Don’t purchase with panic, network urges
A local organization is pleading with Yukoners not to panic over the short-lived closure of the Alaska Highway due to a washout south of Watson Lake.
A local organization is pleading with Yukoners not to panic over the short-lived closure of the Alakska Highway due to a washout south of Watson Lake.
“Fires and road washouts can have a very real effect on our community,” Chris Pinkerton of the Food Network Yukon said Monday.
“Right now, one of the main arteries for food to the Yukon has been washed out. Here is the important thing to remember. Do not panic. There is plenty of food to go around.
“Trucks have been diverted and will be back at the stores within the week. The best thing we can do, is purchase what we need, and to wait for the trucks to get to the stores so things can stabilize once more.”
Pinkerton added, “Please avoid panic buying and hoarding; this behaviour hurts other people, and slows down recovery.
“Thank you to everyone who is already doing this and thinking of their community while they are shopping.”
Comments (25)
Up 1 Down 0
MITCH on Jul 12, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Oh Al, the Liberal post-rationalization that your "tactics" in any sense "worked" (CBC parentheses for added effect), belies your left wing special abilities that no one else has, nor needs or wants. I am personally not impressed you helped people globally, so you could brag about it at YTG dinner parties while there is enough work for you here. But hey, Liberalism becomes you. Too cute...
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mike on Jul 11, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Patti is soooo right. Al is a joke...and many other things you can't say here!
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Patti Eyre on Jul 10, 2022 at 10:44 am
@Al what a joke you didn’t try to get any discussion going all you did was slag people then claim that, what a load.
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Juniper Jackson on Jul 9, 2022 at 9:11 pm
All this chit chat..I am not sure where people really stand when going on about hoarding and selfishness and looking after each other. Just saying.. but, (God forbid) if it EVER comes down to me or you..I'm going to do my very best, my old, crippled best, to make sure it's you.
The Liberals have created the 13th most corrupt country out of 253 countries in the world!!!!! Anyone think that's ok? Yeah! All the Liberals.
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzqSWBhDPARIsAK38LY_A2nXjwqxjUC5_khz0PJ3wOP98Q57FAziP7cJZ2BsVEPKZPyE8bVQaAmCoEALw_wcB
https://www.povertyinstitute.ca/poverty-canada
In 2011, Canada ranked 21st out of 27 OECD countries in terms of poverty levels, with 1 in 7 or 4.9 million people living in poverty, including 1.34 million children.
Indigenous peoples in Canada experience the highest levels of poverty: A shocking 1 in 4 Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal, Métis and Inuit) or 25% are living in poverty and 4 in 10 or 40% of Canada’s Indigenous children live in poverty.
Close to 15% of people with disabilities are living in poverty, 59% of whom are women. Anyone ok with this? Yeah!! the Liberals.
There is/was no pandemic, Bubonic Plague was a pandemic, flu is not. There is no panic stricken community running amuck, (some news reports and comments make it sound like there is.)
There is only one 'clear and present danger' in Canada, and that is Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party.
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MITCH on Jul 8, 2022 at 1:01 pm
Wow this aged well. The internet is back, the road is back - debit is down. Either provide us the country we paid taxation for or end up like the unfortunates of the French Revolution. Get your heads on straight.
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Jayne W on Jul 7, 2022 at 2:28 pm
I get a kick out of everyone assuming they are hoarding if folks have a cart full of anything. Many smaller mines buy their food at the grocery store, expediters, tourism activities to name a few. I have seen some of Whitehorse's favorite restaurants use the grocery store with their carts full as well. If I lived a ways out of town, sorry I am getting what I need and not having to drive back every week. But I would also be the first one to help someone if they needed something. Stop being the shopping cart police, keep your regular shopping habits, and there will be toilet paper for all.
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Al on Jul 7, 2022 at 2:08 pm
So it worked.
My intent was to get people to start a discussion on how we resolve this kind of stupidity. All but Patti Eyre added some food for thought. Patti there is no help for you. I took no offence to the spurious comments made that some added. My skin is too thick for that nonsense.
Yes, this was only a brief period - but the resulting behaviour we witnessed requires us to really think through what are needs are vs what we want. We seniors have been around long enough to know to keep a non-perishable supply of staples on hand (including powdered milk) in case it is needed. I want to tell you that 72 hours is a bare minimum. In our home in the country we have 14 days that we can stretch easily into 21 days. I have worked in major disaster around the world for over 20 years. The 72 hour bench mark usually gets blown. In Haiti after the earthquake it was nearly 14 days before resupply was possible because of the infrastructure damage to the airport and harbour. Most disaster teams had to wend their way to PauP through the DR or by Helicopter to the impact area. It was only the very basic foods that were provided for the first several weeks - rice and potable water. For me it as 5 weeks before I had a hot meal. In Nepal the major earthquake in 2015 the same was true when most of the highways into the Himalayas were completely impassable for 2-3 weeks.
We are fortunate to have more than one access into the Yukon. In fact we have six - highways 97 & 37, barge, air, the Dempster to the NWT, and of course our western neighbours. However a major disaster here and we could be cut off for a fairly long stretch before assistance arrives.
If you think that utilizing the Emergency Act is outrageous then you really have never been in a major disaster. Yes, I agree we do not need it for short term events BUT we do need protocols in place to prevent what occurred recently and what occurred during the pandemic of hoarding and panic buying. We no longer are able to work as a community the way we use to. That for sure is obvious. If you take umbrage with all of this then it is you that really needs to reflect on how you would respond to help fellow citizens.
It is about being resilient and not about being selfish. Right now it is the latter that is winning the day.
Food for thought...
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MITCH on Jul 7, 2022 at 9:24 am
Yeah, don't panic buy because of the temporary road closure, panic buy because it is all getting worse day by day and the winter is long, especially in a Canada so cold, it has one foot in the grave and the other in its' mouth.
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AdmiralA$$ on Jul 7, 2022 at 8:27 am
Yeah sure, more government intervention is going to save us now. I love the way people think. Let's enact the war act that we had enacted during the legitimate world war, because of panic shoppers in Whitehorse. The way forward is backwards I suppose too. How about they stop handing out money and jack rates up to 15% and drive demand back down? Na, I like government rations and control, let's go with that.
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Anie on Jul 6, 2022 at 3:07 pm
I sometimes wonder about the folks, both in Canada and US, who hoarded toilet paper during the first weeks of the pandemic. In my ideal world, they stored it all in sheds adjacent to creeks. And it all washed away the following spring. A mean-spirited thought, perhaps. But it makes me smile.
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Juniper Jackson on Jul 6, 2022 at 11:35 am
Most people do not panic buy, and I think it was dumb to even bring this up and start a panic. People have gardens and friends with gardens, containers come out of Vancouver to Haines Landing, picked up and transported to Whitehorse. MOST people, the ones with jobs and some money, have long long since stocked up on non perishables. We're asked to keep 3 months I think. No one is going to starve here, and no one is going to spend their money on extra noodles. I saw, in the spring, a lot of shoppers going out with 3 or 4 baskets full. Panic buying? no.. Old Crow, Dawson, Pelly, Mayo, running low on their winter supplies.
The covid threat did strange things to people. I did not think of toilet paper, but, i've never held a gun in my life, yet, i wanted to go buy a gun and bullets. There have been store shortages for quite a while now. Between BC floods, Trudeau's disastrous policies, border and travel BS, truckers. Nothing new happening here. Except someone wanting to stir the pot as it were.
How many old timers remember 1982?
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Austin on Jul 6, 2022 at 8:06 am
Seen a lady at the Superstore her cart was packed with meat. Hoarding. Plain ignorant and very selfish. The food will get here we won't starve. Shows the selfishness and greed of people. Keep food stocked up at home. Should have at least 72 hrs of supplies and there is a secondary road to the Yukon. We won't die of starvation.
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Don’t panic! on Jul 6, 2022 at 1:33 am
Stop inducing fear and panic… The sky is falling, the earth is burning, the earth is cooling, Covid will get you, one-world government, socialism, communism, capitalism, Emergency Measures, lockdowns, mandatory vaccinations, supply chain issues, food shortages, skyrocketing fuel prices, and sociopathic leadership using fascistic techniques to intrude into the bedrooms and bank accounts of the nation… You will own nothing and be happy - F$&@ You!
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Oya on Jul 5, 2022 at 11:16 pm
A good case to be made for having your 72 hours of emergency rations on hand. People should have enough in their pantries to get them through for a few days in a REAL emergency. What if all the power was out everywhere due to fires or something and the stores couldn't even open?
During this highway closure, I realize I had no potable water in my emergency pack. Guess what I'll be stocking up on when the shelves get replenished?
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Patricia O'Brien on Jul 5, 2022 at 11:02 pm
Yukoners are usually busy looking out for each other. I was shopping today and was shocked to see so many empty shelves and displays of nothing.
I didn't need much and thankfully found most of it. I worried a little about the Food Bank, hoping shortages did not put additional stress on an already lean outfit stretched thin.
We have gone through a lot and we will get through this. It took a beaver damn washout to cut the Yukon off and panic folks. We are a little too vulnerable for my tastes.
Y'all take care and enjoy summer while ya can.
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Patti Eyre on Jul 5, 2022 at 9:26 pm
@Al all these dumb people you refer to likely have families they need to look after, shame on you!
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Voice of reason on Jul 5, 2022 at 6:41 pm
An expensive and overreactive response from Al here would probably do the trick to ensure families have toilet paper every time a culvert washes out.
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Woodcutter on Jul 5, 2022 at 5:27 pm
@Al
Yukon did invoke the emergencies act during a global pandemic and ended up with a lawsuite from the money men of the contard party and a bunch of truckers honking, holding up traffic and generally fooling themselves in believing that they were protecting our freedom. Imagine what would happen if this was done cause a culvert was washed away and groceries were held up for a few days?
We'd have to listen to it all over again.
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John on Jul 5, 2022 at 4:42 pm
@ Snowball
...and who do you think will pay for the transportation costs? Oh right, you must be those that lean far to the left - your answer would be the government of course. The smart way would be by barge for 90% of things in the interim. It would also mean having less selection/choices and buying what is available not what you want. That would be novel for a host of people - likely yourself included.
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Ugh - too bad this even has to be said on Jul 5, 2022 at 4:40 pm
I recall the last time there was a road closure, Superstore was total chaos. People in panic mode, with carts full of bottled water, for heaven's sake (the taps were still working). It's doubtful anyone is going to starve due to a road closure for a few days. Very disappointing - and yes, I feel for those outside of Whitehorse.
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John on Jul 5, 2022 at 4:38 pm
@ Nathan Living
...and you are a good example of "the me first syndrome". I thought you had strong morale background. Guess I was wrong about that one.
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Nathan Living on Jul 5, 2022 at 4:09 pm
When people panic buy I do the same and stock up on items that disappear first.
Thanks for reminding me to stay supplied with essentials.
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Snowball on Jul 5, 2022 at 3:56 pm
If you use your noodle if the road blocked then food will come by plane, simple.
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Community Resident on Jul 5, 2022 at 2:40 pm
And think about those who don't "live" near a store that has to travel for hours just for groceries. it's very sad that we have to go back home without most of the essential groceries because people panicked - totally sucks!
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Al on Jul 5, 2022 at 2:13 pm
No disagreement from this household. However Chris, we are dealing with people you fall into the category of the "two things you cannot change - the weather and stupid !"
These are people who don't give a damn about anyone but themselves - me first and to hell with everyone else. My survival is more important.
The only way to stop frenzy buying is by invoking our emergency act the provides the government to control products sales from grocery stores (a form of rationing). Not a new concept and for nearly 5 years during the WWII rationing was mandatory and a way of life for millions of people. It is a smart move and easy as hell to administer either electronically or by hard copy.
This would be the one time where the government can ensure fair distribution of scarce resources with a view of having a positive outcome.