A Bit of a Waste

Well this is rather expected of me so I guess I can't disappoint. I need to rant a bit. I went ice fishing this past week end with Arthur and Retroboy. I live in Ontario and require a fishing license for which I proceeded to Canadian Tire. Now that the background is set, I need to set the props primarily the mechanism for keeping track of the fishing license year after year. It is a plastic card with little identifiable information on it outside of you name and height and eye colour (go figure!) In fact it is not apparently valid without picture ID that is how undistinguishable the vitals are on this card. Now this is the kicker this card was issued with a three year license and a corresponding expiry date on the front. On the back was four empty spot for new stickers.

Props set, background story in place... let the rant begin. I apparently am a complete idiot for thinking that I could just get a new sticker to fill one of those four empty spots on the card. No, the card had expired and that meant I had to get a new piece of plastic at an additional cost of $6. I unfortunately got really indignant with the poor girl behind the desk but quickly transferred my anger to those responsible for this none too subtle cash grab and complete waste of plastic. I phoned the Ministry of Natural Resources and was surprised when someone (a real person, no menu options, nothing) answered on the third ring. I explained what was going on and was told that the get a lot of complaints about the fact that the card is only good for three years. I told her that I thought it was ironic that a ministry that is responsible for promoting the responsible use of our environment required a brand spanking new piece of non degradable plastic every three years. I also expressed my dismay at the deceptive four blank spots for new stickers and that charging $6 for an unnecessary new card was a bit of a cash grab. She then proceeded to tell me that many people complain about the card but if my complaint was about the price that was unjustified. I could not believe it, but was getting no where so I paid my fee to get my new piece of plastic.

Now my friends of course are killing themselves laughing along with another Canadian Tire employee behind the desk. I found out later that one of my friends has a card that expired two years ago and he has new stickers.