Let's Not Go Back to 'Normal'
Dear Editor,
It鈥檚 now been five weeks since we鈥檝e gone into self-isolation as individuals and as a nation. There has been plenty of time to watch our country cope with the pandemic and the shutdown of our economy. I must say I鈥檝e been impressed with the measures that were introduced to provide for individuals and businesses to survive the loss of work. It鈥檚 also given me lots of time to think.
I hear people asking when this will end and we can get back to normal. I think people want to go back and resume where they left off. I hope we don鈥檛 do that. This time should make us want better when restrictions are lifted. I believe our new normal should address many of the problems this has identified.
1. Our safety net provides Employment Insurance for many workers who were eligible for continued income during the crisis. It was also revealed that there are many who weren鈥檛 eligible because they do not pay into the plan. We should insist that every income earner pays into EI so a special program is not necessary. Everyone should contribute - wage earners, salaried employees, farmers, business people, professionals. I contributed to EI all my teaching career without the opportunity to make a claim - it was simply a part of being a Canadian. Part-time and casual workers would be included although I have something to say about these.
2. All workers, including casual and pastime, should receive benefits and pensions. These workers should disappear into the full time permanent workforce. All workers should make a living wage. If during this emergency every worker received $2000 per month, how can we go back to minimum wages at a fraction of what we considered necessary now?
3. Canada should develop more industry at home so we are not left depending on foreign suppliers. I鈥檓 proud of our home industries who stepped up to produce needed supplies and equipment. Why just now?
4. We have many local businesses who stepped up and supplied us with our needs. Do we have to drive into the city to buy what is available right here? A big thank you to local businesses and we should show our appreciation by buying local, using less gas in travelling and putting that money in the local economy.
5. I鈥檝e really missed the social visits we took for granted. Let鈥檚 be more open with our neighbours because they live right beside us everyday.
6. When restrictions disappear I hope we remember and consider changing what we feel is important in our lives. We don鈥檛 need so much stuff. We should look around our community and decide how we can help make this an even better place to live by complaining less, being more thankful, volunteering more, sharing with the needs out there and watching out for one another. The homeless and the hungry need our attention.
7. A big thank you to all our support people who have looked after us while we stayed at home waiting for our opportunity to do more when this is over.
Most of all, please follow the guidelines, be patient and wait and absolutely, please don鈥檛 be irresponsible like so many south of our border where social distancing is ignored, false claims are considered true and the country is left leaderless.
Let鈥檚 not go back to what was 鈥渘ormal.鈥� Let鈥檚 make a new and better Outlook and Canada.
Tony Peter
Outlook, SK
