Canada has a corporate diversity problem

RE: Canada

I just arrived back home in Canada, having spent a delightful winter abroad. Returning home is always such a pleasure, because you get to see it through fresh eyes. But as I passed through a half-dozen cities on my way home from the airport, I was reminded of what our nation has become: Tim Hortons, Walmart, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, TD Bank, repeat.

I’ve driven across Canada five times now, and two things strike me every time: I see less wildlife, less diversity of enterprise. Whether it’s in big cities like Calgary, Vancouver, or Toronto, or in smaller ones like Cambridge, Brandon, or Victoria, it’s always the same: Kelseys, Starbucks, Esso, Subway, RBC, Harveys, repeat.

Why don’t our governments, at all levels, make it far more difficult for multinational corporations to siphon resources out of our local communities? If our leaders also made it easier for local businesses to flourish, we could enjoy a diversity in our economy that matches what we see already on our streets and in our schools.

It’s what makes Canada such a lovely place to call home. Jared Brock, Guelph