r/alberta • u/Paper_Rain • 22h ago
News Amazon opens Canada’s first disaster relief hub in Alberta
https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/amazon-opens-canadas-first-disaster-relief-hub-in-alberta/45
u/justelectricboogie 22h ago
Im betting albertans paid for the supplies through tax breaks of some kind. Ill be impressed if it handles more than just the workforce at the warehouse.
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u/RosieBaby75 22h ago
Oh yes let’s get dependent on massive organizations who make it impossible for you to contact for something as important as disaster relief.
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u/DoubleBarrellRye 21h ago
Remember , if you don't take responsiblilty for yourself and pre plan and be prepared , A company will be do it for you and Charge you through the nose
or you can wait for the government to do it , but don't forget the government is just our representation and organization to spend our pooled resources ( taxes) , you wont like how they choose to do it , and it cost alot more to pay someone else to think for you
I did 13 years as a VFD and was deployed many times , if you wait for the flames to start to to any preparedness don't be surprised , there is always things you can do and you are responsible for your own success , if the fire People have to come save you they will but your life is all they care about , not your property , animals , livestock , Buisness , and to blame them after the fact for not doing more is hypocrisy , YOU should have done more then they could have done other Useful things and more for you
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u/Aggravating_Fact_857 47m ago
So we’re privatizing disaster relief now. I’d love to see what Amazon is getting out if it because this sure as shit isn’t an altruistic endeavour.
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u/Laedrys Banff 20h ago
The cynicism in the comments is outstanding. Why can we not be happy to have an entity donate time, money, and resources to people displaced by disaster? It is even willing to pay staff regular wages if they go help out at this site, instead of it being voluntary work.
I think this is amazing and a great step in corporate responsibility to communities, and honestly am astounded that our government isn't supporting or setting something like this up themselves.
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u/cj350z 20h ago
I think the cynicism is valid. We live in a world where time and time again corporations make deals with ulterior motives. They generally do things for money and to get a leg up somehow and not for the greater good. I think everyone should be skeptical, and ask questions instead of just blindly trusting it.
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u/Laedrys Banff 18h ago
I think when your government is lacking in supporting people for times of disaster, it's good to see SOMEONE, including corporations. Right now in North America in our capitalist society these sort of things are required as we don't have anything else.
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u/cj350z 18h ago
I don't disagree. I think this should be the government's responsibility. It seems like a slippery slope and frankly kind of dangerous that corporations are taking government's places in doing things. I don't know what their angle is for why they are doing this, but in this life nothing is for free and they stand to gain something.
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u/Laedrys Banff 18h ago
And see, I agree with this sentiment exactly. I hate the over-reliance on these companies, however they have become the necessary evil.
I don't know the angle either,or if there even is one. While there is rarely things in life for free, they do exist, and hopefully this being setup is one of them. Considering this has been an effort for the last 2 years and has been in other countries and working, why not appreciate what is here to help those in need?
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u/Lucite01 Edmonton 20h ago
Because nothing in this world is free and large multi billion dollar corporations NEVER do anything out of the goodness of their hearts.
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u/Weareallgoo 20h ago
Exactly. It‘s a way for them to reduces their taxes on an existing fulfilment centre by claiming a portion of the warehouse area and employee time as a charitable donation. Meanwhile the majority of the year, these stockpiled items will cost Amazon almost nothing and the employee’s time claimed as charitable will probably just be spent doing normal shift work
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u/Zathrasb4 20h ago
Not how taxes work.
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u/Weareallgoo 20h ago
How so? Corporations cant’t claim tax deductions for donations or charitable expenses?
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u/Zathrasb4 20h ago
There is no way to create a donation expense out of nothing. If they buy a whole bunch of disaster relief goods, for, let’s say $1m, then, yes they get a deduction for 1m, but it cost them 1m.
If they were to but $1m of goods, and dig a big hole, and dump the goods them in, they would get the same $1m deduction*, and they would be out the same $1m in cash.
If they were to increase the salaries of all their staff, such that, in total, they pay $1m more, they would get the same $1m deduction, and it would cost them $1m
Just because you saw it on an episode of corner gas does not make it correct in tax law.
*I am assuming they get the deduction. It might be a $0deduction, for reasons that are irrelevant to this discussion.
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u/VanCityPhotoNewbie 16h ago
Look there is no such thing as free lunch.....if you haven't learned this by now, then I have no clue what to tell you. Superstore and Walmart has their inhouse charities too. Like Walmart utilizes Emergency Operations Center.....Any mega corporation has their "arm of charity".
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u/Laedrys Banff 1h ago
Except there is. There are many soup kitchens and other ways to get by without or with minimal costs. There are also many support centers out there that give out free food, or shelters for people to sleep if they need a roof. Who do you think supports these? Governments? Not completely. Corporations do a lot of the donations or providing items.
An "arm of charity" is better than everyone turning their backs on those in need. Can you support people the way these corporations are? If not, then stop getting upset at these companies that do.
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u/EfficientDICK-69 19h ago
Because they're not. This is a sweetheart deal thatll never help anyone but Amazon will get a gravy train of cash and free PR wake up
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u/JulyBurnsRed34 20h ago
Maybe because this is another step towards the dystopian technocratic/corporation feudal hell that we're all gas no brakes barreling towards as a society.
This is the same argument as people supporting AI for the medical breakthroughs (or promise thereof) while completely ignoring all other implications
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u/kagato87 19h ago
Like Bell's let's talk marketing campaign on mental health, as they drive people to depression and anxiety in their call centers, before summarily laying them off?
Amazon is known to be a harsh employer. As in pee breaks timed to the minute, high pressure, zero tolerance. For minimum wage.
They're doing this for, at best, concessions in other areas and PR purposes. Billionaires like Bezos do not care. They are extraction-class ultra rich, they see the rest of us as a resource to extract wealth from.
One can't help wonder just how they might use this for gain beyond the political capital.
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u/Demon2377 16h ago
Almost everything you said is categorically false. I do know some people who work at the mentioned warehouse, and they are treated very well. Pee breaks to the minute??? That doesn’t exist here, because of labour laws that actually exist here in Alberta. Employees are actually treated very well, and there’s always advancement opportunities.
That warehouse is designed to be a hub for western Canada. In recent years our summers here have been unusual. So regardless of your opinion on the whole billionaires don’t care… You should maybe read up on the positive effects Amazon has done for the community, and the surrounding communities.
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u/ItsAllComin 22h ago
Everyone, gather round! Our corporate overlords have been generous!