If Canada's Economy Is Booming, Why Do We Feel So Poor?
Asks MACLEAN’S

Unemployment is at a 33-year low, the dollar is soaring, and the economy is hotter than it's been for years. So why are so many of us struggling to get by?

TORONTO, June 14 /CNW/ - You know Canada's economy is on a tear when house prices in Saskatoon skyrocket nearly 50 per cent in six months; when even northern outposts like Sudbury, Ont., are joining in the real estate mania; when former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna heralds that province, with its suddenly robust job market, as "Alberta with a view"; and when, back in the land where it all started, folks in Fort McMurray, Alta., still can't
find anyone willing to dress up as mascot Buddy the Buffalo for $25 an hour.

The boom is on. Analysts and business journalists have had to reach back in time for touchstones to illustrate just how great the country is doing. Was it Joe Clark or Pierre Trudeau who was prime minister last time the dollar was this high and unemployment so low? Suffice to say it's been 30 years since Canada looked this good. Jobs are plentiful while more and more economists are predicting the unthinkable-that the loonie could reach parity with the U.S. greenback by year's end. On the world stage, Canada's vast bounty of natural resources is fuelling an epic-scale global expansion.

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Canadians celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 20th

VANCOUVER, June 19 /CNW/ - Starting tomorrow, Canadians have paid off the total tax bill imposed on them by government and can finally start working for themselves, according to The Fraser Institute's annual Tax Freedom Day calculations.

"If you look at the average Canadian family's total tax bill, each and every dollar they earn before June 20 would be required to pay the taxes owing to all levels of government. It takes until June 20 before they begin earning money for themselves," said Niels Veldhuis, The Fraser Institute's Director of the Centre for Tax Studies.

The Fraser Institute calculates Tax Freedom Day to provide a comprehensive indicator of the total amount of taxes paid by the average Canadian family to all three levels of government: federal, provincial, and local.

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Property Sold Prices Soar Past National Stats as Sales Hit $80 Million
http://www.prweb.com/printer.php?prid=533178

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 --The flourishing 'For Sale by Owner' real estate market is set to outpace traditional agent-assisted sales, as purchase prices rocket past the national average.The do-it-yourself approach to home sales is becoming increasingly popular in Canada. FSBO, as it is known, eliminates real estate agents from the sale of homes, allowing homeowners to pocket what typically amounts to thousands in commission fees.However, commission fees are not the only savings homeowners are pocketing.

Homes on PropertySold.ca, one of Canada's leading 'For Sale by Owner' real estate listings sites, are also commanding prices far higher than the national average, as total sales reached $80 million in May.In addition to saving homeowners thousands in agent fees, recent statistics show average sales on PropertySold beat out national figures by more than 13 per cent.According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average sale price of homes across Canada is projected at $303,400 for 2007, well up from last year's average of $276,959.

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Trade Deal With India 'A Natural' For Canada
Agreement will provide great potential to open markets, Emerson says
June 18, 2007

PRITHI YELAJA STAFF REPORTER http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/226421
Canada and India have signed a new deal aimed at boosting two-way trade by making it easier and more secure for both countries to invest in each other.International Trade Minister David Emerson and India's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Kamal Nath, announced their signing of a Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement at the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce's annual gala in Toronto on the weekend.

"India offers just an enormous opportunity that we as a country need to take advantage of. We've got something in the neighbourhood of a million Indo-Canadians in Canada. They're a natural human bridge to that market. And yet we've underperformed our potential for a decade or more," Emerson told the Toronto Star.The move allows Canada to open up other markets and be less dependent on the U.S., he added.

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Goan The Right Way
Column by Sagarika Ghose
Posted in Hindustan Times

Details ...

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, the hapless (and astonished) Congress party has secured (along with its ally the NCP) 19 seats in the Goa Assembly elections and is to form the government with the help of two independents. The BJP's attempt to divide the "secular" vote has failed. Hindutva has for the moment been stalled in the land of fish football and feni. Susegad (the word in Goa for a good living) is a fitting adversary of communalism: hatred for the other seems to evaporate easily next to the gentle ease of the seaside. Or does it? The 2007 assembly elections in Goa may not be of long term importance, but safeguarding Goa's identity also means safeguarding the future of a more civilized India.

The beach worshippers of Mumbai and Delhi constantly fail to appreciate the civilisational basis of Goa, perhaps one of contemporary India's biggest global brands. This little strip of land where the Portuguese raced around amassing fortunes, persecuting Hindus and building grand churches is not just a pleasure spot. Instead Goa is a living example of a homegrown rooted cosmopolitanism. 450 years of Portuguese rule, however brutal, has somehow created a unique geographical and cultural space. "Ami Bhau" (we are brothers) or a no-nonsense everyday togetherness prevails in the communidades or village communities of Goa. An unfussy robust secularism, far away from the posturings at elite seminars, has made its way into the earth of Goa. Hindu and Catholic rarely intermarry yet a quaint totally tolerant spirit lives and breathes in the wayside shrines of Goa. Candles burn in front of a cross, there are hibiscus flowers at the feet of a little Shiva just next to it. Jagor or folk music is played by both communities and tiatr or folk drama is participated in by Hindus as well as Christians.

The Goan office, as social scientist Peter Ronald D'Souza pus it, is a prime example of Goan coexistence. The Hindu lady wears a sari and the Catholic lady wears a dress, but their body language, their gestures, they way they relate to each other is so comfortable that its hard to imagine they worship different gods. Goa has the Uniform Civil Code, and each community is highly religious. Secularism does not come at the cost of religion, secularism does not mean scorn or disrespect. Instead the secularism of Goa is holy, it is full of religion, it is commonsensical and it is everyday. It exists in the Konkani language that is spoken by all communities and it exists in the fact that the 30 per cent Catholic population has only rarely felt threatened by the Hindus.

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A RAMPAGING SEA CAUSES DEVASTATION
Sea waves swallow portions of Nerul beach

PANJIM: Amidst rising fears of global warming, the small but beautiful Nerul beach, popularly known as Coco Beach, is witnessing fearsome devastation as huge waves have felled nearly 50 coconut trees and are carving closer into the land to expose a dozen houses nearby to a worst ever danger. In less than a fortnight - and less than a week after steady rains - the coconut tree cover and a compound wall of a small hotel has been destroyed by the rampaging sea even as villagers recount that effects of the erosion had been hardly felt last year. But what has alarmed the occupants of the ten-odd houses dotting the 300-odd metre long beach, is the collapse of the shore within a few days of moderate rains. [GT]

RAIN PLAYS HAVOC IN PERNEM

PANJIM: Gusty winds that accompanied the rains damaged two houses, blew away roof-tiles of several dwellings, uprooted trees and disrupted power supply at Terekhol, Pernem, on Saturday (June 16) night. The stormy winds continued for about 20 minutes and officials estimated that the total loss to be around Rs.5 lakh. However, no casualties were reported. One terekhol resident, Diogo Francis Rodrigues, suffered a loss of about Rs.2 lakh when a coconut tree fell on his house while another coconut tree, which was uprooted, fell on the house of Anthony Dias causing a loss of about Rs.1 lakh. Diogo's minor daughter had a narrow escape as she rushed to safety when the coconut tree fell on their house. Another villager, Ermelina Rodrigues, suffered a loss of about Rs.80,00 when the wall of her house collapsed. [GT]

Sao Joao festival to be celebrated at Carambolim

The traditional and popular Sao Joao festival will be revived with a day's celebration on June 24 at Carambolim at 11 am under the banner of Panjim Traditional Festivals Committee in collaboration with Noberto Rodrigues alias Babush of Carambolim. The revelry will be held at Jorichem Bhatt, Tankant, Carambolim, and as per the custom and old traditions, the newly wedded couples wearing a copel (a crown made of flowers and leaves) on their heads, will gather in the village near the well for merry making. When the couple is taken to the well, the bride carries fruits like pineapples, mangoes, jack fruit, bananas, etc. The groom carries hard drinks like caju feni, whisky, wine, etc and all these items are thrown in the well. Typical Goan food like sorpatel, pulao, san'nam, etc, is served at the venue, to celebrate this unique festival of yesteryears.[GT]

St Jose de Areal still tense

MARGAO: Tension continues to prevail in St Jose de Areal regarding a religious prayer service being held at the private residence of a parishioner that does not have the sanction of the local church authorities. It may be recalled that on Tuesday angry locals protested over a group of Believers sect pursuing their religious activities in St Jose de Areal village. Trouble broke out when Brother Robert Dasturi was preaching to his congregation at Padribhatt ward on Sunday, June 17. The group of locals tried to forcibly stop Brother Dasturi, according to Maina-Curtorim police. Meanwhile, the parish priest of St Jose de Areal, Fr Evarist Gomes, as well as the South Goa Episcopal Vicar Fr Joseph Silva refused to offer any comment on the recent controversy. But when contacted, the official spokesperson of the church, Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, who is also the Secretary to the Archbishop, said: "No specific directive has been issued by the church authorities with respect to permission to be obtained from the local parish priest regarding the conduct of such activities." [GT]

Woman's body found floating at Assolna

MARGAO: The body of a 24-year-old married woman was found floating on the banks near NUSI, Assolna, on Wednesday morning. Police disclose that the deceased, Tina D'Cruz, originally hailing from Deussua-Chinchinim, and married to a Margao-based Adv Noel D'Cruz, was reported to have jumped off the bridge in the River Sal. [GT]

Killing of frogs rampant in Canacona, Salcete despite ban

CANACONA, June 19: With the first monsoon showers hitting the state in the last couple of days, young and old alike have gotten into the mood of catching frogs despite the ban against such activity. Canacona and Salcete are no exception with locals engaging in this activity round the clock. According to reliable sources, around 150 to 200 frogs are being caught daily with the help of some migrant labourers, who have settled in Canacona. The frogs are being sold to the hotels at Margao and Panaji, through agents. [NT]

Margao continues to stink

MARGAO: Tall promises are being made by the city fathers when it comes to clearing the city of the stinking garbage nuisance yet one sees heaps of waste lying scattered in the market with flies and stray cattle surrounding the muck whilst the visiting public is left holding their noses in disgust. [GT]

55 PLUS GOAN ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES NEW MEETING LOCATION WITH LADAHINE – JUNE 19TH
 

(Click on Thumbnails for larger view)

This day marked yet another year of Global celebrations held on Tuesday June l9th in honour of St. Anthony’s Feast day and Father’s day combined.

Our Fifty Five Plus Goan Association held a Ladahine at our new location, the Mississauga Seniors Centre, at 1389 Cawthra Road. We had 125 faithful members and out of town guests, from the U.K. in attendance.

Our Treasurer, Frank Fernandes and his wife Lucy did an outstanding job by articulating the Rosary and Litany in our “mother tongue”, (Konkani). Frank stole the show with his velvety voice,”-- cum Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank”… accompanied by his choir members and Cooty on the Violin. All pitched in and sang in Konkani all praises to our Saint. It intensified our longtime tradition of carrying out what our forefathers started!

This was followed by a scrumptious pot-luck spread, contributed by our members. Renee Fernandes and her team of volunteers worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the meals were replenished to everyone’s delight. The result, a delightful feast for all and a great sampling of everyone’s favourite recipe! A variety of desserts and coffee followed. Many thanks to Ed & Violet for helping brew the delicious coffee & last but not least to Stan Noronha for his assistance in the kitchen cleaning out the coffee urn!

To everyone’s delight- an auction was held of all the left over cakes to the highest bidder….so as you can see …nothing but nothing was wasted!!

Many thanks to Ed and Violet, for their expertise in keeping all the ladies in line – by giving us “on the spot” line dancing lessons – which was a great “after dinner workout” which was well needed by all.!! Some enjoyed a game of trouque, which was followed by Bingo! – Congrats to Celia Diniz who took home the Jackpot prize .

The Mississauga Seniors Centre, our new found location in Mississauga, is a “second home” to many of our members and we hope, as tradition will have it, an aura of Goa will always pervade the Club’s name. Therefore, we need more members to come out in support of future events held at this club. Hence, we need to “Keep the flame burning” by attending these monthly events whereby one can “meet & greet” in the evenings, or play whist, or line dance – a host of other in-door sport activities i.e. the use of the pool room or Billiards, thereby breaking the monotony of “office work” or house-work”

All in all a good time was had by all, on this, our first event, at this new venue. We trust you will join us in our upcoming Tuesdays as advertised on the website at www.goanvoice.ca 

Our thanks for putting all this together goes out to our Social Secretary Juliet Rebello and her sub-committee, who did an outstanding job from start to finish. Special thanks to all who came out and assisted in any which way possible.i.e. Monica Marques and Theo Fernandes for assisting at the Front Desk and to Mr. Uvy Lopes' strong support & camera shoots"! To Mrs.Millie Correa for conducting the line-up to the dinner table!

The evening wound up at 10.00 p.m. sharp with members pitching in to clear the tables and leaving the place tidy.

On behalf of our Executive Committee, we thank each and everyone of you who came out in support in making this all time traditional event, a day to remember!!.

Muriel Lucas
General Secretary,
55 Plus Goan Association.

Toronto 12th On List Of World's Best Business Cities

CityNews.ca Staff
When it comes to marketing power, we're number 12! That doesn't sound like much to be proud of, but considering Toronto is competing with 50 other large and famous capitals, it's really not all that bad. The city comes in just below the top 10 in a new ranking of the world's most important centres of commerce.

Economists looked at an area's economic stability, the flow of money, how easy it is to do business there and its political and legal framework to decide where it ranks on the scale of important places to do business in. Each city was given points based on those criteria, and then the numbers were added up to get the final total. And Toronto came in twelfth overall, ahead of Sydney, Australia, Copenhagen, Madrid and Stockholm. Montreal nails down the 27th spot, while Vancouver is the only other Canadian city on the list, right beneath it at 28.

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General Inquiries
Muriel Lucas,
Hon. General Secretary
100 City Centre Drive,
P O Box 2097
Mississauga, ON L5B 3C6

Events
Juliet Rebello
Social Secretary
Email: jjfrebello@yahoo.ca
Ph: 905 276 7890

Trip Coordinator,
Vivien Fernandes
4260 Lastrada Heights.
Mississauga, ON.L5C 3W3
Email: fernav@sympatico.ca
Ph: 905 896 3172

Date

Event

Details

Summer Picnic in the Park
TEGSA meets West (55PGA) Picnic.
Erindale Park., at Dundas and Mississauga Road.

Click for Flyer

Shrimp Curry Nite
Live Entertainment
MUSIC – SONG – DANCE
Cost: $10.00 (Members)
$12.00 (Guests)
Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.
Dancing starts at 7:30 p.m.
To register, please call:
Vicki D’Souza: (416) 497-5111
Charles Fernandes: (416) 286-8970
Joan Menezes: (416) 927-0895
Gerry DaSilva: (416) 297-7218

Your association is undertaking a special project of collecting used Eye Glasses which will in turn be sent to the third world countries, through the Lions Club. Please bring your “discards” to this event.
Leo Braganza will co-ordinate this project

Games Nite
Bridge – Scrabble – Rummy – Carrom
Co-ordinators to form organized groups for various games required.
Cost: $6.00 (Members)
$8.00 (Guests)
A Snack plate will be served
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
To register, please call:
Vicki D’Souza: (416) 497-5111
Charles Fernandes: (416) 286-8970
Joan Menezes: (416) 927-0895
Gerry DaSilva: (416) 297-7218

LADAINHA
Commander Park Hall

Click for Flyer

TEGSA INVITES YOU TO
ATLANTIC CITY 3DAYS/2NIGHTS
 

Click for Flyer

Surprise Performance
To be announced

Mass for the Deceased Members and their Families.

on November 2nd, 2007 - 6:30 pm sharp at
Commander Park Hall, Scarborough

Click for Flyer

Click for Flyer

Whist Drive
A Snack plate will be served
Cost: $6.00 (Members)
$8.00 (Guests)
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

To register, please call:
Vicki D’Souza: (416) 497-5111
Charles Fernandes: (416) 286-8970
Joan Menezes: (416) 927-0895
Gerry DaSilva: (416) 297-7218

Yuletide Festivities – Choral Group in Attendance
Live Music – X’mas Bazaar
Authentic Goan Food and Sweets
Cost: $10.00 (Members)
$12.00 (Guests)
Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Your Executive invites you to do yet another good deed for the less fortunate. Please donate at least one food can of your choice, which will collectively be donated to the FOOD BANK, during the festive season.

Christmas Dance
St. Clement of Ohrid Banquet Hall
76 Overlea Boulevard
Cost: $40.00 (Members)
$45.00 (Guests)
Cocktails and Appertizers at 6:30 p.m.
Sit-down dinner at 7:30 p.m.

To register, please call:
Vicki D’Souza: (416) 497-5111
Charles Fernandes: (416) 286-8970
Joan Menezes: (416) 927-0895
Gerry DaSilva: (416) 297-7218

I Wish The G.O.A Would...

I wish the G.O.A. would organize a kid's 'play day' for families
I wish the G.O.A. would organize a mix and mingle in dowtown T.O.
I wish I knew more about the Goan heritage that I could pass along to my children
I wish I knew where other Goan seniors were living
What do you wish for?
Tell us at the G.O.A. Vision Workshop on Sunday July 8th (1-5pm)
R.S.V.P. today to Michelle Pereira at mpereira@goatoronto.com
Valhalla Inn, 1 Valhalla Road (Burnamthorpe and Hwy 427) -
Refreshments will be served
Complete on-line G.O.A. Vision Survey - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=179663550842 

YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Do you have eye-glasses that you no longer use ? If you do, you can help make the difference to those in dire need in the Third World Countries.

TEGSA has embarked on a mammoth project of collecting used eye glasses which will, in turn, be sent to men and women who would otherwise never be able to afford or dream of having the luxury of seeing through eye glasses.

TEGSA is appealing to members to solicit your friends, family and neighbours and collect as many pairs as you can. Give your donation to any member of the Executive . We have a target of 1000 pairs.

Help us achieve our GOAL.
Vice President Leo Braganza will co-ordinate this project.
A major collection will be made at our Shrimp Curry Night on Friday, 7th September.
Non-Members in Toronto reading this appeal -- if you can help we will welcome your contribution.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

Ontario Marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Ontario Government Initiatives Help Address And Prevent Elder Abuse

TORONTO, June 14 /CNW/ - Ontario is at the forefront of the battle to address and prevent elder abuse, said Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley today on the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. 

"Our government is committed to improving the quality of life for seniors," said Bradley. "By marking this day and implementing key initiatives to address elder abuse, we are helping Ontario seniors to live safely and with dignity." Between 64,000 to 160,000 of Ontario's 1.6 million seniors have experienced, or will experience, some form of financial, emotional or physical abuse. That's why the government has an Elder Abuse Strategy, the first of its kind in Canada, which focuses on three priorities:

- Co-ordination of community services
- Training for front-line staff
- Raising public awareness about this important issue.

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Planning for Retirement: Are Canadians Saving Enough?

TORONTO, June 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Only one in three Canadians expecting to retire in 2030 are saving at levels required to meet basic household expenses in their retirement, and many may need to sharply increase their annual savings or continue working past age 65 to avoid financial hardship, according to a study sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

The study, titled "Planning For Retirement: Are Canadians Saving Enough?", conducted in April 2007 by a research team based at the University of Waterloo's Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, developed a total of 72 household profiles to assess whether Canadian "baby boomers" born in the early to mid-1960s are putting aside adequate savings for their retirement. It focused on two different income levels: households earning the Average Industrial Wage ($40,000 in 2005) and those earning twice that amount.

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Top 10 tips to get fit for summer
http://www.stoneycreeknews.com/scn/news/news_814239.html
Suzanne Conroy, Stoney Creek
(Jun 15, 2007)

Summer is a great time to start something new. All of us think about fitness, losing weight or toning up. Here's how to do it.

1. Eat breakfast. That's a key fact. Studies show that if you eat breakfast you keep your weight off better than if you skip this meal. If you're in a hurry, have a backup breakfast plan.
2. Set goals. This is essential. You need to make a goal. Make one right now. Ask yourself is it SMART?
Specific - Measurable - Action Oriented - Realistic and Timed? To see what I mean check www.work-fit.ca.
3. Get support. Whether it's your best friend, spouse, pet or your personal trainer - it always helps to have someone with you through thick to thin! Hire a personal trainer and Stats Canada points out your success rate will approach 90 per cent.
4. Water. Water. Water . I always say water equals weight loss. Drinking water speeds up your metabolism. Isn't that enough to make you want to drink it? It is recommended that we drink eight to 12 glasses per day.
5. Get rid of the snack food. I know it's hard to throw it out . Why not freeze it? Just get it out of your kitchen. Stock your cupboards with food that is good for you - instead of tempting you.

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