For Canadians working with minimum wages, such as those working at Tim Horton's outlets, every sliver of that small income counts for their livelihood. If they lose one or two slivers of it, they probably will lose their home telephone line or something. It's that bad.

Sigh. There are good student loans programs from the government across Canada. Why don't those workers just get a student loan, whatever their ages are, and finish a career education program which targets fields in high demand from employers? Programs like that typically only require 2 - 3 years of full-time study and the prerequisite of a high-school diploma.

Then life and their newly found earning power will be a lot better for them. Sigh. I don't understand why they don't take that surefire route.

This is a windy night with light snowfall. I'm fixing myself a cup of coffee.

"Nice talking to you," J said to the retired man who had come to Canada from Portugal a very long time ago.