Buy Canadian Act Needed

Submitted by Richard on Sun, 06/04/2008 - 5:31pm

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Buy Canadian Act Needed

It is absolutely ludicrous that Canada does not have a “Buy Canadian Act”. An act that covers the purchase of all goods and materials used by any level of government, federal, provincial, or municipal or any public corporation or public service entity.

Canadian Beaver with Flag

Governments and government institutions only exists through the taxes paid by Canadian citizens and Canadian businesses. Our Canadian government has an ethical obligation and should make a commitment to support Canadian enterprise, support Canadian workers. When our federal, provincial and municipal governments spend our money on government procurement in the areas of public transportation, the Canadian military, government institutions and government services, there must be strong Canadian content regulations to ensure that Canadians get the jobs resulting from our own major public purchases.

Canada must preserve it's sovereignty.

The United States have had such an act in place since 1933.

The Buy American Act—

  1. Restricts the purchase of supplies, that are not domestic end products, for use within the United States. A foreign end product may be purchased if it is determined that the price of the lowest domestic offer is unreasonable or if another exception applies, and
  2. Requires, with some exceptions the use of only domestic construction materials in contracts for construction in the United States
  3. Buy American Act uses a two-part test to define a domestic end product.
    1. The article must be manufactured in the United States; and
    2. The cost of domestic components must exceed 50 percent of the cost of all the components.

No longer can we allow public transit buses to be purchased from Belgium, even though three Canadian bus manufacturers could have provided the same buses for less cost.

No longer can we allow ferries to be built offshore, while BC shipyards who have both the expertise and facilities go begging.

No longer can we allow federal penitentiary food products to be imported from China, while many of our farmers starve for markets.

A Buy Canadian Act is of utmost importance
    to Canada,
    to Canadian workers,
    to Canadian manufacturers,
    and ultimately to every Canadian citizen.

Please notify your Member of Parliament by letter or email and press for this great need. Find his/her ADDRESS HERE., then enter below.

Email Member of Parliament

Government Cabinet Members
Email Hon. Steven Harper – Prime Minister of Canada
Email Hon. David Emerson – Minister of International Trade
Email Hon. Jean-Pierre Blackburn – Minister of Labour (French prefered)
Email Hon. Gary Lunn – Minister of Natural Resources
Email Hon. Gordon O'Connor – Minister of National Revenue
Email Hon. Jim Prentice – Minister of Industry
Email Hon. Michael Fortier – Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Email Hon. Helena Guergis – Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade)

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