ECA Review - 2022-11-17

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2 November 17'22 HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB. ECA REVIEW OPINION The opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of this newspaper. GUEST EDITORIAL Competition Bureau is not doing its job by Sylvain Charlebois Canada’s Competition Bureau has decided to investigate the Canadian food industry, specifically our grocery sector. Better late than never, I suppose. For years, many called for such an investigation while recognizing that the Bureau has little authority or power over anything. Even its new director admitted to the problem of powerlessness. For instance, the Bureau can’t force any company to submit any body of evidence for the upcoming study. It’s sad that the Bureau waited until food inflation became a political hot potato to call for an investigation. But make no mistake: this study is all about the Bureau, nothing more. It needs a different approach and a new perspective on things and clearly requires more knowledge about the food industry. When evaluating “ mergers and acquisitions, the food industry deserves a longitudinal analysis – observing the same participants over a period of time – to better appreciate how consolidation can impact sectors over time, as we’ve seen in groceries and processing. Limited competition can work if independents and smaller players remain somewhat sheltered from overbearing market forces. Miscalculated compromises can only lead to regulators overlooking our market’s most fundamental element, the consumer. Consumers in many cities now have only one grocer, with fewer instore choices due to the continuous pressure imposed on food processors, especially smaller operators. Many have given up. Unlike other industries, food manufacturers must pay grocers to do business with them. Listing fees, marketing costs, and the list goes on – a foreign concept for people who may not understand the economics of food distribution. Canadians should not expect significant changes to the industry coming from the study anytime soon. For years, the Bureau has rubberstamped deals and investigated accusations of collusion countless times, with limited success. Chocolate, salmon, and of course, bread are some examples. That needs to change. Consumers were insulted in 2017 when Canadians learned about Loblaws’ bread price-fixing scheme – an ethical blunder by our country’s number one grocer. When it offered $25 gift cards as compensation, everything seemed forgotten and forgiven. Not quite. With higher food prices, the bread price-fixing scandal rapidly became a moral issue for Canadians. The bread price-fixing investigation actually started in 2015 when Loblaws admitted its wrongdoing. For 14 years, from 2001 to 2015, it, along with Weston Bakeries, owned by Weston Companies at the time, admitted to fixing bread prices in Canada. The scheme allegedly included five more companies; all denied involvement. After seven years, we still haven’t seen anyone being accused or fined. Competition laws prohibit collusion, and companies can receive fines of up to $25 million and 14 years in prison. But without a watchdog watching, the Bureau has a lot of unfinished business. Canadians are violently voicing their frustration, singling out grocers, mainly Loblaws, as the inflation boogeymen. The evidence of profiteering is weak at best, but it doesn’t matter. Even reporters from other countries couldn’t believe the backlash against Loblaws when it opted to freeze prices last week for its No Name products. Loblaws is arguably the most hated grocer in the world. This is no accident. Canadians have an awkward relationship with grocers for one simple reason – many feel unprotected and left hanging high and dry. Because the Bureau is idle on so many fronts, Canadians have been left to take matters into their own hands, and who can blame them? It’s different in the United Sta; it can take just a few months between lawmakers accusing food companies and getting them to write cheques to consumers. This happened in the case of JBS, the meat packer, which paid US$52.5 million to settle a price-fixing lawsuit. U.S. lawmakers are also pushing back on the $24.6 billion U.S. Kroger-Albertson deal, arguing it would create a monster of a grocer with a 15 per cent market share. The new company may be forced to let go of up to 375 stores and create a rival to get regulatory approval. This would never happen in Canada under the current regime. And by the way, both Loblaws and Empire/ Sobeys already have more than 15 per Consumers in many cities now have only one grocer, with fewer in-store choices due to the continuous pressure imposed on food processors. “ cent of the Canadian market. The Bureau is sleepwalking through these deals. The report should be complete by June 2023. Hopefully, the Bureau will give itself a road map for fundamental changes that will provide it with more authority to apply more rigour to any case presented before it. But before MAIL BAG that, the Bureau will need to do some soul-searching. Let’s call it like it is. Canadians deserve it. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University. Elder abuse? Yes. Dear Editor, In response to Oct. 19, 2022 Morrin council meeting). • Did council pass a resolution to check 2nd Avenue North sewer laterals? – YES • Did the check (September 2020) result in the camera not being able to get through line [Village lateral from Helton property] due to blockages? – YES • Did Village clear blockages, as per Sewer Policy, to complete mission of resolution – NO • If the Village had cleared the blockages, would Helton’s have had a sewerage backup? – NO • If the Village had cleared the blockages, would Helton’s have had to rent a portable toilet – NO • Does the Village still need to repair their 60+ year line due to the sag and 20 feet of water? - YES • Did Village inform Helton’s of blockages? – NO • After numerous requests by Helton’s for camera report, did Village finally release result? – YES • Did Village clear blockages as per their responsibility under the MGA: Municipal Public Utilities-Section: 35(2)? - NO • Did Village clear blockages when Helton’s expressed concern that a backup could occur? – NO • Did the Village clear blockages when a backup occurred? – NO • Did Village clear blockages when Helton’s informed council that they [Helton’s] were afraid of another backup and were hiring a portable toilet? – NO • Did Helton’s get another camera of line to confirm that there still were significant blockages? – YES • Did Village clear blockages when sent camera report showing blockages? – NO • Did CAO lie to Village counsel stating that Helton’s were not using a portable toilet? – YES Turn to Council, Pg 3 R R R R R Published by Coronation Review Limited Subscriptions: $52.50 in Canada; $98.70 in US; $183.75 Overseas. 72 pt East Central Alberta EVIEW 60 pt 48 pt 36 pt Website ECAreview.com Office Hours Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm R 30 pt 4921 - Victoria Avenue Tel. (403) 578-4111 R 24 pt Mail: Box 70, Coronation, AB Canada, T0C 1C0 LETTERS POLICY • Letters to the Editor are welcomed • Must be signed and a phone number included so the writer’s identity can be verified. • ECA Review reserves the right to edit letters for legal considerations, taste and brevity. Letters and columns submitted are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper. MEMBER OF: Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. JOYCE WEBSTER Publisher/Editor publisher@ECAreview.com YVONNE THULIEN Marketing/Digital 403-575-9474 advertise@ECAreview.com BRENDA SCHIMKE Editorial Writer JUDY WALGENBACH Marketing 403-740-2492 marketing@ECAreview.com STU SALKELD LJI Reporter 403-741-2615 reporter@ECAreview.com LISA MYERS-SORTLAND Graphic Artist R 18 pt
ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB November 17'22 3 BIG VALLEY COUNCIL Council discusses plan for the future Stu Salkeld Local Journalism Initiative reporter ECA Review Big Valley village council discussed their plans for the future and how the existing strategic plan would be involved. The issue was discussed at the Nov. 10 regular meeting of council. Essentially, a strategic plan is a document some councils approve that lays out the future priorities of the municipality. Coun. Clark German began the conversation by noting he’d looked through the village’s existing strategic plan, including the goal statements, and they looked acceptable. German voiced interest in looking at what is included in the plan and “... moving things forward.” Mayor Dan Houle stated that the village is still waiting for an infrastructure study which could play a big part in the village’s future plans. Village Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Elaine Macdonald noted some items identified as priorities in the strategic plan, such as roads and dealing with unsightly premises, are handled on a regular basis by the village staff. Mayor Houle noted the village has marked some big achievements but added it would be beneficial to develop a plan for the future and finish it. During discussion the subject of discussing the strategic plan, or parts of it, at regular council meetings was discussed. Macdonald stated many parts of a strategic plan are connected to other parts, and other factors, such as public consultation, usually also included in a strategic plan. Councillors decided to table the discussion on the strategic plan until the entire council was present; Coun. Amber Hoogenberg was absent from the meeting. Interim budget Councillors unanimously approved a timeline for the interim 2023 budget as presented by the CAO. Macdonald noted the provincial government requires municipalities have an interim budget for next year by Dec. 31 of the current year. Looking ahead to the next budget Macdonald noted it may not be possible to go through the budget process “unscathed” when it comes to a property tax increase. Macdonald added utilities will likely be a challenge in 2023 as municipalities have been told the federal carbon tax will add another $5 to the price of each gigajoule of natural gas, essentially doubling the price. It was noted the regional library group was also planning a 20 cent per capita increase as well. Coun. German stated he hoped the budget would be ready sooner than last year, which was into April. He also acknowledged the difficulty of budgeting in the current economy. Water plant staff busy with tours Cont’d from Pg 1 Switenky noted numbers are down a bit over 2021 but not noticeably so. “It shows things are still happening,” said the CAO. He added that new housing developments in Stettler are not included in this report and probably wouldn’t show up until 2024. Water plant report Town of Stettler water plant staff have been rather busy lately according to a report filed by water plant supervisor Chris Saunders. “Nova Chemicals was out on Oct. 12 for a tour of our plant,” stated Saunders’ report. “They came out to see our operation and ask questions on how we dealt with algae as they were having problems at their facility and hoping to get some ideas on how to combat it. They enjoyed their visit and offered a tour of their facility to our staff also. “Hwy. #12/21 Water Commission was out to tour the plant on Oct. 14. It was a large group of approximately 30 people. They all seemed to be enthusiastic with their questions and seemed to enjoy the tour. “Many stragglers seemed to really enjoy the tour, staying to continue asking questions and needed to be prodded to catch up with the rest of the group that were gathering at the bus. All in all, it was a good tour! “Many of the communities being served [by the Stettler plant] were showing lower residual chlorine numbers. The duty operator started to lower the ammonia feed to combat this. The numbers continued to drop so further troubleshooting was required. “It was found that the ammonia pumps capacities had increased quite a bit, most likely due to the dropping ambient temperatures. This increased the ammonia dosage as well. “The pumps were recalibrated to adjust for the increased capacity. “The residual chlorine numbers of the communities all came back up with a couple taking a little longer to do so. All of the communities were in compliance during this time. The numbers leaving the plant were all in compliance during this time. Transportation report Council also read a summary of activities from Transportation department staff member Sarah McCrindle. McCrindle noted the following activities that had been worked on or addressed over the past few weeks: Staff in the transportation dept. got their hepatitis vaccinations for working around the hydrovac, dug out and re-landscaped an outdoor rink in the Meadowlands Park between 66 Street and 68 Street, had the mechanic go through the big sander for the tandem truck and make sure all was good for the winter, traffic light and pedestrian crosswalk monthly inspection, turned on the heaters at all the boxes for the traffic lights, lined up with a contractor to do the yearly inspections on all the traffic lights, picked up and placed cement blocks for the Parks Dept. at the dog park, helped Cont’d from Pg 2 • Did Village eventually clear blockages [18 months after the report of blockages]? – YES • Did Village repair line that report states 20 feet of sag full of water? – NO • Did Village inform Helton’s they could just “FLUSH MORE OFTEN”? – YES • How many budgets have been set since Village knew of blockages in their [Village’s] line – Two • Did Village inform Helton’s if and when the Village’s line would be repaired? - NO • Do Helton’s put soiled paper into sewer? – NO (soiled paper to receptacle for external disposal) • Do Helton’s flush “poop”? – NOT VERY OFTEN • What do Helton’s do with poop? – THEY USE PUBLIC FACILITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND ONLY THEIR OWN TOILET IN AN EMERGENCY • Is the only way to know of a blockage when sewerage enters Helton’s basement? - YES • Would the Helton’s have had to rent a toilet and do their own camera ($1811.25 expense) if the Village had fulfilled its obligation? – NO • Does council and CAO have respect for the MGA? - NO • Should Helton’s be upset with the present council for not taking responsibility and exhibiting the integrity the Water Dept. on a water break and picked the Christmas tree for Main Street, among many other duties. The Christmas tree for Main Street would be the large tree placed by the Town of Stettler and partners on the annual Moonlight Madness event that will be held Nov. 25 this year. Emergency services summary Regional Fire Chief Mark Dennis’ report included an incident summary for the month of September 2022: five motor vehicle incidents, three vehicle fires, 10 alarm calls, nine medical first responses, eight wildland fires and three public services. Council refuses to dialogue with Helton’s expected of them by studying the file so they would fully understand the history and the Helton’s position instead of relying on the “sketchy” information provided them by the CAO - YES • Should the CAO be in a position to judge the results of a camera inspection when she states that the “photos were not helpful and can’t even see what’s in there”? – NO • Would anyone who knows what they were doing be able to interpret the camera results? – YES • Would the CAO have to be “frustrated that the Village continues to deal with this matter” if she and council would do their “due diligence” and study the file? – NO • If council would take the time to study the correspondence related to this situation, would they have an understanding of what has actually transpired? – YES • Has this council been willing to engage in dialogue with the Helton’s? – NO • Did the CAO and council already set a precedent when they approved $504 to the Hampton’s without having them [Hampton’s] follow the Policy? – YES • Does the treatment of the Helton’s ‘smack’ of PREJUDICE? – YES • Does the treatment of the Helton’s constitute ELDER ABUSE? – YES Howard Helton Morrin, Alta. “There’s a lot of external pressures,” said German. Service line warranty The Village of Big Valley continues to investigate the possibility of engaging a third party to offer warranty coverage for utility lines on resident’s properties. The CAO reported the services of a company called Service Line Warranties continues to be examined by the village, with Macdonald noting the village has been doing its own research on the service which offers coverage to property owners in the event of a water or sewer line break. Macdonald stated that the village has found some “...favourable and not so favourable” reviews about the service and Big Valley staff are trying to get ahold of elected councillors in towns in Ontario which had agreed to this service. Staff have not been able to contact those councillors yet. Snow removal Coun. German requested council discuss the village’s snow removal policy. The CAO began by stating the policy had previously been changed by council but the office copy was never actually updated by the village staff. German provided feedback he’d heard within the community, with people asking the village not “go hog wild” with sand and gravel in intersections. All that grit just requires more clean up work in the spring, he added. Mayor Houle responded there may have been more sand placed last year because of the amount of “freeze and thaw” which occurred, with the village wanting to address slippery intersections and the threat of injuries or property damage. During discussion Macdonald made the point that if councillors place certain requirements in the policy, staff have no choice but to drop whatever job they’re doing and begin snow removal. BYEMOOR COMMUNITY CLUB Christmas Market Tables & Santa Claus Day Sat., Dec. 3, 2022 11 AM - 3 PM Byemoor Hall 2 PM – Pictures With Santa SLEIGH RIDES AVAILABLE Great gift ideas & Christmas baking. Concession Booth Available. Raffle draws. Christmas MarketTables available $10 each To Book tables please call Doreen at 403-579-2460 The Brownfield Recreation Center Looks forward to welcoming you back in person for our Annual Turkey Supper Sunday, Nov 27 th , 2022 5pm -7pm $ 15 Adult 12 & up $ 10 Child under 12 3 & under Free This supper made possible through: Local businesses, community donations and volunteers with a special thank you to the County of Paintearth for purchasing the Turkeys!
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