BIRD TALK

Perhaps the worst idea of all time, the Feds are looking to jam all people arriving into Canada into hotels until their arrival swab results show negative. While the intent is to sanitize people flying in from overseas, the net result would be the hundreds of thousands of snowbirds flying back from the U.S. in March and April. Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of implementing such a system? Can you imagine forcing 85-year-old snowbirds into some hotel, instead of their safe, sanitized home? Can you imagine the lawsuits that would occur if someone caught COVID at the hotels themselves? Further, when people inevitably defy the orders to protect their own health and go straight home and inevitably get fined, can you imagine the jam-up and nightmare of enforcing those fines to seniors in court? I have never seen a better opportunity for the CSA to step up and speak up on behalf of its members. Oh, and before you encourage us to contact our local member of Parliament, don’t bother. The Feds have already put all incoming phone calls from Alberta and Saskatchewan on voicemail.

Rob White

Red Deer, AB

Ed.: Every point you make is right on the button and I agree with all of these comments. I can also reassure you that the CSA board members and CSA senior staff are working very hard to rectify this. They are discussing these issues directly with ministers, as well as with their staff whom they know very well. Fingers crossed.