PelhamToday received the following letter to the editor about some of life's frustrations:
Last year I purchased some Apple AirPod Pro 2's, as Apple stated they were having a new hearing aid feature built in and I have mild hearing loss. They hearing aid feature was approved in over 100 countries but when I tried to get them to work it turns out they were not approved in Canada.
I phoned MPP Oosterhoff's office and informed them, and I called MPP Bittle's office in St. Catharines, and no one had any idea why they aren't approved in Canada.
Then, last December 12, Health Canada approved the hearing aid feature. But it looks like maybe Ontario or maybe another province or maybe the government frequency spectrum agency has not approved them as they still won’t work as hearing aids. All Apple added was a microphone in the AirPods and the other listening features are still the approved same. Apple also added software and firmware to be able to adjust the sound output as they have a hearing test one can use.
Then this month I ran into an Ontario rule that I was ignorant of and no one thought to inform me about. But first some background.
I have to sell one of my two cars, as one is not needed any more. So in order to sell it I had the car inspected ($250 + tax) at Canadian Tire and it was okay except for needing rear brakes in order to pass the safety. As I didn’t have time that day to get the repair done, I took the car home and parked it in our garage, where it sat for 11 days.
Then I took it to have the brakes done and the car retested, where I was told the re-test fee was $25, but no one told me there was an Ontario government 10-day limit for the second test. When the same mechanic tried to do it, the Ministry of Transportation computer said no, and that a whole new inspection had to be done for another $250 + tax. I missed it by one day, and even though the car wasn’t driven for 10 days it didn’t count.
I am finding life is getting tougher, especially for the elderly. The mail strike really messed us up getting our bills paid and the other day I got an email from TD Bank saying that for our checking account and savings account they won’t be issuing paper statements anymore, only electronic statements.
Thank heavens I am a flexible elder, otherwise I would be up the creek without a paddle. Any idea where I could buy some sarsaparilla to drink?
Ron Mascoe
Fonthill