September 2008 - The Senior Times

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Editorial: Barack Obama shines light for Canada Anyone who watched Barack Obama’s magnificent acceptance speech at last month’s Democratic Party convention could only have been impressed by the man’s rhetorical skill and the magnitude of this historic moment. This man is gifted, not just by his use of words – simple words that pack a mighty punch – but also by his ability to touch on the concerns of average Americans at a critical time in their history. His nomination speaks volumes about how the political culture in that country is evolving. His Yes We Can promise of change in such THE SENIOR TIMES Publisher & Managing Editor Barbara Moser Assistant Editor Kristine Berey Office Manager Thelma Gearey Journalists Kristine Berey, Adam Desaulniers, Rachel Lau, Nancy Snipper Sales Manager Jacquie Soloway-Cons Advertising Jodie Alter, Gloria Beigleman, Shirley Cohen, Sandra Schachter Production & Design Albert Cormier key areas as Iraq, healthcare, and the growing wealth-poverty gap mobilized millions – of people and dollars – from across the spectrum. As power beckons, however, there are signs that Obama is retreating from some of his potentially controversial stands. One example is his reversal on denying retroactive federal immunity to phone companies involved in the Bush domestic wiretap program. As The Nation magazine reported last month under the heading Change We Can Believe In, progressive Americans who are supporting Obama delivered an open letter to Online & Production Editor Adam Desaulniers Photo & Technical Coordinator Scott Philip Editorial Assistant Rachel Lau Printing Hebdo Litho Phone 514-484-5033 Fax 514-484-8254 Email editor@theseniortimes.com Website www.theseniortimes.com Cover photo Andrew Soong Published by Publications Newborn Inc. Contents copyright ©2008. All rights reserved. Legal Deposit: National Library of Canada No. D368087 Dépot légal Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec, 1993. Although every caution is taken by Publications Newborn Inc. to moni tor advertising in the THE SENIOR TIMES, claims made by advertisers are not necessarily endorsed by Publications Newborn Inc. DRIVER FOR SENIORS Reliable driver will pick you up & drive you to your errands/appointments Available 7 days/week (Weekly/Monthly contracts available) Côte St-Luc • Westmount • Côte-des-Neiges NDG • TMR • West Island • St-Laurent Alan 514-941-0047 6 THE SENIOR TIMES September 2008 him during the convention, demanding that he not cave on a series of crucial commitments. These include: • Withdrawal from Iraq on a fixed timetable • Universal healthcare • A more progressive financial and welfare system • Public investment to repair infrastructure • Fair trade policies • Shifting billions from fossil-fuel consumption to alternative energy sources. • Restoration of the freedom to organize unions by passing the Employee Free Choice Act. This last point is key to allowing American unions to turn around their erosion in membership, which has hurt the middle class. The Act would allow arbitration on first contracts after 120 days without an agreement, and would stop employers from ordering secret ballots where the majority of workers sign union cards without evidence of coercion. This is what real change means and these areas clearly distinguish Obama from McCain, whose inherent promise of “more of the same” stands in stark contrast to Yes We Can. *** The intensity and passion seen in Denver and the hope inspired by Obama can only spill over into the upcoming Canadian election. Why Stephen Harper wants one is something of a mystery. The polls show him picking up support in Quebec at the expense of the Bloc, but losing some in vote-rich Ontario. One hypothesis is that he wants to bleed dry the Liberals’ war chest at a time when it can’t match Tory fundraising, which is short-term thinking at best – if another Harper minority results, all he’ll have done is weaken the Liberals’ finances for the inevitable follow-up vote. Another possibility is that he wants to get the election behind him by mid-October to limit the progressive spillover from the Obama campaign, which can only help the opposition. Whatever his reasons, Harper has yet to make a convincing case that the current arrangement is holding him back. Liberal leader Dion, stopping briefly in Westmount to support Marc Garneau, assured The Senior Times that when an election comes, seniors’ issues will top his agenda, including his Green Shift plan, which he said is of special concern to grandparents.
May you be blessed with peace, health, and happiness in the coming year 5769 Greetings for the Jewish New Year from your MNAs Monique Jérôme-Forget MNA for Marguerite-Bourgeoys Minister of Finance Minister of Government Services Minister responsible for Government Administration Chair of the Conseil du trésor 514-368-1818 Geoffrey Kelley MNA for Jacques-Cartier 514-697-7663 François Ouimet MNA for Marquette 514-634-9720 Pierre Arcand MNA for Mont-Royal 514-341-1151 Jacques Chagnon MNA for Westmount–Saint-Louis Vice President of the National Assembly 514-395-2929 Shana Tovah! Bonne année! Lawrence S. Bergman MNA for D’Arcy-McGee 514-488-7028 May your year be blessed with Health & Happiness! Que l’année qui commence vous apporte santé et bonheur! Pierre Marsan MNA for Robert-Baldwin 514-684-9000 Painting by Elaine Budwing of the Creative Social Centre Raymond Bachand MNA for Outremont Minister of Economic Development, Innovation, Export Trade & Tourism 514-482-0199 Yolande James MNA for Nelligan Minister of Immigration & Cultural Communities 514-428-8747 Russell Copeman MNA for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce 514-489-7581 September 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 7
Page 1 and 2: Help Generations help kids generati
Page 3 and 4: Westmount—Ville-Marie spoilers li
Page 5: Raymonde Folco M.P. Laval - Les Îl
Page 9 and 10: Health Canada, seniors, and listeri
Page 11 and 12: Biden or Palin: who’s really pro-
Page 13 and 14: On your marks! Senior competitors g
Page 15 and 16: Sharing secret thoughts Alzheimer
Page 17 and 18: Exciting season begins at �e Sega
Page 19 and 20: Potluck Pizza - how to astound your
Page 21 and 22: Chalet BBQ a beacon of stability in
Page 23 and 24: Nascent academy entertains possibil
Page 25 and 26: Photo: Kristine Berey Photo: Andrew
Page 27 and 28: Expensive, enchanting Trieste — f
Page 29 and 30: Shortchanging the short Howard Rich
Page 31 and 32: L I M I T L E S S L E A R N I N G C
Page 33 and 34: L E A R N I N G Visual arts Cumming
Page 35 and 36: The unusual suspects Kristine Berey
Page 37 and 38: of today are not much different tha
Page 39 and 40: For Mr. Fraser, it was more than a

September 2008 - The Senior Times

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