Metro Supermarkets

Well, this is my blog for ranting ... and today I feel like ranting!

A couple of months ago, I purchased Swedish Style Meatballs from the Metro store in Stouffville (formerly A&P). There was a small piece of bone in one of the meatballs and when I bit it, it chipped my molar.

I let the company know, and even sent them the small fragment of bone. The meatballs are made by Rosina Foods, so Metro assumed no responsibility for them. Rosina's insurance company phoned me but said they didn't get the "foreign object" from Rosina - so I guess that means nothing will be done by them.

Metro meanwhile sent me a $20 gift certificate (wow! I can put that towards the $1000 crown I had to get!). The funny part is - their own store refused to accept the gift certificate!

I had no love for the Great Atlantic and Pacific company (A&P), so I was happy when Metro entered the Ontario market. Not so happy now. What a crappy company that does not stand behind their products. Do not be misled - the Irresistibles brand from Metro is not even CLOSE to the quality of President's Choice from the Loblaws stores. So far, besides the disastrous meatballs, I've bought fruit that spoiled the day after I bought it, yogurt that was two weeks past the due date and strawberries that had mold in the middle of the package that I couldn't see. Lesson learned - avoid these stores. Metro owns Food Basics, Loews, and Metro stores. Plus a few other stores that aren't in Ontario yet.

I recommend they take the $20 they "almost" gave me and put it towards buying better quality products. And I recommend that nobody shops at this inferior quality store!

This work by Suzette Leeming is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License.

My Toastmasters Journey

I didn't realize how long it had been since I have spoken of Toastmasters. Yes... I'm still in Toastmasters!!! After my wonderful year of President of my club (www.simcoeshores.ca), I've taken on the role of Area Governor for area 14.

It's busy... probably busier than I expected, but then so was being President, and I can't describe all that I learned in that year. Now I'm learning how to manage projects, delegate, and plan. I just know when this year is over, I'll be amazed at how much I've learned.

I've got good clubs in my area too, and as is the Toastmasters' way, they're very helpful when I need them. I exist to serve them, to offer advice, to give support, and do whatever I can to help each of them be successful. I love visiting other clubs as well.

And conferences... there have been conferences! The last one was at the Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, and I went by myself. I couldn't have done that two years ago!

I'm trying hard to keep up writing and giving my speeches. I sense they're changing as well; including more of the skills that Toastmasters teaches us.

This work by Suzette Leeming is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License.

A Week's Worth of Corruption

Have we had enough yet??

1. eHealth Ontario's CEO, Sarah Kramer, was "fired" today, because of spending irregularities and $5.5 million worth of untendered contracts, given to her friends. She also received $114,000 in a bonus, 3 months into the job, which is more than twice the accepted limit. Her salary was $380,000, and now, 8 months into the job, they are giving her $317,000 to go away. You see, even though the government (David Caplan) says she was "fired", she actually resigned "for the good of the health project". Sure, I believe that's what she had in mind... NOT!! How long has this organization, and its predecessor, worked and sucked millions out of the system, with absolutely nothing to show for it? They've paid people to read the newspapers, and talk to people on the subway, and listen to voice messages, while many families don't have family doctors, and many health services have been delisted. Well, at least we know where the money's going - into the greedy pockets of the people we entrust to run our government.
2. After paying David Dingwall $417,780 in compensation to go away after his "spending irregularities" at the Royal Canadian Mint, now the mint has "misplaced" some of the gold, silver and other precious metals. They suggest it may be just poor record keeping, but just between you and me, I think the thieves have struck again!
   
3. RCMP officers (once a proud & honourable force) are trying to block an inquiry from placing blame on the officers who tazered Robert Dziekanski to death. His crime? He didn't speak English and was becoming frustrated and may have threatened them with a stapler.
   
4. Police can now confiscate your property, with no evidence of any wrong doing and without any charges being laid. They only need suspicion. I'm providing a link to the news article, because without it, I wouldn't believe it. http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/edward_greenspan/2009/06/08/9709551-sun.html. I think it's safe to say we've become a police state.
5. Brian Mulroney stands accused of taking bribes while in office. Why else would he accept a couple of envelopes full of cash and then not report it. It is rather ironic though - the thieves in Ottawa have caught one of their own. What ever happened to honour amongst thieves?
6. The head honchos at CPP have given themselves a $7 million in bonuses, despite losing $24 million in pension funds because of their poor investment decisions. Why can't I get a huge raise when I screw up at work and cost the company tons of money? Oh that's right - I'm just a slave, working to serve my masters. That's what all the working class are. Slaves. I just wish they'd kiss me first.
7. First we gave billions to Chrysler and GM to keep them going. They went bankrupt anyway. Now we're going to give them billions more to help them rise from the ashes. Poor management, excessive salaries and bonuses, lack of foresight and crappy products led to their falls. Oh sure, we want more of that! Even their bondholders wouldn't trade their bonds for shares in the company. Workers agreed to have their wages slashed, but did the executives? Sounds like that whole working class as slaves again.
   

All this money lost, and how will it be replaced? By increased taxes - just suck more out of the working class so all those thieves in government can have more to steal.

I wish I could move to a country that treats its citizens well, respects them, and takes the responsibilities of their office and the duties entrusted to them, seriously, with honour. But alas, I feel that does not exist in this world. Greed and power are destroying this country. How long are we going to take it? In France, the government is afraid of its people, and for good reason - they won't put up with crap like this. Here though, we are afraid of our government. Is that democracy? Is that freedom? And how can we fight back? They've taken away our right to own firearms. If we try a national work stoppage, they'll arrest us and throw us in jail. That's been threatened before during union strikes.

Who will pick up the gauntlet and organize a reform? Because change we must. There is nobody in government with honour and ethics, in any of the parties. Our style of government is severely flawed. Who has a better idea? Who can lead us out of this purgatory we've become? So many people are homeless and starving - is this still the land of opportunity?

Let's see it for what it truly is... a corrupt government and system which is trying to enslave the populace, while taking away all of our rights and freedoms. I have neither the knowledge nor the power to organize a reform group or revolt, but I will proudly stand beside someone who does - for Canada!


This work by Suzette Leeming is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License.