Save Canada!
ziggy @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:50 pm
I wonder if the soon to be defunct auto plants can be re tooled to produce the parts on the wind generators that are sprouting up all over Alberta,right now the components are shipped from the other side of the world to the states where they are trucked up.
New wind farm for southern Alberta!
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/04/28/transalta-quarter.html
bootlegga @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:31 pm
If I ran things, I'd be buying stuff for the CF, especially items that can be made here; like new Buffaloes from Viking Air, new destroyers, JSS (to be built in Canadian shipyards), and more LAVs (built in London) to replace damaged/destroyed vehicles in Afghanistan. I'd also like to see us buy some Sentinels (basically souped-up Challengers with radar) from Bombardier, as long as they are built/assembled here. If we're really crazy, try and develop a new weapons platform here, based on existing companies...say maybe new long-range, armed UAVs, light assault vehicles or anything we feel we might need in the future. Heck, how about designing a made in Canada helicopter gunship? It'd be expensive, but might help Canadian aerospace companies and create jobs.
I'd also like to see more emphasis on infrastructure. As many have said, build it now while it's cheap. Bridges, highways (twin the entire Trans-Canada), invest in rail transport (like LRT in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal, and anyone else who wants it). A new pipeline from Edmonton to Prince Rupert would also be a great way to help diversify our trade (oil can go to Japan or South Korea if trading with China is such an awful thing).
I'd also like to see Canadian companies like Zenn (electric cars) and Ballard (hydrogen) either given additional research grants or government assistance to help create the necessary infrastructure to support those new industries (maybe tax/grant incentives for building hydrogen and/or quick charge stations for users of those vehicles).
ziggy @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:35 pm
This would be a good time for BP to ramp up their plans for drilling and producing coalbed methane from their mist mountain project in the flathead valley BC.
They werent going to start drilling untill next year,they should start now.
Thanos @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:45 pm
If I ran the place I'd force the population to cheer up by giving everyone a free kitteh.
Bodah @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:50 pm
I'd like to see more Canadian made products, I'm really tired of buying crap from China, whether it be shoes, electronics, toys, etc.
I understand why we buy it because its cheaper, cheaper quality, cheaper labour. I say we have a special industry just for this and government gives them substantial tax breaks and help them in other (?) ways that would give them a competitive edge against industry giants like China. In turn if people buy made in Canada products they can claim these with reciepts when filing their taxes to give them a slight return on their taxes.
I personally would pay a slightly higher price for somehting If I knew it was a superior product and if it was made in Canada. I.E I got tired of spending 60-100$ on shoes that would fall apart in a year. So I went out and bought a pair of Docs from England that's lasted me three years so far, 250$ And still in good shape.Saved me money in the long run
Another thing that could be done is give Canadians 5000$ in retail credit, it could come in the form of an interac card and could only be used to purchase retail items. This obviously would have a short term stimulus effect on the economy a stimulus none the less.
Thanos @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:57 pm
Good idea, but executives and shareholders make too much money for themselves by chasing manufacturing jobs out of North America. It's a horrible trend that's taken control of our economy and unless we're all prepared to live under some very draconian nationalist principles it's incredibly unlikely that we'll ever see it reversed and have the jobs come back home.
ziggy @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:33 pm
Thanos Thanos:
If I ran the place I'd force the population to cheer up by giving everyone a free kitteh.
Me too!
Kitteh's all around!
Thunderbelly thinks its a good idea.
Bodah @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:15 pm
Thanos Thanos:
Good idea, but executives and shareholders make too much money for themselves by chasing manufacturing jobs out of North America. It's a horrible trend that's taken control of our economy and unless we're all prepared to live under some very draconian nationalist principles it's incredibly unlikely that we'll ever see it reversed and have the jobs come back home.
Lets bring the workers here then. Offer them a better life than what their use to.
Streaker @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:26 pm
Invest in high-speed intercity rail.
fifeboy @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:20 pm
mtbr mtbr:
Infrastructure should be a priority, build it while it's cheap.
For one time in my life, I am embarrassed to say, I agree with mtbr. Any recession will end someday and what we need is infrastructure to help the boom along the way.
fifeboy @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:24 pm
Woodhead Woodhead:
We need to develop markest other than the US
Softwood lumber should go overseas.
Them guys down south are way too stuck on themselves.
When they changed the freetrade agreement for softwood, we should have changed it for oil too.
And when we ship lumber, make sure it's not as logs. We need to do stuff that will help develop an industrial base to use all the resources we have. Exporting plywood is better than exporting logs, and exporting steel is better than iron ore.
Softwood lumber should go overseas.
Them guys down south are way too stuck on themselves.
When they changed the freetrade agreement for softwood, we should have changed it for oil too.
Bodah @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:25 pm
fifeboy fifeboy:
mtbr mtbr:
Infrastructure should be a priority, build it while it's cheap.
For one time in my life, I am embarrassed to say, I agree with mtbr. Any recession will end someday and what we need is infrastructure to help the boom along the way.Always a safe bet in the long run during an economic crisis.
bootlegga @ Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:34 am
Thanos Thanos:
Good idea, but executives and shareholders make too much money for themselves by chasing manufacturing jobs out of North America. It's a horrible trend that's taken control of our economy and unless we're all prepared to live under some very draconian nationalist principles it's incredibly unlikely that we'll ever see it reversed and have the jobs come back home.
Many rank and file Canadians also made lots of money out of offshoring/outsourcing too. It's one reason RRSPs climbed higher and higher in the past decade. But I do agree that the majority (say 70% or so) go to shareholders and executives.
jason700 @ Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:57 am
ziggy ziggy:
please keep the con/lib thing out of it as Im interested on what Canadians think will keep us in the green.
No hack fests please.
No hack fests please.
This is actually a very interesting and good thread to read. Perhap every thread should start with this disclaimer!
![[B-o]](./images/smilies/drinkup.gif "Drink up")
martin14 @ Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:07 am
fifeboy fifeboy:
Woodhead Woodhead:
We need to develop markest other than the US
Softwood lumber should go overseas.
Them guys down south are way too stuck on themselves.
When they changed the freetrade agreement for softwood, we should have changed it for oil too.
And when we ship lumber, make sure it's not as logs. We need to do stuff that will help develop an industrial base to use all the resources we have. Exporting plywood is better than exporting logs, and exporting steel is better than iron ore.Softwood lumber should go overseas.
Them guys down south are way too stuck on themselves.
When they changed the freetrade agreement for softwood, we should have changed it for oil too.
and exporting furniture and stamped stuff even better
