On January 5th on News 95.7Fm on the Rick Howe show , I was listening to Rick and his guest Diana Whalen. Every year she has been pushing for Nova Scotia to adopt a day in February as a family day . It's quite ironic that her party supported the government in taking away 52 family days and now she wants to give us one back. I'm wondering how long it will last if she is lucky enough to convince the Dexter government to legislate it? I'm sure the push to have Holiday shopping implemented in Nova Scotia will be the next push for big business and government. If Diana can get her way, she needs the support of retail workers to get this Holiday. After it's law , the government can take away this so called family day from retail workers. It sickens me to see what's going on in Ontario. The push is to take Holidays from workers who love to be home on Christmas and that so called family day in that province. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/1111336--working-on-stat-holidays
What people have to realize is, this is like a virus. Once one city has it, others complain of an unfair advantage. Little by little government and business open up stores on Holidays just like they did with Sunday shopping. People became outraged that this has happened. It reminds me of the power increases our province gets every year. The people rage and forget all about it , until next year. Big business counts on the fact that you'll forget. It's called control. Business is very successful in controlling their employees. Did you ever hear of divide and conquer? Using fear against employees who do not want to work on Sundays? Telling other staff that these employees aren't team players because they don't want to work. They don't want employees to get along. A very small percentage will refuse the majority of them cave in.
Here's a few examples from letters to the editor in the star-
How about you work Christmas for $10.25 an hour or any other stat day like say “family” day. Or is that just for some people to spend time with their families.
To quote Animal Farm, some animals are more equal than others and deserve time off with family than say the CEO of a company who probably earns more than say $10.25 an hour.
First you state, “Store staff would still be protected under the Employment Standards Act, which gives people the right to refuse work without repercussion on statutory holidays.” This is 100 per cent false.
I used to work in retail and enjoyed my job. I was even an assistant manager at a major bookstore. I knew going in that nights and Saturdays were part of the job. But at least I had one day off to spend with family — Sunday, and if Monday was a stat holiday, woowhoo, I had two days off in a row.
Then came Sunday shopping in “tourist” areas. Amazing what became a tourist area. But not to worry. we minions were told, no one would be forced to work Sundays, a religious days for some of us, the government would protect us.
Well we were told by phone (as they would not put it in writing) by our head office that if we refused to work Sundays we might as well start looking for a new job. So I left a job I loved and started working in offices where most holiday shoppers work Monday to Fridays.
If I had taken it to the Labour board, who would they believe: my employer or me — the employer who said all of a sudden I wasn’t a “good” worker any more or me the employee who refused to work Sundays?
Now I would like to semi retire as a junior senior, (as the Star also thinks boomers are hogging jobs on the younger generation) and trying to find a nice part time job Monday to Fridays, days or evenings and the occasional Saturday, but not Sundays.
Most retail stores advertise you “must” work Sundays.. check out the ads for any retailers like WalMart or Loblaws. So no matter that the government promised that no one would be penalized if they didn’t want to work Sundays why are retailers allow to advertise that you MUST work Sundays in their ads? In other words don’t even bother to apply. And in this economy who is going to tell their boss “no I won’t work Sunday or Stat holidays”? Heck I’m willing to work any hours the other six days as I go to church Sundays and have volunteered at the same organization the last 14 years on Sunday afternoons why am I told no job if I won’t work Sundays.
Now you try to tell me no one will “have” to work Stat holiday..oh please give your heads a shake. How can you lie in black and white. There is only so much money you can spend and if you spend it Sunday or other holidays you won’t spent it Monday to Saturdays. If people are already in debt with spending how about giving them a day or two not to spend for a change.
If you want to say well not everyone does Christmas or Easter, then guarantee that Christians who do will not have to work those days if they do honour those holy days. But then that would discriminate wouldn’t’ it? Kinda of a “Catch 22”. Why should only those that to celebrate those days get it off.
Margaret Grenier, Halton Hills
Do we not have enough time to shop as it is? You argue that “this doesn’t mean every store would be welcoming customers on Christmas Day,” but it does. If your nearest competitor is open, you’re compelled to open too.
And suggesting that employees are “protected” by legislation is frightfully naive. If I refuse to work on Christmas Day and find myself laid off in January (a traditionally slow time for retailers), I can’t prove one has anything to do with the other.
This has nothing to do with Christianity and everything to do with work-life balance. Retail employees are people, too.
Ken Breadner, Waterloo
This is why Sundays or any Holiday has to be legislated to close them all down.
I have to wonder if this is just for the government? Another day off? Why doesn't this winter break in February include restaurants, call centers, coffee establishments? As I listen to Rick speak with her about this Holiday. He's all for it. A break in the winter sounded good to him. Rick has been very good to me. He has let me speak on the Sunday shopping issue on several occasions and I'm very happy he has let our side be heard, whether he agrees with it or not. I can remember Rick Howe telling me that we can never turn back the clock on Sunday shopping. But Rick, if we can push for one family day in February, why can't we push for 52 family days? Remember them?
They were called Sundays. I just don't get it?? I would love to get on Rick's show just to speak with him and the call ins. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against families having time together. 53 days of time to spend with our families would be a lot better than one day. I heard that small business opposes one family day, yet the real cost that's hurting them is the introduction of Sunday shopping. Should I say it was the introduction of illegally allowed Sunday shopping. I wrote Diana Whalen and asked her about Sunday shopping and guess what? Not an email or a comment from her or her office. Just love it, not any politician in Nova Scotia is willing to speak about the truth. I'd be real happy to interview Diana Whalen on You Tube to share her point of view. But no one wants to talk about Sunday shopping. Let's hide it under the carpet and pretend it did not happen. Rodney MacDonald our former premier will go down in history by ignoring a binding vote with all parties supporting him. At the end of the day, I'm hoping that Nova Scotians wake up and realize that 52 family days are worth fighting for. Those 52 family days did not cost businesss’ any money with stores closed. Considering that power has increased in Nova Scotia, power bills could save business's thousands of dollars if they were closed on Sundays. Food for thought.
Links to stories - http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/Article-de-blogue/b/10283/Ricks-Rants-Monday-February-16th09
http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/give-us-a-break/Content?oid=2426085
Monday, January 9, 2012
Friday, September 23, 2011
Should Toronto stores be open on holidays?
When I came across this story on CTV's web site in Toronto "Should Toronto stores be open on holidays?" I just had to respond, thinking that the station would actually put my comments on their web site. How wrong I was to
believe that they would actually do it? It's not hard to see that Sunday shopping is still an issue in Toronto even though they had Sunday shopping for years. Mark writes " Enough is enough already. At one time there was no Sunday shopping, it was actually a family day, that's right, a family day once a week instead of once a year. I am dead against retail stores opening on holidays, especially Christmas. Employee's who work at these retails stores are given very little options as they are told they have to work. I remember when Sunday shopping was brought in, the government said that employers wouldn't punish employees who wouldn't work, but we all know what happened. How much more money do these stores need and how many more things do we as the consumers need to buy. It is getting ridiculous and out of hand. Enough already!! ".
Mark could have not put it any plainer. It's beyond ridiculous to open stores on holidays and have to pay employee's time and a half to work these shifts. Then to pass the extra costs of doing this down to the consumers is preposterous. It is effecting low income people and seniors with higher prices, because these business' are greedy. It's obvious that prices have to increase with extra costs and extra wages on holidays if stores are allowed to open.
Even though some provinces have laws protecting retail workers from working on Sundays, the pressures are still there and in most cases companies find a way around this to make employees work. Manner writes " Here is the problem. When the NDP first brought this to Ontario in the form of Sunday shopping they said employees could refuse and opt out of working. THAT WAS A LIE. I was in university and working in retail. Many of us practicing Christians refused and this caused huge problems at work. The pressure to work on Sunday was at first implicit, then explicit, then not even up for discussion. The same thing will happen here. Why do we keep eroding the majority Judeo-Christian culture and tradition in favour of a souless shopping culture? Take a stand for the family, tradition, and common sense. "
I'm happy that Manner brought it up about common sense. I remember when we had the debate here in Nova Scotia, Tourism and big business hammered away with this common sense argument. You can not legislate common sense! A lot of people bought into that argument and to be honest, big business and Tourism sucked a lot of people in with this nonsense. As many of you may be aware, the same line of the common sense argument is being used in Alberta. I'm speaking about the law which will stop you from using a cell phone and combing you're hair will be out lawed etc . Anything that can take away you're attention from driving a motor vehicle will be outlawed. So lets get this straight. I'm all for laws legislating common sense. If we have to legislate laws for serious cases like safety, why would any company not use common sense and give there employees Sundays off? Why would they not use common sense and close on Holidays? If it's not legislated, business's don't use common sense and we all need to wake up before we lose it all.
Beaucha writes " It is about time. Stores should have the option to open 24/7 365 days. Please do not use the old argument about family time etc. I worked in the manufacturing sector and we ran all all plant sites 24/7 365 days. If I recall right we all survived and enjoyed the holidays as do the police, firefighters, hospitals etc.
Beaucha's argument is like so many people's arguments that were planted into their heads when the Sunday shopping debate happened all across our country. It's not right that one occupation is played off against another occupation. Just because the manufacturing sector ran all it's plants 24/7 , doesn't mean that other occupations should have to do the same. We do not demand letter carriers to work on Sundays or holidays because police, Firefighters, and Hospitals work them do we?
We do not expect Motor Vehicle employee's to work on Sundays & holidays because church ministers do, do we?
Being human we all need to accept that we are all different. What works for the police may not work for a retail worker. What works for a doctor may not work for a restaurant worker. For occupations that do not mind working on Sundays or holidays to decide what another occupations that do not, is unfair and preposterous.
Comments were also made to the effect that if restaurants, call centers etc all have to work on Sundays and holidays, what makes retail workers so special? Again, playing one occupation against another is wrong. If other non essential services like restaurants etc want Sundays or holidays off, can't they lobby the government to have laws closing them down? I'm all for a common day off for all non essential services. Holidays are Holidays.
believe that they would actually do it? It's not hard to see that Sunday shopping is still an issue in Toronto even though they had Sunday shopping for years. Mark writes " Enough is enough already. At one time there was no Sunday shopping, it was actually a family day, that's right, a family day once a week instead of once a year. I am dead against retail stores opening on holidays, especially Christmas. Employee's who work at these retails stores are given very little options as they are told they have to work. I remember when Sunday shopping was brought in, the government said that employers wouldn't punish employees who wouldn't work, but we all know what happened. How much more money do these stores need and how many more things do we as the consumers need to buy. It is getting ridiculous and out of hand. Enough already!! ".
Mark could have not put it any plainer. It's beyond ridiculous to open stores on holidays and have to pay employee's time and a half to work these shifts. Then to pass the extra costs of doing this down to the consumers is preposterous. It is effecting low income people and seniors with higher prices, because these business' are greedy. It's obvious that prices have to increase with extra costs and extra wages on holidays if stores are allowed to open.
Even though some provinces have laws protecting retail workers from working on Sundays, the pressures are still there and in most cases companies find a way around this to make employees work. Manner writes " Here is the problem. When the NDP first brought this to Ontario in the form of Sunday shopping they said employees could refuse and opt out of working. THAT WAS A LIE. I was in university and working in retail. Many of us practicing Christians refused and this caused huge problems at work. The pressure to work on Sunday was at first implicit, then explicit, then not even up for discussion. The same thing will happen here. Why do we keep eroding the majority Judeo-Christian culture and tradition in favour of a souless shopping culture? Take a stand for the family, tradition, and common sense. "
I'm happy that Manner brought it up about common sense. I remember when we had the debate here in Nova Scotia, Tourism and big business hammered away with this common sense argument. You can not legislate common sense! A lot of people bought into that argument and to be honest, big business and Tourism sucked a lot of people in with this nonsense. As many of you may be aware, the same line of the common sense argument is being used in Alberta. I'm speaking about the law which will stop you from using a cell phone and combing you're hair will be out lawed etc . Anything that can take away you're attention from driving a motor vehicle will be outlawed. So lets get this straight. I'm all for laws legislating common sense. If we have to legislate laws for serious cases like safety, why would any company not use common sense and give there employees Sundays off? Why would they not use common sense and close on Holidays? If it's not legislated, business's don't use common sense and we all need to wake up before we lose it all.
Beaucha writes " It is about time. Stores should have the option to open 24/7 365 days. Please do not use the old argument about family time etc. I worked in the manufacturing sector and we ran all all plant sites 24/7 365 days. If I recall right we all survived and enjoyed the holidays as do the police, firefighters, hospitals etc.
Beaucha's argument is like so many people's arguments that were planted into their heads when the Sunday shopping debate happened all across our country. It's not right that one occupation is played off against another occupation. Just because the manufacturing sector ran all it's plants 24/7 , doesn't mean that other occupations should have to do the same. We do not demand letter carriers to work on Sundays or holidays because police, Firefighters, and Hospitals work them do we?
We do not expect Motor Vehicle employee's to work on Sundays & holidays because church ministers do, do we?
Being human we all need to accept that we are all different. What works for the police may not work for a retail worker. What works for a doctor may not work for a restaurant worker. For occupations that do not mind working on Sundays or holidays to decide what another occupations that do not, is unfair and preposterous.
Comments were also made to the effect that if restaurants, call centers etc all have to work on Sundays and holidays, what makes retail workers so special? Again, playing one occupation against another is wrong. If other non essential services like restaurants etc want Sundays or holidays off, can't they lobby the government to have laws closing them down? I'm all for a common day off for all non essential services. Holidays are Holidays.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Response to Valerie's article Sunday Shopping 5 Years Later
In case you haven't read,"Valerie Payn's" article in the Chronicle Herald, the story can be found here titled "Sunday Shopping 5 Years Later" . She speaks about change and how we are scared of change and how good it was for Nova Scotia. She's got to be kidding! This is a quote by Valerie Payn " Given that per capita expenditure (adjusted for inflation) has not increased it appears also that the opportunity to shop an extra day has not driven people to purchase what they don’t need any more than they did before, they can just do it at a time that is more convenient to them."
We have told the good people of Nova Scotia, that there would not be any extra money by opening another day of the week. Valerie has admitted that this is the case. I really do not get it that change so she calls it, is good for her members. It's an extra cost of opening their stores on another day. This so called "change" has cost employers an extra day of costs. I'm speaking about wages & lights.
Costs are also passed down to us the consumers. Business' won't absorb the costs, it's passed down to all of us. Should we like change, when it has cost us so much?
She sure has stirred up a hornets nest. I came across this article titled " Valerie Payn’s piss pot". The issue then went on radio, Mark Parent a Former cabinet minister for the Rodney MacDonald government speaks with Rick Howe , be sure to listen to his interview with him here.
One caller called in to Rick Howe's show and made the comment that Tim Horton employee's , Restaurants , Call centers etc all had to work on Sundays, how is it any different? I have always hated that comparison. This argument was used by the Chamber of Commerce several times to gain sympathy for their cause. It's comparing people who chose to work on Sundays verses those who did not chose to work on Sundays. It's like expecting letter carriers to work on Sundays, because church ministers do. Really think about it! How many comparisons were used to all those millions of you that are already off on Sundays?
Having said that, I think the proper thing to do is let these employees that work in Tim Hortons etc decide whether they want to have Sundays as a day of rest or not? If they do not want to work on Sundays, I would like to suggest to them, why not lobby you're legislative members. I personally would stand with you and speak out with you. If our letter carriers and MLA's have Sundays off, surely these people who pay taxes and vote should have that right if they want it.
As the debate heated up , I also had the opportunity to speak with Rick Howe on News 95.7 FM, click here for my interview with Rick. I sure appreciate Rick allowing us to get our point across, though I still wish I had more time to speak with Nova Scotians about what we have lost.
Can we go back? Why can't we? I have a hard time understanding why people seem to buy into this crap and at the same time over 8,000 people in a facebook group are pushing for a one family day in February. One family day, when we can have 52 of them. Remember our government lied to us and broke the law. As citizens of the province of Nova Scotia, it's up to us to hold the government accountable. Let's make a stand! Let's do what's right! The Chamber of Commerce hasn't come clean on what the government has done to us. Why?
We have told the good people of Nova Scotia, that there would not be any extra money by opening another day of the week. Valerie has admitted that this is the case. I really do not get it that change so she calls it, is good for her members. It's an extra cost of opening their stores on another day. This so called "change" has cost employers an extra day of costs. I'm speaking about wages & lights.
Costs are also passed down to us the consumers. Business' won't absorb the costs, it's passed down to all of us. Should we like change, when it has cost us so much?
She sure has stirred up a hornets nest. I came across this article titled " Valerie Payn’s piss pot". The issue then went on radio, Mark Parent a Former cabinet minister for the Rodney MacDonald government speaks with Rick Howe , be sure to listen to his interview with him here.
One caller called in to Rick Howe's show and made the comment that Tim Horton employee's , Restaurants , Call centers etc all had to work on Sundays, how is it any different? I have always hated that comparison. This argument was used by the Chamber of Commerce several times to gain sympathy for their cause. It's comparing people who chose to work on Sundays verses those who did not chose to work on Sundays. It's like expecting letter carriers to work on Sundays, because church ministers do. Really think about it! How many comparisons were used to all those millions of you that are already off on Sundays?
Having said that, I think the proper thing to do is let these employees that work in Tim Hortons etc decide whether they want to have Sundays as a day of rest or not? If they do not want to work on Sundays, I would like to suggest to them, why not lobby you're legislative members. I personally would stand with you and speak out with you. If our letter carriers and MLA's have Sundays off, surely these people who pay taxes and vote should have that right if they want it.
As the debate heated up , I also had the opportunity to speak with Rick Howe on News 95.7 FM, click here for my interview with Rick. I sure appreciate Rick allowing us to get our point across, though I still wish I had more time to speak with Nova Scotians about what we have lost.
Can we go back? Why can't we? I have a hard time understanding why people seem to buy into this crap and at the same time over 8,000 people in a facebook group are pushing for a one family day in February. One family day, when we can have 52 of them. Remember our government lied to us and broke the law. As citizens of the province of Nova Scotia, it's up to us to hold the government accountable. Let's make a stand! Let's do what's right! The Chamber of Commerce hasn't come clean on what the government has done to us. Why?
Monday, March 14, 2011
The simple solution to the price increase in gas
As the debate rages on about gas prices and how it effects us, one has to wonder why we continue to remain silent about it. Why don't we ban buying gas and shopping at the same time one day a week? Since gas is pushing food prices up, it only makes sense to consider pushing for a shopping ban as well. I had a few people tell me that gas prices aren't connected to Sunday shopping. You have to be kidding! Don't we use gas to fill our cars up to go to these stores an extra day? Don't companies use large trucks to transport their goods ? They all use gas and with the price increases, we are getting screwed big time. Not only will gas and our groceries continue to cost us more,but our power bills as well. With stores being forced to close on a Sunday, saving on gas and lights would be an asset, but we cannot do it with out your support. We need to pressure our governments to do something about it. Bring the ban back on Sunday shopping for our families, environment, and finally to save some of that money in our wallets.
Big business is controlling our government. It's hard to believe the power these people have over our government. As they continue to take from us , I have to wonder where will it stop? How much will we continue to allow them to take? Isn't it time that we do something about it?
If anyone decided to steal from a store they would be charged. These legalized crooks (oil companies) are stealing from us big time and we all need to be responsible citizens. To be responsible we can all take the right approach and do something about this instead of remaining silent. Think about it. How much more will they take from us , if we continue remaining silent? Something to think about.
Big business is controlling our government. It's hard to believe the power these people have over our government. As they continue to take from us , I have to wonder where will it stop? How much will we continue to allow them to take? Isn't it time that we do something about it?
If anyone decided to steal from a store they would be charged. These legalized crooks (oil companies) are stealing from us big time and we all need to be responsible citizens. To be responsible we can all take the right approach and do something about this instead of remaining silent. Think about it. How much more will they take from us , if we continue remaining silent? Something to think about.
Friday, February 11, 2011
TD Banks open on Sundays
As I watched the commercials on ATV this past two weeks, I'm shaking my head! 300 TD Banks across the country are now open on Sundays. After hearing that, some memories came back to me of an incident that took place before the 2004 Sunday shopping plebiscite, when I went to my local bank and Sunday shopping came up.One teller thought it was the greatest thing to be able to shop on Sunday. However, another teller asked her if she wanted to work on Sunday. The funny part about that conversation was that she never answered that question. She dodged it every time she was asked.."do you want to work on Sundays also"?
I have always believed two wrongs never make a right and I would not wish this on any families that work in banks who would rather be home on Sundays. I have to wonder about the old saying " What comes around goes around". Has this come to bite those who work in banks that wanted Sunday shopping? It's sad to see that it obviously has come back to bite them and with greed in the picture, more banks will follow suit.
I was just reading an article titled " Sunday banking decision reflection of our busy times" by Joe Belanger of the London Free Press. People today have it pounded in their heads that we are rushed so bad that we don't have enough time to get everything done.This is a crock of BS is being feed to the general public. I know several cases of people complaining about stores being closed on holidays also. One gentleman wanted to shop on a Thursday and he couldn't. It was his day to shop! This same gentleman was shopping on a Wednesday before a major snow storm. He certainly made time the day before when he knew a storm was coming the next day. The majority of people shop the day before a storm and stay home the day after. Why can't they do it on Sundays? Folks it's a line being used by the media to get you to accept shopping hours and now banking hours on Sundays. I can see all the red faces in these banks that support and shop on Sundays. Sadly it has come back to bite you.
I have always believed two wrongs never make a right and I would not wish this on any families that work in banks who would rather be home on Sundays. I have to wonder about the old saying " What comes around goes around". Has this come to bite those who work in banks that wanted Sunday shopping? It's sad to see that it obviously has come back to bite them and with greed in the picture, more banks will follow suit.
I was just reading an article titled " Sunday banking decision reflection of our busy times" by Joe Belanger of the London Free Press. People today have it pounded in their heads that we are rushed so bad that we don't have enough time to get everything done.This is a crock of BS is being feed to the general public. I know several cases of people complaining about stores being closed on holidays also. One gentleman wanted to shop on a Thursday and he couldn't. It was his day to shop! This same gentleman was shopping on a Wednesday before a major snow storm. He certainly made time the day before when he knew a storm was coming the next day. The majority of people shop the day before a storm and stay home the day after. Why can't they do it on Sundays? Folks it's a line being used by the media to get you to accept shopping hours and now banking hours on Sundays. I can see all the red faces in these banks that support and shop on Sundays. Sadly it has come back to bite you.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Shop ‘til You Drop: Reflections on the Decision of the PEI Legislature
(by Mark Parent)
Also on ChronicleHerald.ca
Recently, the PEI Legislature voted to support Sunday shopping twelve months a year. The decision was close and was decided by the Speaker who, parting with tradition, broke the tie by voting for change rather than the status quo.
While I find such a decision distressing it is not unexpected due to two factors.
The first is the loss of concern for the wider community. In this case, the community in question is the community of retail workers who previously had enjoyed having Sunday off to be with their families. Retail workers are among the most vulnerable of all workers in our society. They have little power, low salaries and no union voice. One wonders what the result would have been if the vote had concerned having teachers work on Sunday.
The second, and more important fact, is that we have become a society which is centered on consumerism. Instead of homo erectus we are now homo consumis. We know the price of everything. We define ourselves by what we own and work ourselves into a frenzy of excitement in anticipation of our next purchase. So persuasive is our addition to buying and shopping that we now have companies that make their business decluttering our lives of things so that we may have space for more things!
Clearly, I find such behavior distasteful. I believe that the spirit decays when the chief goal of our life and our society is focused on shopping. My personal quibbles aside, though, there is a more persuasive reason why we must move away from an emphasis on consumption. Put simply our society, our world, cannot support such behavior. The Global Footprint organization has computed that if everyone on this planet lived at the lifestyle we North Americans do it would take several worlds to provide the materials to support such a lifestyle.
Little wonder that the Environment Minister in the country of India, Jairam Ramesh has warned his fellow citizens not to embrace the consumer model of Europe and North America. Indeed, he has even gone so far as to call people who drive large SUV vehicles in urban areas "criminal."
But in spite of such warnings and concerns we seem to be stuck in our destructive behavior. Witness President Obama’s solution to the recent financial crisis when he encouraged Americans to go out and shop. Like lemmings we rush headlong to the cliff edge or, better put, like shoppers searching for the latest bargain we crash the doors of the mall even if we have to trample over each other to get there.
PEI politicians could have and should have taken a small stance against consumerism. After all, our consumer behavior is in large part responsible for our addiction to fossil fuels which is the main cause of climate change and climate change threatens PEI’s very existence as a province with rising sea levels. Sadly, however, they did not.
Also on ChronicleHerald.ca
Recently, the PEI Legislature voted to support Sunday shopping twelve months a year. The decision was close and was decided by the Speaker who, parting with tradition, broke the tie by voting for change rather than the status quo.
While I find such a decision distressing it is not unexpected due to two factors.
The first is the loss of concern for the wider community. In this case, the community in question is the community of retail workers who previously had enjoyed having Sunday off to be with their families. Retail workers are among the most vulnerable of all workers in our society. They have little power, low salaries and no union voice. One wonders what the result would have been if the vote had concerned having teachers work on Sunday.
The second, and more important fact, is that we have become a society which is centered on consumerism. Instead of homo erectus we are now homo consumis. We know the price of everything. We define ourselves by what we own and work ourselves into a frenzy of excitement in anticipation of our next purchase. So persuasive is our addition to buying and shopping that we now have companies that make their business decluttering our lives of things so that we may have space for more things!
Clearly, I find such behavior distasteful. I believe that the spirit decays when the chief goal of our life and our society is focused on shopping. My personal quibbles aside, though, there is a more persuasive reason why we must move away from an emphasis on consumption. Put simply our society, our world, cannot support such behavior. The Global Footprint organization has computed that if everyone on this planet lived at the lifestyle we North Americans do it would take several worlds to provide the materials to support such a lifestyle.
Little wonder that the Environment Minister in the country of India, Jairam Ramesh has warned his fellow citizens not to embrace the consumer model of Europe and North America. Indeed, he has even gone so far as to call people who drive large SUV vehicles in urban areas "criminal."
But in spite of such warnings and concerns we seem to be stuck in our destructive behavior. Witness President Obama’s solution to the recent financial crisis when he encouraged Americans to go out and shop. Like lemmings we rush headlong to the cliff edge or, better put, like shoppers searching for the latest bargain we crash the doors of the mall even if we have to trample over each other to get there.
PEI politicians could have and should have taken a small stance against consumerism. After all, our consumer behavior is in large part responsible for our addiction to fossil fuels which is the main cause of climate change and climate change threatens PEI’s very existence as a province with rising sea levels. Sadly, however, they did not.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sunday shopping bill passes Third Reading in PEI
Sunday shopping has passed it's third reading to allow Sunday shopping all year on PEI. Speaker Kathleen Casey broke the tie to allow Sunday shopping all year around. Last week, P.E.I. MLAs also split their vote on the proposed changes to the Retail Business Holidays Act with 13 MLAs voting for the bill and 13 MLAs voting against the bill.
How sad that elected officials decided what was best for retail workers on PEI. Olive Crane did not consult Islanders who worked in these stores, but took it upon her self to bring a private members bill to the legislature. Robert Ghiz, the premier could have decided to leave this issue alone, but let it go to a free vote in the legislature.
What's real upsetting to see it was actually one person's decision that will change PEI for ever unless the laws are reversed.
Why should one person decide what's best for retail workers? Kathleen Casey and MLA's who supported her made a decision for other people who don't want any part of Sunday shopping.
What's wrong with this picture folks? Shouldn't retail workers be consulted? Why are government officials along with big business dictating to retail workers what to do on the traditional day of rest? Employee's who work hard to serve you each and every day. Employee's that pay taxes and employee's who vote for our legislative members .But they had no say, retail workers were belittled for what they believe in .
Is it any wonder why so many people give up in voting? In Nova Scotia our politicians went as far to break the law and ignore a binding plebiscite. And to blame the courts for it. The vote wasn't honored in Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Island wouldn't even give it's citizens a chance to respond to this issue. It was rushed through the legislature within one week. A lot of issues are brought through the legislature and never rushed through the degree that this issue was. No wonder people do not want to vote any more. We have our politicians who don't consult people and those who break laws running this country. Let's work to make PEI and N.S a better place. Tell two of you're friends about our site and ask them to tell two other people. Let's keep the chain of truth moving. The truth will set us all free and at the end of the day, we'll all feel good for it.
How sad that elected officials decided what was best for retail workers on PEI. Olive Crane did not consult Islanders who worked in these stores, but took it upon her self to bring a private members bill to the legislature. Robert Ghiz, the premier could have decided to leave this issue alone, but let it go to a free vote in the legislature.
What's real upsetting to see it was actually one person's decision that will change PEI for ever unless the laws are reversed.
Why should one person decide what's best for retail workers? Kathleen Casey and MLA's who supported her made a decision for other people who don't want any part of Sunday shopping.
What's wrong with this picture folks? Shouldn't retail workers be consulted? Why are government officials along with big business dictating to retail workers what to do on the traditional day of rest? Employee's who work hard to serve you each and every day. Employee's that pay taxes and employee's who vote for our legislative members .But they had no say, retail workers were belittled for what they believe in .
Is it any wonder why so many people give up in voting? In Nova Scotia our politicians went as far to break the law and ignore a binding plebiscite. And to blame the courts for it. The vote wasn't honored in Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Island wouldn't even give it's citizens a chance to respond to this issue. It was rushed through the legislature within one week. A lot of issues are brought through the legislature and never rushed through the degree that this issue was. No wonder people do not want to vote any more. We have our politicians who don't consult people and those who break laws running this country. Let's work to make PEI and N.S a better place. Tell two of you're friends about our site and ask them to tell two other people. Let's keep the chain of truth moving. The truth will set us all free and at the end of the day, we'll all feel good for it.
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