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Articles By Dawn Chafe
Banishing the green-eyed monster
How unfortunate. This entire edition is dedicated to celebrating Atlantic Canada’s exceptional corporate leaders. Our 2012 Top 50 CEOs generate almost $20 billion in annual revenue, employ over 82,000 people, donate $33.9 million to charity and volunteer with 462 community and industry organizations. Why is this so unfortunate? Because I know that no matter how accomplished or hardworking the Top …Continue Reading
Attack of the bean counters
I find it ironic that my last blog post ended with a discussion of taxes and record keeping. Since then, I’ve found out just how important that is. How so? My six-month old business has already been audited. Yes, that’s right – audited, and on my very first HST submission at that. I’m the record keeper/accountant-type person in the business; …Continue Reading
Babes in arms
I have a lot of empathy for Sana Hassainia. For those of you who don’t know her, she’s the MP who brought her three-month old into the House of Commons. She reportedly couldn’t find her husband in time to pass off the infant before taking part in a vote on the long-gun registry. So, she took the baby with her. …Continue Reading
Marketing, deductions & taxes – oh my!
Sorry for being such a delinquent blogger. Between Christmas, magazine deadlines, a house to look after and the not-insignificant fact that I’m now working the equivalent of two full-time jobs, I honestly haven’t had the time. To recap on my previous entry: my husband and I have taken on the challenge of starting up a home-based business that we’re operating …Continue Reading
Canada’s Irish tiger
Loyola Hearn talks hockey, direct flights and his plans for dealing with seal hunt protestors — assuming they ever show up It was a mildly disappointing day for Canada’s 28th Ambassador to Ireland. March 15 is known as “seal hunt protest day” throughout the European Union and Loyola Hearn’s staff had advised him it might be a good day to …Continue Reading
Moving up the food chain
Back in the day, a much younger version of me spent many a Saturday morning watching what was probably the best branded program in television history: Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Every week, I’d tag along with Marlin Perkins and first-name-only “Jim” as they encountered animals in their natural habitat. Come to think of it, Jim did most of the …Continue Reading
Headed for splitsville?
The de-amalgamation of Halifax Regional Municipality has been a recurring theme since the day of its reluctant formation in 1996. If certain prominent residents have their way, it’s going to be one of the central issues in next year’s municipal election. Logistically speaking, it’s hard to comprehend why the provincial government of the day forced HRM’s 5,850 square km. of …Continue Reading
Adventures in small business ownership
My husband and I are giving business ownership a try. No, we’re not giving up our day jobs — this initiative is “in addition to,” not “in place of.” And no, I’m not going to tell you what the business is or what we’ll be doing (other than to say it’s home-based and involves a partnership with a larger organization). …Continue Reading
What does government do for you?
I’m a former municipal councillor. My husband is one now. Predictably, the services provided by local government is a frequent topic of discussion with friends and neighbours (i.e. what am I getting for my $2,000/year in municipal taxes anyway? Town water/sewer? Garbage collection? Inadequate street repairs?). Speaking from experience, I know there’s a lot more to it than that. But how …Continue Reading
Off with their heads
July 25, 2011, was the worst kind of Monday for the people headed to work at 50 Innovation Drive in Bedford, Nova Scotia. One of them, tuning into CBC Radio as he always did, was stunned to hear that his employer, BlackBerry creator Research In Motion, was laying off 11 per cent of its global workforce. He continued along his …Continue Reading
