Cheers & Jeers
Jeers: to not knowing the rules. You’d think it would be common sense to anyone holding elected office that you can’t mix public money with party politics. Yet a number of municipal leaders in this province didn’t see a problem with attending party fundraising dinners on the taxpayers’ dime. Worse, even Elections NL didn’t realize it was a problem. Contrary to what an Elections spokesman told The Telegram, mayors and councillors cannot use taxpayers’ money to make political contributions. According to the Municipalities Act 1999, such contributions would be illegal. So, it appears laws may have been broken. We assume some form of investigation will occur, right?
Jeers: to easy money. Yes, we know the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) is a Crown agency. Yes, we know by law they charge a levy on all alcohol sold in this province. Still, sometimes it can seem a little like a protection racket. Take this excerpt from a 2011 court case in Labrador. It concerned the price of an eight-pack of beer which was delivered to a retailer by a third party, Nor-Lab, and not the NLC. “The price listing in effect at the relevant time stipulated that the price to be charged to a retailer such as Mr. Winters was $14.14 made up of two amounts, $9.77 to the brewer of the product and a NLC commission of $4.37 plus the applicable tax and environmental fee. Thus the price per eight pack charged to Mr. Winters by Nor-Lab was as stipulated by NLC.” That’s right, fellas. The NLC always get their piece of the action.
Jeers: to body politics. The more prudish among us may find the human body a little intrusive when its form is clearly visible through tight-fitting clothes. Imagine how those of delicate sensitivities must feel at the sight of women wearing yoga pants. Nonetheless, a U.S. legislator was mercilessly ridiculed recently when he tabled a bill proposing to outlaw “any device, costume or covering that gives the appearance of or simulates the genitals, pubic hair, anus region, or pubic hair region.” It would have made it illegal to expose a nipple, save for breastfeeding. (We’ll assume that’s specifically a reference to women.) The bill was defeated, and Moore says it was just a joke anyway. That didn’t convince minority leader Bryce Bennett. “However you want to interpret that bill,” he said, “it is a pretty silly attempt to tell people what they can and cannot wear in public.”
Cheers: to the other side of the coin. We can’t have all jeers, so here’s a pinch on the derriere to the fine residents of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, many of whom apparently like their goose with a little spice and extra sauce. PinkCherry — a dealer in “sexual health and wellness products” — has included the northern community among two top 25 lists: sexiest cities and kinkiest cities. Not that HV-GB is a city, but that’s beside the point. Cassi Chaulk, a local consultant for a similar retailer called Passion Parties, said everyone has their own reason for wanting to buy these sorts of products. “My job is to help them find something that they will be happy they purchased.” Sure, but what is their policy on returns? On second thought, we don’t want to know.