Hello 911....Where can I get bacon at 4 am?

Ok so our "Progressive" City Council in Saskatoon (with the exception of Charlie Clark) has now decided that they should back out of controlling store hours and have left it up to the employer to decide. The reason...."people who work shift work cannot get to stores...."

Who was first to step up to the challenge and make workers work the late shifts? Why it was our community partner and labour relations guru WalMart. They took all of three days to announce they were going to be open 24 hours. Workers are now forced to work midnight to 8 am for minimum wage.

Now Lablaws Canada has announced that it will be opening their store 24hours. For all you folks that need bacon or toilet paper at 3 am, you can now enjoy "no line" ups at the Superstore on 8th street.

Home Depot is also considering opening 24hours.

So, although I have never had the urge to drywall at 3 am, or the sudden need to buy a gift, cd or underwear at 4 am, nor have I ever been in the situation where the 3 am need for consumables could not be filled by the local Macs or 7/11, we now have the option to shop all night long!!! WHOOPEE!!!!!

Now rather than go home half corked from the bar, we can go terrorize the young workers with no rights at Walmart and Superstore!!!! I'll see all you at Superstore in an hour, (grocery cart race trials will be in aisle 12 starting at 330) (the monthly midnight munchies meetings will be held in the dry good section at 230)

Using the same logic City Council used to open stores 24 hours, and assuming none of their kids will be the ones working those shifts, Councillors should also be accepting phone calls from people in their wards 24 hours a day.

Imagine the shift worker, who has no time to shop during the hours they are not working, having a problem with snow removal, garbage collection, taxes or any other important issue. They should be able to call their local Councillor no matter what time of the day it is. After all if Council agrees our time is important, then they should have no issue with us calling them.

If this City Council feels that stores should be open 24 hours to accommodate people's needs then I think it is high time they themselves started to accept calls 24 hours.

So while Nova Scotia is passing legislation restricting store hours, Saskatoon is opening the doors for business...

I for one will relish the idea of calling Myles Heidt or Maurice Neault at 330 AM to complain about snow removal or garbage collection, then again, maybe they won't be home and will be out getting groceries or their shopping done.