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We are not as in smart as we think we are; actually our minds are controlled

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Influencing people’s behaviour is nothing new to the Government, which has often used tools such as legislation, regulation or taxation to achieve desired policy outcomes. But many of the biggest policy challenges we are now facing – such as the increase in people with chronic health conditions – will only be resolved if we are successful in persuading people to change their behaviour, their lifestyles or their existing habits. MINDSPACE, Influencing behaviour through public policy

What if I was to tell you that most of your behaviour in the last year was achieved through the unethical use of covert psychological strategies? That our government was using “nudges” in their messaging campaigns.

What if I told you that they had used tools as incentives and information to change behaviour by changing your mind because they realize that people do not always respond to situations in the most rational way?

I was most recently introduced to an article by Gary Sidley called, “A year of Fear.” (https://thecritic.co.uk/a-year-of-fear/). In the article, he exposes information that is chilling, but worthy of sharing because after reading it, it made perfect sense as to why many of us have been reacting to this pandemic.

He shared that a major contribution to the mass obedience of the British people is likely to have been the activities of government-employed psychologists working as part of the “Behavioural Insights Team,” a team conceived in 2010 dedicated to the application of behavioural science to policy.

They had put together a discussion document called MINDSPACE, which happens to be a checklist of influences on our behaviour derived for use when making policy.

Hmmm!

Naturally I was intrigued and decided to take a look at this 96-page document. What I found was intriguing, but not surprising. It made me think; how many of these tools have been used on the Canadian public, and more specifically, had any of them been used to influence the Canadian people during this pandemic?

I am going to briefly break down the acronym MINDSPACE, but I encourage you to take a look at the link that I provided above.

Messenger
We are heavily influenced by who communicates information
Quite naturally, we give weight to information if the information comes from a perceived authority. It was found that people are more likely to act on information if experts deliver it. It makes me think about all of the announcements and press releases delivered to us during the pandemic, and the fact that our politicians weighed heavily on a handful of selected doctors to deliver messages to the people.

It is important to note that we are also affected by the feelings we have for the messenger. We may irrationally discard advice given by someone we dislike (government officials), so they will use sports stars, entertainers or social influencers to deliver that same message.

This is something to think about the next time that someone you really like seems to be aligning his or her message with the powers that be.

Incentives
Our responses to incentives are shaped by predictable mental shortcuts such as strongly avoiding losses
We dislike losses more than we like gains of an equivalent amount. If you get the vaccine, life will get back to normal. We all want life to get back to normal. The incentive is taking the vaccine, and the avoided loss is the loss of our freedom.

Norms
We are strongly influenced by what others do
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we are not as strong-minded as we think we are. In actuality, we tend to do what those around us are already doing.

We tend to act on social and cultural norms, which are the behavioural expectations, or rules, within a society or group. Norms can be explicitly stated (“Wear a mask‟ signs in public places) or implicit in observed behaviour (everyone wearing masks). We often take our understanding of social norms from the behaviour of others, which means that they can develop and spread rapidly.

Some social norms have a powerful automatic effect on behaviour (e.g. socially distancing) and can influence actions in positive and negative ways. The power of following social norms may come from the social penalties for non-compliance, or the social benefit that comes from conforming.

If the norm is not immediately apparent to people, repeated efforts may be required for its effects to become self-sustaining. It makes sense that in every other commercial we will see someone wearing a mask. It is in the efforts to normalize the behaviour. If you are not wearing one, YOU are not normal.

Defaults
We go with the flow‟ of pre-set options
Once again, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but many decisions we make every day have a default option, whether we recognize it or not. Defaults are the options that are pre-selected if an individual does not make an active choice. Defaults exert influence as individuals regularly accept whatever the default setting is, even if it has significant consequences.

What are some of our default settings? Well for some of us, it has become strapping a mask on our faces when we leave the house. It has become isolating from our loved ones. It has become sitting glued to the television watching the COVID-19 death count. It has become condemning those who do not accept the social norm and labelling the anti.

Salience
Our attention is drawn to what is novel and seems relevant to us
In our everyday lives, we are bombarded with stimuli, and this can become very overwhelming. As a result, we tend to unconsciously filter out much information as a coping strategy.

We are much more likely to be able to understand things that are presented in ways that relate directly to our personal experiences than to things presented in a more general and abstract way.

Another way to explain it is using the term confirmation bias. This is a tendency for people to pay little attention to information that challenges an existing belief, and only focus intently on information that supports what we believe. For example, if I wear a mask, socially distance, and take the vaccine, I will not get COVID-19 or pass it to others, even though research shows that this is not the case.

Priming
Our acts are often influenced by subconscious cues
Are you aware that the way you act is often influenced by subconscious cues?

Priming shows that our behaviour may be altered if we are first exposed to certain sights, words or sensations. Priming seems to act outside of conscious awareness, which means it is different from simply remembering things.

Examples of priming are the many commercials that have littered our television screens reminding us that we have to practice all government mandates in order to keep safe. Remember, you are not wearing a mask for you; you are wearing it for other people. If you don’t do this, you are selfish.

Affect
Our emotional associations can powerfully shape our actions

Affect (the act of experiencing emotion) is a powerful force in decision-making. As human beings, we are driven by our emotions. We respond to words, images and events, and the response can be rapid and automatic. Emotions are so strong that we can experience a behavioural reaction before we realise what we are reacting to.

Think about this the next time the government of Canada shows you a video with an elderly person in a hospital bed, tubes running through them, and then that sound that comes from the heart monitor indicating death, due to COVID-19 of course.

Commitments
We seek to be consistent with our public promises and reciprocate acts
Human beings are procrastinators and tend to procrastinate and delay taking decisions that are likely to be in our long-term interests. It has been shown that commitments usually become more effective as the costs for failure increase. One common method for increasing such costs is to make commitments public, since breaking the commitment will lead to significant reputational damage.

The government of Canada has asked us to commit to following all of their COVID-19 policies and procedures so that we can go back to seeing our friends and family. This means we have to commit to masking, social distancing, skipping holidays (there is always next year), and staying home.

Ego
We act in ways that make us feel better about ourselves
Sigh! We tend to behave in a way that supports the impression of a positive and consistent self-image. When things go well in our lives, we attribute it to ourselves; when they go badly, it’s the fault of other people, or the situation we were put in. This phenomenon is known as the “Fundamental attribution error.”

The cases are going down, so this must mean that people are doing what they are supposed to be doing. They are following protocols, and of course, they are going to get their vaccine.

What is that, cases are going back up again. It must be those damn anti-maskers, and conspiracy theorists.

I urge you to read and reread MINDSPACE. Although this discussion piece was intended for the British audience, I find it strange that our government has implemented many of the same techniques.

Makes me wonder.

We, as humans are guaranteed certain things in life: stressors, taxes, bills and death are the first thoughts that pop to mind. It is not uncommon that many people find a hard time dealing with these daily life stressors, and at times will find themselves losing control over their lives. Simone Jennifer Smith’s great passion is using the gifts that have been given to her, to help educate her clients on how to live meaningful lives. The Hear to Help Team consists of powerfully motivated individuals, who like Simone, see that there is a need in this world; a need for real connection. As the founder and Director of Hear 2 Help, Simone leads a team that goes out into the community day to day, servicing families with their educational, legal and mental health needs.Her dedication shows in her Toronto Caribbean newspaper articles, and in her role as a host on the TCN TV Network.

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Before we allow more people into the country, shouldn’t we prioritize the well-being of our citizens first?

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Stock Photo/FreePik

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Greetings esteemed citizens of Canada. I am deeply troubled by a pressing issue that demands our attention. It pertains to our immigration policies and the welfare of our citizens.

I am bewildered by the continued influx of immigrants into our country while we struggle to adequately care for our own citizens. Take, for instance, a drive through Toronto, or a drive through Hamilton—it’s a stark reminder of the dire situation many Canadians face daily. We witness homelessness, lack of access to basic healthcare, and economic hardships plaguing our communities.

Homelessness continues to be an issue in Toronto, with thousands of people experiencing homelessness on any given night. The impacts of it are complex, long lasting, and devastating for many. Homelessness affects some of our community’s most vulnerable residents and contributes to ongoing health inequities.

Toronto is also experiencing a heightened number of non-fatal and fatal opioid overdoses within the overall community, as well as within the shelter system. This is primarily due to the increasing toxicity and unpredictability of the unregulated drug supply. According to the City of Toronto, in 2023, there were 169 calls to Toronto Paramedics from Toronto shelters and respites sites in Q4 of 2023 to respond to non-fatal overdoses. Over 2023, there were a total of 796 non-fatal suspected overdoses at Toronto shelter and respite sites, representing an 11% decrease from 2022.

Higher rates of illness and premature death among the homeless population have been widely recognized, and since January 2024, there have been 28 deaths in homeless shelters. The City says that they are committed to identifying and responding in a timely manner to new and emerging issues in the shelter system.

According to Homeless Statistics in Canada, the estimated number of homeless people ranges from 150,000 to 300,000, with 25,000 to 35,000 individuals homeless on any given night. Let’s take a look at this on a national scale:

Homelessness Statistics for Canadians

  • Between 25,000 and 35,000 people are homeless on any given night in Canada.
  • Toronto has the most homeless people in Canada.
  • 62% of homeless people in Canada are males.
  • 30% of Canadian homeless come from Indigenous communities.
  • 90% of homeless shelters in Canada are in: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta, and 44% of them are in Ontario alone.
  • 22% of shelters are aimed at young homeless in Canada, while 20% of people experiencing homelessness are 13-24 years old.
  • The annual cost to society is over $7 billion.
  • The Canadian Government is investing $2.2 billion over ten years to expand funding for the homeless.

Yet, for some reason, the Canadian government strongly believes that it is in the best interest of our country to continue to push for higher immigration. Yes, I overstand that immigration is a complex issue with multifaceted implications. Canada has long prided itself on its tradition of welcoming immigrants, which enriches our cultural fabric and contributes to our economic growth. The only caveat is we as Canadians need to truly understand how this is affecting us as a whole.

According to Statista, annual immigration in Canada amounts to almost 500,000 new immigrants – one of the highest rates per population of any country in the world. As of 2023, there were more than eight million immigrants with permanent residence living in Canada – roughly 20% of the total Canadian population. In a press release titled “Canada welcomes historic number of newcomers in 2022,” it is proudly written that Canada has experienced one of the fastest recoveries from the pandemic, thanks in large part to our approach to immigration.

In the press release, they state that they plan to welcome a historic number of newcomers, and IRCC has: added resources, embraced new technology, streamlined processing, and brought more processes online. They claim that these changes are all important improvements to Canada’s immigration system, which will position them well for the future. They also state that their focus is on addressing the acute labour market shortages we are facing today and building a strong economy into the future, and one thing remains certain: “Immigration is a key part of the solution.”

“Today marks an important milestone for Canada, setting a new record for newcomers welcomed in a single year. It is a testament to the strength and resilience of our country and its people. Newcomers play an essential role in filling labour shortages, bringing new perspectives and talents to our communities, and enriching our society as a whole. I am excited to see what the future holds and look forward to another historic year in 2023 as we continue to welcome newcomers,” shared Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

I received an email from Maxime Bernier (PPC Leader), and in this email, he shared with me his thoughts. “I started talking about the perils of mass immigration years ago. The whole political and media establishment denounced me, smeared me, said I was a racist, a xenophobe, anti-Canadian. I kept telling the truth, because I care more about the future of our nation than about what these corrupt elites think of me.”

“More and more people now realize that I was right. Simone Jennifer, we need to make mass immigration the ballot box question at the coming election. When the Liberals took power in 2015, Canada’s population was only 35 million. How can we possibly integrate into our society, our economy, our housing market, our culture, the equivalent of Nova Scotia’s, or Saskatchewan’s population every few months? It’s a planned invasion. It’s a total disaster in the making.”

I understand the importance of immigration, especially because my parents are also immigrants, but before we allow more people into the country, shouldn’t we prioritize the well-being of our citizens first? How can we justify bringing more people into the country when we’re struggling to provide essential services and support to those already here?

I urge the government to reevaluate its immigration policies and ensure that they align with the needs of our citizens. We must prioritize the well-being of Canadians and work towards building a more inclusive and prosperous society for all.

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Ontario launches One Fare Program to increase accessibility and affordability of public transportation

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BY PAUL JUNOR

“We’re working with the provincial and local transit partners towards integrating transit fares across systems, making transit more affordable, and convenient as we take action to build the region’s network for the future.” (Metrolink)

Transit riders across the GTA will save $1,600 as they utilize multiple transit agencies at no extra charge. The program started on February 26th, 2024, and it allows transit riders transfer for free to commute between the TTC and other Transit agencies in the GTA, including GO Transit. All commuters need is to tap their PRESTO: card, credit, or debit in Google wallet to save money with the Ontario One Fare Program.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford states, “Our government is on a mission to keep costs down for the hardworking people of Ontario. One Fare will eliminate double fees and put $1,600 back in the pockets of transit riders. Alongside the hundreds of dollars, we’re saving for drivers by cutting the gas tax, scrapping road tolls, and eliminating the license plate sticker fee, we’re providing commuters with real tangible relief.”

The Ontario government has invested $70.5 billion in public transit that is intended to significantly improve the overall services. It is anticipated that there will be more than eight million new riders as they traverse different public transit systems. Commuters will be able to travel between: GO Transit, TTC, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay, and York Region Transit.

Vijay Thanigasalam (Associate Minister of Transportation) states, “At a time when many families feel like they’re struggling to get ahead, our government is making public transit simpler, more convenient, and more affordable. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we will continue to make historic investments in public transit and put money back in commuters’ pockets, where it belongs.”

It was in 2022 when it was announced that plans were underway between GO Transit and several transit agencies in the Golden Horseshoe Area. “The government will continue to work with municipal partners to identify opportunities to make transit more seamless for riders by harmonizing discounted fares and other measures.”

Overall, there will be an investment of $70.5 billion by the Ontario government in public transit that will go a long way in increasing affordability and accessibility of different transit systems in the GTA and Golden Horseshoe areas. The project will also involve: the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension, which is the largest development of any subway system in all of Canada. When completed, there will be a two-way, all-day GO train service every 15 minutes that will connect key areas in the Golden Horseshoe. It is projected to be completed by 2031.

Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto is totally supportive and pleased with the unveiling of the One Fare Program. She states, “Public transit should be a convenient and affordable option for getting to work, school, or running errands. Ontario’s One Fare will make it easier and cheaper to transfer between the: TTC, GO Transit, and other transit agencies. When governments continue to work together, we can make life more affordable and invest in public services families rely on, like high quality public transit that costs you less.”

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Your silence on crimes against humanity automatically makes you an accomplice

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Photo Credit: Roman-Odintsov

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

“Many people wonder: who is responsible for the process of self-destruction of human society? Today, to some extent, the responsibility falls on everyone. On some more than others, but on everyone. Why? Because people are silently accepting the current changes, which are literally crimes against humanity.”

The above is a quote from Elijah plus the Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate Methodius OSBMr + Timothy OSBMr and the Secretary Bishops. Now let us examine why this quote was made using present-day society as the barometer.

A good example of this nonsense here in Canada is children having the right to choose their gender while parents are being threatened with jail time if they intervene. It’s these so-called hate speech laws, and so-called laws to keep independent thinkers from accessing worldwide news and posting it on their social media platforms.

“Parliament gets presented with an unintelligible text, which is impossible to decode. Besides, the MPs usually pass multiple laws at the same time; hence they have no possibility and time to find out what they are supposed to pass altogether,” said the Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate.

Here are some of the crimes (that these so-called laws that are drafted and eventually passed) are designed to hide.

Feminization, the breakdown of family, gender ideology, and stealing children from their mothers are promoted under the term “domestic violence protection.” Make sure there are no fathers in the homes, or even if there are, he is muted, or scared of having his authority labelled as toxic masculinity.

In Norway, 70-100 stolen children commit suicide every year and the information about it is marked as confidential. In some cases, foster family is a business where children are being passed around until they are mentally bankrupt, oppressed, and eventually killed. Based on the financial status of the so-called foster parents, these cases never make the news.

We are seeing anti-discriminatory laws included in the legislation allowing mass discrimination of the majority. Systematic demoralization of children from the time they attend kindergarten is covered by the term sexual education.

“Children are robbed of their own identity by pounding in their minds that they are neither a girl, nor a boy. Consequently, they undergo hormonal therapy with a catastrophic prospect of gender-altering surgery. The society is silent about it and therefore has a shared accountability for all these crimes,” shared the Byzantine Bishops.

Some of these schools have hundreds of students. My questions are, why don’t these parents join hands and say enough is enough, instead of just one or two? Canadians, have we become a society of parents who are continually failing our children? When are we going to wake up?

Here are some of the trials our babies face daily. “Even before the child is born, mothers are forced to have it killed. Almost every mother is intimidated by having a child with so-called Down Syndrome. In reality, this is a mental terror based on lies,” said Byzantine Bishops. “As soon as the children are born, they are administered vaccines, which cause: autism, loss of immunity, loss of fertility, autoimmune diseases, cancer, etc.”

Again, where are the collective voices of our men and women saying hell no to all this? There is an enormous amount of the money that pediatricians make from the vaccines they force on these innocent children. These child doctors know full well the side effects of such vaccines, but instead, they are focused on their next: Porsche, cottage, and furnishing their high-society wives and husbands with all the luxury items, while they poison our children, and what do we do? NOTHING.

The average North American child doctor has 1,500 patients; if he or she gets most of them to take all the child vaccines, he or she is rewarded with at least $360.000. That’s way more than their annual salary. This should explain the push to vaccinate your babies at all costs. This information can be found in the BlueCross/BlueShield Doctor Incentive Booklet. Every child that gets the 24 vaccines is worth a $400 payout to that doctor.

The abuse of medicine has now become the new normal. This happens under the cover of The World Health Organization (WHO); projects are being imposed on states to reduce human population.  “We can expect the declaration of the next pseudo-pandemic followed by experimental vaccination. This not only poses a mortal danger to human life but also carries the threat of concealed chipping,” said Byzantine Bishops.

From Smartphone addiction (aka making our children braindead), the digitization of everything (aka spying on us), intervention in our food supply (aka poisoning us with GMOs), to the falsification of science for satanic agendas (aka the safe and effective COVID brew), there is no hiding place from this war that is unleashed on world citizens by corporations and so-called governments.

The big question is, are we going to give up or fight? Canadians, choose as if your life depended on it, because it does.

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