Buying Canadian...Is it worth it?

At times, I've railed about "Canadian" issues, more specifically, the question of what it means to be a Canadian.

Photo courtesy of Canadian Flag Clip Art Gallery

"Why should this matter?", you might ask. Well, I think it does matter. It's really quite simple... if we don't learn how to take care of ourselves, rather than look to others to do the job for us, we will become nothing more than 'milk cows' to serve and support those to whom we've given our right to independence, to security, to self-sufficiency.

Yes, you may continue to live your lives in the manner you've become accustomed to but, stop for a moment and consider the price that must be paid. When we opt to purchase foreign-made goods at a lower price simply because they are less expensive, consider the hidden cost that's not reflected in the price sticker. When you purchase an item that is manufactured 'off-shore', you are supporting the economy of that country and depleting the economy of your own country.

Normally, I don't read those "forwarded" messages, appeals, 'get happy' things and others of the same ilk.
Like you, I tolerate them because someone I know has taken the time to add me to their "BCC" list and....obviously, they must believe that the content of the forwarded content has some value or substance in the body of the message.  But they invariably end up in my "deleted' folder.

The following is from an email that a friend sent to me today.

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students:
That while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't
Slow a train very much, a billion of them would.
With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously
Written by a good Canadian:


Shopping in Lowe's the other day for some reason and just for the fun of it I was looking at the 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". 


I do not buy it any more. 


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 a miracle happened, when in our Foodland store I found Ravine mushrooms - made in Canada with a little red maple leaf on 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 their's, at least you will know what is in it and have some quality control.


So throw out the myth that you can not find products you use every day that are made right here . 

My challenge to you is to 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 in your address book so we can all start buying Canadian, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!  Accepting this challenge doesn't have to be viewed as 'just another task' you have to perform.  Consider it a "fun" thing to do.  When you shop, ask questions of the store staff, ask questions of the suppliers, ask questions of yourself.  How can you help put Canada back on the map as a self-sufficient country of strong-willed citizens?  

(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.


If President Obama insists on a 'Made in America' policy, which is commendable of him, to support American workers, we should do likewise.




BUY CANADIAN! Read the labels. Support Canadian jobs.


 If all you do for the rest of your life is help to 'save your country', make a game of it and have some fun shopping.