Program.

The Canadian Health Coalition Team has put out the following alert.  Go to their website (click on their name above or below and you will go directly to the site).  Once on their website, you can join the pledge or email the Prime Minister of Canada or both.

Why is there not enough money and what is going to happen in 2014? 

There are several reasons for the lack of money.  Currently the Gov't covers about 69% of our health care costs.  Increase in costs and aging population can certainly be pointed to. 

HOWEVER.....

Often what happens is we get information and then we forget about it. When it comes to our Governments, for the most part, the masses are not educated or knowledgeable (or really care) where their money goes.

So why are we here?  Well, in the mid 1990's the Federal Government changed how it was funding the Provinces/Territories in financial transfers.  This action left big holes in Provincial/Territorial budgets. 

In addition, around the same time, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives lobbied the Federal Gov't successfully to have Corporate tax rates lowered.   Did you know you pay more in taxes than the Corporations?    Before the Corporate tax rate was lowered, Corporations were paying 75% of the taxes and individuals were paying 25% of the taxes. 

Now it is the exact opposite.  A non believer?  Check it out for yourself. Not sure where to even look?  It is called Public Accounts of Canada.  I went in and did a quick tally- sure enough, it is true.

In 2003, the Federal Gov't set up a Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada.  There was actually a First Ministers Accord on Health Care Renewal reached in 2003.  So...in 7 years, what has been implemented??  I am still trying to find out...


For more information on Health Care in Canada- continue to read over the next few days. 

Take Action for Health Care

Dear friend,

NEW REALITY TRANSMISSION- DAY 5- JOIN THE WORLD MEDITATION CIRCLE

I would normally post this topic on Tuesday however, I want this to get out to as soon as possible so more people can participate.

New Reality Transmission started a world wide meditation circle on November 11, 2010.  If you are reading this on November 15, 2010, we are now on Day 5 of 11.

New Reality Transmission, according to their website, "is a full time international team of physicists and mathematicians.  Our mission is to finalize a historical discovery of how gravity, electromagnetism, the nuclear forces of space and consciousness are part of the same unified field...a realm of information where consciousness literally interacts with geometry on a quantum scale to define everything we define as reality."

They have asked the world to follow them for 11 days of group meditation, starting on November 11, 2010 at 11:11 am EST or 11:11 pm EST, for 11 minutes.




They have a beautiful visual of the Earth and Enya's Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) playing in the background.


I encourage you to join in...here are some steps if you are new to meditating...

FRIENDS ON OUR JOURNEY

Much has been said about friends...I have no doubt each of you receive at least one mass-email blast a day about friendship...and please pass it on.

As I sit here and ponder the powerful bond of the friends in my life, I feel overwhelmed by love and gratefulness.

I spent a couple of hours on the phone tonight talking to a beautiful soul and a very dear friend.  We do not get to talk very often, but when we do connect I feel like I am right there with her, drinking tea as we laugh ourselves silly!  I remember many nights talking with her into the wee hours of the morning- trying to quilt or do whatever project we had on hand. 

Tonight she delivered her "news"- the kind no woman ever wants to hear- breast cancer.  She just had her surgery and is now waiting for answers.

As a financial advisor we deal in statistics all the time.  The stats for Critical Illness, Disability and needing long term care before age 65 is one person in two.  Here I am healthy and vibrant.  Here she is the one, in our two.

I am not going to talk finance today, I will save that for my Wednesday slot.

Today is about healing and the power of love- friendship.

My friend lives in a small community where the friendships grew through our Craft Night.  I take comfort in knowing that even though I am what seems a million miles away from her, she has so many people right there who will shower her with all the love and support she needs.

It is a great telling- how we have lived our lives and how we have touched others- by those who will be there at our times of greatest need.  Those that will not falter when all the rest of the world wants to bring you down.  Those who live their truth draw to them the greatest challenges.

For all you who pray, do energy healing work, or who just plain want to help, please set your intention for Louise.  Here is mine to start it off...

   Louise:
   Your body, all the systems and cells, were created by the Infinite Intelligence.  Your body 
   knows how to heal you and bring your body to its natural, healthy state. All of your cells'  
   growth rate have returned to normal. You are whole and perfect.  We give thanks for your
   healing we know is taking place for you now.  Wonderful are the works of the creative
   intelligence in you right now.  May this healing be for your highest good. I send you love and  
   light. Call in the Angels!  And so it is.

    Psalm 139-14 ...Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well..


And to all of you who are suffering from dis-ease.  Please accept this healing prayer.

Love and All Good Things,

The Peaceful Matriarch

CLEAN OUT THE FRIDGE STEW-OUP

The daylight hours are shorter, the air is cooler.  The sky at dusk is stunning in its pastel, clear pinks and blues.  You can always tell when it is a fall night or a spring night or summer night or winter night.  The colours and texture of the sky are distinctly different.  Even the clouds are different.

I love the fall- all its stages.  The leaves are gone, the days seem grey...you can smell the smoke of fireplaces and wood stoves.  As the darkness comes in and wraps me in its warm cloak I get a deep sense of comfort and well being.  Yes, the Universe was wise to order up Fall.  As night falls quicker, the days seem to fly by.  November- so hard to believe it is November.

Fall, for me, is a time of preparing for winter- digging out boots, hats, mitts, coats.  Strange to see all the bulk!  Daily challenges with the kids- no, you cannot wear shorts today or ever again !  (until the spring.)  It is also a time to hunker down- read, listen to music, spend times in doors relaxing, planning for Christmas. 

More important, it is important to remain healthy and vital- exercise, eat well.

Even the food we eat changes- fruits and veggies for the winter season.  More warm, soul feeding foods.

My favorite is my "Clean out the Fridge Stew-oup".

BOOK REVIEW: The Intention Experiment

Author: Lynne McTaggart
Published: 2007

Featured in :
What the Bleep Do you Know
The Living Matrix
The Intention Experiment

I first heard about Lynne when I watched What the Bleep- Down the Rabbit Hole.  I next saw Lynne in the The Living Matrix.  I came across Lynne's name recently when I read Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol.

Up until I read the Lost Symbol, I have not read a fiction book in almost 3 years.  I was startled when I saw Lynne McTaggart and mention of Noetic Science in Dan Brown's latest book... I was then compelled to purchase the "Intention Experiment".  (It is at our local library.)

I have a deep love for science- the metaphysical kind.  I remember when I was younger I did a science fair project on ESP.  I have always felt that there is so much more out there than we can remember.

As a Reiki Master, much of what Lynne talks about in The Intention Experiment I am aware of.  What I was most intrigued with was the amount of scientific research, testing and data on Thoughts, Intention and Healing.

Mike Dooley is bang on when he says Thoughts Become Things! 

Someone commented about the fact that the sale of new age, self help books has exploded in the last few years.  You can see evidence of this when you go into any book store.  No matter what your belief system is, we, as humans are evolving to a new plane of awareness and understanding.

We are manifesting thoughts into reality faster than anytime in our recorded history.  Be mindful of your thoughts, use them efficiently and effectively in all your intentions.  Know too that if what you give out, positive or negatively is going to come back to you with even greater intensity.

What I most love about the book is how Lynne manages to take this deeply complex and complicated topic and deliver words that we can all comprehend. 

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY- STILL NEEDED

We have a most remarkable Public Library.  We go often- at least once if not twice a week.  As a mother, it allows me an evening or a weekend day "date" with my children.  I have been taking them to the Library since they were small children.  When we lived in Fort Smith, NWT, Canada, we not only went to the library for the books, but to see authors such as Robert Munsch.

We may think that libraries are no longer necessary in this age of technology and the internet.  But take a moment and think about what going to the library teaches your children:

JABU BAGS- SOCIAL ENTERPRISE- HAPPINESS and EMPOWERMENT

Meet the Fabulously Beautiful...Talented.... Socially Conscious
 Megan Yarema!

(Pat 1 of 3- Jabu Bags)

I had the privilege of meeting Megan in Ottawa, Canada this past October.  One aspect of Megan is Program Manager, Canada Without Poverty, Vancouver Office.

The other aspect of Megan- social entrepreneur- Founder and Director of Jabu Bags- is the aspect I would like you to get to  know today.

Social Enterprise, Social business has long been a passion of mine.  While attending a Heritage Canada funding workshop in Fort Smith, NWT, Canada, I watched a short video clip that caused a seed to plant. Muhammad Yunis , Nobel Peace prize recipient, was featured in the clip. Those short minutes galvanized me to my seat- my mind was racing with excitment- oh, the possibilities! How can we do this in Canada?, I thought.  Social Business, - helping women who could not get money from the banks...I would do it here in a heartbeat- as soon as I get a few hundred thousands of cash!

A few months ago I sent an email to Rob Rainer, Director of Canada Without Poverty, about Mr. Yunis.  I wanted to know if Canada Without Poverty was exploring this avenue. Rob connected me with Megan.  While attending the Canada Without Poverty,  Poverty and Punchlines event on October 15, 2010, I put a bid in on a beautiful bag - Megan told me it was one of the bags from Jabu...  now our story unfolds:

LETS MAKE IT REAL- POVERTY AT HOME

Before we continue with the Poverty Myths in Canada, I want to make this real for those of you at home.  It is so easy to look at the news on poverty or hear talk about it in general.  You may go about your daily life in such a predictable way you manage to never see the poverty or have little contact in your very own community. 

In North Bay, ON, Canada, there lives a widespread population of 55,000 people.  We are surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Canadian Shield, two incredible lakes- the hub- or Northern Gateway.  Hard to believe there is poverty in all this beauty and splendor.  60% of the jobs are government- municipal, provincial and federal.  We have a College and a University.  Ahhh, but like so many other places, the Wide Gap exists here.

The Poverty Reduction Working Group of Nipissing put out a 2010 Poverty Fact Sheet for the Nipissing District:

THE WAY OF THE PEACEFUL BEDOUIN

I thought I would take a day away from talking about Poverty myths and talk about joy and peace.

As a Reiki Master, joy and peace is a matter of every day life.  It is also a challenge to incorporate the spiritual and material aspects of this life.

As always, the universe provided the synchronistic answer to my thoughts....in the form of David Hickey. 

David Hickey has created a one man show of international acclaim.  No one on the planet is doing what he is doing. 

David talked about his 7 cds, over 700 concerts over the past 7 years- ahhhhh- for those of you into numerology, the power 3 7's is 3...

MYTH #2 PEOPLE IN CANADA ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT POOR

" The average depth of poverty in Canada- how far below Low Income Cut-Off After Tax thresholds Canadians in poverty live- was nearly $4,000 (CDN).  in 2006.  On an individual basis, roughly speaking, for every $100 (CDN) a person in poverty needed absolutely to meet Basic Needs in 2006, he or she is missing $20 (CDN). The poverty gap is even greater for many households: in 2007 the gap for female lone-parent families was $7,500 (CDN) and for male lone parent families, $8,600 (CDN).  The depth of poverty is increasing."  (Excerpt from the Canada Without Poverty Oct 2010 Presentation on Poverty in Yellowknife, NWT, Canada.)


Based on a table from the National Council on Welfare on the average dollars below the poverty line-2007- The depth of poverty is disclosed as follows- with the deepest in poverty first and smallest at the end:
 * Male Lone Parents* Two-parent Families with Children* Female lone parent families* Working Age unattached men* Working Age unattached women* Working age couples without children* Unattached senior women* Unattached senior men.

MYTH 1: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS POVERTY IN CANADA-

NO ONE STARVES TO DEATH, LIKE IN AFRICA! 

"Poverty is both an absolute and a relative concept. Absolute in that there is clearly a set of basic needs that every individual must have satisfied, in order to be not poor, and relative in that inequality in society – growing in Canada at a rocketing pace –means that some individuals are “deprived of the resources, means, choices and power necessary to acquire and maintain economic self-sufficiency and participation in society” (quote from Québec Bill 112, A National Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion). Canada has severalmillion people who lack the satisfaction of basic needs, to the detriment Homeless in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver (photographer unknown) of their health and security, and/or who are unable to maintain
economic selfsufficiency and full participation in society due to some level of

material and/or social deprivation." Canada Without Poverty- Oct 2010- Debunking Myths About Poverty

The sad reality is that people do die in Canada as a result of poverty.  The even sadder part is, unlike Africa, we have the means and ability to not allow 1 person, let alone 6.2 million people lack the basic necessities of life.

Take a look at a whole new industry started because of poverty- Food Banks in Canada. 

794,738
people turned to food banks in March 2009
That is an increase of
18%
from 2008 to 2009

That would be like the whole of population of the Nations Capital, Ottawa, having to go to the food bank.

Then there is the story of Kimberly Rogers.  A Sudbury woman who died while under house arrest, pregnant.  Her crime?  She was found to have defrauded the welfare system because she decided to go to school to better herself.  $13,500 in unathorized welfare payments.  Her death created outrage across Canada. 

Kimberly is only one of so many.  All she wanted was a better life.

The city that I live in has at least 10 huge superstore groceries and then all the other stores that have grocery items.  As I walk through the huge, long rows of food, I can't help but wonder why we have to have food banks at all.

Yes, the government has done an excellent job at creating more jobs with all their tax cuts and program cuts!  The recession has put more and more people deeper into poverty.  Food banks, homeless shelters- etc etc, all have sprung up in as a result- yes, new jobs-it is quite, quite ironic.

How can you help?  Demand the provincial gov't, the federal gov't increase taxes to the corporations.  Demand that your premiers put poverty elimination on their agenda!  Educate yourself- find out how you can make a difference

Love and all good things!



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