What an amazing article. I read with great interest that in 1929 there 24 grocery chains, today, there are 5 majors, 2 of which are owned by Americans and did not exist in 1929 (I have knowledge of whether the other 3, Sobeys, Metro and Loblaws did). I is obvious to me that even in 1929 there were fears of consolidation and market dominance. And look where we have arrived, only 97 years later.
Anyone with experience living in remote Canada was affected (eventually) by the growth of chain stores. For that reason, shopping local whenever possible became a lifestyle. Sure, I paid more, but as the old phrase goes: either pay now, or pay later.
Supporting local (or others north of the 49th) became a priority.
"There was a pervasive fear that American capital was buying up the Canadian high street."
Not just high street.
Almost 100 years later, it appears American capital is buying up Canadian real estate, resources, health services, & more squeezing out options for Canadians outside of the elite class.
I fear a further hollowing out of Canada as a sovereign nation, blurring the borders of livelihood and citizenship.
What an amazing article. I read with great interest that in 1929 there 24 grocery chains, today, there are 5 majors, 2 of which are owned by Americans and did not exist in 1929 (I have knowledge of whether the other 3, Sobeys, Metro and Loblaws did). I is obvious to me that even in 1929 there were fears of consolidation and market dominance. And look where we have arrived, only 97 years later.
Anyone with experience living in remote Canada was affected (eventually) by the growth of chain stores. For that reason, shopping local whenever possible became a lifestyle. Sure, I paid more, but as the old phrase goes: either pay now, or pay later.
Supporting local (or others north of the 49th) became a priority.
Sounds to me like we used to have competent government forecasting accurately.
"There was a pervasive fear that American capital was buying up the Canadian high street."
Not just high street.
Almost 100 years later, it appears American capital is buying up Canadian real estate, resources, health services, & more squeezing out options for Canadians outside of the elite class.
I fear a further hollowing out of Canada as a sovereign nation, blurring the borders of livelihood and citizenship.