Richard Posted January 20, 2008 Report Posted January 20, 2008 It is absolutely ludicrous that Canada does not have a "Buy Canadian Act". An act that covers the purchase of all goods and materials used by any level of government, federal, provincial, or municipal or any public corporation or public service entity. Governments and government institutions only exists through the taxes paid by Canadian citizens and Canadian businesses. Our Canadian government has an ethical obligation and should make a commitment to support Canadian enterprise, support Canadian workers. When our federal, provincial and municipal governments spend our money on government procurement in the areas of public transportation, the Canadian military, government institutions and government services, there must be strong Canadian content regulations to ensure that Canadians get the jobs resulting from our own major public purchases. Canada must preserve it's sovereignty. The United States have had such an act in place since 1933. For more on this topic http://www.buymadeincanada.ca/needed.html Buy Canadian Act Needed Quote
August1991 Posted January 20, 2008 Report Posted January 20, 2008 It is absolutely ludicrous that Canada does not have a "Buy Canadian Act". An act that covers the purchase of all goods and materials used by any level of government, federal, provincial, or municipal or any public corporation or public service entity.Governments and government institutions only exists through the taxes paid by Canadian citizens and Canadian businesses. Our Canadian government has an ethical obligation and should make a commitment to support Canadian enterprise, support Canadian workers. That's madness.Whether you purchase something for yourself or you hire a professional buyer to do your shopping for you, the sole criteria should be quality and price regardless of origin. Do you grow your own vegetables? Make your own clothes? No doubt you could probably do this yourself but you probably don't. Why? Quote
Leafless Posted January 20, 2008 Report Posted January 20, 2008 It is absolutely ludicrous that Canada does not have a "Buy Canadian Act". An act that covers the purchase of all goods and materials used by any level of government, federal, provincial, or municipal or any public corporation or public service entity. Canada is much to small of a country to provide a reasonable choice of any given 'made in Canada' product line by fully owned Canadian companies. We depend on the U.S. to protect our sovereignty and they depend on us for a multitude of rersources to protect their national interest, including protecting their sovereignty. Quote
Topaz Posted January 20, 2008 Report Posted January 20, 2008 Canada is much to small of a country to provide a reasonable choice of any given 'made in Canada' product line by fully owned Canadian companies. We depend on the U.S. to protect our sovereignty and they depend on us for a multitude of rersources to protect their national interest, including protecting their sovereignty. Why do people keep saying that he US protects our sovereignty? When was the last and the first time they did this? The only time that the US is friendly to Canada is when their government wants something of/from us. Quote
blueblood Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Why do people keep saying that he US protects our sovereignty? When was the last and the first time they did this? The only time that the US is friendly to Canada is when their government wants something of/from us. Ever hear of NORAD??? Quote "Stop the Madness!!!" - Kevin O'Leary "Money is the ultimate scorecard of life!". - Kevin O'Leary Economic Left/Right: 4.00 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.77
geoffrey Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Ugh. Most Canadians are a little too conscious of the realities of the world to be bogged down in patriotic rambling. Buy the best value, nothing else should matter. If a Canadian does that, great, if a Chinese does that, great or a Mexican, African, Vietnamese or American. Who cares? Really. Quote RealRisk.ca - (Latest Post: Prosecutors have no "Skin in the Game") --
Army Guy Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Is it just me or is buying anything in Canada, more expensive...let alone a Made in CANADA product.... Canadian manufacturers and large retail agencies are more concerned on ripping you off, and pulling ever dollar they can out of our pockets....there are many examples out there.... GM for instance Cars and trucks produced here in Canada have a approx difference in price of 10 to 12 thousand dollars....MADE in Canada product , and it's just recently that the price is coming down because the Canadian market is complaining....It is still however cheaper to buy in the US.... Bombardier ATV's and skidoos, made in Quebec, the same bike with the same specs sells for approx 6 to 8 thousand dollars more here in Canada, They've even made it policy that US dealers can not sell there bikes or skidoos to Canadians, if they don't compile they we'll remove they dealership lic....Check the internet....and compare prices.... These are a few examples there are many more, So while it makes sense for Canadians to buy Canadian goods....They ( Canadian retailers and Manufactures) don't really make that a viable practice...Instead of buying Canadian goods we should be boycotting them until prices are somewhat comparable.... Quote We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have now done so much for so long with so little, we are now capable of doing anything with nothing.
Leafless Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Is it just me or is buying anything in Canada, more expensive...let alone a Made in CANADA product....Canadian manufacturers and large retail agencies are more concerned on ripping you off, and pulling ever dollar they can out of our pockets....there are many examples out there.... GM for instance Cars and trucks produced here in Canada have a approx difference in price of 10 to 12 thousand dollars....MADE in Canada product , and it's just recently that the price is coming down because the Canadian market is complaining....It is still however cheaper to buy in the US.... I agree, we are being ripped off in many areas but in many other areas of manufacturing and farming it is unavoidable due to transportation cost and our unfavourable climatic conditions, which are responsible for producing higher cost all around. This in turn induces unfortunately induces a higher level of state control to even out regional disparities which in turn pounds certain aspects relating to a higher level of democracy into the ground. How much longer this country can operate and or exist with a dysfunctional political system, coupled with forced state intervention (especially social), into what should be the evolved normal freedoms associated with majority concerns is anyone,s guess. Quote
margrace Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Canada is much to small of a country to provide a reasonable choice of any given 'made in Canada' product line by fully owned Canadian companies. We depend on the U.S. to protect our sovereignty and they depend on us for a multitude of rersources to protect their national interest, including protecting their sovereignty. Yes like when my great great grandfather helped build Fort Henry at Kingston. Politics haven't changed either since then. Quote
Army Guy Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 I agree, we are being ripped off in many areas but in many other areas of manufacturing and farming it is unavoidable due to transportation cost and our unfavourable climatic conditions, which are responsible for producing higher cost all around. Once again the transportation cost we are cutting our own throats....with an avg of 30 plus cents of tax on gas alone...compared to the US of only 12 cents...once again we are producing this product exporting it to the US and still it is cheaper to buy in the US....a full 22 cents a liter in Calis maine, compare to NB prices.... As for the unfavourable climatic conditions, well we have to suck that up, it is what makes us Canadian.... 4. Gasoline Tax Components by Province/Territory The table below provides a breakdown of tax components of gasoline for different cities across Canada. The cities of Montréal, Vancouver and Victoria are shown in italics because of the regional surtaxes that are levied. Table – Tax Components of Gasoline (in cents) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province Retail Price Excluding Taxes* Provincial Excise Tax (flat rate) Federal Excise Tax (flat rate) Total GST Provincial Sales Tax Total Tax Component -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St John’s (NFLB) 69.0 16.5 10 5.7 7.6 39.9 Charlottetown (PEI) 67.4 20.9 10 5.9 N.A. 36.8 Halifax (NS) 66.7 15.5 10 5.5 7.4 38.4 Fredericton (NB) 67.4 14.5 10 5.5 7.4 37.4 Quebec (QC) 66.7 15.2 10 5.5 7.3 38.0 Montreal (QC) 63.4 16.7 10 5.4 7.2 39.3 Toronto (ONT) 65.6 14.7 10 5.4 N.A. 30.1 Winnipeg (MB) 68.1 11.5 10 5.4 N.A. 26.9 Regina (SK) 69.4 15.0 10 5.7 N.A. 30.7 Calgary (AB) 68.2 9.0 10 5.2 N.A. 24.2 Kelowna (BC) 73.4 14.5 10 5.9 N.A. 30.4 Vancouver (BC) 66.4 20.5 10 5.8 N.A. 36.3 Victoria (BC) 72.8 17.0 10 6.0 N.A. 33.0 Whitehorse (YK) 87.2 6.2 10 6.2 N.A. 22.4 Yellowknife (NWT) 81.0 10.7 10 6.1 N.A. 26.8 Canada Avg. 66.0 14.5 10 5.4 2.0 31.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gas taxes. Quote We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have now done so much for so long with so little, we are now capable of doing anything with nothing.
Renegade Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 It is absolutely ludicrous that Canada does not have a "Buy Canadian Act". An act that covers the purchase of all goods and materials used by any level of government, federal, provincial, or municipal or any public corporation or public service entity. No, what would be ludicrous would be to restrict the choice any organization has, government or otherwise, in purchasing the best goods and services. Governments and government institutions only exists through the taxes paid by Canadian citizens and Canadian businesses. Our Canadian government has an ethical obligation and should make a commitment to support Canadian enterprise, support Canadian workers. It already supports the Canadian enterprises by providing the infrastructure and services which those enterprises use to operate. That's what their taxes "buy". Nothing more. When our federal, provincial and municipal governments spend our money on government procurement in the areas of public transportation, the Canadian military, government institutions and government services, there must be strong Canadian content regulations to ensure that Canadians get the jobs resulting from our own major public purchases. The Canadian enterprises and workers can "ensure" they get the contracts by providing the most suitable product or services, over that of competitors. Then the choice to buy a Canadian product becomes a logical one, rather than an imposed one. Quote “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” - Thomas Jefferson
Wild Bill Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 It is absolutely ludicrous that Canada does not have a "Buy Canadian Act". An act that covers the purchase of all goods and materials used by any level of government, federal, provincial, or municipal or any public corporation or public service entity. Richard, years ago I had bought a brand new VW convertible. The then girlfriend now wife and I took it up north for a week at a cottage. The first morning another vacationer passed by and commented on how nice it looked, gleaming white in the morning sun. Then it started. He asked me if I had considered that buying an import hurt Canadian workers' jobs. Turns out he was from Windsor where he worked in a Chrysler plant. It was the wrong thing to say to me! My last vehicle had been a Chrysler van. It came with a 2 year warranty and in the first six months after the warranty expired it had nearly put me in the poor house! It was the worst quality piece of crap you could have imagined. You should know that this was just before Lee Iococca had needed to bail them out. After telling him this I asked him why, when he likely was making 2-3 times as much money as I ever had, I should be protecting HIS job by buying a piece of crap that he and his union brethren had gotten paid so much to build? He gave me a song and dance about hidden warrantees and finally tried to tell me that if I had driven the van to Windsor I would have gotten some help - utter drivel! No, I'm afraid I would not take kindly to being FORCED to buy something that wasn't as good as an import! That being said, I would support some government action with another facet of your problem. Right now a good portion of manufacturing costs to Canadian firms lies with anti-pollution regulations. Nothing wrong with "saving the planet" but why do we allow goods from other countries that have NO anti-pollution costs to enter the country with no compensating tariff or duty? China undercuts domestic steel and many other products by a deep margin by not having to pay "green fees". It's not just China, either. I still remember when I was a kid the local grape farmers were upset that the only product then or since that helped prevent mildew was banned in Canada, yet a stone's throw away in upper New York it was perfectly legal. The NY farmers were at a great competitive advantage against growers on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If the product needed to be banned then why were grapes covered with the spray that came from another country safe to eat? So I WOULD support a level playing field! Just not a rigged one. Quote "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." -- George Bernard Shaw "There is no point in being difficult when, with a little extra effort, you can be completely impossible."
M.Dancer Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Richard, years ago I had bought a brand new VW convertible. The then girlfriend now wife and I took it up north for a week at a cottage. The first morning another vacationer passed by and commented on how nice it looked, gleaming white in the morning sun. Then it started. He asked me if I had considered that buying an import hurt Canadian workers' jobs. Turns out he was from Windsor where he worked in a Chrysler plant. You bought something that helped Canadian jobs....just that those jobs weren't Autoworkers....they were seafarers and longshoreman...good union jobs! Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
guyser Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Is it just me or is buying anything in Canada, more expensive...let alone a Made in CANADA product....GM for instance Cars and trucks produced here in Canada have a approx difference in price of 10 to 12 thousand dollars....MADE in Canada product , and it's just recently that the price is coming down because the Canadian market is complaining....It is still however cheaper to buy in the US.... You and many other people who have it wrong. I bet none of us were complaining back in 1999 when the avg cost of a car in Canada was $3167 cheaper here than in the US. As of the print date of this article the change is $5842 , but I suspect that has come down significantly since the dollar has soared. http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/dd/...ifferential.htm Bombardier ATV's and skidoos, made in Quebec, the same bike with the same specs sells for approx 6 to 8 thousand dollars more here in Canada, They've even made it policy that US dealers can not sell there bikes or skidoos to Canadians, if they don't compile they we'll remove they dealership lic....Check the internet....and compare prices.... The move by Bombardier was to protect the canadian dealer. It also was a bone headed move that lost them some business. But the pricing is around the + $3000 mark, and apparently it has come down, however I cannot find that link. Quote
Army Guy Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 US prices have gone up upto 1.5 % already for 2008, and this mark up is already reflected in us prices.... US prices GM vehs have already been reduced by up to 14,000 in some cases....for 2008 models and prices already reflect those changes.... 14,000 in price reductions 2008 Tahoe 4x4 45,450.00 Cdn dollars 2008 Tahoe 4x4 39,205.00 Cdn dollars for a diffenence of still 6245.00 cdn dollars... My question is just how much of that 14,000.00 in price reduction was involved with the Tahoe ? and for a company to offer that much of a reduction for vehs there must have been a whooping of a difference....And we are wondering why Canadian customers are buying in the US.... Can prices. Please note that the above prices already have the below Canadian discounted subtracted off the price....discount is for 1150.00 File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML Offers valid in Canada only from December 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008. ... See your participating BRP Can-Am dealer for all details and to receive a copy of ... www.can-am.brp.com/NR/rdonlyres/67043D26-385D-4132-AFDD-291BFCC6DF71/0/CAN139_WinterPstr_CA3_LRz.pdf - Similar pages When compared to the US prices the difference isx about 5600.00 so i was a little off... us prices, Quote We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have now done so much for so long with so little, we are now capable of doing anything with nothing.
jdobbin Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 You and many other people who have it wrong. I bet none of us were complaining back in 1999 when the avg cost of a car in Canada was $3167 cheaper here than in the US. As of the print date of this article the change is $5842 , but I suspect that has come down significantly since the dollar has soared. The move by Bombardier was to protect the canadian dealer. It also was a bone headed move that lost them some business. But the pricing is around the + $3000 mark, and apparently it has come down, however I cannot find that link. Certainly a lot of Americans complained and there was some cross border shopping by shrewd buyers. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...750C0A96F958260 American entrepreneurs have been buying tens of thousands of vehicles cheaply at Canadian dealerships and reselling them in the United States, making substantial profits and in the process sidestepping American fuel-economy rules.This cross-border commerce is booming because cars and trucks, including those made in the United States, cost less in Canada these days -- as much as $5,000 less for big sport utility vehicles and large cars. The Canadian dollar's value has tumbled, dropping nearly 9 percent against the American dollar the last two years. Auto makers have been reluctant to raise Canadian prices to compensate because the Canadian economy is weaker and incomes are lower than in the United States. Imports of new and used vehicles from Canada have risen nearly twelvefold the last two years because of the price gap and are still rising. Roughly 10,000 vehicles a month are entering the country under a special program originally intended mainly to help immigrants from Canada bring their cars here. Factories in the United States are shipping thousands of vehicles to Canadian dealers who put them on trucks back to the United States for resale as new cars by dealers here. Canadian prices tend to be particularly low for large models, notably full-size sport utility vehicles. Canadian taxes keep gasoline prices about 20 percent higher than in the United States, limiting demand for big gas guzzlers. Most of the vehicles being brought south are large and built in the United States but are exempt from Federal rules aimed at improving the fuel economy of the nation's fleet of family vehicles. The average American cannot simply fly up to Canada, buy a cheap vehicle and drive it back because she would face weeks and possibly months of paperwork before crossing the border. The Transportation Department issues licenses to businesses, known as registered importers, to bring in vehicles, and companies are lining up for these licenses; the number of registered importers has risen to 144 from 80 the last 15 months. It was extremely hard for buyers in the States to import cars from Canada but for the persistent, they eventually got their vehicle and saved a bundle. Even with the lower prices trying to sell the big vehicles, Canadians still weren't buying because the big vehicles were just out of reach in terms of price. Canadians are veterans of the cross border shopping scene and when U.S. prices were lower, they quite rightly said to the manufacturers and dealers in Canada that they would take their business elsewhere. What Bombardier did might not only have been stupid, it might have violated competition laws. We will have to see how some of these lawsuits do as they wend their way through the system. Quote
blueblood Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 I have a huge problem with a forced buy Canadian Act. The ag sector has its complaints with shoddy Candian companies. Canadian built farm machinery is utter crap, the Americans build better machinery that's why they are on top there. Candian fertilizer is a rip off, they gouge us and they sell it to the Americans at a discount. Some people have to send semi's down to the states and truck it up here to save a few bucks which eats up a lot of time and diesel. But to buy the exact same thing up here we get gouged for some reason. I hope the russkies flood the market with fertilizer and put Agrium out of business for running a crooked fertilizer gig. It's the same thing as the Bombardier deal, just without the penalties. A bigger rip off than the Bombardier sleds is the Bombardier parts. To buy a drive belt for a MXZ 800 is $167.00 Goodyear makes the same drivebelt for $50.00 Buy Canadian hah. The only thing good that comes out of this country is Grain, soldiers, Blackberry's, oil, and minerals Quote "Stop the Madness!!!" - Kevin O'Leary "Money is the ultimate scorecard of life!". - Kevin O'Leary Economic Left/Right: 4.00 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.77
Richard Posted January 21, 2008 Author Report Posted January 21, 2008 Whether you purchase something for yourself or you hire a professional buyer to do your shopping for you, the sole criteria should be quality and price regardless of origin. For the most part, people settle for cheap over quality. Do you grow your own vegetables? Make your own clothes? No doubt you could probably do this yourself but you probably don't. Why? When I lived in Metchosin I did grow almost all of my own veg and meats. I still look for local products before buying imported. Question as to origin. Why are food products not required to state on the packaging the origin of the ingredients. Highlander Fish sticks, package says product of Canada. Actually a product of Indonesia. Did you know that most of the apple juice sold in Canada is actually Chinese grown and processed. It is only packaged in Canada, with water added. Do we not produce apples in Canada? How about those Chinese made 2010 Olympic mascots. I'm sure that there are several places in Canada that could have produced them. They may cost a few dollars more but they would be Canadian for a Canada sponsored event. Did you notice how much the price of Roots clothing went down since they moved manufacture from Canada to China? Nada, but they remain an official supplier to the 2010 Winter Olympics. What difference in price is there between Denver Hayes t-shirts made in Canada and those made in India? There is a huge difference in quality. Plumbing supplies, pipe fittings, hardware items, are by far better quality at Home Hardware than the China made items from Home Depot or Canadian Tire. Quote
noahbody Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 Buy Canadian hah. The only thing good that comes out of this country is Grain, soldiers, Blackberry's, oil, and minerals And ships! Oh wait, they come from the Bahamas. Quote
Richard Posted January 21, 2008 Author Report Posted January 21, 2008 Is it just me or is buying anything in Canada, more expensive...let alone a Made in CANADA product....Bombardier ATV's and skidoos, made in Quebec, the same bike with the same specs sells for approx 6 to 8 thousand dollars more here in Canada, They've even made it policy that US dealers can not sell there bikes or skidoos to Canadians, if they don't compile they we'll remove they dealership lic....Check the internet....and compare prices.... These are a few examples there are many more, So while it makes sense for Canadians to buy Canadian goods....They ( Canadian retailers and Manufactures) don't really make that a viable practice...Instead of buying Canadian goods we should be boycotting them until prices are somewhat comparable.... No! Boycotting Canadian made goods only compounds the problem. I did a quick internet check. Here's what I found. Bombardier Outlander 400 H.O. Suggested Price (MSRP): $6,199.00. Canada Price $5,795.00 US Price $4,899.00 - Made in Mexico - Bombardier soon to move all NA production to Mexico. First. Are you willing to be paid the equivalent dollars your counterpart in a foreign country is being paid for doing the same job? I didn't think so. Canada used to manufacture about 42% of the goods sold in Canada. Now it has been reduced to under 18%. For arguments sake let's place the average earnings in Canada at $3,200 per mo. Economists calculate that each dollar spent in a community turns over about 6 times before it is taxed out. Just taking the production and supply costs of goods, about 40% of end price, that is not being put back into the Canadian economy. That means for every $700 spent on foreign goods that could have been produced in Canada, 1 Canadian has been put out of a job. Consider that 18% of working age Canadians are either unemployed or on social assistance, working Canadians are making up their tax share. That 'shortfall' that used to be collected federally and provincially is causing under funding of services such as hospitals and schools. In turn the unfunded portion of hospital and school expenses are being passed down to municipalities who in turn raise property taxes. You pay for it. Canada is becoming a nation of service workers. The service industry does not generate new tax money except for tourism, and with the dollar going up, less tourists are coming. If we want to keep up the services in hospitals, schools, policing, fire dept, transportation etc. the taxes have to come from somewhere. What better place than to maintain resource and manufacturing in Canada which employ Canadians at livable wages. To put it bluntly. Canadian goods cost less than imported goods, even at a higher price. Quote
M.Dancer Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 (edited) I thought Bombardier sold off it's recreation division to an american company two years ago or more... ...1/2 right...they sold it off the the caisse and the bombardier family edited to add correction Edited January 21, 2008 by M.Dancer Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
Renegade Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 (edited) What difference in price is there between Denver Hayes t-shirts made in Canada and those made in India? There is a huge difference in quality.Plumbing supplies, pipe fittings, hardware items, are by far better quality at Home Hardware than the China made items from Home Depot or Canadian Tire. Since you seem to believe that the quality of Canadian goods is superior, why do you object to Canadian goods competing without any barriers? If people indeed prefer cost over quality, it would seem to be an indication that Canadian manufacturers are not in tune with their customers preferences. First. Are you willing to be paid the equivalent dollars your counterpart in a foreign country is being paid for doing the same job? I didn't think so.Canada used to manufacture about 42% of the goods sold in Canada. Now it has been reduced to under 18%. For arguments sake let's place the average earnings in Canada at $3,200 per mo. Economists calculate that each dollar spent in a community turns over about 6 times before it is taxed out. Just taking the production and supply costs of goods, about 40% of end price, that is not being put back into the Canadian economy. That means for every $700 spent on foreign goods that could have been produced in Canada, 1 Canadian has been put out of a job. Consider that 18% of working age Canadians are either unemployed or on social assistance, working Canadians are making up their tax share. That 'shortfall' that used to be collected federally and provincially is causing under funding of services such as hospitals and schools. In turn the unfunded portion of hospital and school expenses are being passed down to municipalities who in turn raise property taxes. You pay for it. Canada is becoming a nation of service workers. The service industry does not generate new tax money except for tourism, and with the dollar going up, less tourists are coming. If we want to keep up the services in hospitals, schools, policing, fire dept, transportation etc. the taxes have to come from somewhere. What better place than to maintain resource and manufacturing in Canada which employ Canadians at livable wages. To put it bluntly. Canadian goods cost less than imported goods, even at a higher price. That argument makes as much sense as hiring your freeloading brother-in-law, even though he does a crappy job and needs to be paid twice as much, just so you don't have to give him a handout. How about we just stop the handouts instead? Edited January 21, 2008 by Renegade Quote “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” - Thomas Jefferson
eyeball Posted January 21, 2008 Report Posted January 21, 2008 No, I'm afraid I would not take kindly to being FORCED to buy something that wasn't as good as an import!That being said, I would support some government action with another facet of your problem. Right now a good portion of manufacturing costs to Canadian firms lies with anti-pollution regulations. Nothing wrong with "saving the planet" but why do we allow goods from other countries that have NO anti-pollution costs to enter the country with no compensating tariff or duty? China undercuts domestic steel and many other products by a deep margin by not having to pay "green fees". It's not just China, either. I still remember when I was a kid the local grape farmers were upset that the only product then or since that helped prevent mildew was banned in Canada, yet a stone's throw away in upper New York it was perfectly legal. The NY farmers were at a great competitive advantage against growers on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If the product needed to be banned then why were grapes covered with the spray that came from another country safe to eat? So I WOULD support a level playing field! Just not a rigged one. The trouble with this is, our patrons to the south who are protecting our sovereignty, would sue our government and force it to do what they want. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
james rahn Posted January 22, 2008 Report Posted January 22, 2008 Whether you purchase something for yourself or you hire a professional buyer to do your shopping for you, the sole criteria should be quality and price regardless of origin. I agree: Lets get some of those nifty Ukranian Antonov AN70s and forget about 4 billions dollars for C17s for the air force. Sure they're completely incompatible with anything were now using, but they're also really cool planes. Quote ...now available at WALMART!!!
g_bambino Posted January 22, 2008 Report Posted January 22, 2008 Canada is much to small of a country to provide a reasonable choice of any given 'made in Canada' product line by fully owned Canadian companies. Yet Australia, with a smaller population than Canada, has laws in place that protect Australian companies from foreign ownership and ensure their products don't get swamped out by imported goods. Not exactly a "buy Australian" requirement, but close enough. Do we have anything similar here? Quote
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