Federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said he'd consider it a good thing if Canada's major grocery chains were upset about his talks with foreign players.
Federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said he'd consider it a good thing if Canada's major grocery chains were upset about his talks with foreign players.
If Ottawa is seriously considering inviting foreign grocery chains to open stores in Canada, we're going to have to change the way we do business. Is it very interesting for chains like Germany's Aldi or Lidl to open stores in Canada with all the trade restrictions that exist? There are barriers between provinces, can you imagine what the barriers are from different countries? Then there are food brokers to deal with. As if it's not enough, we have very strict bilingual labelling requirements. As you well know, somebody in Terrace, B.C. cannot buy a box of Cherrios without French on the box! I think Canadians would really benefit from the addition of foreign grocery chains but Ottawa is going to have to make it very attractive for the Aldis, Lidls or Carrefours of this world to come to Canada.
So Ottawa thinks that the answer to Canada's price-gouging grocery chains is to bring in another profiteering competitor. I would suggest that instead of adding another foreign chain, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne should consider ways of supporting independent grocers instead. The major grocers and chains we have already negatively impact local, independent businesses while boosting their own profits. Perhaps the industry minister should consider this and make some practices illegal. It has been my experience that better value can be provided by independent grocers on everything from greater selection to lower prices to better quality.
One does not have to be a university professor, an accredited newspaper reporter, a television announcer or a politician to have an opinion about and a love of Canada and democracy. Canada belongs to us all. So does democracy. If only more Canadians would appreciate democracy and act on it. The majority of Canadians, based on low turnouts of eligible voters, do not.Â
Well-known Canadians have written books in efforts to stir Canadians into doing something tangible to defend democracy and strengthen Canada, but most Canadians do little more than to acknowledge that democracy is important and to profess their love of Canada. In 2019, I reached out to politicians at municipal, provincial and federal levels of government, as well as to First Nations leaders, to ask what Canadians can do to be better Canadians. Only federal politician Elizabeth May answered.
This editorial states that "it's too much to hope for a Captain Canada riding to the rescue." I disagree! While I believe there's very little chance that any of our artists will perform a song that champions democracy, or the need for Canadians to act immediately to preserve our precious freedoms, such action is an imperative. It is imperative that the majority of Canadians act sooner, much sooner, than later to paddle the "mythical canoe."
As a physically disabled person who uses a wheelchair or mobility scooter, I totally agree Canadian airlines failing passengers with disabilities. However, getting on a plane is the least of my worries. I'd really like to be able to go to a restaurant and have a drink, water or coffee without worrying if I can access the restroom. Accessible restrooms are not regular sized stalls with a low toilet and a grab bar on the wall. They're not large sized stalls with any height toilet and a grab bar on the wall that's two feet away. Public accessible restrooms should be large stalls, with raised toilet and fixed or drop-down grab bars on each side of the toilet. I seriously doubt I'd be able to get into the restroom on a plane. In fact I wonder if airlines have ever even bothered to see if their in flight transfer chairs even fit into the restrooms.
Lilian Hulme-Smith, Richmond Hill
Poor, uninterested didn't need to pay for Ohtani
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The fact that Shohei Ohtani will not be signed by the Blue Jays may be a letdown for some baseball fans but it will surely be welcome news for the poor and those who are not interested. With conventional advertising and advertising-funded TV rights becoming a major source of revenue to fund outrageous sports salaries, the poor and uninterested are forced to pay higher prices for basic television. There seems to be no limit to the amount of funds from the poor and average person to the wealthy in the sports industries by this insidious process.
Robert Woodcock, North York
Share your holiday memories
The Star is inviting readers to share their stories of holiday merriment, special memories, get-togethers, family gatherings and even festive misadventures. We’ll run a selection of these letters later in December. Submissions can be sent for consideration to lettertoed@thestar.ca
