Be kind

There seems to be an emerging trend and it’s not nice.

In recent days we have heard stories from the front line – retail and the hospitality sector to be more precise.

A number of years back, at the behest of big business, temporary foreign workers (TFW) flooded the country. Difficulties in hiring seemed to coincide with the Trudeau Liberals’ pay-to-stay-at-home scheme during the pandemic. Canadians, certainly in this part of Ontario, witnessed franchises replace locals with workers from elsewhere.

It seemed to us as a sordid chapter in the country’s history where big business was able to manipulate a government into jerry rigging the employment code to advantage. Many TFW situations were predicated on contracts specific to the company. As an example, the employee serving coffee for one chain could not leave that employment for another barista position or another job. When explained to us it sounded like a form of exploitation. Certainly, housing a workforce together and scheduling accordingly, it raised our eyebrows.

Tim Hortons, one of the more visible engagers and beneficiaries of the TFW program, is dialing back that reliance. Shortly, 10,000 jobs will open up for young and old alike. Sally down the street who needs to top her pension income due to inflation and ambitious lads like Luke will get their first job. There are countless other examples of Canadians looking for work.

The frustrations associated with the TFW program are very real. Regrettably the angst with this local job killer is being projected on the workers. That isn’t fair. Take exception to the program, write your MP, choose not to support the business profiting from the program, but leave the worker out of it.

A weekend or two back a friend was up Port Elgin way. While having a quick bite at Subway, three older guys came in and placed an order. Within a short period of time, one patron erupted into a racist rant to the extent that he had to be asked to leave. 

Our friend hastened that departure and then engaged with the fellow on the counter. 

“Happens all the time” he said. Older white folks with a chip on their shoulder ragging on immigrants. In Fergus, a retail clerk was telling us about co-workers being bullied by old people. The language of ignorance is known to us all.

Try to be kind. It’s a better way to live.

Blank screen

Late on Monday it was time to get to Toronto for summer league hockey.

The boys like to monitor progress as we go and there seems to be a fixation regarding arrival time. Too much time, we suppose, spent with dads stuck on the notion that if you aren’t 10 minutes early, you are late. 

It’s pretty easy with navigation to map a route. It’s even easier when you have been there before and just have to push a “recent trips” button. This time though, we pushed and nothing happened.

A vehicle service earlier in the day must have been to blame. The next morning, we learned that the free service had lapsed after a year. For roughly $15 a month it could be restored or we could access another service for free. Years back when vehicles were a fraction of the price, there were no such monthly charges and those systems still work – for free.

We recall laughing at the European car market when luxury brands went to subscriptions for turning on features like heated seats. North America would never stand for that – or so we thought. 

But times change, and the laughing has subsided. Ringing every nickel from a consumer’s pocket has now landed here.