Truckers of the World Unite!

Here is my letter to The Province from their cover story today:

Truckers threatening to shut down Vancouver (or anywhere else in Canada), I believe, are quite justified in their view and they should carry it out as soon as possible. Their plight is not lost on all of us other taxpayers and I know I speak for everyone when I say that they should get some preferential treatment. I mean, it isn’t their fault that their businesses are being ravaged by higher fuel costs. And, if these higher expenses mean they can’t keep their rigs in good repair then we all could suffer if one of them loses a tire or otherwise causes a horrific accident on the roads. We should all buck up and accept their form of protest for as long as it takes until Ottawa and Victoria changes their tune and has a ‘temporary’ tax amnesty for them. It’s all for the greater good.

Let’s not stop there, though. Couriers companies should also get some sort of deal; their fuel prices have gone up too and it’s not like they are hedge funds and can play the futures markets to make up difference. As well, airlines will also need a break on their fuel costs. We all need to fly once in a while—especially politicians in election season—so everyone can understand their predicament. Translink riders should also get a break: they just had a round of price increases and it was probably because of fuel prices. They should get a rebate cheque for every month they’re on transit. Then there’s professional racecar drivers. They must be hurting from the price of high octane. It’s time to make their life easier too—otherwise a favorite sport of Vancouver (except people who live near the track) might be lost forever.

For that matter, stockbrokers and traders have been living under the gun for decades—and should get their fair share of the pie. Since May Day (May 1, 1975), when brokerage commissions came off of the set rates and discounters came into the industry, these disadvantaged professionals have been struggling to make ends meet on a fraction of their usual trading profits. Competition has really hurt the industry and pushed billions of dollars into mutual funds and managed accounts. Oh, the humanity! They should receive some sort of package from the government—otherwise they will stop transacting business. You heard it here first: if the government doesn’t bring back fixed-rate commissions (and high ones, at that) trading on all Canadian exchanges will stop. I’m sure that all RRSP investors and pension plan members will band together and stop investing, trading and withdrawing cash for as long as it takes to make this modest proposal a reality.

Yes, truckers may believe they have valid reasons to want more because of changes in the markets and general business environment—but it doesn’t mean they should get it.