Dear sir:
A reply to the remarks about Wal-Mart coming to Fort Frances. Mr. Ball mentioned the “whiz kids” from Toronto telling us “country bumpkins” from Northwestern Ontario what is good for them.
If Fort Frances is so prosperous, why doesn’t this person live here? Mr. Ball is absolutely correct: We don’t need outside help to make up our minds, especially from International Falls.
Re some of those remarks that were made against Wal-Mart, haven’t they happened here? About new employees being hired to replace those who received few rewards for good performance. I believe that has happened here.
As for out-of-town shoppers, yes, they go to Dryden, Thunder Bay, and Winnipeg. Is this putting back into our community?
But what about the ones who can’t afford to go out of town? Like single people, old-age pensioners on a fixed income, and single parents with children having to work two jobs for minimum wage to survive.
The high cost of living in town is the reason for that.
Wal-Mart does not charge for pharmacy fees at their drug store. That, alone, would be beneficial to these families.
Take notice, there are towns in Canada that have less population than we do, yet they have more variety and better prices. And they are not all on the Trans-Canada highway!
Dryden has three large food stores (IGA, Extra Foods, and Safeway). Therefore, don’t you think we could use a little more variety and better prices?
And possibly, the out-of-towners and the tourists would stay longer in Fort Frances instead of just passing through. That sure would benefit our community.
Signed by a resident,
Millee Dawson
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
