BC implements smoking ban

The Canadian Prosperity Report is not very encouraging, specially when compared to American lifestyle. It said that Canadians have less purchasing power and they live in smaller homes, something like 2,000 sq. ft. That the average Canadian worker in 1981 was producing 87 percent of what the average American worker did. In 2007, the Canadian output is only 79 percent and the country is at risk of falling even further behind.

However, the economic differences don’t affect the regular Canadian, and only 19 percent believe that Americans have a better standard of living. According to Maclean’s, one of the biggest differences between the two economies comes down to capital. Canada invests far less than the US does in machinery and equipment, especially in the information technologies sector.

British Columbia will definitely be a haven for non-smokers when the provincial government implements further smoking bans in public places. For Filipinos visiting Vancouver, please take note. The amendments to the province’s Tobacco Sales Act will ban smoking in:

• All indoor public spaces, including restaurants, pubs, private clubs, offices, malls, conference centers, arenas, community halls, government buildings and schools.

• In public doorways, and "near" the doors, windows and air intakes of any building accessible by the public.

• Tobacco sales will be barred in public hospitals and health facilities, universities and colleges, public athletic and recreational facilities and provincial buildings.

• The display of tobacco and related products will be banned in stores accessible to anyone under age 19.

In the old world, working at home was not fashionable and quite rare. Today, close to one in four working Canadians work from their homes on a regular basis. Home-based businesses enable small-business operators to flourish with low or no overhead costs and at the same time enjoy the comforts of home.

Writer Yann Martel had this to say after winning a major literary award – Canada is several steps ahead in globalization. That Canada was producing award-winning literature because it was the greatest hotel on earth. The country is truly multicultural, which does not just tolerate but welcomes diversity. Thus, it was reaping the benefit of the resulting cultural ferment, a new kind of exciting, global writing.

Just in case, you have forgotten, Martel is the author of "Life of Pi" which is about an Indian teenager who is equally devout adherent of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.

If you’re thinking of moving to Canada, it is important that you know the following data that was just released by the Census.

• British Columbia reached its four-million mark in population and is the most urban province in the country. Only 15 percent of its population lives in rural areas. Because of new immigrants, the province has grown by 5.3 percent but it still has the lowest birth rate in Canada.

• Canada’s population grew faster than any G-8 country due mainly to new immigrants.

• Alberta leads all provinces in growth which means the province has more employment opportunities.

• Half of all immigrants to Canada between 2001 and 2006 settled in Ontario.

• Majority of Canada’s population can be found in cities, with four out of five people, or more than 80 percent of citizens, leaving urban areas.

• Ontario and Alberta had the largest population increases in Canada, followed by British Columbia and Quebec.

• Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador experienced population decrease and they are not popular destination for immigrants.

• Nine of Canada’s 25 most popular cities are suburbs of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and includes Surrey where many Filipinos reside (our version of Daly City in California).

• Canada’s six largest cities – Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa-Gatineu, Calgary and Edmonton are home to 14.1 million people or 45 percent of the country’s total population.

• British Columbia is more dependent on overseas immigrants than any part of Canada. Between 2001 and 2006, an average of 25,000 immigrations a year settled in the Vancouver area.