Well, it seems like a busy news week for Oshawa, what with IQT shutting down and the growing protest against the purposed ethanol plant that the Federal government wants to build in Oshawa.
Now, I hate jumping on bandwagons. Especially when I haven't done any research into whatever it is im jumping on to. Its fine if you have an opinion either-way about an issue but do yourself a favour and research. Read and look at the facts and decide on your own what your viewpoint is.
Around town lately I have been seeing a lot of flyers and signs saying "No Ethanol". At first I didn't understand why this Ethanol plant was so bad, so I decided to do a little reading and look into it further. Well, the biggest problem people have with it is the fact that it will be built on the Oshawa Waterfront. Ok, now I get it. For people that are new to Oshawa or don't know, the Oshawa waterfront has been such a big issue for so many years. Oshawa cant figure out what the hell to do with it exactly. Currently the Oshawa waterfront is designated as "mixed use" which means its used as part commercial and part recreational. Here's a little background info from the city's website:
"In 1966, the City of Oshawa transferred about 61
acres of land to the Government of Canada (“Crown”)
specifically for harbour purposes and the growth of
the local economy."
So basically everything that wasn't Lakeview park was owned by the Government of Canada. In 2010 Oshawa filed a lawsuit to get some of the land returned to the city and they were successful. The area of land that is to the East of Simcoe St. and South of Harbour St. where the Oshawa creek empties into the harbour was returned to the city. Everything east of the harbour was retained by the Federal Government. Finally the city of Oshawa can start building a nice waterfront which is currently one of the worst ive seen. If you want a good comparison, go to Port Hope, its gorgeous.
Im all for bringing jobs to Oshawa but I have to admit I had a little problem with this Ethanol plant. The only problem I have with it is that it backs on to the Second Marsh area which in my opinion is an amazing area. Earlier I talked about doing things in the city "on-the-cheap" and this is a good one. Go to Colonel Sam Dr. and walk the trails its really awesome that a place like that exists in Oshawa. I just wish Oshawa would promote it more. Farewell creek runs through the Marsh and empties into the Oshawa Harbour too but on the government owned side.
So, whats my opinion. Its both good and bad. It will bring jobs to Oshawa but it will create a big eyesore and be potentially harmful to Second Marsh. But that's what life is about in an industrialized country. Its hard to strike a balance. The Federal Government has made a lot of promises (legally binding ones) regarding the Second Marsh and minimizing the environmental impact. My hope is that there is no environmental impact if the ethanol plant get built and that all we are left with is just an eyesore.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
IQT - A Little Inside Info
So, recently IQT here in Oshawa totally shut down permanently. No reason given, no warning, crazy. I used to work for IQT when it was still called Durham Contact Centre (DCC) and I still know some people that still worked there at the time. I met up with a guy that had worked there for about seven years and I asked him to tell me everything that happened. He was more than willing to tell me because he was pretty upset about it.
So, the story goes like this. Weird things were happening before the day of the shut-down. Paycheques getting screwed up was the first clue. For about two months before things such as holiday pay stopped showing up on paycheques. Employees vigilant enough to see this went to payroll. Payroll would agree that it was a problem and that would fix it. On the next paycheque where they thought holiday pay would be showed up instead as a lieu day. Sometimes they would see their paycheque short hours, nothing big mind you, just 2-3 hours. Whoever complained got it corrected.
The next situation is a weird one but offers a big clue as to how much the brass at IQT Canada Inc. knew about what was happening and what was about to happen. The call centre's manager, Bob just finishes up a meeting with a company executive. He walks the executive downstairs. Before the exec. leaves he says to Bob: You know im a little surprised that you guys haven't packed anything up yet. Bob responds confused: Why would we be packing anything up. Exec.: Well, you guys are moving aren't you? Bob, now really confused: What do you mean moving, no one told me anything. Where are we moving? Now the Exec. is kind of panicked, he starts looking around nervous and finally says: Oh. Well, if no one said anything then I guess its not important. With that he quickly turns around and gets out of there.
So, now it comes to the day of. My friend pulls into the parking lot for the afternoon shift which starts at 3PM. In the parking lot is eight police cars. He starts to walk up the the front doors and a cop says that he cant go in. He asks why and the cop says because IQT is close permanently. He said at first he was obviously shocked, then everything that had been happening for the past two months started making more sense: the screwed up pay, the strange conversation with the Exec. and his latest paycheque was late. He is standing there watching his fellow co-workers walking out, some crying. That day they had even scheduled the day shift. One hour before the start of the afternoon shift the whole system went down then police started showing up.
His conclusion. They knew. IQT Canada knew at least for a couple months that this was going to happen. They kept a lid on things or at least tried to until the call centre in Nashville was completed and then they dissolved their operations in Canada completely. They planned to nickel and dime the employees as much as possible before going into bankruptcy and hiding behind it. The employees are still owed a months worth of pay and they are told that they wont get it because IQT Canada no longer exists.
Brutal story. I wish the employees all the best on their future endeavors.
So, the story goes like this. Weird things were happening before the day of the shut-down. Paycheques getting screwed up was the first clue. For about two months before things such as holiday pay stopped showing up on paycheques. Employees vigilant enough to see this went to payroll. Payroll would agree that it was a problem and that would fix it. On the next paycheque where they thought holiday pay would be showed up instead as a lieu day. Sometimes they would see their paycheque short hours, nothing big mind you, just 2-3 hours. Whoever complained got it corrected.
The next situation is a weird one but offers a big clue as to how much the brass at IQT Canada Inc. knew about what was happening and what was about to happen. The call centre's manager, Bob just finishes up a meeting with a company executive. He walks the executive downstairs. Before the exec. leaves he says to Bob: You know im a little surprised that you guys haven't packed anything up yet. Bob responds confused: Why would we be packing anything up. Exec.: Well, you guys are moving aren't you? Bob, now really confused: What do you mean moving, no one told me anything. Where are we moving? Now the Exec. is kind of panicked, he starts looking around nervous and finally says: Oh. Well, if no one said anything then I guess its not important. With that he quickly turns around and gets out of there.
So, now it comes to the day of. My friend pulls into the parking lot for the afternoon shift which starts at 3PM. In the parking lot is eight police cars. He starts to walk up the the front doors and a cop says that he cant go in. He asks why and the cop says because IQT is close permanently. He said at first he was obviously shocked, then everything that had been happening for the past two months started making more sense: the screwed up pay, the strange conversation with the Exec. and his latest paycheque was late. He is standing there watching his fellow co-workers walking out, some crying. That day they had even scheduled the day shift. One hour before the start of the afternoon shift the whole system went down then police started showing up.
His conclusion. They knew. IQT Canada knew at least for a couple months that this was going to happen. They kept a lid on things or at least tried to until the call centre in Nashville was completed and then they dissolved their operations in Canada completely. They planned to nickel and dime the employees as much as possible before going into bankruptcy and hiding behind it. The employees are still owed a months worth of pay and they are told that they wont get it because IQT Canada no longer exists.
Brutal story. I wish the employees all the best on their future endeavors.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Feel Better, Have a Busy Summer
For those who dont know me, im always an advocate of staying busy. I try to fill my days even when Im working with anything I can just to stay busy. When I am bored I get very uncomfortable and I need to get up and do something. Mind you I take at least one day out of the week for myself and do very little. Sleep, video games, movies usually. This might sound like something an older person might say to you since way back when they were making their own clothes and milking their own cows. I have a different philosophy: The More I Do, the More Happens For Me. If you want to make things happen for yourself you have to get out and do more. There are so many people, things and opportunities to be had in this world just waiting for someone to notice them.
Here are some helpful tips:
Forget About Facebook: Facebook is not networking. Real networking is meeting people, talking and exchanging information. Facebook on the surface seems like what Im describing but the majority of people on there have huge friends lists full of people that they never talk to. Treat Facebook as a starting point only.
Get A Hobby: Anything and Everything is a hobby these days. Some are cheap some are expensive. They are all learning experiences. The hobbies of yesterday are the jobs of today and can also teach useful skills. Cheap hobbies could be photography, blogging (Yes, the irony is not lost on me), biking, fishing. Literally anything. With the internet and libraries at your disposal a motivated person could even learn another language.
Local Events: I know times are tough for a lot of people right now but Oshawa and the surrounding area have a surprising number of free events you just have to look. Most are very inexpensive.
For me I run this blog obviously, which I should really update more often. I have another website called Durham Paranormal, which documents paranormal activity around Durham Region mostly. Our team also does investigations of homes and locations, the results of which get posted on the site. On the weekends I like going to garage sales. Most of them sell household junk but I still see some nice stuff that I can pick up for cheap and put to use. On Sundays sometimes I can be found up in north Courtice paintballing at Camp-x. Paintball is some of the most fun ive had and Camp-x is a great facility with a ton of players.
Dont waste your Summer.
Here are some helpful tips:
Forget About Facebook: Facebook is not networking. Real networking is meeting people, talking and exchanging information. Facebook on the surface seems like what Im describing but the majority of people on there have huge friends lists full of people that they never talk to. Treat Facebook as a starting point only.
Get A Hobby: Anything and Everything is a hobby these days. Some are cheap some are expensive. They are all learning experiences. The hobbies of yesterday are the jobs of today and can also teach useful skills. Cheap hobbies could be photography, blogging (Yes, the irony is not lost on me), biking, fishing. Literally anything. With the internet and libraries at your disposal a motivated person could even learn another language.
Local Events: I know times are tough for a lot of people right now but Oshawa and the surrounding area have a surprising number of free events you just have to look. Most are very inexpensive.
For me I run this blog obviously, which I should really update more often. I have another website called Durham Paranormal, which documents paranormal activity around Durham Region mostly. Our team also does investigations of homes and locations, the results of which get posted on the site. On the weekends I like going to garage sales. Most of them sell household junk but I still see some nice stuff that I can pick up for cheap and put to use. On Sundays sometimes I can be found up in north Courtice paintballing at Camp-x. Paintball is some of the most fun ive had and Camp-x is a great facility with a ton of players.
Dont waste your Summer.
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