Thursday, August 25, 2011

Should Canada Attend Expo 2012?

Today's poll question; should Canada spend $15 million dollars to attend Expo 2012 in South Korea? With the media's attention focused elsewhere, you might not have heard that Canada has declined our invitation to build a pavilion at the world fair. According to Heritage Minister James Moore, these Expos are not what they used to be and no longer justify the cost. It is more a ceremony than a productive trade mission. Personally I'm kind of on the fence with this one. The "austerity" is appealing, but then again I wouldn't exactly be upset if we decided to attend on a low budget. We should accept the invitation and in Canada's designated space put one person sitting at a folding table. Don't hire a contractor to build a multi million dollar pavilion and pay Circle De Soleil to do a few shows, just send half a dozen people with some brochures. Any business who want to market their products at the Canadian pavilion can buy their own plane ticket and set up their own booth. We can tell foreign dignitaries that we are saving our money until Europe declares bankruptcy.

10 comments:

  1. we could park a hyundai or kia in the canadian spot. or maybe some of the heavy equipment we use that is also made in south korea.

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  2. I find it very amusing reading the comments from BC NDPer Adrian Dix and the comments on the story from readers in the Edmonton Journal.

    This is actually quite timely due the passing of Jack Layton. Now I'm old enough to remember how vehemently Toronto Councillor Jack Layton fought against seeming government largesse when it came to circusses, spectacles, and potential white elephants. Layton was one of the very few but very vocal opponents on the Toronto '96 Olympics bid, and he did everything he could to derail the then-proposed Skydome (now Rogers Centre). Layton simply thought that the large amounts of money could've been better spent elsewhere. I believe the tagline of the day was 'Bread Not Circusses'.

    Now it seems with this upcoming Expo, the Conservatives are doing pretty much what Layton would've done, and they are being chastised for it, seemingly by those on the left, and/or those who simply don't like Stephen Harper.

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  3. James Moore explained the reasons today with Evan. Seems evan is upset.
    Wonder what Jack would have thought of all the money spent on flowers and candles for him. Maybe those people should have taken a homeless person to lunch instead.

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  4. Jack wouldn't like the money being wasted on Expo. BUT the Tax Payers money spent on flowers and candles for HIM is wonderful (like his expense accounts) SKY IS THE LIMIT

    Rob C

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  5. These expos serve no (serious) purpose.

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  6. Should Canada attend Expo 2012? Sure. Defund the CBC and we can attend 73 more with the money we save in only the first year.

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  7. As a Conservative activist, I actually feel that Canada SHOULD be represented at the Expo. South Korea is one of our key trading partners; not going to Expo would be a snub in their face. Things like this are not soon forgotten in Asian culture. Also, it will promote tourism of our country.

    (Although, since the Tories said no to Edmonton's Expo bid -- which was the right decision -- I can see the case that not going to Korea's Expo is out of fairness to Edmontonians and consistency)

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  8. We should minimize our profile with our important trading partners. We don't want them buying up all of stuff. We also want to be as dependent on the US as possible. Let's not give the S Koreans and other Asian visitors any reason to like or have confidence in Canadian product.

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  9. I assume Moore has done his homework on this,and recognizes that South Korea is well aware of the potential market in Canada. They should be,they've been exploiting that market for years.

    Asian businessmen are the epitome of practical,and I doubt they'd NOT consider investing in this Country just because we failed to show up at an expo.

    Besides,the $12 million can be put against the cost of the week long wake for Jack Layton, a far more important item than mere trade.

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