Why Mexicans Don't Drink Molson

by Andrea Mandel-Campbell

  In Argentina, an entire generation has been robbed of the opportunity to dream, strive and aspire to a better life. Those who could leave have done so, in search of a new beginning, flooding cities like Miami and Toronto. Canada still offers that promise, as evidenced by the many immigrants who have reached the pinnacles of success in their adopted country. Canada has all the makings of a global leader. The question is whether it wants to be one. “I think we live in one of the best nations in the world,” says Francesco Bellini. “We are very privileged with what we have here, but we really could be the best.”

  * In 2006 the crtc announced that the phone companies had overbilled Canadians by $650 million, but instead of returning the money to customers, the regulator decreed the money would go towards providing service to remote areas.

  * As of the writing of this book, the proposal was being fiercely opposed by the Wheat Board and new Liberal Party leader, Stéphane Dion.

  * The government of Ontario has launched a television campaign highlighting the benefit to companies of hiring new Canadians to expand internationally.

  * Until recently, private universities were illegal in Ontario, but although they’ve been decriminalized, no one’s dared to pick up the gauntlet. British Columbia, on the other hand, does have a number of private institutions.

  * The corporation was expected to be further restructured and its export monopoly possibly scrapped in the wake of revelations that it paid $260 million in kickbacks to the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein.

  SOURCES

  INTRODUCTION

  1 Derek DeCloet, “Perils of a Grand Old Brand,” Report on Business, May 2004, 60.

  2 Andy Hoffman, “Imports Frothing Up Beer Market,” Globe and Mail, February 16, 2006.

  3 Andrew Willis, Sinclair Stewart and Andy Hoffman, “Inside Teck’s Bold, Frenzied Inco Play,” Globe and Mail, August 17, 2006.

  4 Andy Hoffman and Elizabeth Church, “Munk Rants: Where’s Miners’ Courage?” Globe and Mail, September 13, 2006.

  5 Paul Brent, “Canadian Brand Sags, Agency that Created Famous Rant Loses Flagship Beer Business,” National Post, November 2, 2004.

  6 Derek DeCloet, “The Deal Is Done, But O’Neill’s Molson Legacy Comes into Question,” Globe and Mail, January 29, 2005.

  CHAPTER 1: TIME TO WAKE UP

  7 International Trade Canada, “Canadian Direct Investment Abroad,” Trade and Economic Analysis, Source: Cansim Table 376-0051, May 2006.

  8 François Lavoie, “Canadian Direct Investment in ‘Offshore Financial Centers,’” Statistics Canada, March 14, 2005.

  9 Micro-Economic Policy Analysis Branch, Industry Canada, “Special Feature: Canada’s Trade and Investment Linkages with Brazil, China and India,” Trade and Investment Monitor, 2003, 52.

  10 Jacqueline Thorpe, “Canada not ready for new trade powerhouses,” National Post, April 19, 2004.

  11 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2006, Developing and Transition Economies: Implications for Development, United Nations, New York and Geneva, 2006, 51. Also Chinese government figures.

  12 Saeed Rahnema and Michael Howlett, “Impediments to Industrial Policy: Overcoming Path Dependency in Canada’s Post Staples Transition,” Journal of Australian Political Economy, June 2002, No. 49, 114–135.

  13 International Trade Canada, Department of Trade and Economic Analysis, Monthly Trade Bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 9, November 2004.

  14 Richard A. Cameron, “Intrafirm Trade of Canadian-based Foreign Multinationals,” Industry Canada: Industry Canada Research Publications Program, Working Paper No. 26, December 1998.

  15 Ibid.

  16 Michael Hart, “What’s Next?” Ottawa: Centre for Trade Policy and Law, 1994, 23.

  17 As referred to in td Economics, “Canadian Business Goes Global for Growth, Globalization: Peril or Panacea for Canadian Business,” td Bank Financial Group, June 14, 2004, 11.

  18 Kindly furnished by William Polushin, president of Amaxis Inc., during an interview in Montreal in June 2004.

  19 Financial Post Business, fp500 Special Issue, Canada’s Largest Corporations, June 2006, 108.

  20 td Economics, “Canadian Business Goes Global for Growth, Globalization: Peril or Panacea for Canadian Business,” td Bank Financial Group, June 14, 2004, 11.

  21 Referred to in a speech by James Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank Group, given at the Conférence de Montréal, June 7, 2004.

  22 Dominic Wilson and Roopa Purushot-haman, “Dreaming With brics: The Path to 2050,” Goldman Sachs, Global Economics Paper No. 99, October 1, 2003.

  23 As quoted in a speech by David Emerson, minister of industry, at the National Manufacturing Summit of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Ottawa, February, 7, 2005.

  24 Kindly furnished by William Polushin in a document entitled “Canada’s International Trade Performance: 1994–2003,” January 2004.

  25 “State of Trade,” International Trade Canada, 2004.

  26 Carin Holroyd, “The Costs of Falling Behind: Canada’s Economic Relationship with Japan,” Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Canada Asia Commentary, No. 38, February 2005, 3.

  27 Canadian Business, Investor 500, Special Investing Guide, Summer 2004.

  28 Wendy Dobson, “Taking a Giant’s Measure: Canada, nafta and the Emergent China,” C.D. Howe Institute Commentary, No. 202, September 2004.

  CHAPTER 2: STEEL DINOSAUR

  29 Derek DeCloet, “Stelco CEO ’s Gloomy Corporate Picture Wins Points for Accuracy,” Globe and Mail, May 4, 2004.

  30 Financial Post Business, fp500 Special Issue, Canada’s Largest Corporations, June 2006, 66, 68.

  31 Ibid.

  32 Canada came in number one in the 2004 KPMG study of the cheapest industrialized countries to do business in. The study, entitled “Competitive Alternatives: The CEO ’s Guide to Competitive Business Costs,” was published in February 2004. The results are proudly posted on Industry Canada’s website.

  33 Geoff Dyer and James Mackintosh, “Next For the West Are Cars ‘Made in China,’ ” Financial Times, May 31, 2005.

  34 David Lin and Alison Leung, “Auto Parts Exports Set to Double,” The Standard, February 18, 2005. Also John D. Wiebe, “Why China Is an Auto Solution,” National Post, February 2, 2005.

  35 Barrie McKenna, “Foreign Suppliers May Turn Out to Be the Winners of the Lumber War,” Globe and Mail, October 24, 2006.

  36 Kindly furnished by William Polushin, president of Amaxis Inc., in a document entitled “Canada’s International Trade Performance: 1994–2003,” January 2004.

  37 Yuen Pau Woo, “The East Asian Automobile Industry: Opportunity or Threat?” Canada in Asia series, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, January 2005.

  38 Greg Keenan, “Toyota Seen Overtaking GM as No. 1 Auto Maker by 2010,” Globe and Mail, May 19, 2005.

  39 Table: “Non-residential Machinery and Equipment Investment per Worker in the Business Sector in Canada and the United States,” kindly furnished by Andrew Sharpe, executive director, Centre for the Study of Living Standards. Also, Andrew Jackson, “Free Trade’s Leap’s of Faith, Hard Landings,” National Post, December 8, 2003.

  40 Jeremy Grant, “Chinese Learning to Talk Contracts Not Contacts,” Financial Times, March 11, 2005.

  41 Steven Chase, “Put Out the Welcome Mat, Flaherty Told,” Globe and Mail, April 24, 2006.

  42 Micro-Economic Policy Analysis Branch, Industry Canada, “Special Feature: Emergence of India as a Global Economic Force—Opportunities and Challenges for Canada,” Trade and Investment Monitor, 2004.

  43 Tim O’Neill, “Macro Stability and Economic Growth: The Past 20 Years,” in David E.W. Laidlaw and William B.P. Robson, Prospects for Canada: Progress and Challenges 20 Years after the MacDonald Commission (Toronto: C.D. Howe Institute, September 2005), 34.

  44 td Economics “In Search of Well-being: Are Canadians Slipping Down the Economic Ladder?” Topic Paper, td Bank Financial Group, January 18, 2005.r />
  45 Someshar Rao, Andrew Sharpe and Jeremy Smith, “An Analysis of the Labour Productivity Growth Slowdown in Canada Since 2000,” Centre for the Study of Living Standards, International Productivity Monitor, June 2005.

  46 The Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, Rebalancing Priorities for Canada’s Prosperity, Report on Canada 2006, March 2006, 4.

  47 Neil Reynolds, “The Unproductive Productivity Fix,” Globe and Mail, June 22, 2005.

  48 Greg Quinn and Alexandre Deslongchamps, “Firms Try to Cope with Rising Loonie,” Bloomberg News in National Post, December 3, 2004.

  49 Laura Ramsay, “As Currency Rises, Firms Reinvent Themselves,” Globe and Mail, May 25, 2006.

  50 Philip Cross, “Recent Changes in the Labour Market,” Canadian Economic Observer, Statistics Canada, March 2005.

  51 Simon Avery, “In Ottawa, It’s a Low-budget Tech Rebound,” Globe and Mail, November 9, 2006.

  52 Cathy Gulli, “Canada Calling,” National Post Business, May 2004, 57.

  53 Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, “Strengthening Structures: Upgrading Specialized Support and Competitive Pressure,” Working Paper 5, July 2004.

  54 In an article by Paul Viera, “Canada to Suffer Slowdown, Analysts Predict,” National Post, March 15, 2006, fp2.

  55 Andy Hoffman, “Alcan Can’t ‘Justify’ Smelter Deal,” Globe and Mail, January 5, 2007.

  56 Roger L. Martin and Michael E. Porter, “Canadian Competitive-ness: A Decade after the Crossroads,” National Post series on Competitiveness, 2001, 51.

  57 Gilles Rhéaume, “Open for Business? Canada’s Foreign Direct Investment Challenge” (Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada, June 2004).

  58 Anne Golden, “Opening the Door to Foreign Investment,” National Post, June 3, 2004.

  59 Eric Beauchesne, “Conditions Ripe for Productivity,” National Post, April 26, 2005.

  60 Carl Gomez, “Who’s to Blame for Canada’s Productivity Woes?” td Economics Topic Paper, td Bank Financial Group, June 15, 2005.

  61 Lionel Fontage, “Foreign Direct Investment and International Trade: Compliments or Substitutes,” Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Working Paper 199/3, October 1999.

  CHAPTER 3: TARIFFS AND TRAINS

  62 Ben Forster, A Conjunction of Interests: Business, Politics and Tariffs, 1825–1879 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1986), 190.

  63 Michael Bliss, Northern Enterprise: Five Centuries of Canadian Business (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 251.

  64 Ben Forster, A Conjunction of Interests (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1986), 190.

  65 Gordon Laxer, Open for Business: The Roots of Foreign Ownership in Canada (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1989). Also Tom Naylor, The History of Canadian Business 1867–1914, Volume I, The banks and finance capital (Toronto: James Lorimer & Company, 1975).

  66 Glen Williams, Not for Export: Towards a Political Economy of Canada’s Arrested Industrialization (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 21.

  67 Ibid., 19.

  68 Ibid., 48.

  69 Ibid.

  70 Ibid., 27.

  71 Gordon Laxer, Open for Business (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1989).

  72 Ibid.

  73 Glen Williams, Not for Export (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 70.

  74 Michael Bliss, Northern Enterprise (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 510.

  75 Ibid., 580.

  76 Roger L. Martin and Michael E. Porter, “Canadian Competitiveness: A Decade after the Crossroads,” National Post series on Competitive-ness, 2001.

  77 Elizabeth Church and Keith McArthur, “How to Raise Your Game,” Globe and Mail, October 17, 2005.

  78 Glen Williams, Not for Export (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 20.

  79 Michael Bliss, Northern Enterprise (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 311.

  80 Interview with Joseph H. Hirshhorn, conducted by Paul Cumming, New York, December 16, 1976, Smithsonian archives of American art.

  CHAPTER 4: THE MILK MAFIA

  81 Frederic Tomesco, “Saputo Hints at Expansion to Boost International Sales,” Bloomberg News in Globe and Mail, November 18, 2005.

  82 International Trade Canada, epm trq Imports Summary Control Year: 2006, aprmt61, November 15, 2006, 5.

  83 “The Top 1000 Banks,” The Banker, Vol. 155, No. 953, July 2005.

  84 Sinclair Stewart, “Cash-rich BMO Boosts Dividend Pay-out,” Globe and Mail, May 25, 2006.

  85 Andrew Sharpe, “What Explains the Canada-U.S. ict Investment Gap?” Centre for the Study of Living Standards, International Productivity Monitor, Fall 2005.

  86 Eric Reguly, “ HSBC a Shining Example of How We Missed the Boat,” Globe and Mail, December 8, 2005.

  87 Michael Bliss, Northern Enterprise (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 277.

  88 The Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, “Competition in the Public Interest: Large Bank Mergers in Canada,” Sixth Report, December 2002.

  89 John Turley-Ewart, “The Problem with Merger Hype,” National Post, July 26, 2005.

  90 Peter C. Newman, “Towers of Power,” Report on Business, November 2005, 85.

  91 Peter C. Newman, The Canadian Establishment: The Acquisitors, Vol. 2 (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1975), 300.

  92 Allan Levine, The Exchange: 100 Years of Trading Grain in Winnipeg (Winnipeg: Peguis Publishers, 1987), 19.

  93 sparks Companies Inc., The Canadian Barley Industry in Transition: A Study for Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, December 2003.

  94 Steven Chase, “Income Trusts: Party’s Over,” Globe and Mail, November 1, 2006, A1.

  95 Eric Reguly, “Feds Don’t Have the Will to Halt Income Trust Train,” Globe and Mail, September 10, 2005.

  96 Robert Bothwell and William Kilbourn, C.D. Howe: A Biography (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1979), 220.

  97 Allan Levine, The Exchange (Winnipeg: Peguis Publishers, 1987), 79.

  98 Ibid., 31.

  CHAPTER 5: WHY MEXICANS DON’T DRINK MOLSON

  99 Robin Taylor, “BCI’s Misadventures in Latin America,” National Post, August 8, 2002.

  100 Ibid.

  101 Tyler Hamilton, “Retreat from Brazil: How Montreal Entrepreneur Charles Sirois Got a Close-up Look at the ‘Seamy-underbelly’ of Brazil’s Telecom World,” Toronto Star, April 5, 2003.

  102 Paul Brent, Lager Heads: Labatt and Molson Face Off For Canada’s Beer Money (Toronto: HarperCollins, 2004) 160, 163.

  CHAPTER 6: TEAM CANADA AND TEQUILA

  103 Glen Williams, Not for Export: Towards a Political Economy of Canada’s Arrested Industrialization (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987), 77.

  104 Richard Fahey, ed., Report on Trade, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 2003.

  105 Andrew Griffith, “From a Trading Nation to a Nation of Trades: Toward a Second Century of Canadian Trade Development,” External Affairs and International Trade Canada, Policy Planning Staff Paper No. 92/95, 1992.

  106 Ibid., 67.

  107 Ibid., 64.

  CHAPTER 7: DRAGON SLAYERS

  108 Craig Wong, “Takeover Will Speed Growth, Intrawest Says,” Globe and Mail, November 2, 2006.

  CHAPTER 8: MULTICULTURAL MEAL TICKET

  109 Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, “The Role of Asian Ethnic Business Associations in Canada,” Canada Asia Commentary, No. 35, April 2005.

  110 Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, “Vancouver as an Asian City,” Canada Asia Commentary, No. 24, May 2002.

  111 Michael Szonyi, “Asian-Canadians and Canada’s International Relations,” Canada in Asia, Foreign Policy Dialogue Series (Vancouver: Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, November 2003), 7.

  112 Shiboa Guo and Don J. DeVortez, “Chinese Immigrants in Vancouver: Quo Vadis?” Research on Immigration and Integration in the Metropolis, Vancouver Centre of Excellence, Working Paper Series No. 05-20, October 2005, updated February 2006.


  113 Clifford Krause, “Some Skilled Foreigners Find Jobs Scarce in Canada,” New York Times, June 5, 2006.

  114 The Conference Board of Canada, “Performance and Potential 2004–2005: How Can Canada Prosper in Tomorrow’s World?” (Ottawa: 2004).

  115 Michael Posner, “The Invisible Man,” Report on Business, June 2005, 34.

  116 David Ley and Audrey Kobayashi, “Back to Hong Kong: Return Migration or Transnational Sojourn?” Research on Immigration and Integration in the Metropolis, Vancouver Centre of Excellence, Working Paper Series, No. 05-09, April 2005.

  117 Ibid.

  118 James Bagnall, “High Tech’s Immigrant Success,” Toronto Star, July 28, 1997, C5.

  CHAPTER 9: THE MEXICAN LUNCH

  119 td Economics, “Canadian Business Goes Global for Growth, Globalization: Peril or Panacea for Canadian Business,” td Bank Financial Group, June 14, 2004, i.

  120 KPMG, “Emerging Markets: The Canadian Experience in India,” November 2005.

  121 Kindly furnished by William Polushin, president of Amaxis Inc., during an interview in Montreal in June 2004.

  122 Paul Brent, Lager Heads: Labatt and Molson Face Off for Canada’s Beer Money (Toronto: HarperCollins, 2004), 159.

  123 Laurel McLean, Repatriation Practices in Canadian Energy Companies: A Case of Lost Opportunities, University of Calgary, Faculty of Education, December 2003.

  124 Michael Brick, “A Developer Back From the Brink,” New York Times, February 21, 2003.