It has been over a year since the \u2018Buy Canadian and \u2018Elbows Up\u2019 initiatives began. Are they still a thing now? <\/p>\n
\u201cNot as much as it was a while ago but there\u2019s still quite a few people that are firm on it, that still like to buy Canadian,\u201d said Fred Bouzide, owner of Fred\u2019s Farm Fresh who always looks to buy Canadian first, but some things are not in season. <\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, certain things are not coming out of Canada. No blueberries, no strawberries, no cherries, no corn, no fruit so we import all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Agriculture falls into the CUSMA agreement. However, the ongoing trade war with the U.S. and upcoming CUSMA negotiations casts uncertainty over the sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe silence from the federal government and lack of information sharing is concerning. It\u2019s stalling investment, it\u2019s stalling future plans and ultimately, we need some certainty to ensure that product continues to flow freely,\u201d said Richard Lee, Executive Director of Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re making decision now that will dictate what happens next year so any intel that we can garner we\u2019re happy to receive it.\u201d <\/p>\n
Guy Cameron says weather and climate impacts are making the greenhouse industry attractive with many retailers down south looking north for support.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably 60 to 70 percent of what we grow does go to the U.S.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove the fact that the industries, the chambers here are really looking at ways to promote Canadian grown.\u201d<\/p>\n
An information session was held at the Ciociaro Club hosted by the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce with the help of Senator Sandra Pupatello\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
There are demands in certain fields and the government is trying to facilitate Canadian companies executing successful bids.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing events like today making sure that the right businesses are in the room and hearing from the right people at the federal level to ensure that those dollars flow to Windsor-Essex,\u201d said Ryan Donally, CEO of the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n
Pupatello says the government is procuring $300 billion a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be a service contract so once the building is built, they could do maintenance. They could do electrical support. They could do IT support from anywhere in the country for a project that\u2019s in Vancouver,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n