NDP Leader Jack Layton Proposes "Buy Canadian" Strategy
It all started when Barack Obama included “Buy American” language in his economic stimulus plan coming out of congress. That built tension worldwide after an $825-billion stimulus plan was passed last week by the House of Representatives requiring the sole use of U.S. made iron and steel in public projects. The protectionist messages being relayed by the US are especially a concern for Canadians, given that the US is our largest trading partner.
In a panicked response, the governments of both the European Union and Canada sent letters to Congress urging that the provision must be dropped.
But Canadians nervous about a trade war with the US heard reassuring words from Obama after he realized the extent to which nations worldwide were panicking. “I think it would be a mistake … at a time when worldwide trade is declining for us to start sending a message that somehow we’re just looking after ourselves and not concerned with world trade,” Obama stated. He also assured the world he did not want to send a protectionist message.
But that’s not exactly where it ends. NDP leader Jack Layton felt compelled to put his two cents worth into the mix. In response to Obama’s “Buy American” clause, Layton urges that Canada adopt a “Buy Canadian” strategy.
“The United States has had a ‘Buy American’ act for 76 years,” Layton said. “It’s perfectly legal under the World Trade Organization, and, in fact, under NAFTA, governments are allowed to buy at home in order to use taxpayers’ money to create jobs for workers and to support communities and their industries.”
Harper shot back stating, “That is not advice that we will be taking.” And rightfully so. The last thing Canada needs right now is a trade war with its largest trading partner. Protectionism was a large factor leading to the Great Depression, and given our fragile economy now, such policies would be devastating for economies around the world. Although the idea of protecting local industries is positive, it is a fact that global trade increases the standard of living and wealth of nations. Protectionism would hurt our industries significantly more than they would help.
So, Mr. Layton , my advice to you is read The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. And stop spewing garbage out of your mouth to make headlines.
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Tags: barack obama, buy american, buy canadian, harper, jack layton, NDP, protectionism
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February 16th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
“it is a fact that global trade increases the standard of living and wealth of nations.”
This is a very problematic statement.
You should ask those who lived through the Mexican Peso Crisis, the Asian financial crises, Pinochet’s Chile or those currently kicked out of work by today’s unprecedented global economic crisis about this statement.
The Wealth of Nations was written centuries ago, wherein Smith said among other things “People of the same trade seldom meet together… but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public” and only utters the phrase “invisible hand” one time. Perhaps you should give it a read.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
If this site is for ‘Keeping Canadian Voters Informed’ as the name suggests, it shouldn’t include the personal opinion of the author!!!
August 12th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
LKL – I couldn’t disagree more. While the main goal of the website is to keep Canadian voters informed, each individual blog is certainly welcome and entitled to share the views of the authors opinion. By sharing and debating these views, we can all learn a great deal and that is what ultimately helps us come up with our own informed views.