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Comment on Has Canada's government done anything concrete to reduce dependence on the US since Trump took office? Maybe even since the first term?

melsaskca@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

Canada is still sucking heavily at the teat of the American auto cabal. As a Canadian I want to bring in those Chinese EV’s and make driving affordable again for most Canadians. $60,000 average price for a vehicle. That’s jumping the shark big time! I do see a lot of positive changes regarding our conscious uncoupling though, as the poster indicates.

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DrBob@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
We were part of that cabal - it was called the auto pact. In a sane world it integrated our manufacturing processes so that we could be players rather than consumers. The Canadian market is small and fragmented so we don’t wield any power as a consumer nation. Be careful what you wish for.

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- AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨20⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  The problem is could you get any of those manufacturing jobs?
  
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  - DrBob@lemmy.ca ⁨16⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Well we did have them. Still do in many cases although they are under pressure. And the Stronachs built their fortune through Magna supplying parts into manufacturing facilities.
    
    I don’t know if we can cut those deals with China or not. But the low cost of those vehicles reflects low wages. So you can have cheap vehicles where every dollar supports a foreign economy, or more expensive vehicles where we pay a good wage to our friends and neighbours.
    
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- melsaskca@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  No warning required. I wish for cheap Chinese EV’s, not that fat bloated crap they are producing out of North America nowadays.
  
  The only thing I can think of is that the big car unions are charging too much for dues and the workers are suffering. /s
  
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  - DrBob@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    I’m with you. My ideal vehicle would be the electric equivalent of the Mazda B2000 - compact single cab short bed pickup. Slate held some promise but I’m not sure that’s going to happen. The closest thing is the Maverick but it’s over-engineered and a crew cab.
    
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NarrativeBear@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I don’t agree with much that the Ford Government says in Ontario here, but bringing in a Chinese EV manufacturing plant into the province would a net positive.

Canada could become a clean energy powerhouse if it wanted TBH

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