Thought of the Day - September 9 - Buy Canadian

One of the keys to getting our economy restarted is to increase demand for domestic products. While more than half of the products manufactured in Canada are exported, with 80% of these goods going to the US, it does still mean almost 50% are purchased domestically. COVID has provided a wake-up call for the Canadian public concerning protectionism, as well as an opportunity to help the economy, it can also curtail Canada's excessive reliance on foreign producers for essential products.

Vanda was kind enough to pass on some great advice and examples of Canadian retail products that you might want to keep in mind when shopping:

• Shopping in Home Depot the other day for some reason and just for the fun of it, I was looking at the garden hose attachments. They were all made in China ... The next day I was in Home Hardware and just for the fun of it, I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in Canada! Start looking...In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job;

• A quote from a consumer: "My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now, instead of Smiths Falls, Ontario. I do not buy it anymore". My favourite toothpaste, Colgate, is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything;

• This past weekend I was at Wal-Mart. I needed 60W light Bulbs. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labelled, "Everyday Value". I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - (get ready for this) - Canada at a company in Ontario;

• Their Equate Products are also made in Canada, and are very good;

• Just to add my own experience on buying Made in Canada, I was looking for canned mushrooms that were made in Canada and could never find any, so I would buy fresh. But recently I found Ravine Mushrooms - made in Canada with a little red maple leaf on the can. A little more money but when I opened the can I looked at mushrooms that look like real mushrooms, not a mushroom that looks like it was cleaned in bleach;

• Another product I no longer buy is Del Monte or Dole canned fruit. Del Monte is packaged in Taiwan and Dole is now a product of China. Why should we pay for their fruit when our growers are left with fruit rotting on the trees. E.D. Smith is still made in Canada. Buy theirs, at least you will know what is in it and have some quality control;

• By the way, all pickles with the President’s Choice label and the No Name yellow label [Superstore] are made in India .. Think about it, Water from the Ganges is used... Yes, THAT Ganges.

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here. Start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made In Canada. The job you save may be your own or your neighbour's! (Your children & Grandchildren, also.)

If you accept this challenge, pass it on to others. So we can all start buying Canadian, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies! (We should have awakened two decades ago.) Let's get with the program. Help our fellow Canadians keep their jobs and create more jobs here in Canada!

BUY CANADIAN! Read the labels. Support Canadian jobs. Brighten your day.

Cheers

Cliff