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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-04-18, Page 17R 4--Crossroads:—April 1V, 1984 wins a ' Canada lobs on line as firms look south 13y W. Roger Werth Canadians may be pricing themselves out of the North American job market. Indeed, a'recent study of 300 smaller Ontario manu- facturing firms suggest high labor costs, as well as oner- ous municipal taxes and payroll taxes, have already convinced many companies to set up shop in the United States, and that a lot more manufacturers are consider- ing the move. "More than 75,000 manu- facturing jobs are at risk in Ontario alone, and the trend has serious implications for the rest of the country," says John Bulloch, president of the Canadian Federation off Independent Business, the organization that did the re- search. "Our medium-sized manufacturers clearly be- lieve the business climate is better in the U.S., and it's tough to dispel that atti- tude." What amazed Federation researchers was the pheno- menal response to its ques- tionnaire, and the in-depth information supplied by the medium-sized companies with more than 20 em- ployees. In fact, a full 48 per cent of the firms contacted respond- ed. Of those, 16 per cent al- ready have a plant or branch in the U.S., and another 25 per cent have investigated such a move. "This is ominous news for Canadians, not only in On- tario but across the coun- try," says Bulloch. The reasons the 41 per cent gave for relocating or con- sideringa move? The survey indicated manufacturers be- lieve Canadian labor costs are More than 10 per cent higher than those in the U.S.; that the cost of meeting labor standards is higher here; and .that municipal, business and 'payroll taxes far out- pace those -in the U.S. • Just as important,. per- haps, a high percentage of the manufacturers feel em- ployee attitudes are better south of the border: As Bulloch points out, the nation's smaller firms are already supplying the vast majority of Canada's new jobs. Any reluctance by manufacturers to invest here, rather than the U.S., will cost us dearly, either in jobs that aren't created or actual employment losses as companies move south. So what can be done about theproblem? "Municipal property and business taxes have risen dramatically in Canada, placing a great deal of pres- sure on our smaller firms," says Bulloch. "The politi- cians running our municipal- ities simply must become me more responsible, at least attemp ' to slow the in- crease n to es on business'." Hea payroll taxes such as Unemployment Insur- ance, Workers' Compensa- tion and pension plan contri- butions also take their toll, particularly L 'r smaller compani_es_._:that_ rna-y be breaking even or losing money. In addition, the Federation is concerned that the odge- podge of government r ula- tions at all levels h produc ed a jungle of red tape, put- ting a damper on business expansion. ,"We knew some manufac- turers were moving to the U.S., but we were astounded by the depth of the small business feeling that turned up in our survey," says Bul- loch. "Our competitive American neighbors have put out the welcome mat for Canadian manufacturers and, unless our governments changthirways, e• e' we're go- ing Y ing to lose a lot of jobs." i, ° ALL MARKETS CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY SAVE 51$ Ib. PARTLY SKINN ONE IN WHOLE OR SHANK RTION FIJ LLYCOOKED SMO3KED H �� M 2.62/kg PARTLY SKINNED FULLY COOKED BONE -IN "CENTRE CUT" HAM 3.51 /kg L59 PART SKINNED BONE -IN BUTT PORTION FULLY COOKED SMOKED HAM 2.84/kg1.29. TURKEYS PRIDE OF CANADA OR STAMPEDE SLICED . CANADA "A" GRADE BEEF BLADE BONE REMOVED BLADE ROASTS SIDE BACON UP TO 15 lbs. (7 kg) YOUNG FROZEN 1.-19. COUNTRY GOLD SLICED 85 VARIETIES b. COLD MEATS BUTTERBALL TURKEYS tSELF BASTING "A" GRADE (UP TO 15 lbs.) 7 kg 3.04/kg SELF BASTING "A" GRADE (UP TO 15 lbs.) 7 kg MIRACLE BASTETURKEYS 3 VARIETIES SCHNEIDERS POPULAR MINI -SIZZLERS SCHNEIDERS RED HOTS OR ALL BEEF WIENERS FROZEN 5 Ib. AVG. GRADE "A" YOUNG SUCKS OUR D FE i�S AN EXTRAORDINARY SELECTION OF EUROPEAN NT � ENC ELIC A DELICATESSEN COUNTER O fSTYLE SAUSAGES -CHEESES `AND DELICASSIES FOR YOUR EASTER ENJOYMENT. CROSS CUT RIB ROAST 175 g PKG. CANADA "A" GRADE BEEF BLADE BONE REMOVED SHORT RIB ROAST SPECIALS AT THE DELI BURNS FRESH DELICIOUS to I OS� k g COOKED HAM STORE SLICED 2.29,b GRADE °A' YOUNG (UP TO 4 kg) FRESH TURKEYS Limited Supply MAPLE LEAF FROZEN SAUSAGE ROLL 500 g 5.031kg 2.28 Ib. SCHNEIDERS MINI -DELI COOKED. 99 MEATS 250 t COUNTRY OVEN SPECIALS COUNTRY OVEN .07¢ EACH FRESH DZEN 79# DINNER ROLLS0 SCHNEIDERS SUMMER S.36/ke •THURINGER SAUSAGE a� 3.79.9,> COUNTRY OVEN 680 g DELICIOUS PUMPKIN PIE COUNTRY OVEN 340 g NO NAME SUPER SOIL 20 LITRE BAG 36 LITRE BAG PROD. OF ONTARIO CANADA NO. 1 PROD. OF FLORIDA CANADA NO. 1 PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA 100% GOOD EATING PRODUCT OF U.S.A. MILD TENDER BUNCHES GREEN ONIONS LOCALLY GROWN EASTER LILIES PROD. OF HAWAII PROD. OF CANADA SPECIALS IN EFFECT UNTIL CLOSING SAT. APRIL 21 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT PURCHASES TO REASONABLE REQUIREMENTS. EA. EA COLOURFUL D POTTE 6„ 'x.99 MUMS PROD. OFC PROD. OF U.S.A. CAN. FCY. BR S EL f.96 /kg ANJOU 1.96/kg SPROUTS 890,b. PEARS 8941b. PROD. OF CHILE PROD. OF U.S.A. CAN. NO. 1 CANADA FANCY GRANNY SMITH 1.96 /kg SWEET 1, 52/kg APPLES 89# 16. YAMS 69# Ib. PROD. OF CHILE FRESH CANADA NO. 1 O ONTARIO 8.83/kg GREEN SEEDLESS • its MUSHROOMS 119 Ib. GRAPES 1.69 Ib. 99 6"DIA POT. COLOURFUL MIXED PANS IM MLT& BLOOMING HYDRANGEA 6.99 9.99'- 12 99