Grocery Conspiracy

I am convinced that stores who now charge 5 cents per plastic bag are conspiring against unsuspecting shoppers. It seems that in an effort to reduce plastic bags in landfills in Toronto, the government figures that if people have to pay for bags it will encourage them to bring their own. After all, why would anyone want to pay for a fresh new bag when they can bring their own plastic-type reusable bag to the store. Fish, meats, vegetables, dairy - all in the same bag...hey, no problem. Do we worry about contamination? No. Smells? No. Whatever. Convenience for the price we pay? No way. My theory is that by having consumers bring their own bags into the stores, grocery shops alleviate the need for their staff to work at packing the food people are buying. Thus, the consumer pays more and the checkout staff work less. When you bring your own bag to the store, suddenly the checkout help dismiss the need to pack the items and you are left to fend for yourself. So I think we should banish the 5 cent price and get some service (not that it ever comes with a smile if you shop at Zehrs) for all the money it costs to grocery shop these days anyway!