Page 4 - May 11, 2017

Editorial
Lip service or
genuine concern
for rural Lambton
Premier Kathleen Wynne made a visit to Lambton County. at in itself is news since Ontario’s leader rarely is seen in the neck of these woods. She has been in the region perhaps twice in the last ve years.
She received a warm welcome from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce where she had a reside chat (so ball questions o ered up to the premier by a friendly host) and answered a few questions from the crowd.
What was interesting to us, however, was what hap- pened a er the big event - Premier Wynne met with some local rural politicians. For over an hour. And by some accounts, answered some rather pointed ques- tions about the problems plaguing the area. at in- cluded diminished funding to rural areas - a particular sore spot in Lambton County’s farming municipalities.
At the reside chat and, from what we are told, at the private meeting, the premier really seemed to be listen- ing, sympathetic and willing to work for solutions.
at would be nice. But our cynical side leads us
to believe otherwise. e next election is just a little over a year away and it is always good to come to the local confessional, admit mistakes and pledge to work together heading into an election.
For us, Premier Wynne’s words and pledges ring hol- low. Rural leaders have been told atly for years that the province will continue to reduce the amount of money it sends this way, push unpopular environmental ideals such as wind energy and a cap and trade system, down our throats and smile while she’s doing it.
It would be nice to think the premier actually cared about Lambton County and our concerns. e fact she summoned local politicians to a meeting less than 24 hours before it would happen suggests she’s not.
If she was, she would have given local leaders more time to prepare and then would actually do something useful to help rural Lambton County thrive.
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Page 4
The Independent
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Our Story
One of Wa ord’s most famous sons is D.A. Maxwell. The blacksmith invented one of the rst cars in Canada in 1900 in Wa ord. His car was called the Maxmobile and drawings of it grace local buildings in honour of his ingenuity.
Petrolia Heritage Photo
Worst customer service EVER and I get to pay for it
computer was having problems and she told us to leave again. I was not about to give up. After asking
I try to be a calm rational person. It doesn’t always work, especially when our teenage children are involved, but I try. I hate it when people are rude to the people serving them. After all, I say to myself when things start to get silly, I have no idea what problems they’re facing that day. This week tested that theory to the limit.
it more than twice. Then, the young driver must appear in person to make all appointments, Emily told me.
Our daughter Emily has been working on her drivers’ license. She failed her rst test and scheduled another. Dad and Mom determined
the test date she set up wouldn’t
allow her enough time to work on her driving skills, so she had to cancel the appointment. That’s where the problem started.
I called hoping it wasn’t true. It was. And I was told “If your daughter is responsible enough to drive, she’s responsible to get here to change her test.” When I started to explain I would have to drive her, I was promptly told she should walk. Right - my 17 year- old walking 25 kilometres to change
a few more
questions rudely,
she nally took
down Emily’s
information
saying the
cancellation fee
would be waived
- but we would
still have to come
back to cancel the appointment. I’m still angry about the service. If it was a private business, I’d never darken their doors again. But, it isn’t. It’s a contractor being paid by the Ontario government with the money we pay in taxes which is the biggest insult of the whole ordeal.
Emily had already booked on line
a couple of times, but the DriveTest website kicks you off if you’ve been there more than once or twice. You can try the automated phone system, but it too gives you the boot if you use
So I walked in, smile on my face, to try to see what was going on.
a test.
So, Emily and I headed to the
Heather Wright
DriveTest centre. She walked in the door at 4:47 pm and promptly turned around again. It was almost 5 pm, she wouldn’t be served. Right.
I was told the same thing and when I pointed out the clock on the wall said 4:48 pm, I was told it was wrong. The employee eventually relented and told us to sit down. Minutes later, her
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