Municipalities line up to fight protectionism
You may be forgiven
if you, like millions of other Canadian business leaders, thought the
infamous "Buy American" provisions of the US stimulus package were dead.
They're not... and with thousands of jobs on the line, the fight is
being taken to the convention floor at the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention in Whistler,
British Columbia this month.
What can you do?
Support the Fair
Trade Resolution, either on the floor of FCM or in
your own municipality.
The resolution supports free, fair, and reciprocal trade. It simply
says that Canadian municipalities are willing to make their
infrastructure projects open to any country that doesn’t block
Canadian-made products for their projects.
Similar resolutions have already been passed or endorsed by the
Region of Halton, the
City of Temiskaming Shores, the
City of Surrey, and over a dozen other local governments.
Manufacturers
join in
Not to be outdone, the Canadian
manufacturing community has joined in the fight against the "Buy
American" provisions.
A coalition of industry, municipalities, and the Canadian Manufacturers
and Exporters association are working "for
fair trade, not favouritism."
The group has created a website to
detail their efforts - visit www.fairtradeforcanada.ca
|
Buy American
policy unwise: U.S. Chamber
Thomas Donohue, President
of the US Chamber of Commerce, feels the provisions hurt business on
both sides of the US/Canada border.
The country's
largest business organization is calling on the Obama administration to
amend the damaging "Buy American" provisions. The US Chamber of
Commerce has already sent a letter
asking President Obama to act quickly.
The U.S. Chamber appeared on Toronto radio station 640AM (a Corus
Radio Network) to explain -
hear the interview here.
Stockwell Day blasts
U.S. protectionism
Federal International Trade Minister
Stockwell Day has been engaged in this issue from the start. He's
upset the Obama administration has broken it's word.
Story here, and you can watch video
here...
Will you
be at FCM?
Let's talk more. I can be found at
the 'Canadian Manufacturers Against Protectionism' booth (Booth #326)
on the convention floor in Whistler, BC.
Otherwise, I can always also be found at:
Tel: (905) 670-7676
Cell: (416) 409-3459
or: (800) 268-4664
Fax: (905) 670-1512
6810 Invader Cres,
Mississauga, On
L5T 2B6
Veso Sobot, P.Eng.
Director, Corporate Affairs
Ipex Inc. |
