Mr. Speaker, Thursday CNN reported that because of our low Canadian dollar, Americans were flocking to Canadian border communities to buy new cars. Americans realized they could save thousands of dollars by shopping in Canada.
There is one problem. No, it is not either national government. In fact freer trade laws have enabled these types of sales. Rather it is the big three auto makers forbidding their dealerships to sell cars for export.
The big three have told their dealers that if they sell cars for export they could lose their franchise agreement. This does not sit well with dealers who say that if allowed they could sell hundreds of cars to our American neighbours. It is especially difficult for the dealers since other dealers not associated with the big three have not been curtailed from selling for export.
Businesses have long complained that government is hindering their sales potential with obtrusive trade laws. The government has acted but now apparently big business has stepped in to install greater non-tariff barriers. The Canadian economy has suffered for years from cross-border shopping. Now it is time to reverse that and take advantage of the situation while it is still in our favour.