The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Complaints, Complaints, Complaints Canadians, like everyone else, like to complain. We complain about politicians, our justice system, unfairness in our economic system, the educational system and so on. This is not unusual in a democracy and is certainly preferable to countries like Burma, Zimbabwe and even Venezuela, where freedom of speech protesters are dealt with harshly, to say the least. This is also true of supposedly newly enlightened countries like China, which is hardly progressive in the area of freedom. Speaking of Venezuela, illiterate despot Hugo Chavez and his followers recently passed a law to extend his term and allow him to run for president again. He has to hold a plebiscite to approve it but has a strong following of the poor and police. Chavez also stated he wants to nationalize banks and businesses to bring true socialism to his country. Street protests that followed were brutally put down, but do not be surprised if the Americans become involved. There is no doubt that the justice system is unequal and maybe even unfair; in reality, it always has been that way. Someone who runs afoul of the law and is well off or influential has a much easier time than someone who is poor. A wealthy person like Conrad Black or O.J. Simpson will most often do very well in court. Although the system isn't perfect, it really does not deserve the sensationalism it receives from the Winnipeg newspapers. One example is the case of Derek Harvey-Zenk, whose case was examined over and over in minute detail. Harvey-Zenk was the ex-cop who rammed into a vehicle stopped at a red light after partying with fellow officers, killing a woman. In his plea bargain, he received no jail time and howls of unfairness because he was a cop filled the pages of Manitoba's largest daily. Manitoba's attorney general called for a public inquiry, which will cost loads of money, and for what? They can't try Harvey-Zenk over again, he can't be sued under our no-fault system and his case is not a lot different from other recent traffic deaths. No one can condone Harvey-Zenk's actions, but what about the dozens of other traffic fatalities created by speeders, drinkers and car thieves? One can agree that prison time for a person who quits drinking and is gainfully employed and truly remorseful would prove nothing. But why the press-created outcry in the Harvey-Zenk case, just because he was an ex-cop? * * * How about a different complaint? This one comes from a union official in Winnipeg who represents about 1,000 MTS workers. She recently responded to a newspaper article saying that SaskTel is at a disadvantage compared to MTS because it is a Crown corporation. She claims that privatizing MTS was a huge mistake and Manitobans would love to have it back. Have we heard anything lately, even from the NDP, about nationalizing MTS? Of course not! When it was privatized, the company was heavily in debt, overburdened with excess staff and would have had a hard time competing. When it was privatized, shares were offered first to Manitobans, the debt was paid off and government interference, such as keeping some rates low for political reasons, ended. MTS has slimmed down and is doing very well, as its profits jumped 12 per cent in the last quarter. It has expanded into TV, Internet and cell phones, and is well able to match the competition. As someone who is also a SaskTel customer, I confess to being quite satisfied with the crown Corporation, even though it is more expensive than MTS and I found its Internet service to be poorer. It has excellent customer relations, far superior to most government agencies. When you call them, you get a live person who does everything to help. Sasktel is also highly efficient, and I am sure it will be able to compete with other companies even if it is subject to government interference. Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
