MAXIMUM BLUNDER
In chatting with the son of my friend, he pointed out an aspect of the minimum wage rules I hadn’t thought about. He has been with his company for a little over four years and makes $14.20 per hour. His younger brother started two months ago at $11.60 but jumped to $14 this month. When he asked about a matching increase, he was told no can do. He was asked to take solace in two things: He now gets a third week of vacation and it is likely his brother will be let go. Small comfort!
BERT DANDY
NIAGARA FALLS
(Indeed)
HELP FOR HOMELESS
By the time our city councillors reach a decision on how to help the homeless during this diabolical cold snap, there will be fewer of them to worry about. To quote another of our great politicians: “The problem will solve itself!” Get off your duffs, councillors, and for once stop dithering and help these people in a moment of real and urgent need.
BARBARA SANTAMARIA
THORNHILL
(Addressing homelessness is like building subways. Lots of talk, considerably less action)
HOCKEY BLUES
Re NHL: The season is half over and the expansion team from Las Vegas ranks number two in the league. Thirty teams had to lose one player, and as a result, this formed the second-best team in the league. Ridiculous. Some people call it parity. I call it mediocrity.
DENNIS SCHARFE
BAYFIELD, ONT.
(All in the eye of the beholder)
MINIMUM TIP?
Re Minimum wage: We are a couple of pensioners. We don’t get out much, but one of our small pleasures is Sunday breakfast at a small restaurant near home. The ladies working there are kind, courteous and friendly and used to work primarily for tips. However, with the recent increase in minimum wage in Ontario, they make considerably more than we do. Are we still expected to leave a 20% gratuity?
DAVE DICKIE
TORONTO
(You should leave whatever tip you can afford. If it’s less than what you’ve given up to now, tell the waitresses why. They sound like good people who will understand)
PRICE FIXING
Now that it has been established that a loaf of bread has been subjected to price fixing, is there a need to subject a litre of gasoline to the same scrutiny, and if not, where is the justification in a per litre price difference of four, and at times, eight cents a litre between brand name stations in Hamilton, Oakville and Toronto? Please do not tell me that the Hamilton retailers are selling their gasoline at a loss?
ARTHUR A. ALKERTON
OAKVILLE
(We have never understood the logic of gasoline pricing or why there aren’t more investigations into how prices are set)
BEYAK BOOTED
Re “Sen. Lynn Beyak booted from Conservative caucus over ‘racist’ post on website” (The Canadian Press, Jan. 4): Sen. Lynn Beyak is the victim of a malicious conspiracy by the Government of Canada. She has been maligned and condemned for attempting to present the valid other side of instituting residential schools. What kind of justice prevents the accused from testifying? Is this what we can expect from our courts, when political correctness is the issue? If so, then truth is no longer the goal of our judiciary.
BETTY L. READE
OAKVILLE
(Sen. Beyak was booted by her own party leader, not a judge or the Liberals. Voters can have their say on that decision in next year’s federal election)