What is Second Careers Really All About?

              Second Careers is a program offered by the federal government to help laid off workers cover the expense of going back to school.  It’s a program where taxpayer’s money helps to retrain people that find it hard to regain employment after a lay off.  But does it really do what it claims to?

               About 2 years ago I got laid off from my company.  After looking into this program and realizing I needed to go back to school in order to be able to obtain sustainable employment, I applied for Second Careers.  Well let me tell you about the roller coaster I was sent on after that. 

               It started off as a walk-in, where a meeting was then set up for another day with a career counsellor.  I came back for the follow up appointment, where I was put through an eligibility assessment. The results were in; I was eligible as long as I could prove that I was actively job searching for 26 weeks.  No problem I thought.  So I started the application and tracking all the jobs I was applying for.  After 26 weeks and numerous meetings with my counsellor I finally finished my application and submitted it for approval.  To my surprise I got a call back from her within days, telling me that submitting my application for approval was under review and it may not even be submitted at all.  Are you kidding me? I thought.  I explained that due to the fact that I had completed the application based on her guidance, it was my right to have it submitted to the Ministry and they could make the final decision.  She agreed and went forth with submitting it. 

About 2 weeks later the call came in, the Ministry of Education wanted to talk to me.  So I returned their call.  Guess what?  They asked me if an eligibility assessment had been done with me from the beginning.  I proceeded to explain that I was told 26 weeks of job hunting made me eligible.  That’s when I found out that I was never eligible at all and basically 26 weeks of my time had been wasted. Their reason……I had customer service experience so they felt I was able to obtain sustainable employment.

My question now is who really is eligible for this program and exactly what kind of schooling is the government willing to cover the cost of?  I would love to hear about anyone who found themselves in a similar situation.  Do you agree with the purpose of this program or do you feel it’s just a waste of taxpayers’ money? 

Here’s a link to the program information, check it out and let me know what you think.  http://www.secondcareerontario.com/web/second_career/landing/?gclid=CIqCyfOaib0CFYhaMgodSiIA-g

Rob Ford and Jimmy Kimmel Live

            So I’m sure by now most of you have heard about Rob Ford’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.  Rob Ford claims he did it to promote the Toronto movie industry.  Do you believe it was in Toronto’s best interest to have our “crack smoking Mayor” on one of the United States biggest nighttime talk shows?  As for Jimmy Kimmel, do you think it was all about making fun of Canadians and bringing in good TV ratings?

In my opinion, I believe from Jimmy Kimmel’s perspective it was about getting his name on the map.  He ridiculed Rob ford and got more viewers because of it.  He took an already sad situation and found a way to profit from it. On the other hand, from Rob Ford’s perspective I think he wanted to address the criticism surrounding all of his controversies.  Possibly he wanted to show people that he messed up but still puts his job before anything else.  I almost think it’s admirable, not the crack smoking part, but the fact the he refused to resign and is dealing with the criticism on a daily basis. So who is worse I ask?  Rob Ford because he made some mistakes and maybe doesn’t meet the typical standards of a Canadian Mayor?  Or is it Jimmy Kimmel for possibly getting fame and fortune from someone else’s misfortune?

For those of you that didn’t get an opportunity to watch it, I’ll sum it up for you.  Rob Ford was questioned on things like whether or not he was homophobic? Were the things that the people of Toronto said about him true? Jimmy Kimmel then proceeded to show embarrassing videos on the Mayor that went viral.  For example, Rob Ford’s drunken rant inside a fast food restaurant.  He ended off the segment by offering the mayor some advice about getting personal help if he had a problem with alcoholism.

Check out this article from CBC News http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-ridiculed-on-jimmy-kimmel-live-1.2558852.  What are your opinions on the topic?  Do you think Toronto benefitted from this publicity stunt?

References:

Rob Ford ridiculed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. (2014, March 4). Retrieved from CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-ridiculed-on-jimmy-kimmel-live-1.2558852

 

 

 

 

 

Ellen's Selfie at the Oscars

            Who hasn’t heard about the selfie Ellen took at the Oscars with her Samsung phone?  Do you think it was all about promoting Samsung’s brand and that she possibly got paid to take that picture?  Well regardless of the truth, Samsung has agreed to pay 3 million dollars to the charity of Ellen’s choice. 

Apparently Samsung is one of the sponsors of the Oscars.  The fact that Ellen used a Samsung phone is definitely going to spark some sort of controversy, somewhere.  It’s inevitable.  In my opinion it’s just another topic for someone to write an article about.  Even if Ellen was asked by Samsung to take a photo with their device, why is it a problem?  Do people really believe that Samsung paid 3 million to charity and cut Ellen a check on the side?  I doubt it.  Even if that was the case, would people really be against it? Considering 3 million went to charity because of it.

Ellen’s selfie was retweeted over 3 million times, hence the reason for Samsung’s donation.  They decided to match tweet for dollar.  I think it’s great that we can use a highly publicized event and a leading telecommunications company to raise money for charity.  I say let’s make the selfie a tradition at the Oscars and see how much money we can raise for charities over the next decade. 

 

Check out this article by Digital Trends http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-will-donate-3-million-charity-ellens-selfie-reached-3-million-retweets/#!zcom7 Tell me what you think. Was this a selfish advertising ploy or a selfless act that ended up benefitting a greater good?                           

References:

Pelegrin, W. (2014, March 4). Samsung will donate $3 million to charity after Ellen’s selfie reached 3 million retweets [updated]. Retrieved from Digital Trends: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-will-donate-3-million-charity-ellens-selfie-reached-3-million-retweets/#!zcom7

              

 

 

 

Missing Aboriginal Women

              On Saturday March 8^th, a protest interrupted the service of VIA rail from Toronto to Montreal and Toronto to Ottawa.  Mohawk protesters are asking for an inquiry into murdered and missing aboriginal women.  “It’s estimated there are hundreds of cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada dating back to the 1960s — officially as many as 600, and likely hundreds more unreported victims.” (Hagberg, 2014).

               According to the article, the protest stems from a “parliamentary report into missing and murdered indigenous women that rejected numerous calls for a full public inquiry.” (Hagberg, 2014).  How could the government even consider rejecting a public inquiry?  Should we not protect the people that founded our country?

               Three people are to be charged that participated in the protest.  One man apparently hit the window of an unmarked cruiser, breaking the glass.  I don’t agree with violence when trying to protest something you believe in, however it seems they may have made a point.  According to spokesman Shawn Brant “there will be consequences for a national inquiry not being called.”

 We need to create a society that wants to help instead of making it a national issue of debate before any inquiry is even proceeded with.  These aboriginal women were mothers, children and wives who deserve the respect of at least trying to figure out what the problem is, and a possible solution to fixing it.

I’ve included the link to the article, check it out and let me know what you think.  http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/03/08/via-cancels-toronto-ottawa-montreal-trains-after-protesters-calling-for-missing-aboriginal-women-inquiry-occupy-tracks/

Do you believe our government has done everything in their power to look into these cases? Should a public inquiry be called?

References:

Hagberg, L. (2014, March 8). VIA's Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal Train Service Disrupted by Protesters Calling for Missing Aboriginal Women Inquiry. Retrieved from National Post: http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/03/08/via-cancels-toronto-ottawa-montreal-trains-after-protesters-calling-for-missing-aboriginal-women-inquiry-occupy-tracks/