What a great use of technology and definitely gives them a nod on corporate responsibility.  Are many of you seeing this as a growing trend with corporations across Canada?

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The Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC), as we reported on Profectio,  will begin re-examining its role in Canada’s new media in the new year.

One of the things they’ll be looking for is whether CanCon rules should apply to Canadian new media content.   CanCon rules stipulate a minimum requirement of Canadian content on TV and radio stations in Canada.   That rule works for traditional outlets, but it doesn’t translate very well to the web.

The web is far too different a medium from radio and television to apply CanCon rules.

There are no channels on the web, for one.  And there isn’t just a handful of media owners.  IF you consider every site and every blog  a separate entity, then there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of owners in Canada alone.  It’s impossible to make sure they all have a suitable level of Canadian content.

It’s been argued that the bigger concern is access, and that the CRTC should ensure that all  Canadian groups get online, especially those lacking funds to do so.

I’m not sure if that will help.  Some sort of fund could be enacted to help them get online, sure, but it doesn’t guarantee their messages will be seen among the millions of others.

And that’s the crux of it: there’s not much that can be done to guarantee Canadians will view more canuck content from anywhere else,  and not much that can be done to ensure Canadian messages stand out above any others.

That’s what makes the web truly democratic:  Canadians with the ideas and perseverance to make their site a success are the ones whose content will stand out among all others.   And here’s no ruling the CRTC can enact that can make that happen.

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FutureBrand’s annual Country Brand Index ranks the Canadian brand as second overall.   The international survey of 2,700 people ranked Australia’s national brand as the strongest in the world.

Canada achieved its silver medal status thanks to a global perception that we’re a safe, happy and family-friendly place.   That’s not the most exciting thing to be known for,  but it seems the world loves us for it. We must be seen as safer, happier and more family-friendly than the U.S,  who finished  at number eight.

Canada was only ranked sixth last year, and twelfth the year before that.    Perhaps the state of the world economy means the planet is placing higher value on safety and comfort.   Or maybe there’s a new found appreciation for our beer.

Still, our brand might be strong but it’s not enough to bring tourists through our customs lines: on the list of must-visit world destinations, we rank only eighth.

At least we know our brand is strong,  for better or for worse, which gives us a strong base to work with on any international communications plans.

That can only be a good thing when the world’s economy is spiraling downward.

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They deserve all the honour and respect we can give them-particularly veterans of World War II, who are now in their twilight years and who have seen many colleagues succumb to old age.

Doesn’t it make sense then that November 11, Remembrance Day, should be a national holiday?

There are many, though, who think otherwise-including Cliff Chadderton, head of the National Council of Veterans Associations (NCVA) in Canada.

The main argument against it is that people are more likely to stop and pay their respects if they are at work-and that it is especially important for children to learn about Remembrance Day at school.

Those for it say that if everyone had the day off, people would be able to focus on the day because everything else would be closed.

Should we honour our veterans with a holiday?  Or can we do more in their memory by pausing during our normal workday?

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Apparently, many feel their clients-or companies-still see social media as untried and risky, and would rather go with what’s been tried, tested and true.

That’s unfortunate for any public relations professional whose budget is tied to that of the marketing team’s.  Not only does it scare off social media use by clients, it’s a convenient excuse for any executive  who is really unsure of how to deploy social media.

What’s tragic, of course, is that social media is one of the most cost-effective communications strategies in existence.  When deployed by a savvy team,  social media strategies can engage a far larger audience for a far cheaper price than traditional advertising and communications strategies.

It’s frustrating to see the growth of Web 2.0 stifled by the economy.

Or, more accurately,  people’s fear of losing even more of their hard-earned dollars.

It’s time for PR professionals to start advocating their best tools of the trade.   As communicators, we’re in a position to develop an effective social media advocacy plan.

We know that social media is both effective and cost effective-we need to show our clients and companies through solid proof.

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Whatever the reason,  corporate transparency is the latest thing in the PR game.

Pepsi-QTG Canada has become the latest Canadian company to go the transparency route. It will voluntarily disclose information about its products-in this case, the caffeine content of its soft drinks and ice teas.

The caffeine content will be added to the nutrition labels on the side of each bottle.  While it won’t be added to Pepsi and Diet Pepsi bottles and cans until 2009,  caffeine levels will begin appearing on Lipton iced ea products shortly.

In Pepsi’s case,  the transparency works.   According to Pepsi,  355 ml can of Pepsi has 38 mg of caffeine. Health Canada says that an adult’s daily caffeine should be no more than 400 mg, so the average Canadian should be able to find a way to incorporate one can of Pepsi a day into their lifestyle.

Pepsi Canada’s VP of Marketing Dale Hooper is quick to point out in a release that “We’re proud to be the first to take this step.”  That all but calls out Coke for having yet to follow suit.

Will Canadian consumers actually think Pepsi is a healthy choice, now that they have more information about what’s in it?  Not likely,  but the transparency may prove beneficial to the company’s reputation.

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Capital One Canada has lent its name to what’s being touted as the toughest curling tournament in the country: the Capital One Cup.

The annual tournament, which begins play this year,  is part of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling and will pit champion teams from across the country head to head.

Winners earn points toward the qualifying rounds for the 2010 Vancouver Games.  The Cup also boasts a purse of $170, 000 to the winners.

For those of us giggling to see the words “curling” and “tough” in the same sentence-or to Americans scratching their heads trying to figure out what “curling” means-it’s a sign that we’re increasingly in the minority.

Clearly there’s a demand for a championship trophy-and it’s something that warrants a committed sponsor.

The Capital One Cup was announced by Insight Sports, which owns the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling, and the World Curling Tour.

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The venerable Canadian furniture retailer selected Strategic Objectives to collaborate on a “multi-pronged” communications campaign.   Since Leon’s is still Canadian owned and operated, expect heavy emphasis on  it’s role in the  Canadian psyche.   The plan also focuses on employee recognition programs,  special events, and a tour by Leon’s CEO Terry Leon.

They’re also promising the opening of a “new Canadian landmark”-likely a reference to the planned Leon’s store in Toronto’s historic Roundhouse.  That announcement had met with some derision by local citizens,  so we’ll see how the campaign responds to any future grumbling.

“Leon’s is an outstanding made-in-Canada success story,” says Strategic Objectives Co-founder and Executive Vice-President Judy Lewis, “and its commitment to community and success is truly worthy of celebration.  We look forward to an amazing year and beyond.”

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That means the CAW is foolish to waste its lobbying efforts by demanding that automakers keep plants open in Ontario towns like Windsor, Oshawa and St. Thomas.

Car and truck manufacturing plants are closing, or scheduled to close, in all three towns. The decline of the auto industry will throw tens of thousands of skilled workers out of work, and devastate the towns-particularly Oshawa, where GM is the largest employer.

On Friday, CAW posted an open call for financial support of the Canadian auto industry. If they’re asking for funds to lobby automakers to stay open in Canada, that’s foolish. If, however, they’re asking for money to directly support front line workers who have been laid off, then the funds make far more sense.

Especially since GM is saying on its Facts And Fiction website that one way they’ve improved business is by reducing their salaried workforce.

I am concerned for the citizens of Oshawa, Windsor and St. Thomas. But all signs say that the auto industry has had its moment in the sun.

Consumers are driving less in order to be more active and to help the environment. Gas prices are making it prohibitive to use cars-especially trucks and SUVs-on a regular basis. Add that the world’s supply of fossil fuel stands to run out in a matter of decades, and you have an industry that’s rapidly becoming part of the past.

So why waste so much energy-no pun intended-on saving a dying industry when what matters more is saving the welfare of autoworkers and their towns?

A far better government relations plan is to lobby other industries to bring their manufacturing sectors to cities like Oshawa. It’s a perfect situation for new business: a massive pool of skilled workers ready for hire, existing plants that need only be modified to suit the new product, and just a matter of hours from Toronto.

Recycling plants are a new reality in the 21st century-why not build them in Windsor? Better still, lobby GM to focus on development of its hybrid vehicles, and have them manufactured in Oshawa or St. Thomas.

Much needs to be done, and immediately, to help the citizens of auto-manufacturing based cities and towns. But fighting to keep car plants open when all signs say there’s no need for them is completely backward.

The auto industry is dead. So what matters now is making sure cities like Windsor, Oshawa and St. Thomas all stay alive.

Which other event are u attending?

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