What is Going on in Canada?: Bill C-60 and the CBC

The Canadian Conservative government has recently proposed a bill that could compromise the sovereignty of their public broadcaster, the CBC. Recent changes to Bill C-60, initially an act to amend the copyright act, force the CBC to seek approval of the Prime Minister’s Treasury Board for any collective bargaining agreement between the broadcaster and its employees. The Treasury Board also has power to deny wage changes and benefit packages to employees.

There have been many critics of the change to Bill C-60, NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau among them. On May 7th 2013, in the House of Commons, Brosseau stated: “The changes proposed in Bill C-60 constitute an all-out attack on the right to free collective bargaining in Canada.”

The problem with an attack on collective bargaining is that overarching power is granted to the government with respect to the well being of employees. If an editor wishes to publish critical stories that the government believes to be detrimental to their popularity, they have the ability to cut salaries, benefits, and even fire that editor. Most journalists will comply with authority figures rather than forfeit pay, benefits, or their job. Bill C-60 compromises the non-partisan stance of a public broadcaster.

The aim of the CBC is to create reliable alternative, unbiased media that is accessible to all Canadian citizens. With the government influence that Bill C-60 allows, the CBC will no longer be unconditionally reliable and alternative media, but rather will likely provide biased media that furthers the popularity and intentions of the Conservative government. Herein lies the question of an emerging ‘Big Brother’ presence in Canadian media.

‘Big Brother’ refers to an increased government influence, propaganda, and a watchful eye on citizens in order to create a controlled society that complies easily with government action. As proposed in Bill C-60, greater media control, allows a government to influence the opinions of its citizens and indoctrinate certain ways of thinking. A legitimate democracy should promote freethinking and facilitate alternative media opportunities. There arises the question: does Bill C-60 create an increased ‘Big Brother’ presence and threaten democracy in Canada?

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Sunday Roundup: Generational Differences and Jobs

Every Every Every Generation Has Been the Me Me Me Generation - Elspeth Reeve, The Atlantic

Against the backdrop of austerity measures and economic downturn, much talk in the Western world has been centered on generational differences and the selfishness of milennials. However, it may not be that the current generation is abnormally self-centered, but rather, that every generation is self-centered. Check out Elspeth Reeve’s response to the selfish milennials narrative.

How Our Incredible Shrinking Government Raises Unemployment and Hurts the Recovery - Derek Thompson, The Atlantic

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The wedding boom in China is fueled by big spenders

Couples are planning to get married in a boom where they have to be having a lot of money for them to feel the occasion as successful as they required, where they get more luxury than other people as they are termed as big spenders in the today’s world. In the Chinese culture, number 6 and 18 are mostly important meaning the couple will either get rich or everything will go smoothly.

Demand

Demand arises when the guests invited feel like the wedding is unforgettable and worth it which will influence more people and many couples deciding on their wedding to be on that same day. Wedding planning agencies are always on the great demand when it comes to weddings as they are always on the front line. Wedding planners are not only the benefiting people but hotels and restaurants are booked in advance as cake bakeries are also busier and not forgetting the gown makers who rush to come out with best gowns and suits for their customers who are waiting for the big day. The weddings are also a great attraction of foreign and domestic tourism in their country. Many hotels are required for the accommodation of the couple and their company such as the relative and friends. Salons for photos are greatly required to mark the occasion and leave memories to the couple, guest and the attendance at large.

The Chinese have different types of presents they present to either the bride or the groom on their boom wedding day such as home décor, serveware, barware which one can buy online (like here) or any place that they can easily be found like independent designers and vintage collector or shops where handmade home decors are made.

Prices get higher as the number of weddings increases and the guest couples increase hence additional stuff are employed with an increased payment since the amount of work will also increase. Jewellery and photos increases as more are required by the couple and they won’t mind the prices since it is a big day that everyone awaits for mostly in china. They spend many dollars in both their wedding and the honeymoon which can and also be more than their combined earning, therefore everyone expects their businesses to continue compared to the beginning when they started it.

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