The beginnning

Introduction

This blog will focus on a variety of topics this year including:

• designing a gender equity board game;
• the long con we call health care;
• soccer as an expression of social activism and community capacity building;
• standards for gender equity in corporate leadership and how government works against women;
• how our tax dollars promote mental illness in the workplace;
• suicide, men and why jobs are important.

New Brunswick

Where is all this coming from?

For those of you who don't know the province, it is probably the most beautiful in Canada. It is closer to New England that to Toronto and the people have more in common with that regional group than they do with Canadians. And yet, despite being a 1 hour flight from NYC, it remains impoverished. 68% of youth under the age of 25 see no future in its largest city, Saint John. And yet, the province itself is: bilingual, is on the coast with remarkable vistas of the Atlantic, has 5 universities, and, in one of its cities (Fredericton) has more millionaires per capita than any other place in Canada.



Health Care in Canada-The Long Con

US politicians have been apoplectic in their denunciation of Canada's health care system despite the fact that 25 million Americans have no health care coverage. Even so, they are correct to be critical of the Canadian system but they do so the wrong reasons.  In fact, our own system is really a long con.

• The Canadian family of 4 pays $11300 in public health care insurance.
• The cost of our health care system has increased 54% over the last 10 years.
• That is:
• 1.5 x the cost of shelter,
• 1.5  x the cost of clothing,
• 2x the cost of food and
• 1.5x the growth of the average income.

See next week's blog for a fuller discussion

Gender Equity, Corporate Boards and Government Standards

Do Canada's provinces and territories apply the same standards of gender equity to the recruitment of people to their own boards, agencies and commissions that they expect from public corporations?

Effective Dec 31/14 securities regulators in 7 provinces and 2 territories adopted the comply or explain amendments to existing corporate disclosure rules in NI 58-101.

In April 2015, the Federal government announced that it would propose amendments to the CBCA. These amendments would require companies incorporated under the CBCA to disclose their policies regarding gender diversity in executive positions and on the board of directors.

In September 2015, securities regulators in 7 provinces and 3 territories published results on an audit of compliance through Multilateral Staff Notice 58-307. The results were poor.

So, what? Why care?

Because companies with women on boards have:

• 53% higher return on equity
• 42% higher return on sales
• 66% higher return on capital.

So, if it clearly makes good business sense, why regulate?

Because sexism and misogyny still exists.

• recruiters and nominating committees still, for the most part, believe that women do not have enough relevant experience
• boards, in the main, still believe that family responsibilities would hinder women in the fulfillment of the governance duties
• social systems are still gendered
• there persists in society sex role stereo-typing.

See future blogs for more information

Soccer and social engagement?

Getting through the Trump national socialist hangover, are you?
No?

Does "politics" look like a tyranny of the winner?
Maybe?

Try something different.

Try soccer-the art of the possible.

Soccer is the vehicle  for individual and community self discovery; an expression of the uniqueness of both and is an adventure.

• Soccer unites people of different sects, opinions and countries into a common interest
• Soccer teaches diligence, discipline, focus, courage through fair play and team building
• Players who best model these virtues become models for others
• Soccer uses identity politics to brand universality and social responsibility
• Soccer fosters healthy lifestyles and builds networks. It serves to address the social ills of isolation, nativism, elitism. A "Club" becomes the focal point to build community awareness.

Can soccer be a catalyst for change?

To read more look for Jim Murphy's book:

         10 Football Matches that changed the world

or

read Jorge Knijnik

         Play for Freedom