There is great news out of the USA today. Their manufacturing sector has added jobs for two consecutive years, the first time this has happened since 1997. Manufacturing jobs peaked in the USA at 19.6 million jobs in 1979, and is still 40% off of that figure, however the USA is still a manufacturing powerhouse, second only to China in manufacturing exports. Before the crash, exports of manufactured goods from the USA peaked at $1.095 trillion, before falling to $800 billion in 2008. They have now recovered to $1.074 trillion.

What is good for the USA is good for Canada, because we are their largest trading partner, and we import 19% of those manufactured goods. During the past year our imports from the USA have increased by 12.3% to almost $20 billion PM, and our exports are up year on year by 16.5% to almost $27 billion.

We are in election season in the USA, and we hear daily from the GOP candidates how terrible things are, and indeed their unemployment numbers are way worse than ours. It is apparent however that they are definitely in recovery which is good for Canada, and as a manufacturing region, it will be good for C-K.

So when we hear of rumoured expansion, and new companies coming to C-K, I am inclined to believe it. I know we had bad news this week about Ducana, but I am confident we are turning the corner.

So raise your glasses to a great new year in C-K

Really enjoying all of your posts Michael!

Micheal, before we get our hopes up too high for the auto industry with these figures, let’s remember that both China and India introduced their own auto assembly plants last year. The reason? Because they were tired of paying the high price for foreign made cars. The new car from China will/would sell in North America for under $6,000.
However, I am not a pessimist. I believe we can sell a lot more to China than what we currently do, which is why Mr. Harper is over there. I also applaud Mr. Hope for his trip and think it is well worth the cost if he even got Chatham-Kent mentioned as being employer friendly.
Like you, I read a lot. What I found of great interest was the number of acres the Chinese are buying in North America to grow crops. How fantastic would it be if they revitalized our fruit orchards and built canning plants in Chatham-Kent?
We need to show potential partners in China, and around the world, that Chatham-Kent has a lot to offer!

I absolutely agree, Michael!
It is not all gloom and doom, but our leaders need to look at emerging markets, and it seems like they are doing just that. Last year, the Chinese committed billions to developing shale oil in Alberta, and for long term, assuring many Canadians work. Let’s hope this trend continues and that Chatham-Kent sees some of their long term investment stratagies implemented here.