Doug Ford wants to bring manufacturing home to Ontario. Is it worth the cost? | So Good News

The Hub is proud to partner with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce for its upcoming Ontario Business Summit. Register here and don’t miss a debate on reskilling manufacturing on 22 November, hosted by Rudyard Griffiths, Executive Director of The Hub.

In the first month of the epidemic, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has voiced the concern and frustration felt by many political leaders around the world about the inability to secure medical masks and other protective equipment for their citizens.

After the US government asked 3M to stop exporting medical-grade masks to Canada. An angry Ford told Ontario to stop relying on others for these critical materials.

“I will not count on President Trump. Which Prime Minister President Or you won’t rely on any country. Our production We’re preparing and we’re not going to stop those rallies when they start,” Ford said.

Ford promised not only to make Ontario self-sufficient, but also to support the rest of Canada from its resurgent manufacturing.

“[We can no longer be] Countries around the world look to the safety and well-being of Canadians. We have technology, intelligence, engineering skills; Ability to produce. There’s nothing we can’t build here in Ontario,” Ford said.

In the early days of the pandemic, diplomatic wounds had largely healed, but the desire to “reconfigure” or bring manufacturing back to foreign markets remained strong. High-profile skirmishes over pandemic subsidies are part of the case for reform. Policy makers are concerned about cars, They are also looking at supply chain disruptions as computer chips and flowers become scarce in Canadian stores.

The question for Canadian leaders is whether the benefits of recapitalization outweigh the efficiencies gained from global trade. no

The recent Ontario 360 policy document recommends focusing on strategic or critical manufactured goods; This suggests that a resilient supply chain is significantly more important than the cost benefit of outsourcing production.

“Most consumer goods are not strategic or important and should remain part of the globalized system free from government intervention. However, “There may be some important manufactured goods, such as solid pharmaceuticals or basic medicines, with government stockpiling or government-sponsored domestic production or even regional supply chains,” reads a policy paper written by Sean. HubDrew Fagan, professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and Saif Alnuweiri, economic and policy advisor at the Ontario Public Service.

The paper’s policy recommendations are to shape Ontario’s supply chains; Asked for a project that will explore weaknesses and strategic strengths. efforts to establish supply chain monitoring capabilities; cooperation with neighboring states such as New York and Michigan; A fund to help businesses deal with redevelopment costs.

The Ontario government has made a few small policy moves in the direction of the “Ontario Made” campaign, but has yet to develop a broader strategy.

“Global trends and disruptions have highlighted the vulnerability of international supply chains and shifted focus from ‘just-in-time’ to ‘just-in-time manufacturing,’ leading many companies to rethink their segmentation strategies,” wrote Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Canada and Ontario are no exception, as Rossi writes: “Governments and businesses are considering industrial recovery strategies and what this means for goods and costs for international trade.”

The conference on rehabilitation will be hosted in collaboration with the parliament. HubThe debate will be hosted at the Ontario Economic Summit on November 22nd and 23rd. HubExecutive Director Rudyard Griffiths.

teachers at this year’s Ontario Economic Summit Hub As a media partner, it will be held at the Fairmont Royal York on November 22nd and 23rd. Register here.