Cost Trumps Patriotism in Flag Pin Flap

[paineinthearse]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=4&u=/nm/20050203/od_nm/odd_canada_lapel_dc

Cost Trumps Patriotism in Flag Pin Flap

Thu Feb 3,10:42 AM ET

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The next time a Canadian official hands you a lapel pin bearing an image of the country's maple leaf flag, take a closer look. That symbol of patriotism was likely made in China. Opposition legislator Charlie Angus attacked the Liberal government on Wednesday for ordering millions of "inferior quality" pins from a Chinese supplier rather than the Canadian factory that has been making them for 35 years. "They are selling off our cultural heritage like a bunch of roadside hucksters selling off hubcaps and velvet Elvis paintings," Angus told Parliament.

Public Works Minister Scott Brison, whose department buys the pins, said the Chinese pins were cheaper. But this did not satisfy Angus, a member of the left-leaning New Democrats. "We're outsourcing the fundamental symbol of what Canada is to a foreign country. I think that's a scandal," he told reporters. Canadian officials and members of Parliament traditionally hand out the pins as presents. Transport Minister Jean Lapierre said that to demand maple leaf pins be made by Canadian suppliers was bad policy for a country so dependent on international trade.

"I think we need to follow our procurement rules rather than falling into an existential crisis on this subject," he told reporters.

[Sweet Pea]

1. Crazy world. n/t

[Spazito]

2. The update is that the pins given out by politicians...

will now be made by a Canadian company. Good decision, imo. There are times when cost should not be the only criteria for contracts and this is certainly one that should go 'local' and not be outsourced.

[arikara]

3. Thanks for the good news.

The governments have to stop this outsourcing crap. I'm of the opinion that it should be against the law for governments to outsource anything out of their jurisdictions. They are governing for the people and if they can support something that provides jobs for the people then they should even if it costs more. They will get it back in taxes anyhow.