Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack&Lube
We shouldn't if it means Canadians get an inferior product at higher prices. That's where we fundamentally see things differently. I believe in free trade and globalization. If your local industries are not competitive on the global market, you should not insulate them with subsidies and tariffs. I wish we would get rid of Supply Management which only exists to subsidize Canadian Dairy Farmers and incentivize waste. I want the best world cheeses at an affordable price, not bland tasteless Ontario cheese. We deserve the best cars at the best price. The Eastern governments have long subsidized Ford, GM, Bombardier, etc. ad infinitum to have manufacturing out east (to buy votes) and what does that provide for the rest of Canada? Only 125,000 auto workers in those factories. That's a tiny percentage of the 40 million people, which which need affordable EVs if we are going to meet our own government's targets.
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Maintaining a manufacturing base (and food production to speak to your dairy example) isn't just a matter of economics, it's also a national security issue. We saw what happened with COVID vaccines where Canada had no remaining manufacturing capacity and we had basically zero leverage as a result.
Globalization is great in periods of long-term peace and without any crises, but that's not guaranteed to continue. Particularly since Chinese action on Taiwan in the next decade seems more or less inevitable.