Sometimes, “NO” is the only answer!

With all that is going on in the world these days, sometimes the best answer, or solution is just to say no! Then remember what prompted you to say no, and follow up and be heard.

For example;

Russia… You think it’s okay to invade Ukraine? NO. What about lying to the citizens? NO. Poisoning anyone who opposes you… NO NO NO.

Alabama removing bathrooms for transgendered kids… NO. No you are not. NO NO NO. Sorry, but not sorry. NO

Florida requires kids and teachers to out children who are gay… NO. NO. NO. NO. Then suggesting you would prosecute parents of trans kids… Heck NO.

Texas and their abortion ban… NO

Truckers honking all night and terrorizing citizens in Ottawa because they think they know what’s best for you and for me… NO

Siding with this fringe element saying they just want “freedom”… NO

Brining in the emergencies act because you want to be able to overreach and leave your legacy… NO

It’s time to say no, and mean it.

Giving a Nazi salute to a Jewish teacher… NO! Especially when the teacher comes from a family who survived the holocaust… Disgusting.

…and sadly the list goes on!

I think we’re entering the era of saying no and meaning it. Saying no to tyranny, stupidity, hate and intolerance. Hopefully we’re not just saying no in the moment and then letting something else distract us from following through on our “no” and getting these people out of office, off our media and get their antique ways gone forever!

Our futures should be about love, positivity and inclusion, and saying no is a good way to get there!

Being racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, or anything else where you are giving an opinion on how others live their lives… NO. As my mother used to say, when my sister or I chimed in on what someone else was eating at dinner or doing with their food, “look at your own plate!” Don’t concern yourself with what others are doing. Just take care of yourself.

Abusing transit officers, or anyone providing service to the public because you feel the need to comment your personal comments or concerns around anything, including mask mandates… NO.

Honestly… This list could be endless, but keep your opinion to yourself unless it’s kind, considerate and helpful. Just be nice!

Father’s Day is Here (Father’s Day is every day!)

Father’s day makes me realize a few things.

1. I Love being a father
2. I miss my father – he would have loved my kids – had he been alive to meet them – and they would have loved him.
3. Considering the traditional role that mother’s play in the raising of children, I believe in being an involved father, being there as much as possible – supporting your children, and you wife, girlfriend, partner, baby-mother, etc. It’s nice to have a day to recognize what it means to be a father, but every day is father’s day… Or should be.

If you’re a father and not involved with your kids by your choice, then snap into it and realize that it’s not about you. It’s about the way your kids grow up, treat others and expect from adults. You’re setting them up for potential failure. Having a relationship with your children is a privilege and to stubbornly walk away from them because you’re feelings are hurt is a reflection on your character – which your kids pay the price for – and will have to deal with long after you’re gone.

That being said, my friends at Dad Things Social, have provided me with this cool infographic for Father’s Day.

You can follow Dad Things Social, here;

https://www.instagram.com/dadthingssocial/

https://www.facebook.com/dadthingssocial/

And their blog: https://dadthings.ca/

TSN 1050 Radio, Really? The Dan Patrick Show?

Is there a reason why after the morning rush, we have to listen to the “Dan Patrick Show?”

Do we not have enough Canadian content that we have to import content from the US?

I mean, surely having anyone on the radio at that time has to be better than listening to a show that doesn’t acknowledge Canadian sports, are not knowledgable about Canadian sports, or talks about sports which Canadians are interested in…

If I’m wrong, please tell me.

Is that time slot, and the content so important for Canadians to learn about college football, college basketball or car racing?

I don’t know.

I just know that when the morning show is over, I have to find another station to listne to.

What about taking college graduates and throwing them on the radio, see what the next generation thinks about sports, or run something about the business of sports. There must be a better option, no?

Happy International Woman’s Day

Happy International Woman’s Day to all the woman in the entire world, with special thoughts directed at my incredible wife and daughter, and to my mother, sister, mother-in-law and grandmother.

It turns out that in Canada, the theme this year is #InnovateForChange!, and that we, as Canadians are celebrating women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and that makes 2019 the year of my wife!  A Chemical Engineer by education, and a life-long science teacher and early innovator in everything technology, she is teaching high-school math this year and she has been talking STEM back when I thought she was talking about trees.

What is IWD?

Each year, March 8 is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women and renew our efforts in achieving gender equality – in Canada and around the world.

The beginnings of International Women’s Day (IWD) trace back to the early twentieth century, emerging from the activities of labour movements in North America and Europe and reflecting a growing movement for women to participate equally in society.

The first International Women’s Day was observed on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. That day, more than one million women and men showed their support by participating in public events. In the years that followed, other countries began to observe and celebrate this day.

The United Nations recognized 1975 as International Women’s Year and began celebrating IWD on March 8, later adopting a resolution designating March 8 as International Women’s Day.

Today, International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world – in many countries, it is a national holiday. It has grown to become a global day of recognition of women’s achievements and a call to action to support women’s rights and advance gender equality.

Globally

International Women’s Day 2019 campaign theme: #BalanceforBetter

The future is exciting. Let’s build a gender-balanced world.

Everyone has a part to play – all the time, everywhere.

From grassroots activism to worldwide action, we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance. We notice its absence and celebrate its presence.

Balance drives a better working world. Let’s all help create a #BalanceforBetter.

Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage.

Let’s celebrate IWD in 2019 and get us to a point where we don’t need to set aside a day to respect women… That should be done everyday!

Federal Budget: Paternity Leave, The Urban Daddy on CTV!

Yesterday was the 3rd Federal Liberal budget and if you paid any attention to the news leading up to the budget, you would have heard that this was going to be a “gender” budget, as our Prime Minister and Finance Minister hope to save Canadian “Peoplekind”,

What made it a “gender” budget was the inclusion of policies aimed to equalize pay between men and women and adopting a paternity leave benefit program which was implemented in Quebec just over 10-years-ago.

As a father of 3 children, I was lucky to have the opportunity to take parental leave with 2 of my three kids.  I was working for the Canada Revenue Agency, and the CRA topped up my salary from the 66% which I would have received while on EI, to 93% of my salary.

Who wouldn’t take advantage of this opportunity to support his spouse, bond with his children and help out with everything that comes with children, which is why I took 9-months with our first child, 4-months with our second child, and by the time our third child rolled around, I was in the private sector and took just one day.

So who better to speak on the government’s policy than me, right?

I was on the CTV News Network, live, in the morning with Marcia McMillan, and then in the evening, CTV Alberta Bureau Chief Janet Dirks interviewed my wife and I for a well done piece on what worked and what didn’t with regard to paternity benefits.

Watch the clip here; CTV Parental Leave The Urban Daddy

It was my first foray into TV – I have been on the radio quite a lot to discuss tax-issues – and I really liked it (except for the way I looked in the evening interview – exhausted!)

Here is how I feel about the Liberals intention vs plan of action; They talk a great game but always seem to fall short, with an ultimate cost to the taxpayers, for their plans.

They said that providing fathers to take 5-weeks off would lure more women into the workforce.

???

There were no new day care spots made available, nor any changes to the Live-In Caregiver program, so it left my wife and I puzzled as to how this was going to lure women into the work force.

Is it possible that behind this message was a belief that men don’t do anything around the household and that if, in 5-weeks – with them being home, changing diapers, cooking meals and keeping the house clean – men will realize they can help out at home, thus lessening the burden on women?

I think that’s a stretch, to say the least, but for $1.2 billion dollars – and starting in June 2019 – men will be able to take 5-weeks off with their partners to help, support and bond.  It’s certainly better than nothing.

It doesn’t change the stereotype that men don’t do paternity leave.

It doesn’t change the hesitation of some firms to hire woman who are in their child-bearing years.

It does make the Liberals look hip, and cool.

I just hope the last point wasn’t the motivation behind this initiative…