COMPLAINT TO TIME HORTON'S ABOUT MIXED RACE COUPLE TV AD

Written by Paul Fromm

Saturday, 02 July 2011 19:48

*COMPLAINT TO TIME HORTON'S ABOUT MIXED RACE COUPLE TV AD* ** *Canada First Immigration Reform Committee,* *P.O. Box 332,* *Rexdale, ON.,* *M9W 5L3* *PH: 905-274-3868* * * *Tim Hortons Investor Relations* 874 Sinclair Road Oakville, Ontario L6K 2Y1 Phone: 905.339.6186 Email: [email protected] June 30, 2011 Dear Sirs: I have been a shareholder in Tim Horton’s for more than 10 years and enjoy the company’s products on a regular basis. I am writing out of concern with the current television ad for Tim Horton’s that is being widely shown. The ad features two couples driving off for a motor vacation. One will follow the other. They’re a bit concerned they may get separated or lost. So, they agree to rendezvous at the next Tim Horton’s. The concept is cute and appealing and emphasizes that Tim Horton’s outlets are almost everywhere. Now, here’s my problem. The couples are supposed to be “everyman” Canadians. The first couple is a brunette man with a brunette woman. The second couple is a blonde woman with a Negro male. While there are interracial couples in Canada, statistically such relationships are infrequent. Many ethnic and religious groups strongly disapprove of relationships outside the group. The inclusion of the mixed race couple is gratuitous and, to many people, offensive. It also has absolutely nothing to do with the name recognition or good feeling the ad should be trying to create for the Tim Horton’s brand. A CBC News report (January 15, 2007) noted: “According to Statistics Canada, interracial couples made up 3%, or 452,000, of Canada's married or common-law couples in 2001 -- that's up 35% since 1991. But while the majority of respondents had no problem dealing with a taxi driver, doctor, supervisor or neighbour of another ethnicity, their response was markedly different when asked how they would feel if their child were to intermarry. Sixteen percent say it would depend on the race, and 9 % said they would react negatively.” The inclusion of the mixed race couple is preachy and verges on relationship advocacy, which is certainly not Tim Horton’s role. Hoping that you will withdraw or re-cast this ad, I remain, Your loyal customer and interested shareholder, Paul Fromm

 

Better to Stink than Offend the Scent Phobes

Written by Paul Fromm

Saturday, 02 July 2011 01:55

*Better to Stink than Offend the Scent Phobes* A sign of our declining society is that normal healthy people have to forgo normal healthy practices to accommmodate freaks and weirdos. Heavy sweat, the reek of curry or the gag-inducing stench of kimchee (rotted cabbages and spices favoured by Koreans) may be offensive to most Majority Canadians. We favour regular encounters with soap as well as the addition (according to one's taste or nose) of a spray of perfume for the ladies or a dash of after shave for the men. Since the nouveau Puritans banned smoking from most Canadian workplaces, even more arcane sensitivities are now being catered to. The Majority loses their rights and a tiny minority prevails.. Take the case of one Terence Juba (could the name be African?) working incongruously out of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration offices in Vegreville, Alberta. "*A federal civil servant who says he took 11 weeks of sick leave because his colleagues wore too much perfume and cologne wants all of his sick time allotment restored, claiming his employer failed to accommodate him. * ** *Terence Juba, who processes immigration applications for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration in Vegreville, Alta., said his debilitating scent sensitivity was triggered by certain fragrances he detected in the office, requiring him to use far more than the 187.5 hours of paid sick leave allowed under the Public Service Alliance of Canada collective bargaining agreement.When Mr. Juba put up a scent-free zone sign, his colleagues did not respond well, he told a Public Service Labour Relations Board. * *“They took the view that they were entitled to wear deodorant, use soap and wear perfumes, and in profane terms, they told him to mind his own business,” the board said, summarizing evidence at a recent hearing. * ** *After his complaints, the office imposed a scent-free policy, unfortunately introduced on April Fool’s Day in 2006. * *The policy, sent to all employees, says: “Respecting a scent free policy means ceasing to wear or use items that have a scent attached to them by artificial means.” * ** *Four months after the policy implementation, which he said was largely ignored, Mr. Juba filed his grievance to refill his exhausted sick day bank. 'I grieve that I had to use my sick leave credits for time missed due to the scent issues in the office,' he wrote. His sick days were used over three years." (National Post, June 30, 2011) * ** *Quite fittingly the "scent free policy" was proclaimed on April Fool's Day.* *Government did not accommodate worker's scent-related sensitivity: claim * *A federal civil servant who says he took 11 weeks of sick leave because his colleagues wore too much perfume and cologne wants all of his sick time allotment restored, claiming his employer failed to accommodate him. * *Terence Juba, who processes immigration applications for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration in Vegreville, Alta., said his debilitating scent sensitivity was triggered by certain fragrances he detected in the office, requiring him to use far more than the 187.5 hours of paid sick leave allowed under the Public Service Alliance of Canada collective bargaining agreement.When Mr. Juba put up a scent-free zone sign, his colleagues did not respond well, he told a Public Service Labour Relations Board. * *“They took the view that they were entitled to wear deodorant, use soap and wear perfumes, and in profane terms, they told him to mind his own business,” the board said, summarizing evidence at a recent hearing. * *After his complaints, the office imposed a scent-free policy, unfortunately introduced on April Fool’s Day in 2006. * *The policy, sent to all employees, says: “Respecting a scent free policy means ceasing to wear or use items that have a scent attached to them by artificial means.” * *Four months after the policy implementation, which he said was largely ignored, Mr. Juba filed his grievance to refill his exhausted sick day bank. “I grieve that I had to use my sick leave credits for time missed due to the scent issues in the office,” he wrote. His sick days were used over three years. * *He testified he has suffered scent sensitivity all his life. His symptoms can include headaches, runny nose, nosebleeds, lack of concentration and irritability. He sought medical aid but was told by doctors there was no cure. The government, however, said it “did everything in its power” to accommodate Mr. Juba. He was moved to different locations in the building. He was bought an air purifier. The airflow in the office was tested. The manager called in an external consultant to speak with staff, and employees were reminded regularly of the concern over scent, the labour board heard. To compensate for the negative balance in his sick leave, Mr. Juba was allowed to work overtime, which could then be exchanged for additional sick leave credits. Mr. Juba worked the overtime but then chose pay instead. Mr. Juba did not provide medical information that a particular accommodation was required and did not present any evidence that the employer caused him to work in an unsafe or unhealthy environment, the board heard. An earlier complaint by Mr. Juba to the Workers’ Compensation Board declared his sensitivity was not a disability and not compensable. Mr. Juba had no more success with the labour board. Paul Love, the adjudicator, dismissed the claim last month, saying Mr. Juba did not call any medical evidence to establish the extent of his scent sensitivity or what needed to be done to alleviate it. (National Post, June 30, 2011) *

 

Hear Paul Fromm: The Fighting Side of Me: Living With Hypocrisy

Written by Paul Fromm

Friday, 01 July 2011 01:33

Hear Paul Fromm: The Fighting Side of Me: Living With Hypocrisy [image: RobFord, mayor of Toronto] Host Paul Fromm highlights: - *Globe and Mail* slams gagging of Chinese dissidents but ignores similar suppression of Canadian political prisoners like letter writer Brad Love — parole condition prevented him from writing to any elected official and then to ANYBODY without prior permission! - Mississauga crime reporting shields ethnic (Third World) identity of killers * NATO’s dishonest war against Col. Gaddafi; - Alberta’s upstart populist Wildrose Party votes to abolish anti-Christian, anti-free speech Alberta Human Rights Commission; - Toronto Mayor Ford decides to go to his cottage and celebrate Dominion Day with his family and not march in the “Gay Pride Parade” — organizers throw a hissy fit; - How NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Big Money passed “same sex marriage” through State Senate http://reasonradionetwork.com/20110628/the-fighting-side-of-me-living-with-hypocrisy