Huron Expositor, 2014-04-30, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, April 30, 2014
www.seaforthhuronexpositorcom
Seaforth
Expositor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860
P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street
Seaforth Ontario NOK
phone: 519-527-0240
fax: 519-527-2858
wwwseaforthhuronexpositor
SUN MEDIA
A Quebecor Media Company
NEIL CLIFFORD
Publisher
neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca
MAXWELL BICKFORD
Advertising Rep.
max.bickford@sunmedia.ca
DIANNE MCGRATH
Front Office
seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca
WHITNEY SOUTH
Multimedia Journalist
seaforth.news@sunmedia.ca
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GS -I)
2 YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST)
SENIORS
60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST)
120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST)
Publications Mail Agreement
No. 40064683
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK
For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns:
phone: 519-527-0240
Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical
error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together
with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the
balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In
the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a
wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely
an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor
is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts,
photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes.
We acknowledge the financial support of the
Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical
Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
CanacM
editorial
Abuse of job
program can
incur public wrath
QM! Agency
Any business considering the Temporary Foreign
Workers Program might first want to weigh the
program's benefits against the public anger that
decision might trigger.
The federal program is in place to help employers
being hurt by a labour shortage. The program is used
mostly by companies in Western Canada; more than
300,000 non -Canadians are employed under the terms
of the TFWP.
To suggest the TFWP is controversial would be a
understatement, especially when a great number of
Canadians can't find work. Yet the program has its
defenders, those who say there are jobs that aren't
being filled by Canadian citizens, and that foreign hires
are a more dependable source of labour.
Whatever the case, companies that use the TFWP are
at risk of incurring the anger of Canadians and poten-
tial customers. Consider the case of a restaurant in
Weyburn, Sask., which closed in late March, only to
reopen with foreign workers hired under the TFWP.
The public backlash, especially through social media,
has been such that it would be surprising if the restau-
rant serves another meal.
The harsh response from the public may be greater
than what the federal government is prepared to mete
out to businesses that abuse the TFWP. It hasn't been
determined that the Weyburn restaurant owners broke
any rules, and the owners are saying they have com-
plied with the program's stipulations.
Those companies that do break TFWP regulations are
subject to financial penalties and to a possible ban from
using the program for two years. There are other penal-
ties, but their impact is small when compared to the
possibility of business closure. The feds can't close your
business if you're caught breaking TFWP rules, but the
Canadian public could shut you down through a
boycott.
Ralph Goodale, Saskatchewan's lone Liberal MP, is
calling for an audit of the TFWP, and the Saskatchewan
Federation of Labour has been critical of the program.
There's an opportunity for the federal government to
revisit its program's intent and regulations and to
tighten any loopholes. No Canadian citizen should be
losing his or her employment because of the TFWP, and
no Canadian citizen should be losing an opportunity
for work because of the program.
Lock it or lose it
Everyone has their own way of
doing things.
Whether it's eating peanut but-
ter and pickle sandwiches or
sleeping with the window open in
the dead of winter, each and every
one of us has a certain something
we do that may seem strange to
others.
Sometimes, they can even be
the source of a little good-natured
teasing and taunting.
For me, it seems, that strange
thing I do is. .lock my car.
Since I've moved to Huron
County, I've learned a lot of things,
and not just the true meaning of
the words 'snow day.'
Raccoons can grow to the size of
coffee tables, snow tires are an
important investment and locals
don't tend to lock up their
vehicles.
But, and this is where it gets
strange, they actually like to tease
you if you do.
I can't even count the number
of times, as I'm walking away from
a parking space and pushing the
lock button on my remote, I hear a
little snicker or see a little smirk.
Honestly, it's just become habit.
Afterall, when you've lived in a city
known for the highest number of
car thefts and acts of petty crime
in Canada, you tend to be a little
cautious.
But hey, the mountains were
lovely.
There's nothing like having your
landlord casually mention how it
would probably be in your best
interest to leave the doors
unlocked, you know, in order to
save yourself the cost of a smashed
window.
It's a sobering feeling - even
when he goes on to assure you the
parking garage is 'technically
secure.'
So maybe Vancouver made me
a little paranoid, sue me.
Since starting this job, I've
received a wealth of police reports
outlining the details of local car
thefts. Highlights have included
everything from merely leaving
doors unlocked, to people going
so far as to hide the keys under the
mat or even leave them in the
ignition.
The heck you say.
Call me crazy but doesn't
Column
Whitney South
Huron Expositor
thatmake about as much sense as
a screendoor on a submarine?
And the Huron County OPP
agrees with me.
Back in November, four pickup
trucks were stolen in one night
within a short distance of each
other in North Huron and Huron
East.
Police said the stolen pickups
were all left unlocked. Some own-
ers had left the keys in the ignition
while others left the keys under
the floor mat. Police were ada-
mant the thefts could've been pre-
vented, had the keys been
removed from the vehicles.
The Huron County OPP Prop-
erty Crimes unit assisted in the
investigation due to the fact stolen
vehicles are quite often used in the
commission of other crimes such
as thefts, break-ins and robberies.
Not to mention criminals often
flee crime scenes in the stolen
vehicles traveling at very high and
dangerous speeds.
OPP Sgt. Dale Bray took the
time to urge everyone not to
make it so easy for criminals. He
even adding how important it is
for folks to be proactive and do
their part by securing their
vehicles.
Now, I understand this is a
tightknit community where eve-
rybody knows your name. People
don't want to think about some-
one skulking around town, caus-
ing trouble and generally getting
up to no good. But the fact is,
there are some folks out there
who look to take advantage of
good people and doing what you
can to protect yourself is always
important.
In no way do I think people
should become paranoid bunker -
dwellers, just maybe a little more
cautious.
Afterall, a bicycle can only get
you so far.
SEAFORTH HURON EXPOSITOR — HOURS OF OPERATION
MONDAY: 9:00 - 5:00 • TUESDAY: - CLOSED • WEDNESDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • THURSDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • FRIDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: - CLOSED
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 2:00 • PHONE 519-527-0240 • FAX: 519-527-2858
www.seaforthhuronexpositorcom