Letter To Minister Of Industry -Who Owns My Country?

We are seeing more industry setting up shop in Canada as a subsidiary, using our resources, which they are able to procure at bargain basement prices, and shipping out much raw product for further production elsewhere; they are also able to transfer money to the parent company and therefore reduce taxes payable in Canada. I understand that Canadian banks, too often, are lending money to foreign investors to buy my country; this is outrageous! This is having a huge impact on Canadians and the public purse. In my opinion, we are losing jobs, decent jobs with benefits to the employee, which are being replaced with part-time employment. We are not controlling our own industry, but seem to be at the mercy of other countries' values and profit margins. I don’t see how public officials elected to oversee the public interest can possibly justify these actions. I would like an explanation as to why this is being allowed to happen. I would prefer to see changes made to stop foreign investment and start reducing it, to limit the amount of this country which is owned by foreign companies, foreign entities, or otherwise non-Canadians. I realize trade is important, and that Canada also invests in other countries. However, I don’t believe that we own major portions of other countries, nor do I think we should; we need to invest at home, in production, and in controlling our industries according to our values and social policies. I think we need some rethinking and commitment to a sovereign Canada, so that we control our decisions on industry, investment and the direction that we wish to follow. The oil and gas industry is just one example where we are watching a non-renewable resource being pumped out of this country as fast as possible, with very little comparable rates of return to Canadians. Why are we selling it so cheaply? Why are we encouraging foreign-owned companies to come in and take it, with very little consideration for our environment, health of the population, and natural habitat for wildlife in the process? I have been reading in the news about the travels and meetings of Tom D’Aquino and John Manley as they promote a more North American idealism, as they attempt to promote the erosion of Canada into a Northern colony of the United States; and I ask you, what right do they have to proceed with these ideals? They are not elected officials, they do not work for Canadians, they are not promoting Canada as a sovereign state: and so why are their plans being promoted? Why does our government, which is supposed to work for the people, allow these business groups to expand an agenda that benefits their business interests and threatens our independent nation? I do not know what authority the government has given them to conduct these missions, but it appears by media reports that they are behind the decisions which are made for Canadians; and, in my opinion, that is not their right or responsibility. Although it may appear that Canadians don’t care where our food comes from as long as we have some, or that who owns the country really doesn’t matter as long as we can live here, that is only an appearance created by the media for the apathetic. The reality is quite different. People, many many people, shed their blood for this country, many toiled long and hard to create a free land that we can be proud of and live in in peace, upholding social values that reflect our desire to educate, feed and care for all members of society. Those members of our society who are privileged and burdened with the responsibility to make policy which reflects our desires need to consider the ramifications of their decisions before our country is lost forever, and before history records the hand that held the pen that recorded her post-mortem. I look forward to your response. Yours truly Catherine Whelan Costen Cc: www.vivelecanada.ca [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on March 10, 2005]