I have made quite a stink this week :-)

[Diane CBPFC]

I wrote a letter to the editor about food prices. Our town is an hour away from the city where prices are often less than half for the same brands. We have two stores, I suggested that the co-op, because it is supposed to be owned by the people should have 50 or so basic items of groceries for sale at a reasonable price (i.e. no more than 150% of the cost of an item in the city) as a matter of principal to fight against poverty for the poorest amongst us. I guess I was a bit snotty when I challanged those on the board of directors to take a pledge only to shop locally.

Well apparently the you know what has hit the fan - the manager and board are writing a letter of rebuttal (rather than doing anything about the prices) and told the editor she should have shown them the letter before it was published. Thank goodness she has a backbone (she is almost 80) and stood up for the freedom of opinion and the press.

I write on occasion to the editor - many people say they agree with me - but teachers, town employees, county employees the RCMP are not allowed either socially or by their job agreements to have a public opinion. Isn't that sad - instead of hiring a person for so many hours a day they have bought their soul.

While writing this I just had a phone call from a co-op board member - they said they can't meet the prices in the city - I said I wasn't expecting them to - just don't go over $6 on a $4 item and keep the basics reasonable as an anti-poverty measure.

[Roger Kettle]

Good luck with your crusade, Diane. Having grown up in a rural area, I'm well aware how the prices of goods get jacked up because of the "transport and petrol" involved. While, of course, these factors come into the pricing of goods, we found ourselves, on occasion, being charged 5 times as much as the nearest big town. Like I say, good luck!

[Diane CBPFC]

Ironically, the trucks delivering the groceries to Grande Prairie have to drive past our town to get there.

Scotland has the worst reputation in Europe for food prices and freshness.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Scotland has the worst reputation in Europe for food prices and freshness.

Aye - just one of many things we excel at. 

[Joan]

Good on you, Diane.  I find it unbelievable that employees are restricted in what they say publically by their job agreements.  Socially, I can understand, but they're not working for MI6, for goodness sake!

I don't think that could happen here, we seem to have so many laws against that kind of thing, but I could be wrong.

[Malc]

I used to work for the Co-op in Scotland, and even they were undercut by the big bulk buyers, but that is not the same as allowing your prices to go through the roof to maintain an increase in profit.

The co-op should be a non-profit making venture, it should be run on Socialist principles (i.e. by those according to their abilities for each according to their need). I don't know if your "co-op" has shareholders, Diane, or whether there is simply a board of members, but huge increases in prices should be fought all the way.

The worst enemy of the people is (sadly) the people themselves. As soon as a Wal-Mart or an Aldi opens up in the vicinity, the town centre starts to die as "loyal" locals sneak off to fill their car trunks with the month's shopping whilst paying lip service to the local stores by purchasing milk and occasional items.

Don't get me started...