Tag Archives: Canada

Imponderable #31: Niagara Falls Canada

13 Jan

January 13, 2012

And you thought nonsense like this only happened on the American side of the border.

To recap:

  • 80 year-old woman slips and falls in a hospital lobby
  • Staff cannot help her unless she calls an ambulance
  • Emergency room is only 50 yards away
  • Ambulance from another hospital arrives 30 minutes later
  • Security guard wraps her head in a dirty blanket
  • Canada’s Health Minister calls incident “disappointing.”

On the other hand, this was a triumph for the legal profession. Who makes those stupid laws? The lawyers. Much as I despise the nurses who did not help the woman despite rushing to her aid, what would have happened if that woman died while under their care? They’d be up on charges. Why? Because they did not follow the rules.

There is nothing new or shocking about this story. By now we are used to incidents like this. Even the tone of the article isn’t outrage or anger, it is mild bemusement.

What is wrong with society when incidents like this are subjects of humor, not outrage? How can a hospital administrator call an 80-year old woman bleeding on a hospital floor “a communication problem”? How can a government official only be “disappointed”?

Why do we put up with this?

The question is Imponderable.

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Imponderable #16: Sabrevois Quebec

9 Sep

September 9, 2011

Someone needs to explain to me again how this is intended to help farmers as I seem to have totally missed the mark.

Farmer’s land has been, through no fault of the farmers, flooded and crops destroyed, and the Canadian government is forcing them to buy fishing licenses to remove the fish that have been dumped on their land. And worse, there are all sorts of ridiculous rules about how to transport them and bury- yes, bury- the dead fish. Martin Reid was fined $1,000 dollars the first time he was found trying to salvage his farm without a fishing license.

“He’s under strict orders to safeguard the lives of the carp once he begins to expel them.” I understand the need to protect the species but at what cost? A man’s livelihood? And how does giving a fish a proper burial propagate the species? Should they be given a religious service?

“The idea is to help farmers. The license was issued to reassure them they won’t be fined.”

How about helping farmers by waiving the license fee, waiving the expiration date of the licenses (the license will expire while much of his land is still underwater) and sending aid to help him clear his farm?

Why is it more important to ensure a burial for a dead carp than to give common-sense aid to a struggling farmer?

The question is Imponderable.

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