Generalist Clerk kills self...

I sometimes don't have far to look when thinking of my next post... I recently sent paper-work to Service Canada . I work(ed) for Service Nova Scotia for 10 years so I have a feel for what government is like so I was a little worried when I sent them my birth certificate along with my application. But a couple of weeks later I received a letter from a Generalist Clerk stating my application was being processed and included in the envelope was my birth certificate, safe and sound. So, I cannot write about in-efficient government. Far from it . So far , things are running smoothly. And I must commend Service Canada for not torturing itself with coming up with more suitable acronyms than Service Canada such as Access Canada. Or even worse, Planet Hollywood Canada.

Although I'm sure in the early days of Canada following confederation in 1867 they must have gone through this process and called themselves institutions like, The Government of Canada East and West, the Province of Canada including the Colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Oh yes, we mustn't forget the Dominion of Canada, excluding Newfoundland until 1949. And lastly of course Upper Canada and Lower Canada, which the term Upper and Lower Canadians still use today (as an aside, every town , village , creek in Canada has an Upper and a Lower to it).

I am still wondering what a 'Generalist Clerk' does these days. It's just a strange job title. I should as a dare call Service Canada and ask to speak with a ' Specific Clerk.' I can picture the response, " No , I'm sorry , Sir. You'll have to speak with me the Generalist Clerk first and waste your time before I can transfer you to a Specific Clerk. That's why I'm here !! So, how can I help you? " Nah, that might be a cruel thing to do. I don't want anyone going 'postal' on me and killing themselves just because of me having too much time on my hands!