49,17 by Spotlight Magazine

THIS ISSUES Photographer / Artwork: Joan Bateman Gainsboro Studio www.joanbateman.com All Models: Hanissa Kb Anna Winzell Seira Kiyono Jacquelyn Smyth Jayka Rosan Cianna Winkler Awa Eva Makeup: Tenille Riechelmann / NOVA Artistry & Melissa MacKay

CONTENTS 5

EDITORIAL Am I the Only One Scott Cowan

6 MLA Respecting Albertans Means Letting Them Prosper

Columnist Drew Barnes

The Fashion Files Gainsboro Spotlight

Golf

Drive it Straighter

Columnist Donald Crawley

14 Politics What about Democracy? Columnist Brent Dunstan 16 Law For a Fight of 45 Minutes, You Have to Train 45,000 minutes

Photo credit Joan Bateman

Columnist Scott Stenbeck

18 Top 10 Reasons to Name a Corporate Executor

SpotLight / Portrait Project 2017

BMO Consultant - Dan Hein

unavoidable. It inspires me to live my most satisfying life. It helps me make sense of my world, and enables me to experience life more fully. At this time in my art practice, I am enjoying the unpredictability of encaustic. I love the texture, but I also love the smoothness. I love the warmth, the smell of beeswax that takes me back to my batik days.

This is how I feel, in the words of Thomas Merton; “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” I just wish I had said it. Art enables me to experience life in a real and complete way. The urge to create is an interesting thing. For me it is necessary and

I want my art to convey hopefulness, brightness, goodness. To be uplifting and guide the viewer to some kind of personal resolution. For me art is meditative, and healing. It has the power to solidify memory, even draw out the meaning from memories. It satisfies the instinctive need to create. I find my memories come back in a deeper way than from a photograph. In my experience, the colors and texture is ever defining the meaning of life, by making a satisfying mark. The blank canvas of life is about letting go of perfection, and personal significance. Art is about making, feeling, and leaving a physical expression others can interpret and follow. We are all artists painting our own canvas via our experience. Each choice a brush stroke.

Some are subtle while others bold. It is up to all of us to create our own masterpiece. One of the beauties of encaustic is that the mark can be melted, creating conversation and stimulating observation. The satisfaction of making a meaningful, or even just one descriptive mark, is almost spiritual. We can all feel ourselves being pulled deeply into the revelation almost biblically, through the intensity of a piece. One that captures our imagination, and speaks to our individual soul. Painting for me is cathartic and solidifies deep emotions. Just as certain music enables travel within, art potentially unlocks a window to our very spirit of being. The vary act of creation, transitions one to a depth of feeling where that traveler may fully and finally receive the illumination of something that can’t be expressed otherwise. This is the panacea of inspiration. I remember more clearly a moment, or a place that I paint.

EDITOR

SCOTT COWAN (403) 504-7092

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ADDRESS

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PHONE (403) 526-3054 Disclaimer: No responsibility can be taken by Spotlight Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responsibility of Spotlight Magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spotlight Magazine. Comments are welcome.

Am I the Only One

Scott Cowan Editorial

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As we move into 2017, and having viewed recent events... I 'm awestruck. Does anyone one notice how far we have fallen as a society? In Alberta we elected one of the most left wing governments in Canada. Nationally we elected Justin Trudeau. If not for his last name, who would have voted for a candidate whose only resume reference's are part time drama teacher, and rafting instructor. Wait a minute (some will say,) he was a member of parliament before running for the leadership of the liberal party. True, but again would he have been elected if not for his heritage? Now let's examine the first year's provincial and federal results. We have a carbon tax that will adversely impact every person in the country. Massive unemployment in Alberta. The Prime Minister clearly stated we must close the Oil Sands, and transition totally away from fossil fuels. Yet, he recently announced the approval of a long awaited pipeline to British Columbia. His father introduced the hated National Energy Policy. It ripped billions of dollars from the pockets of Western Canadians. We're still paying the debts left by Trudeau senior. Now his spawn has brought forward NEP part two, in the form of carbon taxes. Remember Justin praised Communist China as his preferred form of government. Someone who sang accolades about Fidel Castro, the most brutal murdering dictator in our hemisphere. Thousands of Cubans have braved the ocean in leaky boats, and some on inner tubes, just to get a glimpse of Florida. People do not take those risks unless where

they live is Hell. Yet Trudeau had nothing but praise regarding Castro. He stopped short of attending his funeral only because of public outrage. With literally billions of people who would love to immigrate to Canada, Trudeau chooses almost exclusively from one group only. International studies have shown 15-25% of the Prime Minister's first choice are dedicated to killing us, and usurping our government. But we are importing more every day. The same group in Europe has proven that 85% remain on welfare for a life time. Also they are categorically against assimilation in their host nation. They prefer to lobby and riot demanding specialized treatment. This being in the form of housing, monthly financial support, preferential treatment in health care, and especially in school and work related appeasement. Canadians have been told for decades they cannot pray in schools. Yet now, a particular group is being given time to pray during school hours, and provided dedicated facili-

ties in schools to practice their faith. Outside uneducated religious teachers are being allowed unsupervised access to indoctrinate not only their own students. The children of other faith and religion are being forced to learn about and in some cases convert to the immigrant's religion. You may be asking how all this is possible? The answer is simple...left wing ideology. For decades the left has incrementally and specifically targeted the foundations of everything that used to be tradition, and accepted as unassailable. It started years ago by eliminating religion from our school system. Moral restraints were desecrated, and mocked as Victorian, and out of sync with modern reality. Then we were slowly told you can't say this and you can't do that, and political correctness became entrenched. Ever so slowly the ship of Canada began to turn. Even saying, Merry Christmas is taboo. People's feelings might get hurt, and we could offend someone... What may I ask is so wrong with offending somebody? Either you look Continued on pg 19

Respecting Albertans Means Letting them Prosper

DREW MLA BARNES Cypress - Medicine Hat cypress.medicinehat@assembly.ab.ca 403-528-2191

With the holiday season upon us, I hope that everyone enjoys a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. This time of year is filled with hope, joy, and thankfulness. It offers an opportunity for us to reflect on our many blessings and share them with loved ones. Among the blessings I treasure is the incomparable opportunity to serve and represent my constituents. The holidays are a time when community bonds are felt most strongly, and I thank you for allowing me to celebrate the season with you. In the festivities of the holidays, it’s easy to lose sight of some of the challenges our province has endured in 2016. I think particularly of the many folks from Fort McMurray who cannot spend Christmas in their homes this year, as well as the families across Alberta struggling through difficult economic times, perhaps even having to deal with layoffs. Throughout it all, I have always been encouraged by the resilient nature of Albertans. I have been gladdened by extraordinary acts of charity and compassion shown to those in need. I trust that the fundamental strength and character of this province always remains even when times are tough. As a province, we’ve seen our share of ups and downs, and we’ve come through it all before. Thanks to hard work, innovation, and

generosity, this province has accomplished many great things and has withstood lean years. It is well within our abilities to weather any economic storm, if only given the opportunity to grow and thrive.

When the bitter cold of an Albertan winter sets in, I’m not sure how much imagination it would take to haul tools to a job site without a truck, or take kids and their gear to hockey practice without a vehicle,

My primary concern has always been creating a government that empowers people and allows them the freedom to do what they do best, whether the worker or the entrepreneur or the innovator. I desire a government that does not act as an impediment to Albertans by putting on them undue burdens and limiting their opportunity.

or carry a load of groceries home only by hand. But much like poor Cratchit, all the imagination we can muster can’t shake the sense that government policies have left us out in the cold.

Because I believe so strongly in the people of this province, I find it discouraging to hear things like Premier Notley telling everyone that her new taxes and restrictions would allow them to “make better choices” that reflect a rigid, imposed worldview. When asked how people would deal with, for instance, large new tax hikes on fuel, she suggested that people should take the bus or walk more, with a flippancy that only Scrooge himself could rival. Of course, in that classic Christmas story, Charles Dickens writes that Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit, being refused more coal for his fireplace, “tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed.” No amount of dreaming could overcome cold reality.

While the government seems determined on Albertans having less – less prosperity, less opportunity, less freedom to make your own choices – I will always stand up for policies that encourage growth and foster healthy, strong communities. If the strength of this province is indeed the people, then government’s purpose should be to create the space for innovation, investment, and prosperity. In short, it must stay out of the way. I’m not holding my breath for a Christmas miracle, but even old Scrooge changed his ways. Regardless of what the future holds, the industrious, creative, and caring people of Cypress-Medicine Hat have what it takes to persevere. Serving you is a true privilege, and I wish you peace and joy in the year ahead.

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Photographer / Artwork: Joan Bateman Gainsboro Studio www.joanbateman.com All Models: Hanissa Kb Anna Winzell Seira Kiyono Jacquelyn Smyth Jayka Rosan Cianna Winkler Awa Eva Makeup: Tenille Riechelmann / NOVA Artistry & Melissa MacKay.

Photo credit Joan Bateman

David Tupaz Gainsboro Studio and Spotlight Magazine introduced their "New York Experience," during Fashion Week last September season. Models we discovered right here in Medicine Hat, were showcased on prestigious runways walking for international designers. These men and women, who by use of fabric and thread, transform young women via the "Cinderella factor," into walking art masterpieces. We also introduced local makeup artists Tenille Riechelmann, and Melissa Mackay to the New York scene. They labored backstage using brushes instead of magic wands, to turn girls into supermodels.

Photo credit Bruce Herlitschek

Spotlight photographer Joan Bateman of Gainsboro Studio was recently featured in the prestigious Las Vegas publication, L’Vegue Magazine. Joan received a full seven pages of content showcasing her September New York Fashion Week, "Art Couture Fashion Series." Local and International models were shot in exotic New York locations. Clothing was provided by world renown designer, David Tupaz. Joan describes working with David, as a true privilege. Prose and editorial does little to describe the narrative. This story is told in the pictures...See for yourself. Makeup by Tenille Riechelmann and Melissa Mackay. Special thank-you to the publishers and staff of L’Vegue Magazine for their lavish comments and extensive coverage. Photo credit Bruce Herlitschek

The Broken Window Let us begin with the simplest illustration possible: let us choose a broken pane of glass. A young hoodlum, say, heaves a brick through the window of a baker’s shop. The shopkeeper runs out furious, but the boy is gone. A crowd gathers, and begins to stare with quiet satisfaction at the gaping hole in the window and the shattered glass over the bread and pies. After a while the crowd feels the need for philosophic reflection. And several of its members are almost certain to remind each other or the baker that, after all, the misfortune has its bright side. It will make business for some glazier. As they begin to think of this they elaborate upon it. How much does a new plate glass window cost? Fifty dollars? That will be quite a sum. After all, if windows were never broken, what would happen to the glass business? Then, of course, the thing is endless. The glazier will have $50 more to spend with other merchants, and these in turn will have $50 more to spend with still other merchants, and so ad infinitum. The smashed window will go on providing money and employment in ever-widening circles. The logical conclusion from all this would be, if the crowd drew it, that the little hoodlum who threw the brick, far from being a public menace, was a public benefactor. Now let us take another look. The crowd is at least right in its first conclusion. This little act of vandalism will in the first instance mean more business for some glazier. The glazier will be no more unhappy to learn of the incident than an undertaker to learn of a death. But the shopkeeper will be out $50

that he was planning to spend for a new suit. Because he has had to replace a window, he will have to go without the suit (or some equivalent need or luxury). Instead of having a window and $50 he now has merely a window. Or, as he was planning to buy the suit that very afternoon, instead of having both a window and a suit he must be content with the window and no suit. If we think of him as a part of the community, the community has lost a new suit that might otherwise have come into being, and is just that much poorer. The glazier’s gain of business, in short, is merely the tailor’s loss of business. No new “employment” has been added. The people in the crowd were thinking only of two parties to the transaction, the baker and the glazier. They had forgotten the potential third party involved, the tailor. They forgot him precisely because he will not now enter the scene. They will see the new window in the next day or two. They will never see the extra suit, precisely because it will never be made. They see only what is immediately visible to the eye. An elementary fallacy. Anybody, one would think, would be able to avoid it after a few moments’ thought. Yet the broken-window fallacy, under a hundred disguises, is the most persistent in the history of economics. It is more rampant now than at any time in the past. It is solemnly reaffirmed every day by great captains of industry, by chambers of commerce, by labor union leaders, by editorial writers and newspaper columnists and radio commentators, by learned statisticians using the most refined techniques, by professors of economics in our best universities. In their various ways they all dilate upon the advantages of destruction. Though some of them would disdain to say that there are net benefits in small acts of destruction. They tell us how much better off economically we all are in war than in peace. They see “miracles of production” which it requires a war to achieve. And they see a postwar world made certainly prosperous by an enormous “accumulated” or “backed up” demand. In Europe they joyously count the houses, the whole cities that have been leveled to the ground and that “will have to be replaced.” In America they count the houses that could not be built during the war, the nylon stockings that could not be supplied, the worn-out automobiles and tires, the obsolescent radios and refrigerators. They bring together formidable totals. It is merely our old friend, the broken-window fallacy, in new clothing, and grown fat beyond recognition. This time it is supported by a whole bundle of related fallacies. It confuses need with demand. The more war destroys, the more it impoverishes, the greater is the

postwar need. Indubitably. But need is not demand. Effective economic demand requires not merely need but corresponding purchasing power. But if we get past this point, there is a chance for another fallacy, and the broken-windowites usually grab it. They think of “purchasing power” merely in terms of money. Now money can be run off by the printing press. As this is being written, in fact, printing money is the world’s biggest industry—if the product is measured in monetary terms. But the more money is turned out in this way, the more the value of any given unit of money falls. This falling value can be measured in rising prices of commodities. But as most people are so firmly in the habit of thinking of their wealth and income in terms of money, they consider themselves better off as these monetary totals rise, in spite of the fact that in terms of things they may have less and buy less. Most of the “good” economic results which people attribute to war are really owing to wartime inflation. They could be produced just as well by an equivalent peacetime inflation. Now there is a half-truth in the “backed-up” demand fallacy, just as there was in the broken-window fallacy. The broken window did make more business for the glazier. The destruction of war will make more business for the producers of certain things. The destruction of houses and cities will make more business for the building and construction industries. The inability to produce automobiles, radios, and refrigerators during the war will bring about a cumulative postwar demand for those particular products. To most people this will seem like an increase in total demand, as it may well be in terms of dollars of lower purchasing power. But what really takes place is a diversion of demand to these particular products from others. The people of Europe will build more new houses than otherwise because they must. But when they build more houses they will have just that much less manpower and productive capacity left over for everything else. When they buy houses they will have just that much less purchasing power for everything else. Wherever business is increased in one direction, it must (except insofar as productive energies may be generally stimulated by a sense of want and urgency) be correspondingly reduced in another. The war, in short, will change the postwar direction of effort; it will change the balance of industries; it will change the structure of industry. And this in time will also have its consequences. There will be another distribution of demand when accumulated needs for houses and other durable goods have been made up. Then these temporarily Continued on pg 17

Drive it Straighter! The Long Ball is Great, But Finding The Fairway is King but the forearms should be relaxed, with a light pressure. With this neutral grip you increase your chances of delivering the face square, and a straight drive, through impact. The second influence on straight drives is alignment.

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Let the Big Dog Eat. Grip it and Rip it. Go Big Or Go Home. Everyone wants to hit the ball farther, but distance is no more important than direction. TO score better you have to drive the ball in the fairway. So I'm here to talk about how you can drive the ball straighter. The biggest determinate in direction is the club FACE. To hit a straight drive the face must be square to the path, and ideally the target at impact. The biggest influence on the clubface is the grip. Photo 1 illustrates a neutral grip, which is the middle-of-the-road position. Note that two knuckles are visible on the left hand. Both "Vs," the crease between thumb and forefinger on both hands are running parallel to one another, and pointing toward the rear (right for righties) shoulder. Some other terms you may be familiar with are “strong grip, or weak grip.” A strong grip is when the Vs point more to the right outside of the shoulder. A weak grip is when the Vs are pointing straight up at your nose, or worse still, at the left shoulder. Strong or weak does not and should not refer to the grip pressure. Keep the grip pressure the fingers are holding light. Gently squeezing

In Photo 2 the target line is the saguaro cactus circled in the middle of picture. Your body — meaning feet, knees, hips, arms, chest and shoulders — should all be aligned "parallel left,” or square to the target. A common mistake is to close your stance. Thinking it will help you draw the ball. Unfortunately this cliché, handed down from the Scottish pros one hundred years ago, gets misinterpreted. The aim becomes too much to the right. Aim for a square stance, parallel left of the target. Photo 2 also illustrates a more important part of the stance. The chest and shoulder alignment. Which has a huge influence over your swing path. I'm making sure my upper body is in alignment by holding my driver up to my shoulders, so they're square. I guarantee that all you slicers of the ball with an over the

top swing, are lining up with your shoulders and arms open. Or way left of the target. This doesn’t fix a slice it exaggerates it! Big note here: aim the club head first. The step into the ball, aligning your body parallel square as in Photo 3. After grip and aim, the next step is posture. Photo 4 shows the importance of having a straight back/spine. You’re heard of “turn your shoulders,” a statement I don't agree with or teach. But I know what it means — rotate your torso. This is only possible from the correct posture which is chin up, back straight, tipped over at the hips, with legs slightly flexed. If you have a good posture

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What About Democracy? The rules and makeup of the Electoral College have existed since 1787, so they shouldn't have caught anyone unawares. As such, the protests, counseling sessions, canceled university exams, and all manner of brouhaha related to the entirely democratic results of November's U.S. Election is wholly due to a failure to understand, or at least accept, the outcome of a particular, and long established, democratic system.

Brent Dunstan Columnist

"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…" British House of Commons, 11 November 1947

With all the consternation following the U.S. Election, it stands to reason that we as Canadians should take particular care, as we stand at the precipice of reforming our own electoral method. Our current Federal Government has promised a revised system, committing time, resources, and even a cabinet ministry to “democratic reform”. Its quest is to replace the “first past the post” method of electing our Members of Parliament with an as yet to be determined alternative. Based on observations, it’s been a less than successful pursuit thus far, to the point of being comedic, were it not so critical

an issue. I truly and sincerely feels a bit sorry for our former Minister of Democratic Reform Maryam Monsef, not as a result of her performance, which ranged from confusing to outright befuddlement, but that she was obviously thrust into the role thoroughly unprepared. Democratic reform is a can of worms, with complexities that would challenge even the most seasoned of Parliamentarians; all the more so for a rookie MP whose rise to such a prominent role was fueled as much by the Prime Minister’s desire for a particular demographic makeup of his Cabinet, as it was a too good to be true immigration narrative, that proved too good to be true. Regarding the later, I believe Minister Monsef’s astonishment was sincere in finding that her background details were not what she thought. For that family matter to be addressed in the full glare of the national spotlight couldn’t have been pleasant. While determining her birthplace was an inconsequential distraction, the Continued on pg 22

Of all the qualities Winston Churchill possessed, perhaps his best was the ability to say in sentences what takes mere mortals volumes. Were Churchill alive today, he would have lots to say about one of his favourite topics, as this concept we call democracy is being analyzed, assailed, applauded, abhorred, and agonized about. It seems that democracy is at the forefront of a great deal of discussion right now; as the citizenry of the "free world" paradoxically wishes it for those who do not have it abroad, whilst bemoaning its results when things don't go their way at home. This is particularly true in the United States, having just run the gauntlet that has become a Presidential Election. The rapidity with which the term "undemocratic" was applied to its result was matched only by the degree to which it was misapplied. It's easy to ask, "How can results where a candidate can receive more votes than the other, yet lose an election, be democratic?" The stunningly simple answer is that popular vote on the national level isn't the system by which a Presidential Election is decided, and this fact was lost on neither President Trump nor Secretary Clinton prior to their campaigns.

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For a Fight of 45 Minutes, You Have to Train 45,000 Minutes

Scott Stenbeck

1(866)783 6232 Law Columnist

The title of this article is a quote from Rocky Balboa’s trainer, Mick, and I think it was from Rocky II. I’m not going to watch Rocky II all over again just to make sure I’m right, but since Mick seemed distant and bitter most of Rocky I, and he didn’t live that far into Rocky III, my guess seems likely to be correct. When I think about the successes that I have had for clients, it has always come down to preparation. Events of this very month were a reminder of that. Back in May of this year, I ran a hearing at the Alberta Utilities Commission for two groups of clients. Concerning the routing of a proposed Altalink transmission line. An area to the East of Calgary and crossing the Bow River. I just received the final decision back, a complete win on all issues. These folks were smart in that they acted as soon as they got wind of any possible project, even before the application for the transmission line was filed. As a result I was able to get ahead of the power curve and stay there the whole time. I was able to tour the lands concerned, and began dealing with Altalink even before they finalized what they were applying for. We were able to do an analysis early, and even get modifications to the proposed route prior to the application going in. I was able to contact and retain and reserve for our side of the case some of the best experts in Agriculture, Environmental Impact, and Transmission Line Routing in the Province, and have them prepared and ready to go early. Over 50% of the final cost (which landowners get reimbursed for by Altalink in many cases) of my work in the project had to do with preparation. When the time came to do the hearing, it wasn’t a matter of scrambling to get material and expert evidence together and prepared. All that had already

been done. Instead, I was able, in a calm and collected way, to survey the whole situation and make decisions as to strategy and tactics. As evidence and material came in from the other parties involved, I was able to react and change our approach to give the client the best advantage possible. Rather than worry about pulling together basic material for our case, as that had been done months before. At the end of the day, I was able to spend a week in hearing where I made real forward strides for the client in cross examinations, and to present our evidence in a way that came across as well prepared, but not overly rehearsed. At the end, because there had been enough time to let our position really settle in and for me to really think about it from all angles, we were able to submit a final argument that saw us win a major hearing on every point that we asked for. Now, it doesn’t always go this way, and I still will take cases at the last minute, but the above is an optimal situation. I also go through the above to say this. Often people think that they pay me to generate paper in the form of letters, affidavits, and briefs, and that certainly is part of what I do. But the part of my job that gets me the success I have for clients and really makes the difference is the time I spend in preparation. Sometimes it is difficult to explain,

because it doesn’t generate anything tangible until you see me use it in Court or in a Hearing. When a case settles when I don’t have to actually run it in Court, it is usually because my preparation enabled me to reason with an opposing party well enough about the case to bring about a settlement, and in that situation, it is especially tough to explain to someone why they are being charged preparation time; when they weren’t able to see me use it. I don’t prepare 1000 hours for a chambers application of one hour like Mick told Rocky he needs to. But I usually do tell folks to bank on me spending about 3 to 5 times as much time getting ready for Court, or for any step in the process, for the time I will actually be in Court. I think that any good and competent litigation lawyer does the same. When you engage legal services in a contested matter, if you were in Court for an hour, you should hope that you see on your bill a charge for at least a couple hours of prep time, where your lawyer reviewed your file prior to Court, made some notes on the argument they would present, and just generally got ready. You may not get a nifty letter or an affidavit for that time spent, but that preparation will figure more than most other things in the result you achieve.

Economics 101 Continued From pg 11

favored industries will, relatively, have to shrink again, to allow other industries filling other needs to grow. It is important to keep in mind, finally, that there will not merely be a difference in the pattern of postwar as compared with pre-war demand. Demand will not merely be diverted from one commodity to another. In most countries it will shrink in total amount. This is inevitable when we consider that demand and supply are merely two sides of the same coin. Supply creates demand because at bottom it is demand. This fundamental fact, it is true, is obscured for most people (including some reputedly brilliant economists) through such complications as wage payments and the indirect form in which virtually all modern exchanges are made through the medium of money. Postwar demand in most countries, to repeat, will shrink in absolute amount as compared with pre-war demand because postwar supply will have shrunk. This should be obvious enough in Germany and Japan, where scores of great cities were leveled to the ground. The point, in short, is plain enough when we make the case extreme enough. If England, instead of being hurt only to the extent she was by her participation in the war, had all her great cities destroyed, all her factories destroyed and almost all her accumulated capital and consumer goods destroyed, so that her people had been reduced to the economic level of the Chinese, few people would be talking about the great accumulated and backedup demand caused by the war. It would be obvious that buying power had been wiped out to the same extent that productive power had been wiped out. A runaway monetary inflation, lifting prices a thousand fold, might nonetheless make the “national income” figures in monetary terms higher than before the war. But those who would be deceived by that into imagining themselves richer than before the war would be beyond the reach of rational argument. Yet the same principles apply to a small war destruction as to an overwhelming one. There may be, it is true, offsetting factors. Technological discoveries and advances during the war, for example, may increase individual or national productivity at this point or that. The destruction of war will, it is true, divert postwar demand from some channels into others. And a certain number of people may continue to be deceived indefinitely regarding their real economic welfare by rising wages and prices caused by an excess of printed money. But the belief that a genuine prosperity can be brought about by a “replacement demand” for things destroyed or not made during the war is nonetheless a palpable fallacy.

Top 10 Reasons to Name a Corporate Executor Estate Planning Series, Part 2 of 4

Achieving our personal and financial goals takes careful planning, increasing expertise and diligent follow-through. We invest and expend considerable time, energy and resources in building and maintaining our lifestyles. Let’s not overlook, or procrastinate in designing and launching our estate plan. A good estate plan and Will can help ensure that our affairs are managed according to our wishes and choosing the right Executor is a critical part of this plan. The Executor is our personal representative after our death. This important role involves far more than document collection, record keeping and administration. The Executor must deal with family members during a period of grief and cope with conflicts that may arise among beneficiaries and creditors during the administration of an estate. The Executor’s actions are subject to scrutiny not only by beneficiaries, but also by tax authorities, creditors and potentially the courts. Settling an estate It is the Executor’s responsibility to act in the best interest of the deceased’s estate, following the instructions set out in the Will. While the process varies depending on the size and complexity of the estate, it will generally involve: • Secure all the deceased’s assets • Probate the Will, a court process that validates the Will • Ensure all outstanding bills and liabilities are paid and accounts are closed • Claim entitlements such as life insurance and survivor benefits • Distribute assets to beneficiaries • Prepare and file the deceased’s final Terminal T1 Tax Return Consider Liability and Demands The demands of being an Executor can be overwhelming. Even more serious is the often overlooked exposure of the Executor to substantial liability. There is no limit for estate taxes IF the executor does not get a CRA clearance certificate for the estate. There is no limit for a claim against the estate IF the executor has not posted a Notice to Creditors in the local paper during the administration. There is no actual time limit for liability; however a ‘reasonable’ time frame would be considered (For example, a renovation company shows up 20 years with an unpaid bill - they probably won’t get it). As estates unfold, many (if not most) become far more complex than originally thought. In setting your estate plan, give serious consideration to the services of a Corporate Executor. Corporate Executor services are offered by trust companies, where professionals within the organization act on our behalf to perform Executor duties according to our express wishes. By naming a team of qualified and experienced professionals, versus relying solely on one person, you can be assured there will always be qualified individuals to administer any and all estate requirements in a timely and considerate manner. Is a Corporate Executor the right choice for you? Consider the following:

1) Executor’s Age - What is the age of my Executor? If my chosen Executor is of the same generation as me, who is the alternate if my Executor predeceases me or becomes incapacitated and is unable to fulfill his/her duties? A Corporate Executor will be available to act at the time of my death and, if required, many years into the future. 2) Location - Does my Executor live in close proximity to me? It can be difficult for an Executor to settle an estate remotely – and problematic if your Executor lives outside my home province. It becomes all but impossible if my executor resides outside Canada. A Corporate Executor who is located in a city close by will be able to efficiently settle my estate. And if at some point in the future you relocate, perhaps to another province, a Corporate Executor has the resources to ensure the smooth settlement of your estate. 3) Knowledge - Does my Executor have the required knowledge to make effective decisions? A corporate Executor is knowledgeable and competent in dealing with matters related to estate and trust law, other legal issues, taxation, accounting, investments and real estate. 4) Time Commitment - Acting as an Executor requires a significant investment of time. Our Executor’s family or career obligations may impact his/her ability to deal with our estate. A Corporate Executor is dedicated to ensuring the smooth and timely settlement of your estate – not as an “extra-curricular” obligation, but as a matter of course. 5) Liability - Executors are personally liable for decisions and errors made in settling an estate and this liability remains open indefinitely. Is my Executor aware of this risk, and is he/she comfortable with this responsibility? Corporate Executors are fully aware of their obligations and willingly accept the liability. 6) Disputes - Is there the potential for disputes within my family or among other beneficiaries? A Corporate Executor offers an independent, non-biased and professional approach when dealing with family members and beneficiaries. 7) Ongoing Trusts - Does my estate name beneficiaries requiring Trust arrangements? A Corporate Executor can act as Trustee to oversee the Trust accounts until the beneficiaries reach the age at which funds are to be distributed. A Corporate Executor is also able to provide ongoing support for long-term Trusts, such as a Trust that is set up to benefit a person with a disability for their lifetime. 8) Locating Assets and Beneficiaries - There will be an added layer of complexity when our beneficiaries and/or assets are located outside our province or country. A Corporate Executor has the resources to locate our beneficiaries and deal with the distribution of foreign assets. 9) Asset Complexity - Estates that include a business corporation or partnership, complex investments or commercial real estate, require specialized support. A Corporate Executor has the experience required to wind up or dispose of these types of assets in a tax efficient manner. 10) Peace of Mind - Appointing a Corporate Executor provides us with peace of mind knowing that our estate will be settled efficiently and responsibly by an experienced team of professionals.

For more information, contact:

Dan Hein, BRE

Associate Investment Advisor BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Medicine Hat, AB Tel.: 403-528-6771 Dan.Hein@nbpcd.com www.bmo.com/nesbittburns The comments included in this article are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax applicability or trust and estate law. The comments contained herein are general in nature and professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be obtained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances. . All insurance products and advice are offered through BMO Nesbitt Burns Financial Services Inc. by licensed life insurance agents, and, in Quebec, by financial security advisors. ® “BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. ® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. Opinions are those of the author and may not reflect those of BMO Nesbitt Burns. The information and opinions contained herein have been compiled from sources believed reliable but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to their accuracy or completeness.

Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund and IIROC

Am I the Only One like a jerk, or the other guy learns something important. In 1944, 18 year olds stormed the beaches on D-Day. Today 18 year old students need safe places on college campuses. They might see a poster advertising a dissenting view. These kids graduate totally unprepared for the real world. Not to mention most can't make change for a dollar. Gradually, the very laws we live under surrendered their stability to the left wing erosion of values. Now the PM say's, "Canadians have no values, we are a nation of multi-cultural beliefs." If conservatives don't start telling people, I really don't give a dam if you are offended, this is how it is... then we are doomed. We must acknowledge we will be labeled every "phobic" imaginable, hateful, misogynist, and Nazi. You better not care what's said, and toughen up your skin. For decades I've heard liberals whine about how in the 1950's Hollywood celebrities were subjected to McCarthyism. They lamented the unfairness of being labeled a communist, and not being able to get work. Now, if a celebrity stands up for President Trump, they are blackballed by the left, and not allowed to work because they aren't in lock step agreement with socialist/communist democrats. The elites just finished three days in Devos Switzerland, holding the "World Economic Forum."What was discussed? How inequality is a trap for millions stuck in poverty. The favorite liberal mantra, "tax the rich," was widely discussed. We should fund "investments" in PUBLIC services and jobs. They discussed how government could guarantee workers got their fair share, and a living wage. They discussed globalism and multi-cultural goals. They praised Guy Standing's book, postulating that free markets need an overhaul. Especially those who have benefited most from free markets. If I had been there I would have asked the one question no liberal can answer...What is my "fair share?" Devos was three days of trashing success. The problem today is no one believes they can make it on their own. The left wing who have spent decades impeding the free market system, now blame capitalism for its perceived weaknesses. Their answer is bigger government, paying bigger wages, and let the rich taxpayer flip the bill. The left hates traditional values because they stand for hard work, success, morals, and personal accountability and responsibility. Profits are made when free markets are actually allowed to flourish. Anyone who has ran a business knows workers are paid what they are worth. If you don't pay proper wages your competitor will hire them away. Profit is the pay cheque of the owner, based on a risk of 100% of his or her capital. Workers had no financial risk, and were paid regard-

less of meager profits, or even losses along the way to success. Some employers suffer years before a business becomes successful. They only realize those excessive profits the unions and liberals want when they finally materialize. Without the employers there are no jobs to debate! This is the tipping point for freedom. We must protect capitalism, and define the truth, or the next generation is lost. Without economic freedom there is no freedom at all! The single greatest obstacle to any ones success are the liberals in our country that do not want you to succeed. They want no one to prosper unless it comes from a government cheque, grant, anything but the individual. They write laws, force permits, and levy employee taxes and dictate wages. If you get over all that... they tax you to death. Conservative values are going to be disdained, and capitalism is considered the problem in society. White males owe just about everybody for perceived injustices. Right wing answers are flat out considered racist, islamaphobic, unfair, and outdated. People in Ontario pay $1000.00 a month in electric bills. But still vote for the liberals who brought forward the policies that created the increases. Check out the liberal "donor owned windmills," stretching from Pearson airport in Toronto, to almost Windsor. Liberals signed a back room twenty year contract with their supporters... to first buy expensive wind energy, at ridiculous high rates. Surpluses in turn are sold at a loss, to the state of New York. Now, we are started down the same road in Alberta. Premier Notley has hired some of the very same people who orchestrated the Ontario hydro nightmare, to advise us in Alberta. Gerald Butts, an unelected "advisor," to then Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty, was point man for those windmills spoke of along Highway 401. He now whispers in the ear of our PM. Last but not least, he is helping craft the environmental policy of Alberta's NDP. The problem is that conservatives were too busy working and paying taxes, to pay attention to the prime ministerial play boy, and his predecessors. All the while the liberals were whining about CEO's making more money than the guy on the floor, and big business screwing over the little guy, march on Wall Street and all the rest... But now the tide is changing.

Continued From pg 5

Employers are tired of idiots with college degrees trying to tell them they are bad for being successful. This is why I welcome the candidacy of Kevin OLeary. He could be Canada's Donald Trump. A businessman who takes no crap, and tells it the way it is regardless of hurting feelings. Like Trump, they will say he is not "Qualified." Well has anyone ever asked what the qualifications are to be a Prime Minister? According to liberals, its having has a part time job as a high school drama teacher, and trust fund beneficiary. Kevin OLeary is a self made billionaire. He knows how to balance a cheque book, read financial statements, and has made payrolls. For these reasons alone I will vote for him. I do not care if he has skeletons in his closet. Because we all do... even the hypocrites who will disparage him in the press, and seek to destroy his reputation. Let's hope all the truly unqualified MP's who look in the mirror every morning and see a prime minister, will have the common sense to defer to a man who has captured the attention of millions of Canadians. Canada already voted for nostalgia, Pierre part two. I believe they will cheer a real celebrity with a solid resume. I believe Kevin could be the catalyst for the needed resurgence of financial stability in Canada. It would be a bonus if he is a nice guy. comments send to

scott-cowan@live.com

Drive it Straighter! The Long Ball is Great, But Finding The Fairway is King Continued From pg 12

and a better rotation both back and through, you create a swing on an arc. Which also helps the face square up to a swing path on an inside-to-inside path. This swing path will hit the ball straighter and distance will follow close on its heels. Now lets look at the top of the backswing Setting the club in the correct plane and direction isn't mandatory, (look at the different backswings out on the PGA and L PGA Tours.) But it makes it a lot easier to swing the club down and through in the correct plane and direction. Photo 5 shows the club over the right shoulder and parallel to the target line. If you get access to a video camera (any smart phone will work) it is worth checking out where your backswing is at the top. What we think or feel the swing is not or is rarely real. Photo 6 shows the importance of the correct grip. Which helps me set the clubface square to the plane. Note the line drawn through the clubface. It is parallel to a second line drawn through my left forearm. Also, the amount of "cup" in my left wrists is the same as it was in the grip picture at address. This means I have not opened or closed the face — no manipulation of the face in the backswing. Again, this is a key factor in driving the ball straighter.

release. Through impact if you are aiming square with a neutral grip, you are off to a good start and have a much greater chance of driving the ball into the fairway.

5/6 And now we address. The most important part of the golf swing impact. Photo 7 illustrates all you slicers . The face is wide open. Even if you rotate through, transfer your weight. Clear your left hip, etc„ if the face is open, the ball will slice — ALWAYS. Photo 8 shows a better release of the body and the club. Note bow the forearm shave rotated on an are. The club is also swinging back around on an arc showing how the face has closed to the target, yet square to the arc it is swinging toward. The body is fully released. Also posture maintained, hips clear, right side turning through. Weight off the right foot. In summary, to drive the ball straighter work on the five above points — grip, aim, stance, pasture. Setting the club at the top and full

What About Democracy? Continued From pg 14

manner in which she has handled her file was another matter. It’s evident she has was put in a role she was clearly unsuited for. There is no embarrassment in acknowledging that and making the change; the shame would have been continuing to subject this person to further floundering. The reform process began with a whimper - the forming of a Parliamentary Committee the Government was essentially shamed into forming with members of all parties, in keeping with their representation in the House of Commons - a half hearted show of good faith. Small wonder then, when they reported their findings, (an entirely expected conclusion that among Canadians there was no consensus on the subject) Minister Monsef betrayed her lack of experience and political acumen by deriding and belittling the committee and its work publicly. Her rebuke, which included Members of her own party, was only made more awkward by clumsily attempting to walk back her statements later. Further evidence to support the belief that reforming our voting system is being undertaken in a manner that lacks gravitas and sufficient seriousness is the online survey offered to the masses. Resembling something more like a Buzzfeed Quiz, notably in that it categorizes its participants upon completion, it's both manipulative with its leading questions and absolute statements, while having a cotton candy-like lack of substance. It's ill conceived at every level. For example, the survey asks a response to the following statement on a scale of strongly agree to strongly disagree: "Canadians should have the option to cast their vote online in federal elections, even if it is less secure." Ostensibly, the idea is to increase voter participation by allowing voting via the Internet. However, the statement both presupposes and acknowledges that online voting would be insecure. This is hardly an unreasonable conclusion to come to in the era of Anonymous, WikiLeaks, hacked emails, and the ongoing intrigue of foreign powers accessing all manner of America's secure sites. Do we really want a bored, 2nd year computer science major from Waterloo (or a far worse culprit) deciding who wins what? The problem with online voting need not be even that complicated. The problem could be as simple as a tech-savvy 9 year old logging on and voting for Mom and Dad. As it stands, the Government has yet to propose a specific alternative electoral system to what we currently have. The most likely

candidates all have their share of weaknesses. To find an example of problems with the Full Proportional Representation System, one needn’t look further than Italy, a country that has had 65 governments in the past 68 years; 1 every 385 days on average. This is a result of having to cobble together obviously shaky coalition governments, beholden to whoever provides enough warm bodies to form a majority - until such time as the weakest link withdraws its support. Hardly a recipe for "peace, order, and good government." A Modified Proportional System erodes the immediacy of our local representation and results in MPs that are appointed by their party, rather than elected by the people, to balance out popular vote percentages and regional representation. It becomes entirely possible that a particular area could be represented by a person they didn’t vote for, who is not from that area, and is a member of a party that is not indicative of local wishes. The one thing that is truly admirable about the current system in Canada, is the accessibility of our local MPs. If you have never availed yourself of the opportunity, you would be surprised at the ease with which you can share your thoughts with your MP; something that could easily be sacrificed on the altar of democratic reform. Ranked Ballots are also not a slam dunk solution. They come in two flavours; one where the voters must rank all the candidates on the ballot, and one where they don’t. The most obvious question to be asked is, “What happens if a voter doesn’t have a second, (or third, or fourth, etc.) preference?” Forcing the voter to rank all 3, 4, 5, 8 candidates can lead to very artificial results, given the percentage of voters in Canada who are quite comfortable supporting one party, or have a less than thorough understanding of the full slate of parties and candidates. The likely scenario, given past performance, would centre on the ranking of the three largest parties. A Liberal voter would obviously rank a Liberal 1st, and then, dependent on his/her “blue-ness” or “red-ness” rank the Conservative or NDP 2nd. However it is on the Conservative and NDP supporters’ ballots where a significant concern arises. It is almost a certainty that the Liberal candidate is ranked 2nd on virtually all of both sets of ballots, as it’s unlikely either lists the other as their “next best” option. As such, it is difficult to envision anything other than a Liberal win in any riding that doesn’t produce a 50%+1 victory for any other party, resulting in MPs who win on the basic of being slightly less

repugnant than the other options. By not forcing the voter to rank, it’s entirely conceivable that the electors chooses only 1 candidate to “plump” support for their true preference, effectively replicating what we already have. Either way, ranked ballots don’t solve more problems than they create. Finally, in an attempt at Churchillian brevity, I ask one final question. Is it not odd, of all the matters at hand, that our current Government seems committed to the notion that the question of how Canadians elect their Government should not be put to a vote? How undemocratic. As Canada celebrates its 150th Birthday, it might be wise to note that we have enjoyed 150 years of sound, stable democracy; the envy of the world in many ways. Even in comparison with our neighbours to the south, the self proclaimed beacon of democracy, our country was birthed not by armed conflict, but by political resolution. Our national unity crises were settled at the ballot box, not on the battlefield. For our entire existence as a country, the democratic system we already have has served to provide stability and certainty in a most unstable and uncertain world. That in itself should make one wonder, if it isn’t broken, why fix it? The virtue of democracy is not found in the manner by which our vote is tabulated; it is found in the simplicity of the vote itself. Merely participating in choosing those who govern is cause for both celebration and concern. That's why what results from Canada's "democratic reform" is so important. Just as we began with the wisdom of Churchill on the matter, so shall we end. "At the bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into the little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper—no amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possibly diminish the overwhelming importance of that point." —British House of Commons, 31 October 1944 Brent

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