>
> "Tom P" nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:cZLSj.325$hJ1.176@newsfe17.lga...
>

>> A new report by Statistics Canada has shown that people entering the
>> work force today are much worse off than people entering the workforce
>> in 1980.
>>
>> The major difference from 1980 to today was the introduction of NAFTA.
>> NAFTA was introduced in 1988 with the promise of more prosperity for
>> Canadians. Many labour groups and citizens warned that if this
>> agreement was signed, our standard of living would drop and the
>> Canadian dollar would drop against the American dollar. Both events
>> have occurred.
>>

> =====================
>
> I fiind it quite funny that you would identify NAFTA as the leading
> cause of wage disparity, I do not think such is so.
>
> The significant change between the economics of the 1980s and now is the
> utterly massive outflow of North American industrial production to that
> of the Asian countries and to a lessor extent Mexico and other 3rd tier
> countries. This points to the issue where Labour conditions and high
> taxation certainly in Canada, has rendered our ability to compete
> difficult.
>
> Go to your favourite store and check out where stuff is manufactured and
> you will find very little product actually made in North America. Asian
> industries in just about every category, including food processing has
> made leaps in their penetration of the North American markets on an
> unprecedented scale.
>
> I would also submit, that NAFTA has slowed the protectionist nature of
> US isolationist policies, not withstanding some irritants like the
> softwood lumber.
>
> Fact is Canada's industrial prowness, especially in Ontario has been
> hampered significantly. At the same time consumers have benefited by
> lessor costs of products.
>
> ==