Well OBG that is one solution. However that is like putting your head in the sand and ignoring the real problem.......productivity.

IMHO protectionism will only artificially inflate prices world wide and adversly affect everyone. This was how we got into trouble in years gone by.

The USA has done well in the past by utilizing technology and R&D to maintain a high standard of living. However it is the old story. When you get fat you get lazy. Also greed took over.

In North America our productivity has not kept pace and we are starting to see the results. Jobs would not have moved offshore if our wage rates had not gotten so far out of line. We will now see a period of restructuring in the world and unless North America adjusts quickly, our economies will suffer forever. We will soon find out if the auto unions get this message or not.

In Canada we enjoy a high standard of living thanks to the sell off of our Natural Resources. However most of these are not renewable. Eventually we will run out.

I agree with some of the predictions that Canada is well positioned to come out of this recession as one of the strongest economies but only if we further develop our natural resources and mining industries and then pour the profits into education and technology. In other words, use the profits from our strong sectors to finance the development of new industries/sectors so we can become leaders in other ares as well.

As for mining, all levels of Gov't have failed to develop this industry in the past because they were so heavily focused on the relatively small segment of the country that boarders with the USA. These areas have the advantage of access to transportation.

The vast majority of Canada and Ontario remains undeveloped. Govenments have only recently started to wake up and understand that there is huge potential when these relatively remote areas are developed.

The Ring of Fire has come along at exactly the right time. If southern economies were booming, gov't would continue to ignore the north. However necessity is the mother of invention. Now that the economy is suffering , gov't is willing to look at spending $$$$ to develop the north. Also the politically correct thing to do these days is provide funds to the First Nations.

Once the rail lines, roads and power lines are built, there will be many more Ring of Fires and Nickel Belts discovered and developed. The economy and the gov't will benefit from this for years to come.

I hear you OBG. It is sad to see a backward country like China taking over our jobs. It s hard to find anything these days that isn't made in China. However this is the new reality. Sometimes the pendulum has to swing far to the extream before it comes to rest in the middle.

We can continue to ignore this reality, return to protectionism, and live in our own little cacoon. Or we can address the real problem of productivity and focus on our real strengths like mining, oil & gas, water, forestry etc.

Only my humble opinion.....I'm sure there are many that disagree.

SN