Dear Editor
At an August conference, a senator from France perplexedly asked why Canadians export raw resources. He does not understand why we "rip and ship" resources rather than exporting profitable value-added goods. In the 1980s and '90s, Canadians had been making steady progress in shifting our exports from resources to goods, but the trend reversed in 2000. We were exporting over 50 per cent goods, but we now export less than 40 per cent. In this same time frame, our trade balance has shifted from a 2001 surplus of $8.6 trillion to a 2012 deficit of $2.3 trillion. The shift in exports from goods to resources is not the only factor in our escalating trade deficit, but it is significant.
Part of our trade deficit is with the European Union (EU). We rip and ship cheap resources there while importing pricey goods here. Our government has been negotiating the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA). Studies show that CETA will increase, not decrease, our deficit. Will Canadians have to rip and ship even more resources and swallow the toxic environmental costs?
The government promises deeper trade with the EU would mean good jobs, growth and long-term prosperity, but CETA is flawed and will deepen our trade deficit. If a senator from France, part of the EU, questions our rip and ship policy, we need to listen rather than signing CETA and deepening our trade deficit. Tell your MP to vote no to CETA and yes to value-added.
Nancy Carswell
Shellbrook
