" A must read from Canada "

For You To Decide :

THIS IS A MUST READ FROM CANADA.................. A WAKEUP CALL Having seen a documentary on PBS about this subject, we will never buy tilapia or any other fish from the 'Far East'. In Vietnam the fish farms are located in the Mekong river, downstream from the majority of the 30 million or so Vietnamese population, and Vietnam does not have any sewage processing facilities. Sewage goes straight into - you guessed it - the Mekong river. Canada changed the rules a couple of years ago regarding 'Country of Origin' labelling on food products sold in Canada for human consumption. All well and good in the PR release, but in practice, not good. "Product of Canada" now covers the container (can, box, label, etc.) printing, domestic shipping and handling charges (e.g. freezing, processing, trucking) but not the important part: where do the fish, dairy products, vegetables, sauces, etc. come from? If you look closely at the High Liner label, for instance, it does not say that fish comes from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. Under these rules they are allowed to say "Product of Canada" Below it is mentioned that the Del Monte fruit cups used to be made right here in Niagara. What most people were not aware of was that Del Monte used to bring in fruit in huge cans from China and repack it here for years before they closed the plant. Even that did not give them a big enough profit; they opted to do everything in China! As far as the Chinese are concerned, they have no scruples about hijacking trade secrets, ignoring patent rights and copyrights. The big companies making Wind Generators relocated manufacturing plants to China a few years ago and the Chinese government told these companies they must have a 98% Chinese content and forced them to buy all of their components from Chinese companies. Of course they had to hand over the plans to these companies so they could make the parts. Guess what? The Chinese now make the entire Wind Generators and are now in competition without paying a cent of royalties or spending a nickel on R&D. Every day we hear about how manufacturing jobs are disappearing from Canada and the U.S. to be replaced by shoddy products coming from these Asian countries. The only way to combat this is to insist on buying products made in North America, Canada, the U.S. and yes, even Mexico. Perhaps then, business will realize that once again there is a huge market right here for domestic products. Remember, the job that is lost could be yours or your children's. Please read this very carefully and read to the very bottom. It’s important for all of us. How is it possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in Canada or the U.S. ? FOR EXAMPLE, THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN "FROM CHINA." SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS, BUY THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE FROM CALIFORNIA . ALL "HIGH LINER" AND MOST OTHER FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA OR INDONESIA . THE PACKAGE MAY SAY "PACIFIC SALMON" ON THE FRONT, BUT LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT AND THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON WHAT IS FED TO THESE FISH. Recently a Montreal Gazette had an article by the Canadian Government on how Chinese feed the fish. They suspend the chicken wire crates over the fish ponds and the fish feed on chicken droppings. Canadian Government recommended and stressed NOT to buy any type of fish imported from China. If you search the internet for what the Chinese feed their fish you'll be alarmed: eg. growth hormones, expired antibiotics from humans, etc. Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from Vietnam, China, the Philippines.) ALSO WATCH FOR PICKLES. A LOT OF THE NO-NAME PICKLES COME FROM INDIA . BICK'S HAS RECENTLY CEASED OPERATIONS IN CANADA -- DON'T BUY THEM . Another example was in canned mushrooms. No-Name brand came from Indonesia. Next to them were President Choice brand. Produce of Canada!! The P. C. went into my grocery bag. Also check those little fruit cups we give our children. They were made here in Canada in the Niagara region until about two years ago.... They are now packaged in China! While the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in North American markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Obama Administration and the Harper Government for perceived errors. Yet 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended!! Well, duh. Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF CANADA/US!! Look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong) choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without. Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some North American farmer. Easter is just an example; the point is not waiting for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own. Canadian Thermos bottles were made here for many years.. Thermos sold out in the 1990's and now the bottles that keep our food warm or cold are now made in CHINA. We lost about 200 jobs! THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favour...fast!! The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it. START NOW and don’t stop. Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are intelligent Canadians/Americans, and NOBODY can take us for granted. If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET! Pass it on, North America!! I DID!!   Thanks Richard