As I write this editorial the Canadian dollar continues to rise against the American dollar and is now worth more on the open market than its counterpart. Why then has this change in value of our collar not been passed on to all Canadians when buying products from our cousins to the south? The other day I looked at a magazine imported from the US and was shocked at the prices listed on the front cover of a well-known hobby magazine. As an example, on the cover it reads $6.99 US, $8.99 CAN, which poses the question, why the price differences between our free-trade nations? Last week on a radio program a caller related the following story that allegedly happened in a magazine store in Alberta. According to the caller he offered to pay for a magazine in US money listed at the lower price and was refused. True or not, it makes a person question the whole concept of free trade between Canada and the United States.

It would appear at times to be a one-way street.

At least that's the way I see it.

According to city police in Calgary, there have been five gang-related shootings in four days in this booming city in Southern Alberta. Calgary's new police chief suggests lenient sentences are impeding police efforts to curb gang violent in Calgary. It wasn't too long ago when about 20 gang members in Calgary were arrested and charged with numerous crimes by city police. Within hours they were all released on bail by a court judge. Are our provincial courts being too lenient on crimes committed by gangs?

You be the judge.