Out-Living Your Previous Generations

September 27th, 2011

The Globe and Mail 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/canadians-living-longer-than-ever-statscan-finds/article2181851/

Ever thought you would out-live your extremely old grandparents? Well you just might. According to recent Statscan studies, Canadians are living longer than ever before at 80.9 years old. British Columbia is leading the country with an average life span of 81.4 years, with Ontario and Québec above averages. Typically, women have longer life spans than men. From 1996-1998 it was a difference of 5.6 years, whereas in 2006-2008 it came way down to 4.6 years. I think that this new "discovery" is a good sign that Canadian citizens are taking care of themselves and treating their bodies with respect. It shows that we are not sloppy and generally organized in the sense that we take pride in our health, looks, and hygiene. 

Compensation for Crime Victims

September 25th, 2011

The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontario-election/ontario-parties/ont-pcs/hudak-vows-greater-compensation-for-victims-of-crime/article2179399/

The loss of a family member is always a terrible loss, and nothing can fill that void, but when the death of a family member becomes a result of a criminal offense, there is cash compensation from the government. The Liberals allowed the Victim's Justice Fund surplus to build up to 34 million dollars, which means that lots of grieving families were not receiving compensation for their losses. I think that this vow of Hudak's that he will ensure that the money put aside for crime victim's would get to them, rather than grow as surplus, will grab, if not lots then some, the votes of those who have suffered from criminals. This section of government finance if one that becomes personal when people have suffered.

Compensation for Victims of Crime

September 25th, 2011

The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontario-election/ontario-parties/ont-pcs/hudak-vows-greater-compensation-for-victims-of-crime/article2179399/

The loss of a family member is always a terrible loss, and nothing can fill that void, but when the death of a family member becomes a result of a criminal offense, there is cash compensation from the government. The Liberals allowed the Victim's Justice Fund surplus to build up to 34 million dollars, which means that lots of grieving families were not receiving compensation for their losses.  

"Phone in one hand, ticket in the other"

September 20th, 2011
The Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/opp-takes-aim-at-drivers-using-cellphones/article2162204/

"Phone in one hand, ticket in the other" - that is the new slogan for this week's campaign. The OPP are cracking down on texting/talking drivers with fines of $155 if caught using a cell phone while driving. Since the beginning of the month, officers have had to hand out double the tickets and fines than the same period of time in 2010. Even though these have caused already 5, 000 crashes, this month alone, drivers continue to use their phones while driving. I think this is a good thing...in fact I think they should have done this a long time ago. This should be a wake-up call to everyone who talks or texts behind the wheel of a car. These types of distractions are what send people to the hospital and lose lives every month. There is a thing called Bluetooth or "hands-free" which allows people to talk without using there phone to do so. People should invest in such an instrument so that we can reduce the amount of collisions on the roads! Wake up society and realize that you could be putting yourself, your passengers, or other drivers and passengers in danger of a trip to the hospital or worse.

Hudak and McGuinty...Related?!

September 19th, 2011
The Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontario-election/on-the-hustings/ontarios-mcguinty-and-hudak-laugh-off-their-new-found-family-ties/article2171381/
Dalton McGuinty and Tim Hudak are the furthest from companions, yet somewhere deep down, they share a small connection. If you are not familiar with the website Ancestry.ca, it is a website that, once typed in information, can track down your ancestors and family tree. So, one day, someone decided to plug in both Provincial Governor General candidates, and well whattya know; they're related. Turns out that they are tenth cousins going back all they way to 1655, when Louis Jobidon married Marie Deligny in Quebec City. Both, Hudak and McGuinty, just laughed off this recent news of their newly discovered relation to each other. In other words I doubt this piece of news will affect either of them in the election campaigning, but this will also give the media something to jump on, so be expecting more talk of cousins, Hudak and McGuinty.