On NDAs and free stores
Thank you for two recent editorials — the one about non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and the one suggesting a rethink about the exorbitant free store quote.
I first heard of NDAs a few years ago. Within the past two years, I learned that our military are required to sign them. A couple of combat veterans I’m acquainted with are haunted by things they saw, heard of, or participated in. But it is not legal for them to speak of them. What a terrible burden they carry.
Government should be accountable to the public, not veiled in secrecy. NDAs are over-used to silence and control people, and to hide unsavoury, unjust or even illegal actions.
Within the past year, I was required to sign an NDA to participate in volunteer work. This is crazy. Instead of vetting and educating volunteers, just control them? Trust and justice are being eroded. I appreciate the lawyers for publicizing this insanity, and your editorial for shining a light on it.
And yes, let’s see a range of quotes for a free store, including a bare-bones one. We have lost so much environmental ground due to the pandemic. Some way must be found to keep a free store running, especially when times are so very hard for so many people.
Grace Wyatt
North Cowichan
