The other day, I went to Save On Foods to get a few things. Normally, I have reusable bags in the truck, because, you know, they can't give us plastic anymore.
Unfortunately, we had just gotten back from a trip the day before and I had forgotten to transfer the bags back.
Oh well, I thought, I'm only picking up a few things, I probably won't need a bag. Of course, a few things turned into more than a few things.
Oh well, I thought, I'll just buy one of those 25-cent reusable bags.
Only they are not 25 cents anymore, they're $2.
Just as I was about to get up my righteous indignation about corporate greed, I remembered this was part of the provincial government's ban on single-use plastic bags.
Instead, I got up my righteous indignation about government overreach. These things cost about 10 cents a piece to manufacture.
It would be conceivably conscionable if the government was going to use these mandated profits of $1.90 (or thereabouts) per bag and, say, make life more affordable for people struggling with inflation, but no.
"You may use the fees you collect as you choose: to offset your costs, for example, or to invest in a take-a-bag/leave-a-bag program," the B.C. government's fact sheet states.
It's a much safer bet those profits will go directly into the pockets of people who already have more money than they know what to do with while even more pressure is piled on top of people who are already having a hard time affording basic necessities.
It's shameful even if you foolishly believe punishing people for forgetting a grocery bag is somehow going to contribute to saving the planet. This is not a solution, it is window-dressing.
And speaking of shameful, what about using government resources to re-announce old news just ahead of a provincial election?
Two weeks ago, the province orchestrated an "official opening" of 23 "new" seniors housing units in Telkwa. In a government press release, no mention was given of the fact people have been living in these units since February 2023.
This is a common practice of all the parties. Until we, as voters, demand better, nothing much is going to change.
