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x : 5 ins Milton Canadiah Champion | Thursday, January 18, 2018 | &@ OPINION | - EDITORIAL - Take me to your robot Artificial intelligence hasn't replaced all of North America's jobs vet, but that doesn't mean businesses aren't trying to accelerate the process as the workplace undergoes a transformation as significant as the Indus- trial Revolution. Last year McDonald's Canada added self-service Ki- osks for people htingry for its Big Macs. Tim Hortons, Burger King and Starbucks have introduced apps that allow customers to order and pay in advance on their smartphones thereby bypassing lines. Or how abou{ the Australian company Fastbrick Robotics that has created Hadrian X, which can lay 1,000 standard bricks in an hour. In a recent report, the World Economic Forum predicted that robotic automation will result in the net loss of more than five million jobs across 15 developed nations by 2020. Even the simple theatre experience allows and some- times even forces customers to buy their own tickets to see a film eliminating the need for people. And Amazon, after purchasing Whole Foods, ast year opened a check-out free grocery store in Seattle. Businesses have always attempted to cut costs to save a buck. It seems, though, that companies are becoming more direct at reducing, even eliminating, their labour costs so they don't have to deal with human issues; - Don't be fooled by companies - think Tim Hortons - that may promote themselves as "making a true differ- ence" for individuals and communities, boasting of help- ing local community initiatives. It comes with the caveat | they are always searching for a way to reduce nagging labour expenses. Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do in a societ" where a large number of minimum wage earn- ers don't earn enough to support their families and have to use the food bank to feed their children. Yet by in- creasing the cost of labour, companies are that much more inclined to reduce employees. A report by the Mowat Centre found that 42 per cent Canada's labour force is at risk of being impacted by automation over the next 10 to 20 years. Another report from the Brookfield Institute for Innovation in 2016 found retail sales clerks and cashiers are among the top five jobs at risk from automation. Raising the minimum wage in the face of companies desperate to-cut costs while good public policy unfortu- nately will only accelerate the introduction of technolo- gy into the workforce. Governments and companies need to collaborate to develop a skilled workforce. Hav- ing a job program and a policy to implement it to meet the needs of society is the proper way for companies and government to work together for the betterment of its citizens. 2 CONTACT US Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Milton Canadian Champion 2-5046 Mainway Burlington, ON L7L 521 Phone: 289-29340615 ; Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Digital/Flyer/ Retail: 289-293-0624 CHAMPION TRACKS CA I a; 8 At rf Karen Savich (left) and Joanne Strawson stand proudly atop Mount es L al gh CANOES®} ORE Kilimanjaro in Africa. Going away? Pack a copy of the Champion in your suitcase, snap a creative photo and email your Champion Tracks submission to editor@miltoncanadianchampion.com (minimum 600KB resolution). Please include everyone's name, from left, and destination information. Karem Savich/Photo The Milton Canadian Champion, pub- - lished every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly- owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is "comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. The Mitton Canadian Champion Is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Com- -plainants are urged to bring their concems to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca ne Aoma @ ideHatton.com ft editor@miltoncanadianchampion.com | £ MiltonCanadianChampion TC @Milton_Champion Time Capsules are gems of information that provide a window into Milton's past. October 1922 Mrs. Cunningham's barn on Pine Street took fire this forenoon. The bri- gade turned out quickly, but the flames had made great headway. before the building was reached. It was put out by good work and a lot of water. The new fire truck helped greatly. The building was more or less damaged and so was a quantity of baled hay Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-63146095. Accrédiréd Accredited * LETTERS & COMMENTARY - New fire truck put to work at barn blaze MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Column stored in it and belonging to Messrs. Wilson & Will- mott. T.H. Moorehead has turned over his Milton con- fectionery business to his manager W. Barnard. The Milton high school literary society has been organized with the follow- J ih VP and Group Publisher Neil Oliver Reglonal General Manager Kelly Montague _kmontague@metroland.com | 289-293-0614 'ing officers: Principal O.M. Mackillop, honorary presi- dent; Ruth Gorham, presi- dent; Marion Chisholm, vice-president; Edith Gal- braith, secretary-treasur- er; Rosslyn Pearen, car- toonist; Ruby Elsley, Clif- ford Hill, Enid McColl, Crawford Chisholm, Edith Dick, committee. The members of the society will meet every two weeks. Milton will have some- thing new in the way of sport next Thursday eve- ning, Oct. 26, at the arena: a boxing tournament and smoker under the auspices of the Milton Athletic Asso- ciation. The preliminary events will be three of boxing by local boys, who are good -c WHO WE ARE ones and one wrestling bout. Next will be boxing by J. McIntosh vs. R. Mont- gomery, both of Galt. Mont- gomery is Waterloo's fly- weight champion. Next will be another be- tween two good light- weights, Gordon Farlow, Milton, and Tommy Doyle, St. Helen's A.C. Toronto. The final will be a hummer, Walter Newton, Toronto, Ontario's lightweight champion vs. Tommy Coyne, St. Helen's A.C. To- ronto. The band will be in . attendance. Reserved seats on sale. ; -- This lorie is as- sembled on behalf of the Milton Historical Society by Jim Dills, who can be reached through the society at (905) 875-4156. Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara cohara@miltoncanadianchampion.com | 289-293-0615 Circulation Manager Kim Mossman kmossman@metroland.com | 905-631-6095 Director Advertising Daniel Baird dbaird@metroland.com | 289-293-0624