Made in Canada - Must show contents as Canadian

In the last few days, Prime Minister Harper has announced that the packaging regulations will be changed.

What he proposes is that all labels that say an item is made in Canada, must show that it is in deed made in Canada. All items that are packaged in Canada, must show that the contents are from some where else.

As a Canadian, I am definitely in favour of this, even if it is going to cost more. Why? Simple. It is time that the people of Canada, the governments of Canada protect their fellow Canadians in all aspects of Canadian manufacturing, canning, productivity, and farmers. Canada has the ability to feed herself, build products of all sorts for the Canadian market and it is time that we the people stand up and say yes to our own productiveness.

I believe that the Canadian government needs to take the next step and apply tariffs on all imports coming into the country, thereby developing Canadian manufacturing productivity. My mother bought me three shirts. These were dress shirts. All three were made in China along with the three ties. The dress pants were made in Taiwan, and the only items that were made in Canada were the suit and the blazer. We need to re-establish the Canadian textile and garment industry.

There was a time that Harvey Woods socks and underwear were made in Woodstock Ontario. Arrow shirts were made in Kitchener, Docker shoes were made in Canada, Stanfield garments made in Canada, Levi-Strauss had a jean factory in Hamilton, and the list goes on. How many of these garment industries are still here? How many have been shut down and outsourcing done to the near slave labour camps and factories of China and India?

While our peach farmers are ripping out their peach orchards, we are forced to buy peaches from China or Chile in cans labeled made in Canada. Canadian companies and factories have been bought up by American competitions, and then closed down thanks to free trade.

Canada has become nothing more than a dumping ground and a warehouse for produce and products from other countries. Canada once produced these same products and grew the same produce. But we have allowed other countries to become the "bread basket" of Canada. Once Ontario could produce all the canned peaches, soups, cherries, and more for all of Ontario and even for all of Canada. Now we are lucky if there is a canning factory left in Canada thanks to government efforts to destroy our once productivity.

The time for free trade to be re-thought has come. Not so much to be re-negotiated, but time to look closely at it and decide if it was worthy the selling out of our nation by governments who bend to the will of big business that don't care about the people as long as their pockets are lined. Big business has developed its own black mark with outsourcing of productivity, and then have the nerve to call themselves "honest businesses of Canada". Their hands are stained with the sweat, blood, and tears of labourers. Some of these labourers are children, but that doesn't matter to the multi-million dollar businesses. If they had their way we would be slave labourers as well.

It is time for the people to stand up and buy only Canadian, and force the hand. If you can't find a made in Canada, don't buy it. As difficult as it is, refuse to buy it and make it known in your local stores.

Buy only Canadian!