Economic and logistical advantage
The manufacturing industry is one of the most lucrative sectors of the Canadian economy. In fact, in 2021, this sector represented 10%, or $174 billion, of our GDP according to Statistics Canada. We can therefore easily imagine that this is a very lucrative market, subsidized, greatly encouraged and above all easy to access in Canada. In addition to their enormous profits, these factories are excellent sources of job creation for the population. However, it should still be mentioned that these are jobs that may gradually disappear over the years with ever-increasing robotization and automation. In addition, this industry is one that requires many different resources, which is beneficial for both raw materials and retail companies in the country.On the logistics side, local production reduces many headaches by facilitating correspondence between the company and the factory when it comes to setting up contracts, standards, different agreements, etc. The proximity of the two entities especially facilitates their communications if production needs to be accelerated, slowed down or if there is an error in the finished product. The language barrier is also reduced when discussions take place in either English or French, unlike the problems that can arise when the person on the other end of the line only speaks Mandarin, for example.
More ethical production
Ethical production is an element that is becoming increasingly important these days among consumers who are increasingly informed and aware of the subject. A manufacturer or company that calls itself “ethical” normally respects standards such as decent wages, respectable working conditions and well-established safety rules. Compliance with these standards is extremely important in Canada and inspections to ensure this are all the more rigorous. Producing in Canada therefore means respecting, at a minimum, the minimum wage imposed by the government, breaks for employees, meal schedules, accident insurance, safe workplaces in the event of an accident, etc. Obviously, these types of standards are unfortunately not respected everywhere.
Take a look at the products of our local partner
Countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia or China serve as factories for the entire world since their labour costs are ridiculously lower than those of Western countries, as are their dilapidated facilities that cost much less to operate than in Canada. In these circumstances, disasters are not uncommon, such as the Rana Plaza disaster where an entire building collapsed on more than 1,000 workers in Bangladesh in 2013.
Producing greener at home
Increased Canadian production could also mean a significant reduction in the environmental impacts of mass production. By repatriating some of the manufacturing work that we subcontract abroad, we could ensure that the quantities of water used in the manufacture of clothing, for example, are reduced compared to the monstrous quantities used today.
It would also be possible to ensure that toxic, contaminated or simply environmentally harmful residues are handled properly to prevent these products from being discharged into drinking waterways. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for such actions to be taken, which is extremely harmful to the populations and biodiversity of the region who drink from these waterways, for example.
As a country with many non-polluting energy sources such as hydroelectricity, solar energy or wind energy, it would be possible to operate all the necessary manufacturing thanks to these energy sources emitting reduced quantities of greenhouse gases unlike the combustion of coal, for example, which is very widely used in many countries around the world.
This therefore means that local production means the establishment of better regulated rules that better reflect our Canadian desire for change and progress regarding environmental, ethical and economic issues. This is about giving us the means to work in the direction in which we hope to advance our nation in the years to come.