News Releases
BC Chamber of Commerce Speaks Out Against Retaliatory ‘Buy Canadian’ Policies
June 8, 2009 – The BC Chamber of Commerce is deeply concerned by the “Buy Canadian” resolution passed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) at its annual meeting in Whistler this past weekend. The Chamber is particularly dismayed that some BC municipalities were among those who voted in favour of this resolution.
“A ‘Buy Canadian’ policy of this sort is simply not the answer to the ‘Buy American’ counterparts being adopted in the US,” said John Winter, President & CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “All this policy will accomplish at this point will be to countermand the efforts already being extended by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to put an end to Buy American policies in the States.”
The BC Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in its support of joint efforts by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to pursue bilateral discussions with the United States to ensure that companies from both countries can bid on government procurement contracts. The Chamber network in Canada believes this is an important first step in addressing the issue. The FCM has also declared its support for these discussions in its resolution.
“Be that as it may,” continued Winter, “the inclusion of a recommendation for municipalities to adopt their own exclusionary economic policies is completely contradictive to support of government efforts. Canadian municipalities should be working with government at all levels to reach agreements with the US which will guarantee Canadian companies access to bid on these contracts. Introducing our own protectionism in an attempt to ‘punish’ the US is a school-yard tactic which has no place in Canada’s international relations.”
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For more information on this issue please contact;
John Winter
President & CEO
BC Chamber of Commerce
D 604 638 8110
C 604.376.3577
E jwinter@bcchamber.org
