When it comes to the Canadian flag or the monarchy, Canadians either seem to care a lot or not give a tinker’s damn.
When choosing between the two, I would guess our beloved Maple Leaf (not the hockey team!) is more dear to our hearts than the monarchy, which had a chance before someone named King Chuck took the throne, as a former High Prairie councillor once called him.
It is why I found Conservative MP Doug Shipley’s news release June 3 interesting. He represents Barrie – Springwater – Oro – Medonte in Ontario.
I receive a plethora of emails each day. News releases from unions, lobby groups, MPs and more. Due to the sheer number, I usually read the first few sentences. News releases from MPs are usually the first to discover the recycling bin. If it hasn’t caught my interest, why waste my time?
But Shipley’s caught my interest. He introduced the Made in Canada Act, a Private Members’ Bill. In short, he wants all Canadian flags sold in Canada to clearly display their country of origin.
Currently, there is no requirement. The Canadian Maple Leaf you are buying may be made in Canada, China, Mexico – wherever! Shipley argues it creates a loophole that allows imported products to be marketed without transparency. In other words, you have the right to know where the flag you are buying was made.
“If it is made in Canada, that is something to be proud of,” Shipley says.
“If it is not, Canadians have a right to make an informed choice. If Canadians want to buy Canadian-made flags, the choice should be obvious.”
There are many people who want to buy only Canadian and gold stars for them for doing so. It does help Canadian companies in an ultra-competitive world. It is rather ironic that anyone would purchase a Canadian flag made overseas but foreign companies flood the Canadian market with (in many cases) less expensive products. People want to buy what is less expensive.
There is even more irony in many of these same people want to buy Canadian but are more than willing to buy overseas oil and gas than from Alberta. That’s another story, however!
Shipley’s bill would promote transparency although I question if it gives a company in China an advantage by not informing its potential customers where the flag was made. The fact is, most people don’t care.
Shipley adds it protects the integrity of the flag. Don’t see how!
Canadian industry objects to what they call “maple washing” which is the practice of marketing foreign-made flags as Canadian which misleads consumers. Can’t argue with that!
And just to be clear, Shipley is not arguing for a tariff or to ban imports. He just wants transparency.
With all the problems facing Canada, it would be nice if Shipley directed his energy toward more important matters. This matter is important to him, however, so he is taking the ball and running with it.
No company should have to fear marking its origin unless they are trying to hide something for profit. Many of our food products have to disclose where the country of origin is. Why not our flags?
In today’s world, after examining all the pros and cons of this proposed bill, it just makes common sense. It is why it should be supported and passed.
Chris Clegg