Dear editor,
I agree with Hugh MacKinnon’s comments (Record, Dec. 31) about supporting local businesses.
I would also encourage people to support the Canadian economy by shopping at home.
Just before Christmas, Canadians spent $2 billion in the U.S. on Black Friday and a couple of days later another $1 billion was poured into the U.S. economy through a one-day online shopping marathon.
Not to mention that all those online purchases are delivered by U.S. courier companies, not Canada Post.
As we all know, cross-border shopping is a trend that is hitting Canadian businesses hard. As the media pointed out, some of the items that Canadians were snapping up in the U.S. we selling for less in Canada.
Some things may be cheaper in the United States but don’t forget that their wages are generally lower and they don’t have the social safety net that we enjoy in Canada.
Canada is an exceptional country and we have to be willing to invest in our own country if we want to maintain our standard of living.
Think about it the next time you are sitting in line at the U.S. border crossing.
Deborah Joyce,
Comox
