The Maple Leaf Lounge

[Owain Taggart]

I get people wanting a change, but the days of the Liberals and Conservatives being practically interchangeable are long gone. Hopefully more people realize that before the next election.

I've never seen them as interchangeable. Rather, I've always seen the Conservatives for what they are. It's just easier to see it that way now with how much more 'in your face' they've become. And on a regional and local basis, you can see that certain parties just have a history of not working very well for those regions based on the values they project. And don't even get me started on the 'vote for the party in power' nonsense,

 

[Avro Arrow]

I've never seen them as interchangeable. Rather, I've always seen the Conservatives for what they are. It's just easier to see it that way now with how much more 'in your face' they've become

I only wish more people thought the same way. There seems to be a large segment of the population who think “the Liberals have overstayed their welcome, so now I’ll vote Conservative” (and vice versa), like they are some kind of interchangeable option. That may have been somewhat true back in the old Progressive Conservative days, but it hasn’t been true for a long time. Unlike the Americans, we aren’t limited to a two-party system, but many people act like we are. There’s no good reason to park your vote with the Conservatives just because you’re tired of the Liberals. I know a lot of people will say the NDP is too “radical” for government, but how is that also not true for the Conservatives these days?

And if (general) you really can’t vote NDP for whatever reason, then fine. Take a look at your values, and if you’re opposed to much of what the Conservatives say… then hold your nose and vote Liberal again. Otherwise you’ll just end up inflicting harm on a lot of people, and probably yourself, too.

 

[Timewalker]

One of the things I'd do with a time machine would be to go back and cure Jack Layton's cancer so he could be the Prime Minister. It's depressing that so many have forgotten his Last Letter, if they ever paid attention in the first place.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I only wish more people thought the same way.

Thanks! Most of it is through history and experience. I've learned to give them a sideways glance, and for my region in particular, the conservatives have just never been very good for it. If you keep getting black and blue, then you eventually learn that it's not something you want to do, hopefully. I'll never willingly vote for the conservatives.

I get so frustrated when people say they want change, only to end up voting for the same party. And many times in our area, we've voted for and elected a different party in power for our region, only to have the rest of the province vote in a completely different party, then we're told to 'vote for the party in power', as if we could predict it. So we want change, yet supposedly we're also supposed to tow the line. But thing is about 'voting for the party in power' is that only really works if your MP is experienced in going to bat, so even if you vote for the party in power, it's not necessarily key in getting the party in power to do things for your region. And yes, we've experienced that multiple times.

Umm, kind of a ramble, but I'd definitely want to see the NDP in power for a change, even just to give the Country a breath of fresh air and a change in perspective.

One of the things I'd do with a time machine would be to go back and cure Jack Layton's cancer so he could be the Prime Minister. It's depressing that so many have forgotten his Last Letter, if they ever paid attention in the first place.

Oh, I agree with this so much. You know I met the man? It was at the tail-end of his campaign. I think he'd just been diagnosed or had some treatment that same week. He was walking around with a cane and looked a little frail. But the energy and warmth that came out of him was amazing, and his speech was quite passionate. You could tell that this was a politician for the people, and truly believed in what he was fighting. But he passed away only several weeks after that. The whole experience made me feel very grateful to have met him. We need more people like him in politics.

 

[Owain Taggart]

So, Doug Ford finally gets his wish to sell alcohol, ie wine and beer, in big box stores and corner stores, but this announcement makes me laugh, as they've stated it will happen in 2026, and by then, Doug Ford won't likely be Premier any longer. So it kind of ends up feeling like a last-ditch effort before leaving the office.

I'm rather skeptical of how many corner stores will want to do this, as I know many grocery stores have pulled out of offering alcohol due to the effort it takes to train staff. And as far as the recycling program goes, they say the Beer Store will continue to operate along with the recycling program, but I do think they could improve that further by making changes to the entire system. And by making changes, I mean that there's no reason for The Beer Store to be the only recycler. Rather, I think that should apply everywhere alcohol is sold, and that would be way more convenient given the more places selling it. I've always felt it was odd for the LCBO to not have a recycling program of its own, given the fact that they sell way more alcohol, in more shapes and sizes and alcohol types than the Beer Store.

 

[Marc]

So, Doug Ford finally gets his wish to sell alcohol, ie wine and beer, in big box stores and corner stores, but this announcement makes me laugh, as they've stated it will happen in 2026, and by then, Doug Ford won't likely be Premier any longer. So it kind of ends up feeling like a last-ditch effort before leaving the office.

won't matter - the beer store monopoly will be gone.

I'm not s drinker so really don't give damn about alcohol but I disagree with monopoly control of anything so have no issue with the breweries who own the beer store to go compete.

And the governments shouldn't be involved in such things.

Think essentials services such as power, water,transit etc should be run by the govt, everything else can go to the private sector and make the bastards compete.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I've actually been curious about that. Does every province have its own version of LCBO? Is it illegal throughout ALL of Canada to sell booze in supermarkets and places like that? I'd be interested to know why things evolved in that way.

many grocery stores have pulled out of offering alcohol due to the effort it takes to train staff.

Somebody wants to buy alcohol, you ask for their ID. Doesn't seem to require that much training. Hell, if a dumbass like myself can personally can pull it off, it can't be that hard...

 

[Marc]

I've actually been curious about that. Does every province have its own version of LCBO? Is it illegal throughout ALL of Canada to sell booze in supermarkets and places like that? I'd be interested to know why things evolved in that way.

Tried google, ChatGPT?

 

[Owain Taggart]

I've actually been curious about that. Does every province have its own version of LCBO? Is it illegal throughout ALL of Canada to sell booze in supermarkets and places like that? I'd be interested to know why things evolved in that way.



Somebody wants to buy alcohol, you ask for their ID. Doesn't seem to require that much training. Hell, if a dumbass like myself can personally can pull it off, it can't be that hard...

Nah, it's not as simple as that. It's more of a government policy and insurance thing. For instance, if Walmart wants to sell alcohol, it needs to hire specially licensed people. Not every cashier is able to do so. If you go to a cash that isn't licensed, they'll have to call one over to take care of it. Someone who isn't license isn't legally allowed to sell it to you.

 

[DEWLine]

And I don't have a problem with that.

 

[Timewalker]

I've actually been curious about that. Does every province have its own version of LCBO? Is it illegal throughout ALL of Canada to sell booze in supermarkets and places like that? I'd be interested to know why things evolved in that way.

Liquor sales is a provincial/territorial thing, and there are other rules that apply to FN reserves (some are by law alcohol-free, which means alcohol isn't allowed but smugglers still operate).

Liquor sales were privatized in my province decades ago, though I remember that when our SCA group wanted to sell cider at our feasts, we'd have to go to the liquor store to get a license to sell it ($25). Then we'd buy the stuff we wanted to sell, and after the event we could return the cases we hadn't used. We were expected to monitor how much people drank, and I remember one year refusing to sell any more to one particular person, since he'd already had quite a bit and was intending to drive home to Camrose that night.

As for checking IDs, they do it for liquor, tobacco, and lottery tickets. Legally you have to be 18, but they card for anyone who looks under 25.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As for checking IDs, they do it for liquor, tobacco, and lottery tickets. Legally you have to be 18, but they card for anyone who looks under 25.

We do that at my store as well.

We also do it for certain medicines.

 

[Avro Arrow]

As for checking IDs, they do it for liquor, tobacco, and lottery tickets.

I know things were probably different back then, but I used to buy lottery tickets underage, and was never once carded for it.

It would have been a problem if I had ever won anything, though.

 

[Timewalker]

I know things were probably different back then, but I used to buy lottery tickets underage, and was never once carded for it.

It would have been a problem if I had ever won anything, though.

It may vary by province. I'm in Alberta, and while they didn't used to card for lottery tickets, they do now.

 

[Avro Arrow]

So I found out this week that those peppermint Timbits that I've been reading about online, that I've really been looking forward to trying, are only available in Tim Hortons locations in the US. It's bad enough that they get so many things we don't get up here just in general, but now companies actually based here are still giving them exclusive things that we don't get access to? Et tu, Tim Hortons?

At least it looks like the Dutchie is making a limited return in January, so there's that to look forward to, I guess.

 

[Victoria]

I've just caught myself trying to turn "Et tu, Tim Hortons" into good Latin...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

At least it looks like the Dutchie is making a limited return in January, so there's that to look forward to, I guess.

Remember to pass it on the left hand side.

 

[Marc]

So I found out this week that those peppermint Timbits that I've been reading about online, that I've really been looking forward to trying, are only available in Tim Hortons locations in the US. It's bad enough that they get so many things we don't get up here just in general, but now companies actually based here are still giving them exclusive things that we don't get access to? Et tu, Tim Hortons?

At least it looks like the Dutchie is making a limited return in January, so there's that to look forward to, I guess.

yes my wife is looking forward to there return of the Dutchie - just wishes she could make it to the timmies across the road from her office (not good in winter for a manual wheelchair).

I've just caught myself trying to turn "Et tu, Tim Hortons" into good Latin...

the Romans didn't have big range of names so short of bastardisation like "timmus hortonius" there's probably no way to mix Tim Hortons with good Latin

 

[Owain Taggart]

So I found out this week that those peppermint Timbits that I've been reading about online, that I've really been looking forward to trying, are only available in Tim Hortons locations in the US. It's bad enough that they get so many things we don't get up here just in general, but now companies actually based here are still giving them exclusive things that we don't get access to? Et tu, Tim Hortons?

I hadn't heard about the Peppermint Timbits, but I find it strange that you would be hearing about them, as usually ads, especially if they're online ads, are localized, if indeed they're only sold in the U.S. Could it be they're only sold in limited locations in Canada?

I get the frustration though. You would think it would be an assured thing.

 

[Victoria]

the Romans didn't have big range of names so short of bastardisation like "timmus hortonius" there's probably no way to mix Tim Hortons with good Latin

Well...."Timotheus" is perfectly good Latin and the "normal" way of latinising a name is just to add the first declension ending applicable to the gender (Hortonus). The problem is that "Tim Hortons" is a genitive in the first place so what is the modified noun? It was when I got to deciding "popina" was the best fit that I realised the ridiculousness of what I was doing and walked away.

Then you caught me and I walked right back.

"Et tu, popina Timothee Hortone". Hmmm...

ETA: That "hmmm..." was well placed. Having said that "Tim Hortons" was a genitive, I promptly failed to use the genitive. Only the "popina" should be vocative.

It should be "Et tu popina Timothei Hortoni"