Some of those are fair comments. But given that people who live in the north are entitled to a northern living allowance, I think you could perhaps ramp that up, and do allow people to access their TV's by satellite, or change more for postage in the rural areas, with the hope that people will communicate via e-mail more, or use direct deposit for government entitlements. There's a lot of scenerios that could potentially work besides just the two you laid out.
Jon Stewart NAILS Conservative News / Republicans
- Thread starter chilli
- Start date
Do you really think that remote areas that depend on Canada Post are likely to have internet access? Do you think that a northern living allowance applies to people who actually live there (as opposed to government or contract workers)? There are plenty of isolated communities that are not in the "North" as well.
Are you telling me they have phones but can't get internet access, do you this to factually be the case cause I found this on the web:
Calgary, AB – A new study released by Ipsos Reid examining Online Trends and Activities has found that over eight in ten Canadians (82%) now have Internet access at home. This represents a 6% point increase from Q2, 2008 and a 4% point increase from Q4, 2008.
As for the northern living allowance, I don't know the answer definatively but I did find this:
Canada's northernmost territories already have difficulties attracting new residents because of the harsh winters, the short wintertime daylight hours and their distance from major metropolitan centers, and when those difficulties couple with a higher cost of living than in more hospitable locales, attracting a workforce can be difficult. To help combat these issues, Canada offers a Northern Allowance -- a weekly cash bonus -- to workers who work above the 57th parallel in Alberta and all workers in the Northwest Territories, except those working for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Read more: How to Claim a Northern Living Allowance | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7472953_claim-northern-living-allowance.html#ixzz1GEW45UN9
As to your third point, I don't know what it even is, surely the postal service can be privatized even if it's also subsidized. If someone is willing to deliver mail for $15/hr and a government worker with benefits cost $25/hr it seems to me the government is better off contracting these services from those willing to provide it for less than they can. End of story. That doesn't mean Canada post has to be sold, maybe it just gets disbanded. Or maybe services are reduced relative to their urban counterparts. Hell I can't remember the last time I received anything but a bill for my home delivery, even then, telus and others are happy to send electronic copies and use automatic debits.
Calgary, AB – A new study released by Ipsos Reid examining Online Trends and Activities has found that over eight in ten Canadians (82%) now have Internet access at home. This represents a 6% point increase from Q2, 2008 and a 4% point increase from Q4, 2008.
As for the northern living allowance, I don't know the answer definatively but I did find this:
Canada's northernmost territories already have difficulties attracting new residents because of the harsh winters, the short wintertime daylight hours and their distance from major metropolitan centers, and when those difficulties couple with a higher cost of living than in more hospitable locales, attracting a workforce can be difficult. To help combat these issues, Canada offers a Northern Allowance -- a weekly cash bonus -- to workers who work above the 57th parallel in Alberta and all workers in the Northwest Territories, except those working for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Read more: How to Claim a Northern Living Allowance | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7472953_claim-northern-living-allowance.html#ixzz1GEW45UN9
As to your third point, I don't know what it even is, surely the postal service can be privatized even if it's also subsidized. If someone is willing to deliver mail for $15/hr and a government worker with benefits cost $25/hr it seems to me the government is better off contracting these services from those willing to provide it for less than they can. End of story. That doesn't mean Canada post has to be sold, maybe it just gets disbanded. Or maybe services are reduced relative to their urban counterparts. Hell I can't remember the last time I received anything but a bill for my home delivery, even then, telus and others are happy to send electronic copies and use automatic debits.
Last edited:
Just sayin. Link says that a large percentage of aboriginal communities -- not just those in the north -- have no access to internet.
http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/acp/site.nsf/eng/ao28082.html
Just playing devil's advocate. There may well be other ways of providing universal access to services.
And yes -- there are isolated communities all over this country. Port Renfrew hasn't had phone/internet access of any kind for more than a week, and i can drive to it from where i live in a couple of hours.
And typical residents of north of 60 (who are not employees of government or corporations) do not get living allowances -- they do get extra tax breaks -- if they make enough to pay taxes, of course.
http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/acp/site.nsf/eng/ao28082.html
Just playing devil's advocate. There may well be other ways of providing universal access to services.
And yes -- there are isolated communities all over this country. Port Renfrew hasn't had phone/internet access of any kind for more than a week, and i can drive to it from where i live in a couple of hours.
And typical residents of north of 60 (who are not employees of government or corporations) do not get living allowances -- they do get extra tax breaks -- if they make enough to pay taxes, of course.
