Speaking of Control & Hackers
Update added at the bottom of this post. NJC
I just heard from a friend in California who informed me that he cannot view any of Frost Hits the Rhubarb after May 8, 05. I have no idea why, but I just checked Microsoft's search engine and guess what? No way could I find anything current. I could find old webpages but today's? No. Then I checked Dogpile search engine and, guess what? Same thing. Yet, with Google, I can find it easily.
Bud Talkinghorn's posts do show up, apparently, but none of mine. How very intriguing and how very controlled we seem to be! History can be erased along with free speech -- at the press of a mouse. Incidentally, Microsoft has been trying to entice me with numerous emails to start a Microsoft blog and I've not had the time to do so. Now, guess what I'll do.
Obviously, something is wrong. Or is Microsoft practising for its new deal with China and censorship? Scroll down for today's post on that. This is VERY DISTURBING! Of course, if Microsoft is willing to help China censor and hence control its populace, what would it do for Canada's powerful ones? For dictatorships around the world?
Also, I just now heard that Asian hackers are wreaking havoc in the UK. See whether you too can see a pornographic female on your television. Also, breaking news: Equifax has been hit by hackers mostly affecting BC.
http://www.freedominion.ca
I have a really [sic] problem with the fact that we have people on welfare that are disabled and cannot work and have never contributed to things like CPP. They have the added cost of their disability and receive a welfare payment that puts them in the predicament of not being able to feed them selves properly or live in reasonable housing. This reminds me of a not well know [sic] fact that I read that was I think in an article by the Star a while back.........
Quote:
The federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890 and each can also get an additional $580 in social assistance for a total of $2,470.
Pay pensioners same as refugees? the Star...May 28th 2004
[. . . . ] I found the story I was referring to [. . . ]
Re New refugee plan eyes small cities March 11 2004. [. . . . ]
I also found it interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890 and each can also get an additional $580 in social assistance for a total of $2,470. This compares “very well” to a single pensioner who after contributing to the growth and development of Canada for 40 years can only receive a monthly maximum of $1,012 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement.
The source: I WANT TO BE A REFUGEE.....AIN'T THIS THE TRUTH International Edition Issue 01/2004, Passage, Colonel J.G. “Tony” Poulin DSO, CD, R22eR
posted by News Junkie Canada at Thursday, June 16, 2005
1 Comments:
Somebody sent me an email with that item about refugees being given $2470/mo. Knowing a refugee living in Canada, and knowing this refuigee receives less that $600/mo, I went looking for the facts. I found this article from the Toronto Star:
Can we dispel this urban myth?; [ONT Edition]
Don Sellar. Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.: Nov 27, 2004. pg. H.06
Full Text (621 words)
(Copyright (c) 2004 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved. )
Today's rather sad and twisted tale began last March when the Star published a feature about plans to settle hundreds of African refugees in smaller Canadian cities.
It was a simple story Canada and the United Nations were flying asylum-seekers from a Somali refugee camp to new lives in centres such as Hamilton.
As immigration/diversity reporter Nicholas Keung wrote, immigration officials hope to encourage (but not force) refugees to make new lives outside the magnet cities of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
"We hope by relocating them all together and resettling them as a whole to the same community, we can create a positive environment to help them integrate into the Canadian society successfully," an immigration official explained.
Fine and dandy. But halfway through the 1,500-word article, unforeseen trouble was lurking.
In paragraph 16, the story said single refugees are eligible for $1,890 from Ottawa as a "start-up allowance, along with a $580 monthly social assistance, depending on how soon the person is able to find employment."
In addition, they get "a night lamp, a table, a chair and a single bed from the government," the story said.
In painful hindsight, those details could have been clearer.
Actually, the $1,890 "start-up allowance" - including a $580 monthly social assistance cheque from Ottawa - was a one-time payment for basic household needs such as furnishings, pots and linens. The furniture is used.
In quick order, two things happened after the article ran.
First, a reader sent a nasty e-mail to the reporter. Among other things, it said charity begins at home and Canada should not "roll out the welcome mat" for refugees.
The e-mailer assumed - erroneously - that the refugees would collect $2,470 a month. They'd be better off than Canadian pensioners.
More worrisome, the polemicist sent his rant to 100 recipients, some of whom likely spread the word to wider audiences.
Ah, the wonders of the Internet!
Alarmed by the e-mail, reporter Keung tried to contact the sender. It was too late. Having spread the misinformation, the e- mailer already had changed his address. At the same time, a second development occurred.
The Star ran a letter to the editor that said the $2,470 "compares very well to a single pensioner who after contributing to the growth and development of Canada for 40 years can only receive a monthly maximum of $1,012 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement. "Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees?" reasoned the writer.
Readers may not realize that fact checking of letters to the editor is nearly impossible at most daily papers, given limited staff resources and unforgiving deadlines.
Although many mistakes are caught, the occasional doozer gets through. That was definitely the case here.
Over the next several months, it became increasingly clear a disturbing urban myth had been born.
Various offices at the Star have been getting e-mails from around the world, usually one or two a week.
Many quote from the erroneous letter to the editor, expressing varying degrees of curiosity, dismay, envy or anger.
"Let's send this to all Canadians," one e-mail roared, "so we can all be p----- off and maybe we can get the refugees cut back to $1,012 and the pensioners up to $2,470 and enjoy some of the money we were forced to submit to the government over the last 40 or 50 years."
In hindsight, the ombud now wishes he'd issued a speedy clarification to help set the record straight.
But with information (and misinformation) moving at warp speed on the Internet, I doubt there was a silver bullet for the problem.
Maybe this column can help dispel a damaging misperception about refugees and pensioners. Please tell your friends.
ombud @ thestar.ca
Credit: Toronto Star
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