Why buy Canadian first

It used to be that as consumers we didn’t think twice about the long term effects of our shopping habits on the communities we live in. We became addicted to low-cost products made abroad and got hooked on accumulating quantity over quality. Products that used to be built to last are now built to be disposed of, making them seem “cheaper” at first glance. This is known as planned obsolescence (you can learn about it on The Story of Stuff).

Then, something worrisome started to happen: Canadian manufacturing jobs were disappearing at an alarming rate. Between 2003 and the Spring of 2008 for example, Canada lost 350,000 manufacturing jobs. And sadly, things have not improved since then. But the silver lining is that in the last year, our country has seen the emergence of a grassroots movement towards buying more products made-in-Canada. It seems the pendulum has gone as far as it can in the outsourcing direction, and companies are striving for more balance and better quality control all over again.

The top 5 reasons why we should be buying Canadian:

The economy

When we buy Canadian, we are directly impacting our economy in a positive way: we are protecting and ultimately creating jobs as well as strengthening our tax base. Manufacturing jobs in Canada are typically well-paying and skilled trades. These workers then perpetuate the cycle by pumping money back into their local economy, contributing to the safeguarding and creation of jobs all around them. Also, when Canadian businesses are successful, they are in a position to give back to the community through their support of charitable causes, cultural associations, etc. Successfully employed Canadians and successful businesses mean larger tax revenues towards government programs in this country. 

Health & Safety

When we buy Canadian, we know that the products respect this country’s health & safety standards. The manufacturing industry in Canada is highly regulated, from the factories’ environmental emissions to the quality assurance practices, and beyond (ex: no lead paint in toys made in Canada, or melamine in milk products…). These safety measures sometimes mean an increase in the retail price, but all things considered, isn’t it a small price to pay for peace of mind?

The environment

When we buy Canadian, we are reducing our carbon footprint, as products made closer to home require much less transportation. For example, did you know that a piece of clothing designed, manufactured and sold in Montreal requires 25 times less transportation that a similar product made in the far East!?  

Labour standards

When we buy Canadian, we can rest assured that the people who make the products are treated fairly, working in safe & sanitary conditions. We’ve all heard the horror stories of sweatshops in foreign countries, using children and adults as disposable labour. Many consumers are now deciding not to support those practices and demonstrate their principles by not buying products made in the countries that have such track records. 

Community

When we buy Canadian, we are contributing to the enrichment of our communities. As the gap that once existed between the consumer and the manufacturer is diminishing quickly, thanks to direct lines of communication afforded by the Internet and Social media, consumers can easily give feedback and the local manufacturer, who is listening, is able to quickly adjust to consumer demand. And if you’re as lucky as the Buy Canadian First team, you get to visit some great factories and watch the manufacturing processes!   The bottom line is that international trade is a wonderful endeavour and has allowed humans to exchange and interact in fruitful and meaningful ways. But globalization has also brought along some consequences that has hurt our country, our industry and our communities. So let’s be very clear: we are not advocating the need to buy Canadian only, just to buy Canadian first!  

 

If you support the Made-in-Canada movement, we invite you to Get Involved!

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