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Melitta Hannon (289) 344-0087 melittah@vision2000.ca Contact me to plan your dream vacation today A Publication of Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce www.haltonhillschamber.on.ca April 20, 2010 12 Pages Buy American - A Halton Hills Epic Written by John R. Lewis, Mike Francis Insurance Agency, State Farm was launched last October. This campaign HE ISSUE: "Buy American" protecreminded the Mayors of United States cities and tionism posed a serious threat to towns where Canadians traditionally had made Canadian manufacturers and exporters. large purchases that punitive action like Buy Local Canadian firms, such as Hayward American could end up cutting two ways. Gordon, were being forced to lay off Canadian Mayor Bonnette further took his campaign to workers, and become an exporter of Canadian Ottawa, where he summed up the problem in a jobs! Multiplied by many thousands of municipalities across Canada, the problem faced major speech to a non-partisan symposium by Halton Hills was rapidly becoming a national hosted by many Federal MP's. The harm that Buy American initiative could issue. The Americans slammed the door on do to cross-border trade spread across both Canadian trade while still bidding on Canadian countries, until the Chamber of Commerce of infrastructure jobs. the United States of America took notice, and Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette had to addressed a warning to Washington of the act, and swiftly. (Once provoked, this Mayor's unintended harm such a program could do to small frame quickly takes action of giant U.S. interests. proportions). He believed it was time to show A groundswell of opinion arose in Canada, Canadian backbone, not Canadian back bacon. and was evidenced by a massive media response ACTION TAKEN: Realizing that the Buy to the action started by Mayor Rick Bonnette American action could if continued, erode all and his councillors. From mighty press voices the benefits both the United States and Canada like the Toronto Star all the way to the Town of had enjoyed from the North American Free Conception Bay South in Newfoundland came Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mayor Bonnette cries of alarm! and Halton Hills Councillors appealed to fellow THE RESOLUTION: On April 20, 2009, civic leaders through organizations such as the the Corporation of the Town of Halton Hills Federation of Canadian Municipalities. On June passed a Resolution to sum up the problems 6, 2009 they adopted Halton Hills' resolution faced by both Canada and the United States supporting open and free trade. Also, with the presented by the Buy American initiative, and cooperation of Mayor Victor Fedeli of North reaffirmed Halton Hills' support of free trade. Bay, a grassroots Mayor to Mayor Campaign T Said Resolution further supported the efforts of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association in their quest to have the United States Congress "reconsider and repeal" the Buy American requirements for the United States stimulus packages. THE OUTCOME: The Government of Canada on February 5, 2010, agreed in principle to exempt Canadian companies from Buy American restrictions. Ottawa's stance was loudly applauded by the Federation of Canadian Manufacturers. Halton Hills, through the action of Mayor Rick Bonnette, with the full support of local Council, received a great deal of publicity: There were forty-four radio interviews, including one with Rex Murphy, and another with Anna Marie Tremonti of CBC. The BBC asked Rick Bonnette for an interview. Newspapers across Canada, one from Japan, and major United States papers like the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and the New York Times all featured the Halton Hills' response to Buy American. It was not all plain sailing! Canadian pipe was ripped out of an installation in Camp Pendleton, California, so that "made in U.S" pipe could take its place. Mayor David Miller in Toronto was not supportive. John Hayward of Hayward Gordon was seriously considering moving his facilities stateside at the expense of workers in Canada. For the most part, however, Rick Bonnette's forthright approach to the problem, and the widespread support afforded his efforts, paid off handsomely. (As this article goes to press, Rick Bonnette has not announced whether he will run again as Mayor of Halton Hills. If he does, this writer will be sure to support him.) BusinessLink Profile Inside This Issue... From the Boardroom . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . Page 3 Business Link Profile: The Independent & Free Press .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 3 Upcoming Events .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 4 Awards Dinner Pictures . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 4 General Manager's Desk. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 5 Graphic Design & Your Business' Public Face . . . .. . Page 5 Welcome New Members . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 6 Membership Renewals . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 7 Businesses of Month. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 8 Book Review Do the Web Write & New Community Rules .. . Page 9 New to Us, Old Hat to Them .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 9 Spotlight on Volunteer. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 10 New Releases That Get Picked Up . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 10 What's News .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . Page 11 Norm Paget & Judy Reynolds reading BusinessLink in Jamaica. Eric Doubt, Communication Associates, at former clinic of Healing Hands for Haiti, checking BL for demolition companies. See page 3 Send in your pic reading BusinessLink on holidays, and you'll be on the front page, too! "Welcome to TOPS" Welcome Night FREE DELIVERY TUESDAY, APRIL 27TH, 2010 7 PM St. Andrews Church, 89 Mountainview Rd. S. TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY TOPS ­ a healthy lifestyle change & how to get there www.tops.org EVERYONE IS INVITED! 136 Guelph St., Georgetown L Largest tS Selection l ti of f Patio Furniture in Halton Hills Since 1998 INDOOR & OUTDOOR FURNITURE Across the road from Christ the King School O P E N 7 DAY S A W E E K 905-873-9791 Furniture Hut 905-877-6737