Spotlight
feature:
Stuart Murray: Trying
to Make Everyone Happy
Winnipeg, Manitoba
By Scott Taylor
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Stuart
Murray, CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
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The modest
and self-deprecating Stuart Murray, a guy who has admitted
to be being an old dog, will also be the first
to admit that he learns something new every day. Not surprisingly,
thats what his latest job does for him. Matter of fact,
every day has nothing to do with it. He learns something new
every minute.
As chief
executive officer of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights,
the 56-year-old Murray meets with some of the worlds
most important people. From Ukraines ambassador to Canada
to our own Prime Minister, Murray spends his days discussing
subjects that few of us have discussed in polite company for
decades.
|
Artists
rendition of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights at
The Forks.
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Its
exhilarating, its educational, its deep and, at
times, it can even be controversial and frustrating, but for
the former leader of Manitobas Progressive Conservative
Party, its never dull.
In fact,
the day we sat down to talk about the huge building going
up on Waterfront Drive at the Forks, Murray had to walk over
and escort the Ukrainian ambassador through the buildings
construction.
Its
wonderful, Murray said with a smile. Its
unlike anything Ive ever done before, but I find it
exciting and rewarding. And no, Im not deaf to the criticism.
I know what people are saying and I hear all the arguments
about what the building might be and what people think it
should be. I talk to the stakeholders every day. I know what
this museum means and I know how important it is
to people all over the world.
What
gets me truly excited is that its not only being built
in Canada, but its being built in my home town. Im
very proud of that and its the reason were all
working as hard as we are to make it representative of the
journey that man has taken to understand what basic human
rights mean to people.
Murray
was hired as the first CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human
Rights in September of 2009. From that day on, hes spent
much of his time putting out fires, from critics as well as
from groups who believe they have an obvious stake
in the museums layout.
Of course,
its not like Murray hasnt had plenty of experience
in putting out political fires. He was the CEO of St. Boniface
Hospital and Research Foundation from 2006-2009, the leader
of the provincial Conservative party from 2000-2006, the CEO
of DOMO Gasoline Corporation Ltd. (his wifes family
business), from 1989-1999 and he worked for Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney from 1985-1989.
Just for
fun, he was once the Road Manager for the Canadian Rock Band
Blood, Sweat & Tears and was the chairman of the remarkably
successful 1999 World Junior Hockey Championship in Winnipeg.
The guy has chops.
However,
what hes dealing with now has as much to do with ignorance
and jingoism as it is simple criticism. While the Museums
fund-raising arm, the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human
Rights takes a bashing in some media circles for its fund-raising
strategy, Murray has to appease the people whose histories
might suggest they will be most-involved in the Museum.
However,
not that many people know exactly what the Museum is about
or what it will look like inside when its finished.
Murray wants to make sure it doesnt turn into the Look
What Your Ancestors Did to My Ancestors Museum of Public Revenge.
According
to Murray, the CMHR will be programmed around 12 permanent
zones.
It
will feature a wide range of human rights stories from around
the world, he said. Woven throughout all the zones
of the museum will be common themes, known as threads
which will link together the diverse experiences of Canadians
and people from other countries.
The content
of the museum has not been determined, however, there will
be a number of permanent and non-permanent zones.
1) Buhler
Hall will be the Welcome Zone and at that point visitors can
choose to visit the temporary exhibition hall, take the ramp
to the introductory zone, or take an elevator to the Tower
of Hope. According to Murray, This is an important place
to highlight an Indigenous welcome to the territory and to
the Museum.
2) The
Introduction to Human Rights will present visitors with a
broad vision of human rights to help them appreciate human
rights concepts, history, struggles, and successes. It will
also explore how human rights are experienced in everyday
life. The zone will convey to visitors that a broad definition
of human rights must be inclusive of all cultural perspectives.
3) Indigenous
Rights will be the zone in which Indigenous concepts of humanity
will be displayed as well as how Indigenous peoples struggle
for and assert their rights in Canada.
4) Canadas
Human Rights Culture will focus on exposing visitors to key
thematic currents in Canada's distant and recent past and
their relevance today, viewed through a human rights lens.
It will focus on historical incidents of rights violations,
as well as on the struggle to achieve civil liberties and
human rights. In doing so, the exhibition will help visitors
to understand better the processes that have come to shape
Canada's human rights culture.
5) The
Canadian Challenge will explore the fundamental rights and
freedoms to which people in Canada are entitled, as well as
the limitations to which those rights are subject.
6) The
Holocaust: One of the permanent displays and according to
Murray, the Holocaust provides powerful lessons on the
fragility of human rights, lessons which continue to be relevant
today. These lessons include the ways that racist and anti-Semitic
ideologies and ethnic hatred motivate rights violations, the
potential of the modern State to be a perpetrator, the processes
of dehumanization of out-groups such as Jews, Roma, persons
with disabilities and homosexuals, the relationship between
genocide and human rights violations, and the crucial role
of bystanders in enabling human rights atrocities.
7) The
Human Rights Revolution: Since the adoption of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (or UDHR) in 1948, human rights
have become the global language of justice. This zone will
convey a message of inspiration from the never-ending global
efforts to promote human dignity for all people.
8) Mass
Atrocity: Not a pretty name and a zone that has met with controversy.
This zone is a quiet area in which visitors will acknowledge
the many specific mass atrocities which have occurred since
the beginning of the 20th century, study the primary source
evidence regarding these atrocities, and be inspired by the
many ways that people seek to re-affirm their human dignity
in the wake of the atrocity.
9) The
Forum will serve as the space for dialogue and reflection
and as a place where visitors can engage with others in a
creative and participatory exploration of peace and human
rights. It will focus on notions of action that are crucial
to the protection, promotion and achievement of human rights
- creativity, empowerment, dialogue and relationship-building,
agency, identity, awareness, education and collaboration.
10) Human
Rights Today. This zone will play a key role in the museum
as the main place where contemporary global human rights struggles
are presented. It addresses the classic questions: Who? What?
Where? Why? How?
11) Eye
on the World will be a changing exhibition gallery for documentary
photography and film where visitors will have the opportunity
to explore the role of photojournalism in raising awareness
of human rights issues.
12) The
Hall of Commitment, as either the final zone in the Museum
or the visitors starting point on the journey, it is
about activism and empowerment. It is also about showing
how we are all part of a global community, and that we can
make a difference in building and nourishing a human rights
culture, Murray said.
The
Museum will be a journey, Murray explained, held
together by common threads: Aboriginal; Language; Gender;
Sexual Orientation; Religion; Disability; Children; Age; Race;
Environment; Food; Water; Labour; Health; Education; Poverty;
Immigration; Migration; Colonialism. Its a list that
will continue to develop as the Museum matures. Its
important to note that very little in the museum will be permanent.
Just like the Museum, Human Rights is a journey. Were
all on it and the Museum will give us a place to learn about,
think about, discuss and grow, and to truly understand what
human rights means.
Not everyone,
of course, is thrilled about it and the opposition is growing:
1) There
are still some aboriginal groups unhappy with the site and
the proposed content.
2) Lubomyr
Luciuk of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress wants the 1932-33
Soviet Ukraine Famine to be a permanent highlight
of the Museum.
3) The
Canadian Polish Congress is against the Holocaust having a
permanent display while the rest of the worlds injustices
will be grouped together in the Mass Atrocity zone.
4) The
Central and European Council of Canada which, according to
the Globe & Mail, "represents three million Canadians
of Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Hungarian and Slovak descent",
believes its story of suffering under the Nazis and the Communists
is being "callously ignored."
5) Armenian
Canadians want recognition of their genocide under the Turks.
This is going to be a magnificent building, a landmark in
the city of Winnipeg and the man running the show today is
a great listener with political savvy. Hes going to
need all the savvy he can muster as the CMHR gets closer to
completion.
(Read
more in the March
1 - March 28/2011 issue of Senior Scope)
March
1, 2011
PROVINCE
ANNOUNCES ENHANCED SENIORS ABUSE LINE NOW AVAILABLE FULL TIME
As of
today, the provincewide Seniors Abuse Line is now available
24 hours a day, seven days a week, Healthy Living, Youth and
Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau has announced.
"Abuse
is often hidden and people can be reluctant to seek help.
We need to ensure that older adults know they have a confidential
service to turn to any time they need it," said Rondeau.
"I encourage any senior who is experiencing abuse
or anyone just seeking information about it to please call
the toll-free line at 1-888-896-7183, where there are people
prepared to help."
Along
with the expanded hours of service, the line now offers full
telephone counselling from highly trained counsellors, the
minister said. Information about elder abuse and referrals
to other agencies will continue to be available. The
line is funded by the Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat
of Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors. Klinic
Community Health Centre will be working with Age & Opportunity
to deliver the elder abuse phone counselling.
"This
is the type of service that Klinic has a great deal of experience
in providing. We're pleased to be putting that experience
to good use in working with the province and Age & Opportunity
to ensure that older adults, concerned family members and
other individuals receive the counselling, support and information
that they need, when they need it," Tim Wall, director
of counselling services.
The abuse
of older adults is considered to be any action or inaction
by a person in a relationship of trust which jeopardizes the
health or well-being of an older person, Rondeau explained.
The types of abuse are physical, sexual, emotional and financial
as well as neglect. In 2002, the Seniors and Healthy
Aging Secretariat established a comprehensive provincial strategy
to address issues of abuse of older adults. A key component
of the strategy is the funded partnerships with key senior
serving organizations to provide direct elder-abuse services,
such as the seniors abuse line, the minister added.
In implementing
the provincial strategy, the secretariat's elder-abuse consultant
works throughout Manitoba to ensure that services and supports
are co-ordinated and widely available, he said. In October,
an elder-abuse guide was released for the north Eastman health
region so that all regions in Manitoba now have a guide in
place to provide information to residents that is specific
to their areas. "The Age-Friendly Manitoba initiative
supports seniors in leading active, socially engaged and independent
lives that contribute to healthy aging," Rondeau said.
"By making healthy choices and remaining active and socially
connected, seniors will diminish their risk of experiencing
abuse. It is Manitoba's goal to be the most age-friendly
province in Canada by working with communities to enhance
the programs and services that benefit the well-being of all
seniors."
(Read
more in the March
1 - March 28/2011 issue of Senior Scope)
March
is Fraud Prevention Month:
Canadians
continue to be the target of a variety scams, and despite
how long some of these schemes have been around there is always
another victim willing to part with their money.
Regardless
of the type of scam, whether it be the Grandson Scam, Lottery
Scam, or an offer to reduce your credit card interest rate
pitch, to name a few, they all work the same way. With the
exception of the Grandson Scam the offer presented by the
suspect is always too good to be true and greed
overrides common sense. Victims are convinced to cash counterfeit
cheques or money orders into their bank accounts and send
real money to the fraudster. The suspect is never who he claims
to be and the money is collected somewhere other than the
address he provides. When the cheque doesnt clear the
victim is left holding the bag and will be held liable for
reimbursement.
Education
and awareness has proven to be a valuable tool in fraud prevention.
If youve been the target of fraud, share your story
with family and friends. Warn others about how they can protect
themselves by talking about that suspicious phone call you
received, or the email stating youve won the lottery.
Visit
websites such as www.antifraudcentre.ca
or www.rcmp.ca
for the latest scams and how they lure victims into parting
with their money. By educating yourself and sharing your knowledge
you will have done your part in fraud prevention.
Recognize
it, Report it, Stop it!
Cst.
Ben Doiron
Winnipeg RCMP
Commercial Crime Section
(Read
more in the March
1 - March 28/2011 issue of Senior Scope)
Financial Planning:
Sorting
out the tax slips
BRIAN
G. KONRAD CFP, Financial Consultant
When winter
winds finally give way to warmer breezes, you know that a
new season is once again upon you tax season. And with
this new season, you may find the arrival of a tax slip for
capital gains distributions from your mutual fund company.
Many individuals
are uncertain about capital gains distributions and how they
should be reported for tax purposes. Simply put, mutual funds
buy and sell securities. Mutual fund investments may generate
investment income in addition to gains if securities within
the fund are sold for more than their purchase price. While
some of the income and gains will go towards paying fees and
expenses for the fund, any profit is subject to tax within
the fund. Since a mutual fund trust may be subject to a high
rate of tax, but does not pay tax on net income and gains
distributed to its investors, distributions are the normal
course of action. Distributions are then taxed in the hands
of the recipient at his or her marginal tax rate.
Need more
information? Here are some straight answers to the most commonly
asked questions about capital gains distributions from mutual
fund trusts.
Are fund returns and fund distributions the same thing?
No. Fund returns are a measure of how the fund has performed
over time, including distributions and changes in its price.
Fund distributions are what the fund distributes to its investors,
and are often driven by tax considerations.
Under what circumstances am I liable for taxes on capital
gains in my mutual fund investments?
The first circumstance is when you dispose of fund units
at a price higher than their cost base. The second occurs
when the fund distributes gains that have resulted from the
fund selling holdings in its portfolio during the year at
prices higher than their cost.
How does a mutual fund trigger capital gains?
A mutual fund buys and sells stocks, bonds, T-bills or other
assets. If a security is sold for more than its purchase price,
a capital gain will result. If over the course of the year,
the funds realized capital gains exceed its capital
losses and its expenses, it may have to pay tax on those gains
to the extent that they are not
allocated to unitholders.
Why does a mutual fund distribute capital gains?
To avoid paying net taxes at the highest marginal tax rate
for individuals, a mutual fund trust distributes net capital
gains to its investors prior to the calendar year end. Generally
the capital gain distribution is reinvested in additional
units of the same fund.
Why is the actual distribution amount not known until year
end?
The formula for determining the amount of the capital
gains distribution is based on information that is not known
until the taxation year-end of the fund. This information
includes income, expenses, net realized and unrealized gains,
net assets and redemptions during the year.
Does reinvesting the capital gains distribution in a mutual
fund reduce my tax bite?
No. Capital gains distributions are automatically reinvested
in additional units of the same fund and are taxable to you.
Does the length of time I held my investment affect my distribution
and tax position?
Youll receive the same distribution whether youve
held the fund for the full year or only a few days.
Must I include capital gains distributions on my current tax
return?
Yes. Within the first few months of the year following the
distribution, youll receive a tax slip (T3) from the
fund company reporting income and capital gains distributed
to you. These amounts must be included with your annual tax
return.
Do I pay taxes on distributions from all my mutual fund
investments?
Not necessarily. You pay taxes on any distributions from your
non-registered investments, but not from funds held within
your RRSP. When you withdraw money from your registered plan,
it is taxed as ordinary income.
Can I do anything to reduce the amount of tax I pay due to
my mutual fund investments?
There
are a variety of strategies, including using losses to offset
capital gains and choosing to invest in more tax-friendly
mutual funds. Taxes are only one consideration when investing.
Most importantly, your strategies should address your individual
goals and risk tolerance and be part of your overall financial
plan.
__________________________________
BRIAN
G. KONRAD CFP
Financial Consultant
brian.konrad@investorsgroup.com
(204) 489-4640 ext. 246
100-1345 WAVERLEY STREET
WINNIPEG, MB R3T 5Y6
1-888-205-4828
Commissions,
fees and expenses may be associated with mutual fund investments.
Read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not
guaranteed, values change frequently and past performance
may not be repeated.
Written
and published by Investors Group as a general source of information
only. It is not intended as a solicitation to buy or sell
specific investments, nor is it intended to provide tax, legal
or investment advice. Readers should seek advice on their
specific circumstances from an Investors Group Consultant.
Trademark
owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary
corporations.
Sorting
out the tax slips ©2011 Investors Group Inc.
(01/2011)
MP1027
(Read
more in the March
1 - March 28/2011 issue of Senior Scope)
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