The Toronto Star newspaper recently ran a story about celeb Chef Jamie Oliver’s latest intrusion in Canadians’ lives. First, he publicly derided Canadians over the national obesity problem. Now, he says we don’t do enough to educate our kids and ourselves about what we eat and how we eat it…
Kids of all ages can participate in the preparation of food…
Oliver has issued a personal challenge to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to bring forward a Child Health Program including a crackdown on junk food advertising, enhanced food labeling and more dietary education for school kids.
Said Jim, in a news conference in Toronto last week, where he was launching yet another new book, “You’re in a really exciting time because you’ve got a new prime minister and that means hope and possibility, but no one’s talking about what the strategy is for child health in this country.”
Wee Jamie apparently doesn’t know that these and other issues are already under active study by the pertinent government agencies and many of the universities across our land. Does Jamie understand that it takes time to look at the alternatives and try to gauge their potential effectiveness before you spend a fortune rolling them out nation-wide? And what about the effects on business and, by extension, the entire economy?
“Should all kids in Canada learn how to grow and cook at school?” asked Oliver. “…they should. And to not is wrong, and to not is damaging to the economy in the future.”
Sweeping statements…
But much less troubling than the billions upon billions of dollars in unpaid taxes owed by conniving Canadians, or the billions and billions hidden in off-shore accounts and paying no tax at all. Or the scandal that is the current status quo under which the Major Banks take our money on deposit and invest it, making double digit returns, but pay us back ‘high interest’ of 1.5 per cent. Highway robbery! And it’s far more damaging to the economy and the future! But that’s another rant for another day on another blog. It’s presented here to illustrate just how small Jamie’s concern really is, in the greater Scheme of Things.
Like I said in my last post…
Lay off Canada, Jamie! And pay more attention to your own business. Which, I understand, includes 10 Italian-themed restaurants across Canada. Restaurant chains with more than 20 locations will have to post the calorie counts of all their menu items starting next year in Ontario. Back at you: Will you post yours, voluntarily, even though you don’t have 20 or more locations?
Cheers, old mate…
~ Maggie J.