It’s ironic. We want our apparel made in Canada but we don’t want to be the ones making it. So it appears in Vancouver at least.
Four of our six contract factories in Vancouver are looking for sewers. Some have even posted "sewer wanted" placards on their front doors. Factories are having a hard time finding workers because the work is tough, repetitive and at minimum wage. It’s also sporadic meaning periods of no work 
(and no pay) or too much work (long hours) for minimum wage plus overtime. With this in mind, it’s easy to figure out why the Asian immigrant women who fill these ranks have fled to more stable and less assembly-line rigid occupations in the local labour market.
Factories running short on workers have significant financial implications for MEC. Namely goods not delivered on time translate to lost sales. Here’s how it works. Some products are season specific like winter wear. The best selling period for this merchandise is just before the temperature drops (sometime in the fall) and a few weeks before it warms (in advance of spring). If MEC can’t get product on the retail floor during this period, it’ll miss the market demand. MEC will frustrate customers who will eventually shop elsewhere. To compound matters, the goods will gradually arrive but will likely be out of synch with the selling season. Hence, MEC will be stuck with too much winter merchandise that will need to be either discounted or "inventoried" for next year. Given that MEC has strict policies on marking down prices, the winter gear will likely be stored until next year. Merchandise packed away in the back of the stores or at our warehouse is underperforming capital. It’s money not earning money and it’s expensive when we’re dealing with millions of dollars locked in inventory that can’t be sold.
Our strongest factory in Vancouver making world class products just informed us that it will be four weeks late with its delivery because many of its workers quit. Delivering on time is important. It’s as important as quality and price. When any of these variables are compromised, retailers begin to search for options including sourcing off shore.
It appears Canadians want to buy clothes that are made in Canada but they don’t want to be the ones making them. The workers who make these clothes, Asian immigrant women, are finding more attractive occupations and are leaving behind their sewing jobs.
Personally, I like my clothes to be made in Canada but at the same time I’m torn because the work behind making this stuff is hard, repetitive and poorly paid. It’s an occupational ghetto that only attracts Asian immigrant women. If I can live with this inequity then I’ll have no hesitation in buying locally made clothing. For those who vigorously demand "Made in Canada", can you?
I agree with everything you said. Is it reasonable to increase the prices of the goods at the store (maybe as low as $1?) in order to raise the pay of the workers? What about pushing for innovations in the way the products are manufactured? For example, most places I’ve worked at tend to be bad at controlling the environment, like temperature and air quality, excess noise, cluttered workspace, etc. All these can be addressed. Perhaps we could also learn from other industries, like if we went for the same concept as casinos or video games where the worker is rewearded for actions, like the pleasant ‘music’ in casinos or whatever it is that motivates people to spend 10 hours a day “grinding” for items in World of Warcraft.
So long as the will is there, I think this can be improved. Willpower seems to be in short supply, though.
Peace,
I will happily pay more for clothing which is ethically waged. The Co-op has a massive market, why can’t we charge a few dollars more to pay people a living wage?
Why don’t you just pay a living wage?
Why don’t you train unemployed people to do the work?
You make it sound as if the minimum wage is what the law requires you to pay the sewers – maybe you didn’t know this but you can actually pay people more than that absolute minimum that the law will allow you to pay them.
Just an idea…
Although the manufacturing sector is disappearing in North America, there are still many apparel workers in Canada, specifically in Quebec. The reason that they stick with their jobs? They have a union which protects them and gives them good working conditions, including a living wage. Progressive companies such as Mountain Equipment Coop would benefit from such partnerships, as they create a more stable workforce. Workers forming unions won us all the rights and benefits we have on the job today – the 40h week, sick pay, maternity leave, the list goes on – and remain relevant as the best way to ensure good working conditions for workers no matter their type of job.
Hi Khono,
You’re right. As long as there is a will we can do it.
We have to find the conviction and then we will eventually get there.
In terms of raising prices. Here’s something for us to all think about. Two product managers/buyers have openly stated that they would consider moving prices up to better compensate workers. (Great start). On the flip side, we’ve seen sales drop on items when we raised the price (Bad outcome).
Long and short of it, fixing this wage thing is going to be a committment on the part of retailers, factories and consumers.
Hi
Thanks for the note. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would argue with you about workers being paid a living wage. It’s the right thing to do.
The problem is how do we run a business that is so heavily sensitive to costs and product pricing and yet pay a living wage.
It’s a challenge that no retailer has figured out yet.
Cheers
Hi Claire,
Unions are desperately needed in the developing world. Regrettably, they won’t be there soon. In Vietnam and China there are State sponsored unions that really exist to maintain the status quo.
Interesting enough, labour activitism in Vietnam is probably the most “independent” in these totalitarian regimes. Workers went on strike last year in one of our factories.
Thanks for the comment.
You are talking about paying minimum wage, in BC. With the unemployment rate as it is in BC, people are no longer willing to work for minimum wage.
Well, it seems that everyone at MEC is talking about the deplorable conditions overseas in the manufacturing sector. Well my suggestion is that MEC sould have it’s own factory here in Canada, the highest tech available, with good paying jobs and good working conditions….incorporate such ideas a jobsharing for moms and other without a full day, apprentiships for high school studens destined for the blue collar market, Green tech for the building and it’s processes. This will eliminate all the GHG related to all that shipping and provide the nation with a valid example of how Canadian ca do it right. Stop talking and moaning about how we cannot change others and make the move to prove to the world that it can be done, and right here in Canada. Cost… well it might cost a bit more but we are a wealthy nation, and it’ll get to that eventually, so lead instead of following.
Hi Mike,
Great comment.
About 6 years ago, MEC shuttered its pack factory (Serratus) just outside Vancouver. It was a tough decision. However, if MEC didn’t make that move and a whole of bunch of others, it would have headed into bankruptcy.
Running a factory requires an incredible skill set and determination. That does not exist in MEC nor the stomach to try one more time.
Many of our contract factories in Canada are facing a heck of time. Some of these factories are making world class products using quite a bit of technology. Many of them see a finite future for them. It’s too darn difficult even for these seasoned factory managers.
Theoretically, your suggestion could be done. It’ll take an extremely experienced and entrepreneurial individual to sell the concept to MEC. And it will take a consumer audience willing to pay a premium for locally made goods. Neither are realities right now.
Cheers
yes those are the realities of doing business today. just try and buy something not made in china these days.
there are reasons for this and some of the reasons are foolish. the irony of wanting items made in canada but not wanting to be the cog that magically transforms our wants into product is a confounding one.
I dream of a day when i can know the woman or man making my sweater and s/he makes it for me. no brand, just quality and sustainability.
oh to dream.
Since I stopped purchasing products from the MEC made in Asia many years ago, wouldn’t that also qualify as “lost sales”?
Hi E,
Yes it does mean we’re one member less. As much as we want be a compelling co-op to everyone, we can’t.
Thanks for your email.
Where is the money going? $200+ for a lightweight jacket made in China?! Or do you ensure the workers get paid more for making MEC product before they start on the Wal-Mart batch? When I first joined almost 30 years ago, your mandate was “made in Canada”. One days’ wage bought me a jacket then; today I have to save for 3+ days to buy the equivalent jacket and it’s made cheaply offshore. Which I don’t buy because it’s made offshore. Your comment about not being a “…compelling co-op to everyone” notwithstanding, the reason we join co-ops and credit unions in the first place is because the executive board is supposed to have the balls (and concomitant wherewithal)to do more than lament current business practices. We don’t need/want to be patted on our collective heads with comments that could have been cut & pasted from a GAP or Starbucks PR site. It’s belabouring the obvious to chide us for “wanting made in Canada – as long as [we] don’t have to make it.” As to your final question of whether I can live with the inequity presumably caused by my “vigourously demanding” locally made clothing, my question is, is it easier to live with this inequity if it happens elsewhere?
Dear Member,
Thanks for the note. You will not find the content of this blog pasted on other brands because its not sugar coated enough.
Thirty years ago MEC probably sold predominantly made in Canada stuff. That stuff made us feel more Canadian. It fed our economy. But that stuff was likely made by immigrant workers. Taking jobs you and I would never take. Now that immigrants are getting wiser and the economy is booming, they don’t want these cheap jobs anymore.
These jobs are tough and poorly paid. At some level it doesn’t matter where these jobs are located because they are inherently inferior to the ones you and I will take. Let’s recognize this and do something about this inequity rather than perpetuate it in a nationalism based buying philosophy that masks occupational ghettos derived by gender and race.
Human rights means you, me and the factory worker are all equal.
Buying from factories in Canada or abroad has human rights implications. Let’s recognize them and do something about it.
Cheers
There are solutions to the problems that MEC faces and they are solved through ethical Canadian employment. Smaller communities would love to develop a manufacturing base to ensure stability within their economy. Primary industry such as clothing (or any kind) of manufacturing is highly sought after. Manpower in the boom & bust, welfare ridden small towns of Alberta, Saskatchewan and BC isn’t a problem. Getting wages that allow for single moms to pay the rent etc. so they can participate in the economy is.
In addition to comparatively lower tax/land costs these employers would also enjoy a disproportionate level of political influence on a local level. It’s a very old win/win/win scenario that doesn’t play out because owership of manufacturing plants don’t want to spend time in the smaller centers. First year economics makes it sound like the big city has cheaper labour, and it’s true if you don’t give a rip about your employees. However anyone with foresight and a tactical ability to locate a business would have avoided the problem to begin with. In short, if you’re the only game in town, you win.
Still confused? No problem. Peace River, Lethbridge, Prince George, Ft. St. John, Dawson Creek – all have populations from 10k – 100k that could do the work and have enough un/semi skilled labour to fill the spots needed. Not that the above list is in any way complete. Smaller towns have lower operating costs due to smaller infrastructure support costs and higher poverty levels. Keep in mind you don’t put all of your plants in one place – smaller economies are easier to overheat.
Worried about price control? Manufacturers who set wages relative to output (so much per item produced) can control their costs and deliver on time while retaining their staff. Owners obsessed with paying only minimum wages in an oppresive environment will find themselves out of luck anywhere. Personal experience clearly indicates that employers who understand this kind of advantage stay in business and avoid infationary spikes. Good employers are as important as good employees.
Removing middlemen between MEC and the manufacturer is critical as well. Smaller local plants with direct contact to the final vendor are less likely to attempt to cheat on an order and are more responsive than someone on the other side of the planet with a dozen other clients. Inspections are easier and less costly (cost of flights, visas to asia vs. driving for 1 day to the plant). There are also fewer problems with ethical issues as it’s within our culture.
It’s easily understood that a child who works for a dollar a day and sleeps in the back of the factory will fatten profit margins and lower costs vs. hiring an adult Canadian that has their own apartment and car. The premise of Co-op’s elsewhere is to focus not on the the higher profit margin but on sustainable operations while getting the members what they want, such as locally produced goods at a reasonable price. The decades old schtik (sp?) about exporting the bad jobs (like sewing) to 3rd world economies doesn’t hold water if you’ve been around Canada. We have a formidible work ethic and plenty of poverty, too.
It would help the debate considerably if the actual purchase $ values for a simple imported item vs local manufacutured cost were displayed along with your overhead costs (try a t-shirt). Examples are always illuminating.
Thanks
Pay the people who work in these factories more than just minimum wage. I wonder if they have any benefits.
Let’s face it, most of the members of MEC have considerably more disposable income than the average Canadian. What are a few dollars more?
Hi John,
Thanks for your valid comment. I leave it to others to add some thoughts.
Hi Adam,
Thanks for suggestions. Ten years ago, MEC ran a factory just outside Vancouver. It was shut down about 6 years ago.
Running the factory was tough because it requires a certain economies of scale and technical expertise to constantly improve the product. Plus be able to manage a manufacturing facility.
To be honest, I’m not sure if anyone at MEC has the appetite to try again.
It may happen in the future but not right now.
Cheers
I personally don’t shop Mec because it’s cheaper,it often isn’t.I shop Mec because i usually can get correct info about my purchase re:sleeping bags,down vs. whatever and generally quality and return policy.And a non pressure,friendliness not found often elsewhere.I personally don’t mind prices being raised slightly to have Canadian made stuff.Post large signs re: prices a bit higher for made in Canada goods.I bet most would willingly pay more,i personally dont buy made elsewhere unless i have too because of no other choice…
The only reason I have ever shopped at MEC is because MEC is the only place where I can find anything made in Canada. If MEC continues to source elsewhere (such as China), I will stop spending my money there. There is no difference in the resulting environmental implications when MEC sources in Asia, than if any other company did. MEC’s representation of ethical sourcing does not mean anything unless it practices the values that it preaches. Another thing I wanted to add was that I am deciding right now what career to pursue, and if sewing clothing at a factory was a fair-waged dependable job, I would consider being a seamstress as either a part time job, or eventually, a career. Sewing is fun and relaxing as long as there is appropriate equiptment, motivation and creative outlet (such as giving the factory workers a chance to try and design some of the clothes they make). I do not think that sewing clothing (a very skilled trade) is something that should be compared to flipping burgers at a fast food joint. If the workers feel they are a part of something they agree with, they will not quit.
Hi Sylvia,
Thanks for your note. I applaud you if you decide to pursue a career as a sewer in a garment factory. Sewing clothes in a factory is much different than making a stylish dress at home or school. Factory sewers are a link in a big assembly line. For 8+ hours a day they sew the same collar on a shirt, over and over. A clock governs the pace. There is no creativty.
As I stated in my post, the work is so tough that sewers are leaving the industry. Factories are having a tough time finding labourers.
Good luck in your search and if working in the above environment makes you happy, more power to you.
Cheers
OK so MEC will buy Canadian-made goods?
OK – then when I call to sell Canadian-made, high quality socks with a guarantee of adequately-paid worker, financial depth to carry out major orders, high quality and a further guarantee of on-time delivery and distribution I am guaranteed that MEC will do the right thing and “Buy Canadian”?
MEC will buy real Canadian-made Mohair, Alpaca and wool socks – right?
MEC will take the high road on margins and not substitute inferior Chinese, Indian or Vietnamese-made products to save a buck on already expensive goods?
We deal in India, China and other Asian countries and now have a chance to “Sell Canadian”. I hope our socially and politically active friends at MEC see the wisdom in considering Canadian-made goods.
An unbelievably arrogant and snide comment to Sylvia. Maybe she hasn’t sat in Indian or Chinese or Bangladesh factories for days on end. Well I have and still do. Sure it is hard, boring work. I made brick and steel for a number of years. That sucked too. And the fact we have sold off all of our manufacturing to the Asians sucks too. I guess we can all be MEC employees or WalMart employees making a third of what a solid manufacturing job pays. And if those sewing ghetto women can’t even say “Do you want fries with that” how do you expect these women to do anything else to make a living?
You act like you are “saving” workers from a fate worse than death – hmmm employment, welfare, sex-trade, employment. You decide.
Darren,
Criss-crossed and colourful comments. There are no saviours here. Neither MEC, nor me and not you.
Factory work is tough and it pays poorly. Regrettably, it’s often the only economic means for impoverished and poorly educated women.
We can work together to make this reality less harsh but we will not be able to make the fundamental macro economic changes to move women out of occupationational ghettos in Asia or Canada.
It’s important to have goods make in Canada. But it’s more imporant to not obscure the reality that apparel manufacturing in Canada is an occupational ghetto that is dominated by Asians, who happend to be marginalized in terms of race and gender.
Asian sewers want security and economic means. Increasingly, this means leaving the garment sector for better jobs in Vancouver. And as much as this makes delivery difficult for our supply chain, I say more power to them.
Yes, we’ve decided.
David,
Thanks for the comment. If you have a product that meets the functional, technical, assortment strategy and price points of the buyer, and its made in Canada bring it on. The buyer will definitely consider it.
About 35% of our MEC brand is made in Canada.
Cheers
I have been searching for a new jacket, at MEC and elsewhere, and have decided that this time it will not be made in China. Tough search. I am prepared to pay a premium of perhaps 25% for something made in Canada, realizing it does indeed cost more to produce it here at home. Surely I am not the only person waking up to the sad reality of what we have been doing to our own local economy. We talk about a 50 mile or 100 mile diet. Let’s apply the same principle.
Hi,
I’d like to weigh in as an MEC member living in Europe.
When buying at MEC, I always appreciate that I buy from a self governed cooperative that produces its goods in an ethical manner.
I would like to applaud you to raise this issue here so clearly – I havent seen any other manufacturer talking about such issues in public.
Now to your dilemma: I believe producing things in a manner that is fair to the people actually doing the work on the factory floor is very important. I am not sure it is so important to do this in canada exactly. Keeping jobs in your country is great, but if no one wants them, and for competitive reasons (or offer conditions good enough – a secure job for low pay can be fine, or an insecure job for high pay too, but both insecure and low-paying…), then why not give this work to asia, where for some people, even a low-paying job is a lot better than no job. The right thing to do IMO would be then to cooperate with workplaces that do have acceptatble working conditions.
Have a look at Cilogears Ethics page to see an example of what I mean:
http://www.cilogear.com/ethics.html
As the owner of CiloGear and a member of MEC, I believe it behooves me to respond to Matthias’ comment above. Beyond the high quality of MEC’s products and design (especially their field testing program), one of the driving factors for me in joining MEC was their clear ethical stance and action.
MEC is a model in the industry.
Nobody is perfect, and you can’t satisfy everybody, but I think that MEC’s clear ethical action, discussion and documentation is impressive. This blog, MEC’s ongoing auditing efforts, and public publishing of the results is to be lauded. For example check out this audit report. This costs time, money and commitment. I don’t know of anybody in the outdoor industry doing more than MEC. Sure, JC Penny has a bigger and significantly more robust compliance department but you’re never going to see any results of their audits. Patagonia does a lot, but again, it’s more or less private. MEC really stands alone in publishing rather than hiding the work they do on this front.
Matthias, consider, if you will, that it’s not just the impact of sewing jobs. You have to consider impacts from transportation of inputs such as fabric and generation of electricity. There are highly skilled engineering jobs involved in the manufacture of fabrics and milling machines. Then there’s the management costs associated with traveling to the factories and doing quality control audits. It goes on and on…
It’s a lot cheaper to ride a bike or take public transportation from one side of the city you live in to another than it is to fly to Vietnam to visit a factory. It’s supposed to be a lot easier and a lot better for the environment to source your raw materials from 40 miles away than 4,000 miles away. But simple concepts like that aren’t always possible or even always true.
People seem to think that finding workers in North America is as easy as raising the retail price of the good. Unfortunately, such simple economic analysis fails to consider intangibles and politics. You simply can’t create somebody with ten years of experience without ten years…or a work permit.
Personally, I’ve got faith in MEC’s continuing efforts to perform ethical sourcing. Just look at MEC’s voluminous documentation and all of HC’s work! Honestly, from my perspective as CiloGear’s owner, I’m glad to have industry wide standards set and continually pushed further by MEC. It makes it a lot easier for us to exist and prosper. And MEC’s efforts are just plain good.
One major flaw in the original blog’s argument that I think should be removed. While there is no doubt that this work is “hard, repetitive and poorly paid” when done in Canada, you can’t be “torn” about getting Canadians to do the work because the work is no less difficult when done abroad. You can not decrease the amount of suffering by moving locations, it’s a net zero trade. Somewhere, someone is doing the job.
What makes it better to have people abroad doing the same “hard, repetitive and poorly paid” (likely much more poorly paid) work? Why is it better for overseas people to suffer than for those in Canada? Now that really is foolishly nationalistic with some senseless inequity built in.
Furthermore, where are labour laws more likely to protect workers undertaking these tough jobs? Where are conditions likely to be better, regardless of MEC inspections?
Secondly, the idea that “it’s an occupational ghetto that only attracts Asian immigrant women” is a weak one. The logic here is that it is better to have poor Asian women sewing clothing in Asia than to have poor Asian women sewing clothing in Canada? Bizarre.
Yes, it may be a job of last resort or a first step into a new country/economy as it has been for the last 200 odd years but isn’t it good to have something for people to start out in than to have nothing?
Labour shrotage? That’s not unique to the industry. Have you heard about the high paid, perpetually vacant positions “plaguing” the Alberta oilsands? It does not follow that the jobs are unimportant. It’s not logical and forgets that unemployment rates are cyclical.
Thanks for being a retailer that responds to the members by at least having the debate and trying to have Canadian made goods.
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the comments. Actually, the emotional conflict of manufacturing here in Canada versus overseas is not the work is better here in Canada, its the demise of goods being Made in Canada. In other words, economic nationalism.
Yes, it is good to have some entry level work for new immigrants. It gives them economic means. However, let’s keep in mind that there is a power imbalance in Canada. People of color are grossly under-represented in the higher echelons of politics, government, business, NGO’s, universities and just about everything else in Canada. The danger of having “entry level” work for Asian women or any immigrant person of color is just that. It feeds the power imbalance within society.
Thanks for your insightful thoughts.
Very interesting stream of comments.
So much pontificating about what MEC does right and does wrong … judgment, judgment, judgment.
I re-wrote this comment about 9 times before I settled on this.
Here’s an old expression for you. “Money talks and BS walks”
So the next time you walk into an MEC, avoid the cost sensitive item that you would normally buy and make sure you buy the more expensive Canadian made product. That will motivate the buyers to focus on made in Canada items. So, put up or shut up.
Why is the Canadian product more expensive you ask? Because they are required to pay premium pricing from product made in Canada. Lower your margin you say? That’s intelligent, cut your cost so low that you break even. Sure, that makes sense … in the next breath your wondering why MEC is not supporting more environmental or social charities.
At the end of the day, if you stop shopping at MEC you can then go onto the Wal-Mart Blog and tell them your issues with there practices … oh wait; I believe MEC is the ONLY company in Canada that provides this sort of outlet?
The world’s not perfect folks and don’t chastise those that are trying to make it better. Suggestions are better then poorly researched ramblings.
I am and will be a long time MEC member and purchaser.
keep up the good work, I KNOW you are trying to improve on all levels and I support your motivation, ethically AND financial.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for blogging.
Cheers.
Ah yes, the vicious circle of a society with a high standard of living: “Give me cheap goods, but don’t ask me to slave away making the stuff – I want a fulfilling, high paying job.”
A couple of things strike me about the “make it in Canada” comments. The first is the assumption that retailers can afford to increase the cost of their garments. The vast majority of consumers is on a perpetual bargain hunt. Those who will actually pay more on a consistent basis for conscientious reasons are an extremely rare exception. In addition, that patriotic feeling which leads to the “buy Canadian” sentiment is unstable and unreliable. You’ll get a ground swell of “don’t buy from China” sentiment (for example) while prominent international events dominate our media reports. Then a few months later that determination dissipates and people continue looking for the best deal. Spite does not make a good foundation for an industry.
The second is that there seems to be an implied disconnect between people who work in manufacturing, and people who will consume the goods. I read statements such as: pay ‘them’ more money, give ‘them’ better working conditions, train the unemployed to do it, and ‘what about small town people? They’ll work in our factories to provide us with stuff to buy!’ If you want Canada to be a stable manufacturing centre there will have to be a significant cultural shift in attitude towards manufacturing jobs. We will have to stop talking about ‘them’ and start thinking about our friends and families, even ourselves, as the people who are going to take these jobs and make the goods. And let’s face it, right now no one is telling their kids to aspire to a life spent in front of an industrial sewing machine to churn out Gore-tex jackets, packs and tents.
Hi JS
Thanks for your thoughts. I agree. There is a huge disconnect.
Cheers
Hmmm…let’s see:
“Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is: never try.”
– Homer Simpson
“MEC ran a factory just outside Vancouver. It was shut down about 6 years ago. I’m not sure if anyone at MEC has the appetite to try again.”
–HC
My concern is the purchasing of goods from Occupied Palestine.
I have written to MEC and was told that the factory from which the
items were sourced “isn’t the government” and “is a private source”.
Israel has a long history of human rights violations and war crimes
in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon that are well documented
by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
More than 170 Palestinian civil society organizations have endorsed the call for an international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and
Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with International Law and universal principles of human rights. http://www.bigcampaign.org.uk
Doing business with China is unethical period. Communism has proven to be good for no one except those few at the very top of the chain. China grows stronger and stronger with every cheaply manufactured widget sold while the rest of us grow weaker selling out our manufacturing industry. You are certainly not changing conditions noticeably in China you are just sourcing more cheaply made product.
I’m going into MEC in the next week to buy a new cross country ski setup and I refuse to even consider anything made in China.Fortunately you have plenty of skis made in respectable countries and I will let whomever serves me know why I will not buy the other products.
It seems quite passe these days to say communism is the enemy especially when capitalists have realized there is money to be made by crawling into bed with these villains (the governments, not the people) but it is still the case. Change has to come from within these countries. The efforts of MEC while well intentioned will not lead to any real change in China other than to placate those working in these factories a while longer, deterring them from agitating for change from within.
I have stopped shopping completely at Canadian Tire because of their majority of Chinese made products and the dismissive smirk and excuse I got from management every time I mentioned it. I have faith that my concerns will not fall on deaf ears at MEC
No disrespect is intended toward the hard working Chinese in this country or China but by embracing and doing business with China we help to prop up their unjust dangerous government.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your views about Communism and China.
Communism as Marx expoused is dead. In China its a mode of government to keep an exsiting ruling oligarchy in power.
Dictatorships have caused huge hardships for many. That is undeniable. One can never justify dictatorships.
On the flip side, the Chinese government has reduced the number of people living in abject poverty from 683 million to 207 million. They did this over 20 years. It has generated a huge middle class that have access to schools, health care and homes. This is no small feat.
Poverty is highly destructive. The current 200 million Chinese who live on less than $1 US per day don’t have access to schools, health care and etc., Which means when a 4 year old gets an abcess tooth, there’s a high probability she will suffer greatly. When a 30 year farmer gets cancer, he will likely die leaving his family further impoverished. It’s paramount that we the world recognize this tragedy and take action.
It’s ironic in many respects. I am in the market for a new road bike, you are looking for skis and about 1 billion people in the world are living on less than $1 US per day.
This is not a guilt trip but context to understanding why poverty and factory engagement, on most occassions, supersedes the call for boycotts. Boycotts don’t reach out to the impoverished. It more often just makes us feel better about ourselves.
Again, thanks for the thoughtful comments.
Cheers
Hi Meg,
Thanks for the valid comments about the occupied territories. What’s happening there and other similar parts of the world in Asia, Africa ane etc., are heart breaking.
MEC’s formal position is to engage. We don’t trade with governments we conduct business with private entities. The people who run these businesses are no different than you and me. They are not civil servants or political elite.
To change MEC’s formal position, members can exercise their democratic rights in their Co-op to pass a resolution instructing MEC to change.
The position you take is valid as is the one MEC has taken.
Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!