I read last week's editorial by Thom Barker on harsh sentences for criminals with great interest. Naturally, if you read my column even semi-regularly you won't be surprised to hear I couldn't disagree with him more. He makes some valid points that I'd like to counter, but I don't want to spend a lot of space on it because his piece is well written and well thought out. He's entitled to his opinion, just like I'm entitled to mine. It doesn't mean either one of us are correct.
Thom says most offenders are socio-economically disadvantaged (think poverty). The key word there is disadvantaged, which means you have to work a little harder to be successful. It doesn't mean you can commit a crime and we should feel sorry for you. I guess I'm not sympathetic because I come from a home with one parent, no vehicle growing up, very limited finances, heck I even recall a New Brunswick Power worker coming to the house to shut everything down one day because the bill hadn't been paid. Yet, I have managed to become a contributing member of society and do not have a criminal record. I don't want a pat on the back for it. I'm no more special than the next person. But, growing up in a family environment where you have less than the person down the street isn't an excuse to rob a grocery store.
Mr. Barker says harsh sentences don't work. Really? Anyone want to take a chance trafficking drugs in Singapore? I didn't think so. In Singapore, trafficking drugs is punishable, possibly, with the death penalty. Yet, they are sympathetic to abusers by giving them two chances in a rehab centre. If they are able to kick the habit and return to society with useful skills, they don't even have a criminal record. Those that are still addicted will go to prison and put on rehabilitation programs to help them reintegrate into the community. This sounds very fair to me and Singapore has one of the lowest prevalence of drug abuse worldwide.
I guess I'm not the only one who gets, easily, frustrated by the lengthy traffic lights in our fine city. On Saturday, a female police officer sat at a red light for a few seconds before proceeding through (without emergency lights engaged) and headed into the card-lock for some gas. Maybe the fuel light was on?
It looks like there will be an NHL season after all as both the players and owners played their fans like a bad song. All along, both sides knew cancelling a season would be disastrous; yet they also were aware of a finite date on the calendar in which a deal needed to get done. So, they simply waited it out until that date arrived and then they got down to business. I find it curious that the players want an option to re-open the negotiations in a couple of years when the NHL celebrates its 100th Anniversary. Talk about looking to hold the employer hostage. All through this process, I've maintained that I am pro-player. I don' t believe any employee should have his/her earnings capped. If someone out there feels you are worth $20 million dollars a season, then so be it. However, I also feel if you are not living up to the expectations of your contract, the owner should have a right to terminate your contract no questions asked.
My hope for the NHL is that the Toronto Blue Jays get off to a hot start and when playoff time comes around, nobody pays any attention because it's the Blue Jays capturing the hearts of the Canadian sports fan.
My wife and I spent a weekend over Christmas in Minot and stayed at the Sleep Inn. Call me crazy, but I wonder if it wouldn't have served Yorkton well to expand the Parkland Mall and have one of the new hotels in town be adjoined to the mall just like what is the case in Minot, as opposed to the strip malls and stand alone hotels that are cropping up here. Someone pointed out that Yorkton isn't a place where people come to shop; but I wonder if it could be. Sure, we go to Minot to take advantage of lower American prices; but the set up there is perfect. Furthermore, Yorkton is a hub to a number of surrounding communities. I would think you could attract plenty from as far away as Dauphin and/or Swan River in Manitoba; not to mention other communities in Saskatchewan that view Yorkton as a shopping destination. Minot isn't a big city. It's smaller than Brandon; but they do it right.
Nice person mentions this week to Cindi Lee, Barb Haas, Darcy Pindus, the CAA serviceman from Grandview (Manitoba) who was working Christmas Day when it was -35, who changed my flat tire, and to the Canadian border agent in Pierson, Manitoba.
