First they came for the tobacconists, and I did not speak out — Because I was a non-smoker. Then they came for the liquor storeowners, and I did not speak out — Because I was a teetotaller. Then they came for the fast food vendors, and I did not speak out — Because I was a vegetarian. Then they came for me — And there was no one left to speak for me. With apologies to Martin Niemoller (1892-1984)
Who’s next on town council’s hit list of undesirable businesses?
What legal but potentially damaging product will the nannies on council want to regulate next? Sugary drinks in school cafeterias and sports venues? Fatty foods in greasy spoon restaurants? Products in excess plastic packaging?
Ponoka town council has made it clear that its role is to protect us from ourselves and restrict those businesses that knowingly sell “harmful” products to adults.
But with its narrow 4-3 approval of its liquor store hours bylaw, council hasn’t given the police and its bylaw officer any more tools or a larger budget to crack down on impaired driving, over-serving in bars or the threats of domestic violence. No multi-media program has been drawn up to educate servers and consumers on the societal and health effects of drink.
By ignoring the real human problem that has trickled down from Wetaskiwin, council will surely increase the unemployment line for part-time workers in Ponoka. Does council’s “pro-business” attitude encompass only those businesses open from 9 to 5?
The bylaw legalizes and encourages late-night drunkenness among cowboys, so the problem, clearly, is the incidence of “visitors from the north” drinking and driving, drinking and getting obnoxious, and drinking and robbing Ponoka businesses. The solution is to stop the problem at its source.
If there’s a problem flowing out from the dry reserves, then it’s the RCMP in Hobbema who need to show no tolerance for impaired driving and the toll drunkenness and drug abuse is taking on families on the reserves. Ponoka is the “Impaired Driving Capital of Canada” because police in Hobbema have bigger fish to fry and instead allow residents to drive unchallenged off the reserve to Ponoka in search of alcohol. A search that will now have them travelling farther afield.
Why stop with alcohol? Let’s stop diabetic Indians from coming into Ponoka, scarfing down a double cheeseburger and washing it down with a jumbo cola and ruining fast food for the rest of us. And let’s ban salt from store shelves and prepared foods.
Want to reduce the amount of waste going into the landfill? Council should ban Styrofoam containers and plastic grocery bags.
Want to improve air quality in Ponoka? Town council needs to ban gas and diesel vehicles from idling in the streets and require auto dealers to sell only hybrid cars. And they should force the auction market to either dome their cattle pens to contain noxious methane or move out of town altogether.
Want to stop council from coming after your habit or your business next? Challenge them in the October municipal election.
— Off the Record