[ryan29]

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty appears on CTV's Question Period Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007.


Flaherty to meet with retailers on pricing issues
Updated Sun. Oct. 21 2007 1:49 PM ET

The Canadian Press

WASHINGTON -- Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says he will meet with major Canadian retailers this week and argue that their prices should reflect the strengthening Canadian dollar.

Flaherty told CTV's "Question Period'' that the purchasing power of the loonie, which has eclipsed the U.S. dollar in value, should be reflected at checkout counters in Canada.


Many Canadians have complained they are being ripped off because goods they buy here cost much less in the United States.


Flaherty said his job is to tell retailers they should move their inventory prices as quickly as possible to reflect the reality that the Canadian dollar is much stronger then it was a few months ago. He notes that some retailers have lowered their prices.


Some U-S automakers and retailers have been told not to sell to Canadians who cross the border looking for bargains because it would hurt their businesses in this country.


Flaherty made the comments from Washington where he's attending a meeting of the International Monetary Fund.


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[ryan29]

myself i haven't paid much attention to retail prices , but maybe they have been geting things for less lately with dollar so high .

[ridenrain]

A great many dealers in the states are now restricted from selling to Canadians. Bombardier is getting a lot of flack over this:

$1:

Consumers' Association of Canada president Bruce Cran noted the irony of Bombardier refusing sales to Canadians.

"Do they think we are a bunch of dupes that we are putting up with this stuff?" Cran said. "Bombardier has been subsidized by Canadian taxpayers over a great many decades and now they will sell to Americans -- and only Americans -- for 40-per-cent less? That's the reward we get?"

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/n ... 3ab23390e4

[ryan29]

taxthis taxthis:

Coming from a border town and growing up in windsor and dertroit...I can assure you we are suckers over here when it comes to our purchasing power....Pay more get less....

not being from a border area , i've never actaully gone to the states for shoping so i have no idea what there prices are like .
but it wouldn't surprise me if there was a difference .

[Zipperfish]

Best thing you can do is head south. Sellers won't respond until it hits their bottom line. Some stores up here are already offering books at the US price.

[BluesBud]

He will get as far with this as he did when he asked the banks to lower or eliminate their fees.

[dog77_1999]

You don't need your government to force businesses to set new prices. Speak with your wallet and shop at the cheapest place. Businesses will soon get the picture.

[SideShowCecil]

Last week I compared prices on LCD TVs on BestBuy.com and BestBuy.ca. The same TVs were selling in the US for 300 to 800 dollars cheaper depending on the model. When I pulled up the web sites on the weekend to show my wife, BestBuy.ca had put all their LCD TVs on sale. Their prices now match the US prices to the penny.

[Ripcat]

I'm considering taking a day off work to go to Port Huron for new tires. It may well be worth the 45 min drive and lost pay.