More Walmarts in Canada: good or bad?
It seems everyday there’s a new, big-bad corporate piñata for the world to beat on.
AIG is fulla crooks. Toyota knew it was killing drivers. They’re all saints compared to Madoff!
And while there’s absolute merit in each of those attacks, no one takes it worse and more often than the Cruella de Vil of fat cat conglomerates: Walmart.
Anti-Walmart sentiment isn’t hard to find anywhere – see Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price – and it’s sure to rear its head again after today’s news the superstore will open 35 to 40 centres in Canada later this year.
The Canadian Press reports the world’s largest retailer won’t reveal the specific locations until a few months from now, but the new enterprises will add to the 70,000 Canucks it employs already.
According to Walmart’s estimates, up to 6,500 jobs in retail/construction will be created by the openings.
Now, it’s interesting to speculate how this will all play out. Normally, “Walmart is evil!” sentiment spews pretty viciously from an announcement like this, with sceptics chastising the retail giant for the collapse of local manufacturing and subsequent rise in overseas production.
But, this is still the tail-end of a pretty vicious recession. Unemployment continues to hover near 9-10% in many areas of the country, and people need to work: bottom line. (Note how Walmart and other labour whipping boys always lead their releases now with “will create X-thousand” jobs, where once that info was absent.)
So, will Canadians leave the retailer be and let it open its stores without backlash?
Uh, maybe not.
“They will keep building ‘em, if you keep buying from ‘em!” writes Scotma on a CBC comment board filled with anti-Walmart opinion. “Who cares about screwing local Canadian businesses and employment standards when you can save a few pennies buying crap made in China at Walmart!”
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Bill Greene | Feb 26, 2022 8:33:35 AM
To Imaguest: I was also born and raised here and I'm glad the US beat us in hockey in the juniors and I hope they beat us again in the olympics.
Posted by: vera | Feb 26, 2022 11:53:41 AM
What gives?
How many Canadian stores are there in U.S.A.?
Smarten up Canadians.
Let's do what the Americans do, Keep our companys thriving, not dying.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 26, 2022 1:12:33 PM
ok not to be rude...but the first person who posted and said thanks to wal-mart...you don't understand, i'm not the only one who has been screwed over...I flocked to the opportunity I thought that wal-mart was giving out when they opened a supercentre near my area, only to find out oh my if only you knew what's it is like once your in...It's horrible, they don't care about you they work you to nothing for nothing...you get sick and they won't give you the time to get better...I ask for a leave of absence after 17 months of hard work for them to do my co-op for college, they denied it telling me education wasn't important enough...that's bulls***, they should have said oh your leaving us short-handed for the summer, now we have to train someone and I even asked to go back in september so i can help them with there christmas rush and that...trust me wal-mart is not good and they don't promote Canada at all, they don't care for us that's why they bring up american managers and that to watch the contruction and processes it goes to open one up here...they are like the asian carp fish in the states, once there in the water nothing survives and right now, this country is getting worse because were losing so much to big-box stores who only help short-term solutions become long-term problems....don't be fooled for that yellow smiley face, it's full of evil in the inside doing it's best to take your money from you by offering low prices...I'm studying retail in school and if only they let you guys know about the illegal practices they've been involved in...look at the one million women that sued or the wal-mart that just closed up in quebec because a union was brought in then went 30km down the road...don't be fooled Canada, Please don't be fooled I hope this recession has taught every person living comfortably & in the box that the sun doesn't always shine in the "sahara dessert" for everyone and i hope there well dries up soon, capalism is all that exists when wal-mart is in your town... Are govenrment loves them only because it's dollars of beautiful corporate tax that they enjoy and now with the HST..Good Luck Canada, I Love this country but I have nothing left but tears for it....
Posted by: thomas jenks | Feb 26, 2022 1:52:17 PM
Don i agree with you , i was born in canada, both my parents were american , i had a duel citizen ship sure happy i stayed here , what a wonderfull country, best of everything . those who bad mouth it should leave , whats keeping them here, just maybe they love it to
Posted by: Chris | Feb 26, 2022 2:36:55 PM
to imaguesnt or whatever.... honestly what are you thinking? I know there isn't that many canadians anymore living in Canada but don't insult the very country that gave you your start...if it wasn't for this country, you would be starting in the U.S. buck naked living in a shelter out of cardboard boxes...you definetly have made me laugh...Go Canada Go, I hope that we win the gold medal just like we did yesterday against Who?...i'm not trying to make it personal or be rude (trust me I come from a good background), but this is a growing problem were so diverse to the point that no one really is for Canada anymore, it's just somewhere where you dump your s*** and go on with the day unless there pressured to say something or backed into a corner on a question about the country or there identity is under attack because there agenda is somewhere else... anyway keeping wal-mart in mind, don't let your pride take over you as most of you know the real truth, the problem is so many make over 55,000 because they were brought up in the old ways and that's why it's so hard to make a point because they don't see how it really is now a days for a lot of us who make under 30,000 ...we have chevrolet and bell commerials that show where are brains are and that's only for areselves, ashame I was born in the 80's and miss how the 50's and 60's were, freedom of being you and not having to worry about being judged for what you have( F***ing bulls*** that jhonny/sally has a boat so we have to go out and buy a boat, who gives a flying f*** I rather save the money and go buy 14 cans of soup so my children can eat for 2 weeks, come on folks)...remember, it's great to be a winner but it's better to be a good loser.... have a good weekend all...
Posted by: Don | Feb 26, 2022 3:21:08 PM
Go Canada!!!!!
Posted by: Lisa | Feb 26, 2022 4:16:38 PM
Hi Chris. I posted that. RELAX. I just happen to enjoy shopping at Walmart. It's not the ONLY place I shop but I DO enjoy shopping there...like millions of others...as the store is always packed on Saturdays when I show up.
As for your employer NOT caring about your education. Who cares?? Just apply somewhere else and don't work there. Walmart is not the only company who hires low-wage workers. However, it's NOT MY responsibility to NOT shop there just to "act" as your employer. Do you understand that statement?
You know...the main reason I will take the USA over Canada any day of the week is because you get your own CHOICES in the USA for just about everything. Yes, I have to be RESPONSIBLE for MY choices, but I'm an adult, so I'm o.k. with that. In Canada, every time something goes wrong we have to blame someone else. Grow up. If you're over 19 in this country, I"m told WE'RE ADULTS.