Wade Friesen
Dear editor:
Maybe it’s just the “greedy” capitalist in me, or maybe it’s all the American politics I have been watching on television, but I am getting so sick and tired of seeing governing bodies getting in the way of business and progress.
Granted, I don’t have all the facts, and I would never accuse the town council of making bad judgments (because they are older and much more wiser than I am) but from what I read from last week’s article about Paul Cousineau, I guess I am just a little confused.
According to Paul’s letter to the editor, there were three reasons why council denied him the arena to set up a skate-sharpening business. Two of them, in my opinion, conflict with each other.
One reason was that it was not a business that would make substantial profits. The other reason was that it would take away business from established service providers.
It can’t be both, can it?! I mean, on one hand, they are saying it’s not worth it financially. Yet on the other, they are saying that it’s so significantly going to affect competing businesses that they better not let some new guy set up in the arena.
So which one is it?
But the real loser here isn’t Paul. It’s the public. We lose out on quality skate-sharpening in a convenient location.
The quality of skate-sharpening in my usual location has declined recently and I, personally, am all for trying new alternatives. Word of mouth seems to suggest that Paul is excellent at what he does.
I feel that a new, energetic skate-sharpener would either force the competition to improve their service, or else drop that part of their business and focus on what they excel at.
It’s a win/win for everybody.
I believe in the free market system; it allows the public to vote with their dollars, forcing businesses to adapt to survive.
If businesses cannot or will not adapt to what the public demands, then should they really be in that line of business—and do they really want to be?
The bottom line is that this opportunity was presented to everyone. Paul obviously loves the game enough to be willing to step up and put in the hours to see that hockey players can count on having sharp blades when they perform.
I think it is in our best interest to reward people who are ambitious enough to serve and better the community as a whole.
(Signed),
Wade Friesen
