OOOOhh que l'histoire sera longue...
Je viens d'arriver à Brock, c'est déprimant de passer d'une merveilleuse métropole à une si petite ville...
Pour etre honnête j'ai une présentation en anglais demain et j'ai pas réellement commencé ... donc je vais me contenter de vous fournir ce petit teaser en video, bien amusant, histoire de vous donner l'eau à la bouche...
La bise !
dimanche 29 novembre 2009
mardi 24 novembre 2009
Photos - Toronto
Un peu dans le rush avant mon départ a Chicago ce jeudi, je vais me contenter de publier ces quelques photos assez expressives sur mon dernier week-end à Toronto
DISPONIBLE SANS IDENTIFICATION ICI :
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=143188&id=514728507&l=47bc7db8a2
La bise
lundi 23 novembre 2009
Un week end à Toronto
cliquer pour agrandir
Un week end tout simplement génial...
Situé en plein centre ville, au 28ème étage de cette tour, j'ai passé 2 jours merveilleux...
Je vous raconte ca dès demain soir... un peu de patience :D
samedi 21 novembre 2009
Absenteism - Part 1
Voici une première partie de mon devoir en RH rendue ce jeudi. Je vous invite à lire en particulier ces quelques lignes sur l'absentéisme en France... hallucinant !
Absenteeism in France is defined as an unjustified absence from work. Since the instillation of the 35 hour work week, the French have developed the reputation for being the European champion of absenteeism since the rate has never stop increasing, up until 2006.
Rate of absenteeism
According to the CNAM, in France, $246 million in sick leave have been paid. In five years, compensated sick days increased by 46 percent. (L'absentéisme en entreprise - Docteur Vincent Bonnio)
The cost estimation for each firm is about: 1 percent of absenteeism cost = 1 percent of the wage bill.
7.2 days are lost in France on 100 days worked. More precisely, the daily allowances represent 16 days per year for employees, against 3.5 days per year for managers.
Generally, 20 percent of the population have already been in a sick leave. Plus, the experts estimate that 20 percent of the sick leaves are not justified. (Gijs Martens- Les chiffres de l'absentéisme dans la fonction publique flamande) Employees working for public function or territorial functions used to be more absent than persons from private: 13.4 percent vs. 5.8 percent. This can be explained by the fact that in the public function job security is more important than in private firms. In fact, it's more difficult to fire or sanction someone in a public organization than in private firm. (Monique Picquot-Michel - 30 decembre 2007 - L'absentéisme en France )
Concerning, the duration, 53 percent of sick leave are for more than 30days. The number of sick leave days are most important for employees who are between 50-54 years old: 26 percent, followed by the 45-49: 24.4 percent and the 40-44: 23.4 percent. "The young people accept more easily the new time hours”. (Monique Picquot-Michel - 30 decembre 2007 - L'absentéisme en France)
From 1997 to 2002, the number of daily allowances for disease increased approximately to 34 percent. (source: CNAM)
However, at the end of 2003, this tendency was reversed and the number of daily allowances fell by 8.5 percent between 2003 and 2005. Although, the cost was still very expensive: 7.4 milliards € /year.
Over the next three years, France, according to the report of the PricewaterhouseCoopers audit, drop 0.9 point, from 5.4 to 4.5 percent in 2006 and the European average rate around 4 percent. The ranking puts France in first place, followed by Germany (4.4 percent), Belgium and the Iberian peninsula (4.1 percent), the United Kingdom (3.9 percent) and Italy (3 percent) (Source: report of the cabinet of audit and PricewaterhouseCoopers council).( Pricewaterhouscoopers - European Human Capital effectiveness - 2007)
In 2007, the French absentee rate would amount to 3.69 percent (either 13.5 days of absence on average per salaries), which suggests that the statistics are improving year over year. But, some experts think the statistics are not relevant and estimate a rate of about 7 percent.
In some surveys, France surpasses Western countries. In the other, it is third after Spain and Italy. The problem is this absenteeism rate is also confirmed in the local balance sheets of the multinationals. For example, Veolia has an absentee rate of 6 percent, but of 8 percent in its French subsidiary companies. (Barometer of the absenteeism in France of Alma Consulting Group - Eco 89 - 10/04/09)
The French ranking is one of the worst in Europe. The main reasons are for 25 percent due to muscle-skeletal problems; for 15 percent related to mental disorders and behaviour; and for 10 percent for the traumatic lesions ones. (Annual report 2003 of the CNAM)
Thus, stress is not the main reason but costs 370 millions of Euros each year only for person absents due to stress. (L'absentéisme en entreprise - Docteur Vincent Bonnio)
Seasonal/Cyclical
According to Medica Europe, 54 percent of unjustified absenteeism is during the day after the week end or a bank holiday. (Medica europe statistiques) Statistics show that 2.5 million employees do not report to work the day after Christmas, claiming to be sick. That cost per person is between 160 and 180€ per day. Some researchers found that the third Monday of January is the day where people are the most absent: First, it used to be a day of conscious about all the bad resolutions taken during the first of January.
Second it used to be a very bad weather, cold and cloudy. Third, it used to be a day where people recall Christmas' debts, and lost motivation. (Video : France 2 - Video - 09/01/09 ) For information, the recent Flu H1N1 are involve until 30 percent of absenteeism in some French cities as Lyon. (Video : La grippe A estimée à 25% d’absentéisme à Lyon)
Absenteeism in France is defined as an unjustified absence from work. Since the instillation of the 35 hour work week, the French have developed the reputation for being the European champion of absenteeism since the rate has never stop increasing, up until 2006.
Rate of absenteeism
According to the CNAM, in France, $246 million in sick leave have been paid. In five years, compensated sick days increased by 46 percent. (L'absentéisme en entreprise - Docteur Vincent Bonnio)
The cost estimation for each firm is about: 1 percent of absenteeism cost = 1 percent of the wage bill.
7.2 days are lost in France on 100 days worked. More precisely, the daily allowances represent 16 days per year for employees, against 3.5 days per year for managers.
Generally, 20 percent of the population have already been in a sick leave. Plus, the experts estimate that 20 percent of the sick leaves are not justified. (Gijs Martens- Les chiffres de l'absentéisme dans la fonction publique flamande) Employees working for public function or territorial functions used to be more absent than persons from private: 13.4 percent vs. 5.8 percent. This can be explained by the fact that in the public function job security is more important than in private firms. In fact, it's more difficult to fire or sanction someone in a public organization than in private firm. (Monique Picquot-Michel - 30 decembre 2007 - L'absentéisme en France )
Concerning, the duration, 53 percent of sick leave are for more than 30days. The number of sick leave days are most important for employees who are between 50-54 years old: 26 percent, followed by the 45-49: 24.4 percent and the 40-44: 23.4 percent. "The young people accept more easily the new time hours”. (Monique Picquot-Michel - 30 decembre 2007 - L'absentéisme en France)
From 1997 to 2002, the number of daily allowances for disease increased approximately to 34 percent. (source: CNAM)
However, at the end of 2003, this tendency was reversed and the number of daily allowances fell by 8.5 percent between 2003 and 2005. Although, the cost was still very expensive: 7.4 milliards € /year.
Over the next three years, France, according to the report of the PricewaterhouseCoopers audit, drop 0.9 point, from 5.4 to 4.5 percent in 2006 and the European average rate around 4 percent. The ranking puts France in first place, followed by Germany (4.4 percent), Belgium and the Iberian peninsula (4.1 percent), the United Kingdom (3.9 percent) and Italy (3 percent) (Source: report of the cabinet of audit and PricewaterhouseCoopers council).( Pricewaterhouscoopers - European Human Capital effectiveness - 2007)
In 2007, the French absentee rate would amount to 3.69 percent (either 13.5 days of absence on average per salaries), which suggests that the statistics are improving year over year. But, some experts think the statistics are not relevant and estimate a rate of about 7 percent.
In some surveys, France surpasses Western countries. In the other, it is third after Spain and Italy. The problem is this absenteeism rate is also confirmed in the local balance sheets of the multinationals. For example, Veolia has an absentee rate of 6 percent, but of 8 percent in its French subsidiary companies. (Barometer of the absenteeism in France of Alma Consulting Group - Eco 89 - 10/04/09)
The French ranking is one of the worst in Europe. The main reasons are for 25 percent due to muscle-skeletal problems; for 15 percent related to mental disorders and behaviour; and for 10 percent for the traumatic lesions ones. (Annual report 2003 of the CNAM)
Thus, stress is not the main reason but costs 370 millions of Euros each year only for person absents due to stress. (L'absentéisme en entreprise - Docteur Vincent Bonnio)
Seasonal/Cyclical
According to Medica Europe, 54 percent of unjustified absenteeism is during the day after the week end or a bank holiday. (Medica europe statistiques) Statistics show that 2.5 million employees do not report to work the day after Christmas, claiming to be sick. That cost per person is between 160 and 180€ per day. Some researchers found that the third Monday of January is the day where people are the most absent: First, it used to be a day of conscious about all the bad resolutions taken during the first of January.
Second it used to be a very bad weather, cold and cloudy. Third, it used to be a day where people recall Christmas' debts, and lost motivation. (Video : France 2 - Video - 09/01/09 ) For information, the recent Flu H1N1 are involve until 30 percent of absenteeism in some French cities as Lyon. (Video : La grippe A estimée à 25% d’absentéisme à Lyon)
jeudi 19 novembre 2009
Invraisamblable
" votre carte a été bloquée (code RCMS 55) le 12 112009 à 15 h09 lors d'un retrait à l'étranger ."
MAIS BIEN SUR ! en plein cours de GLOBAL BUSINESS !
Que dois je faire sincérement ?
1) Changer de banque
2) Crier au scandale
3) Laisser tomber, et attendre que tout s'arrange
MAIS BIEN SUR ! en plein cours de GLOBAL BUSINESS !
Que dois je faire sincérement ?
1) Changer de banque
2) Crier au scandale
3) Laisser tomber, et attendre que tout s'arrange
mercredi 18 novembre 2009
Money Money Money !
Il y a environ trois semaines, j'avais rencontré un problème au niveau de mes retraits :
" Veuillez contacter votre institution financière" m'affichait l'écran du distributeur.
Serein, j'avais patienter quelques jours pour pouvoir de nouveau retirer sans problème, mais sans explications... je n'avais pourtant pas atteint le seuil maximum de retrait.
Bref, il y a exactement 1 semaine, je tente de réitérer l'expérience et m'approche du distributeur, y insère ma carte, compose mon code ... et là :
CONTACT YOUR BANK...
J'essaie alors, comme lors de la première fois, sur un autre distributeur :
CONTACT YOUR BANK ...
Puis encore un autre :
CONTACT YOUR BANK...
AIE AIE AIE, ca craint, ca recommence...qu'est ce que j'ai fait ? combien de temps vais-je devoir attendre cette fois ci...
Les jours passent, et lors de ma précédente expérience j'avais réussi ,malgré tout, à acheter en magasin, mais cette fois ci : IMPOSSIBLE !
Vous m'imaginez, moi , devant la caissière, avec mes articles sans pouvoir payer...
"put** j'ai l'air de quoi la ? "
a) d'un co*
b) d'un pauvre
c) d'un imbécile
d) d'un pauvre touriste
Je rentre alors besogne de ces courses, et tente ,désespérément, d'acheter ONLINE mon billet pour Chicago.
Comme par magie : meme problème ONLINE !!! Impossible de valider ma carte !
Mes amis se proposent alors de payer mon billet pour Chicago ... et m'avancent généreusement l'argent : + de 300$ !
Dans cette situation délicate et sans solution d'autres amis m'avancent 260$ jusqu'aux prochaines nouvelles, qui n'ont d'ailleurs pas tardé :
Suite à une recherche du problème que vous rencontrez avec votre carte auprès du service carte du *******, celui ci nous a informé que votre carte est bloquée pour raison de code erroné.
La solution que nous pouvons vous donner est d' appeler le service mastercard au +33***** afin d'avoir un mandat cash, le temps que nous commandions une nouvelle carte pour vous la faire parvenir. (pour info, le déblocage de code dans un pays étranger est impossible).
Cordialement.
Oh punaise, c'est scandaleux ! Je crie à l'arnaque !
J'aurais donc composé 3 fois le mauvais codes !
Impossible, ca fait plus de 5 ans que c'est le même. Ca fait 2 semaines que je n'ai pas été en soirée, ou j'aurais pu éventuellement composé malencontreusement, dans un état second, 3 fois le mauvais code...
Et puis comment expliquent ils mes premières difficultés auparavant ?
bref ca sent le coup commercial ! Ou je ne sais pas ... mais dans cette histoire j'ai du virer des sous sur des comptes canadiens, suédois, et français, et tout ca, pour ma pomme... et pour le bonheur des banques : a 30$ le transfert c'est sur qu'elles se remplissent les poches après la crise !
18/11/2009 **com. Change/20196902 -16,21 €
18/11/2009 **com.interna/20196902 -33,91 €
18/11/2009 **com.interna/20197239 -3,50 €
Je suis scandalisé devant une telle situation. Je suis au canada, sans carte bleu, sans cash, et me vois emprunter des centaines de dollars auprès de mes amis... et personnellement je DETESTE avoir des dettes !
J'attends donc que ma prochaine carte arrive la semaine prochaine, une carte de retrait, et non de paiement, provenant d'une autre banque... en espérant qu'elle me joue pas des tours comme sa concurrente !
Enfin je terminerai cet article en faisant une petite remarque sur la dépendance que j'ai, que l'homme a, à sa carte bleu ! C'est fou comme les choses peuvent très vite mal tourner, quand un petit bout de plastique bicolore, avec une puce nous lâche du jour au lendemain !
La prochaine fois j'éviterai donc de partir avec une seule carte, et surtout avec une seconde qui expire pendant la période de mon séjour :D
La bise
" Veuillez contacter votre institution financière" m'affichait l'écran du distributeur.
Serein, j'avais patienter quelques jours pour pouvoir de nouveau retirer sans problème, mais sans explications... je n'avais pourtant pas atteint le seuil maximum de retrait.
Bref, il y a exactement 1 semaine, je tente de réitérer l'expérience et m'approche du distributeur, y insère ma carte, compose mon code ... et là :
CONTACT YOUR BANK...
J'essaie alors, comme lors de la première fois, sur un autre distributeur :
CONTACT YOUR BANK ...
Puis encore un autre :
CONTACT YOUR BANK...
AIE AIE AIE, ca craint, ca recommence...qu'est ce que j'ai fait ? combien de temps vais-je devoir attendre cette fois ci...
Les jours passent, et lors de ma précédente expérience j'avais réussi ,malgré tout, à acheter en magasin, mais cette fois ci : IMPOSSIBLE !
Vous m'imaginez, moi , devant la caissière, avec mes articles sans pouvoir payer...
"put** j'ai l'air de quoi la ? "
a) d'un co*
b) d'un pauvre
c) d'un imbécile
d) d'un pauvre touriste
Je rentre alors besogne de ces courses, et tente ,désespérément, d'acheter ONLINE mon billet pour Chicago.
Comme par magie : meme problème ONLINE !!! Impossible de valider ma carte !
Mes amis se proposent alors de payer mon billet pour Chicago ... et m'avancent généreusement l'argent : + de 300$ !
Dans cette situation délicate et sans solution d'autres amis m'avancent 260$ jusqu'aux prochaines nouvelles, qui n'ont d'ailleurs pas tardé :
Suite à une recherche du problème que vous rencontrez avec votre carte auprès du service carte du *******, celui ci nous a informé que votre carte est bloquée pour raison de code erroné.
La solution que nous pouvons vous donner est d' appeler le service mastercard au +33***** afin d'avoir un mandat cash, le temps que nous commandions une nouvelle carte pour vous la faire parvenir. (pour info, le déblocage de code dans un pays étranger est impossible).
Cordialement.
Oh punaise, c'est scandaleux ! Je crie à l'arnaque !
J'aurais donc composé 3 fois le mauvais codes !
Impossible, ca fait plus de 5 ans que c'est le même. Ca fait 2 semaines que je n'ai pas été en soirée, ou j'aurais pu éventuellement composé malencontreusement, dans un état second, 3 fois le mauvais code...
Et puis comment expliquent ils mes premières difficultés auparavant ?
bref ca sent le coup commercial ! Ou je ne sais pas ... mais dans cette histoire j'ai du virer des sous sur des comptes canadiens, suédois, et français, et tout ca, pour ma pomme... et pour le bonheur des banques : a 30$ le transfert c'est sur qu'elles se remplissent les poches après la crise !
18/11/2009 **com. Change/20196902 -16,21 €
18/11/2009 **com.interna/20196902 -33,91 €
18/11/2009 **com.interna/20197239 -3,50 €
Je suis scandalisé devant une telle situation. Je suis au canada, sans carte bleu, sans cash, et me vois emprunter des centaines de dollars auprès de mes amis... et personnellement je DETESTE avoir des dettes !
J'attends donc que ma prochaine carte arrive la semaine prochaine, une carte de retrait, et non de paiement, provenant d'une autre banque... en espérant qu'elle me joue pas des tours comme sa concurrente !
Enfin je terminerai cet article en faisant une petite remarque sur la dépendance que j'ai, que l'homme a, à sa carte bleu ! C'est fou comme les choses peuvent très vite mal tourner, quand un petit bout de plastique bicolore, avec une puce nous lâche du jour au lendemain !
La prochaine fois j'éviterai donc de partir avec une seule carte, et surtout avec une seconde qui expire pendant la période de mon séjour :D
La bise
dimanche 15 novembre 2009
Opinion Paper
" NAFTA IS GOOD FOR CANADA " Express your views on the assigne topic based on identification, intrepration, and intregration of concepts, as they relate to the given issue. Emphasis will be on clarity and depth of the though process.
Si vous avez des remarques, c'est à rendre cet après midi... donc n'hésitez pas à commenter je peux encore faire qq changements !
Voila ma critique, revue et corrigé.
We live in a globalized world where information and communication occupy a key place. We observe an interdependence increased on all the levels which corresponding globalization and regionalization of markets. In January 1994 Canada, Mexico and the United State decided, to increase collaboration and face the global market, they would agree to reduce trade barriers through the creation of North-American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA Secretariat Web Site). This agreement was supposed to improve the access to these three markets, to promote productivity, employment and increase "cooperation" between each partner. Given that the WTO allows the creation of free trade areas between nations, does the NAFTA, the world’s largest free trade area, have beneficial effects for the Canada?
I will try to answer to this question by giving my opinion with a first part concerning political reason, then I will deal with the economic repercussions. I will finish with the social consequences of NAFTA for Canada. .
NAFTA is not a simple agreement. Indeed, in order to be more competitive, more dynamic and more open, in the international scene, this alliance requires a harmonization of certain trade laws and practices of the tree members. By creating a harmonized alliance, these three countries can face the European Economic Union, the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation and other countries/alliances, in a united force. More precisely, the political goal of NAFTA is to stay competitive and push each of the members to work hand-in-hand. Thanks to this political agreement, NAFTA guarantees better access of Canadian products from Canada into the United States. Simply put, this means that "If I do get into a fight with the USA, I have access to the dispute settlement mechanisms in Chapter 11, 19 and 20 and that the USA cannot arbitrarily close to me". Plus, NAFTA harmonizes standards for trade in products and services and for customs purposes. In other words, my products are not subject to long waits at the border for customs and inspection. These all means more trade, faster trade and more economic benefits for Canada. This is one of the primary reasons why NAFTA is good for Canada. The implementation of NAFTA also led to significant increases in foreign direct investment between Canada and Mexico: "Since 1993, Canadian investment in Mexico has quadrupled to $2.2 billion in 1998." (NAFTA's impact. Foreign Affairs and international Trade Canada) creating new partnerships and relationships with Mexico. Nevertheless, I think that entering into this alliance can cause some troubles (currency depreciation, bad relationship, economic troubles...). But here Canada, USA and Mexico, manage the system through cooperation: They worked to control inflation, restructure, pay off their debts and stabilize their currencies. The political benefits can also be seen with the "Settlement of the disputes", which have resolved more than 50 disagreements (NAFTA à cinq ans. Department of foreign Affairs and international Trade). Thus, NAFTA was signed because it made political sense encouraged better cooperation and relations. Most importantly, it was signed for its positive economic implications."Canadian service exports to the United States rose by 64% to $26.7 billion, while imports from the United States increased by 24% to $32.2 billion" (NAFTA's impact. Foreign Affairs and international Trade)
According to the statistics published by the Office of the United States Trade
Representative, (March 2008) Canada has become the largest importer of US agricultural products and total trade between the U.S. and Canada. Reaching $562 billion in 2007, up from $534billion! (NAFTA cargo sets record in 2007 November 24, 2008 by Splatty) However NAFTA generated negative points. According to Food and Agriculture by R. Dennis Olson the net farm income fell by more than half, from $3.9 billion to $1.5 billion rising input costs and falling farm prices. "Canadian farm debt increased more than doubled from $22.5 billion to $54 billion. In the meantime, retail food prices climbed as farm prices fell" (Lessons from NAFTA: Food and Agriculture by R. Dennis Olson December 2, 2008)
In this circumstance, Canadian farmers and consumers have lost in this accord.
Excepted this negative point, Canada's trade between the partners had tripled to 903 billion dollars per year since 1994 and has also eliminated the high Mexican tariffs that traditionally existed on agricultural exports. NAFTA has also generated a greater variety of products. Furthermore, "Trade of commodities is not the only thing that has grown in response to NAFTA as Canada also has benefited from an increase of trade in services". (Canadian Benefits of NAFTA. Kwintesseential) In my opinion by reducing tariffs, Canada's trade increased partly because its businesses use products produced by Mexico where the life cost is cheaper. Investing in Mexico allows the companies to get cheap labour and let them save cost from high price of employment, salary and tax. But can NAFTA be blamed for Canada unemployment rate due to the delocalization of jobs to Mexico?
Actually, it is hard to say that NAFTA raised unemployment rates in Canada since many surveys, declarations and articles show differences results. In fact, several articles, authors and recent political people raise conflicting arguments about NAFTA and unemployment rates. For instance, Rich in 1997 provided statistics of unemployment rising “Because of the peso crisis and a lack of skill of workers". Brown in the Economist 1998 on the other hand, argues that the NAFTA created many new jobs in the country. (Nafta Revisisted, Gary Clyde Hufauer and Jeffrey J Schoot . 2005). The effects of NAFTA are, as we can see, complicated to quantify. I think the agreement has been in effect for too short time to know the real effects of the agreement, even if Gary Clyde Hufbauer and J Schott think that: “employment are less than promised by politicians and more than promised by pundits” (Nafta Revisisted, Gary Clyde Hufauer and Jeffrey J Schoot . 2005) My feeling is, this quotation reveals exactly what people have experienced in Canada : they expected more jobs due to NAFTA but in reality, and according to one book, employment increased in the NAFTA area approximately at about the same rate the population did from 12.7 to 15.7 million between 1993 and 2003 (Nafta Revisisted, Gary Clyde Hufauer and Jeffrey J Schoot . 2005)). In my point of view, NAFTA didn't involve loss of jobs but created some new opportunities for some people. In other words, I think that NAFTA, through this "more open market", is bringing corporations from three different national cultures together. More precisely with a market of 439 million people, companies from any of the three countries can generate and meet new needs for people, new cultural approaches and as a result produce new jobs. In addition, more Canadian companies are, since the agreement, investing (acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, strategic alliances) in USA or Mexico to penetrate new markets and acquire new resources. "Job growth associated with exports to Mexico is estimated at between 90,000 and 160,000" (NAFTA's impact. Foreign Affairs and internationalTradeCanada)
Finally, I believe that NAFTA not only contributes to the creation of more jobs and lower consumer prices through better competition, but also better trade relations among the three countries. It is a positive-sum game where Canada can find and share important resources with their partners for a better economy in all three countries.
The Canadian economy enjoys many benefits from this agreements and managed its trade relations with the United States and Mexico well over the years since 1994. Despite the increase of the Canadian farm debt, I believe this agreement is very auspicious for the future of Canada economy. This Free Trade Area has been for Canada a historical turning point. However NAFTA needs, in my point of view, more time for satisfy everybody in order to build this agreement more able to compete with the European Union or other Alliances.
Si vous avez des remarques, c'est à rendre cet après midi... donc n'hésitez pas à commenter je peux encore faire qq changements !
Voila ma critique, revue et corrigé.
We live in a globalized world where information and communication occupy a key place. We observe an interdependence increased on all the levels which corresponding globalization and regionalization of markets. In January 1994 Canada, Mexico and the United State decided, to increase collaboration and face the global market, they would agree to reduce trade barriers through the creation of North-American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA Secretariat Web Site). This agreement was supposed to improve the access to these three markets, to promote productivity, employment and increase "cooperation" between each partner. Given that the WTO allows the creation of free trade areas between nations, does the NAFTA, the world’s largest free trade area, have beneficial effects for the Canada?
I will try to answer to this question by giving my opinion with a first part concerning political reason, then I will deal with the economic repercussions. I will finish with the social consequences of NAFTA for Canada. .
NAFTA is not a simple agreement. Indeed, in order to be more competitive, more dynamic and more open, in the international scene, this alliance requires a harmonization of certain trade laws and practices of the tree members. By creating a harmonized alliance, these three countries can face the European Economic Union, the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation and other countries/alliances, in a united force. More precisely, the political goal of NAFTA is to stay competitive and push each of the members to work hand-in-hand. Thanks to this political agreement, NAFTA guarantees better access of Canadian products from Canada into the United States. Simply put, this means that "If I do get into a fight with the USA, I have access to the dispute settlement mechanisms in Chapter 11, 19 and 20 and that the USA cannot arbitrarily close to me". Plus, NAFTA harmonizes standards for trade in products and services and for customs purposes. In other words, my products are not subject to long waits at the border for customs and inspection. These all means more trade, faster trade and more economic benefits for Canada. This is one of the primary reasons why NAFTA is good for Canada. The implementation of NAFTA also led to significant increases in foreign direct investment between Canada and Mexico: "Since 1993, Canadian investment in Mexico has quadrupled to $2.2 billion in 1998." (NAFTA's impact. Foreign Affairs and international Trade Canada) creating new partnerships and relationships with Mexico. Nevertheless, I think that entering into this alliance can cause some troubles (currency depreciation, bad relationship, economic troubles...). But here Canada, USA and Mexico, manage the system through cooperation: They worked to control inflation, restructure, pay off their debts and stabilize their currencies. The political benefits can also be seen with the "Settlement of the disputes", which have resolved more than 50 disagreements (NAFTA à cinq ans. Department of foreign Affairs and international Trade). Thus, NAFTA was signed because it made political sense encouraged better cooperation and relations. Most importantly, it was signed for its positive economic implications."Canadian service exports to the United States rose by 64% to $26.7 billion, while imports from the United States increased by 24% to $32.2 billion" (NAFTA's impact. Foreign Affairs and international Trade)
According to the statistics published by the Office of the United States Trade
Representative, (March 2008) Canada has become the largest importer of US agricultural products and total trade between the U.S. and Canada. Reaching $562 billion in 2007, up from $534billion! (NAFTA cargo sets record in 2007 November 24, 2008 by Splatty) However NAFTA generated negative points. According to Food and Agriculture by R. Dennis Olson the net farm income fell by more than half, from $3.9 billion to $1.5 billion rising input costs and falling farm prices. "Canadian farm debt increased more than doubled from $22.5 billion to $54 billion. In the meantime, retail food prices climbed as farm prices fell" (Lessons from NAFTA: Food and Agriculture by R. Dennis Olson December 2, 2008)
In this circumstance, Canadian farmers and consumers have lost in this accord.
Excepted this negative point, Canada's trade between the partners had tripled to 903 billion dollars per year since 1994 and has also eliminated the high Mexican tariffs that traditionally existed on agricultural exports. NAFTA has also generated a greater variety of products. Furthermore, "Trade of commodities is not the only thing that has grown in response to NAFTA as Canada also has benefited from an increase of trade in services". (Canadian Benefits of NAFTA. Kwintesseential) In my opinion by reducing tariffs, Canada's trade increased partly because its businesses use products produced by Mexico where the life cost is cheaper. Investing in Mexico allows the companies to get cheap labour and let them save cost from high price of employment, salary and tax. But can NAFTA be blamed for Canada unemployment rate due to the delocalization of jobs to Mexico?
Actually, it is hard to say that NAFTA raised unemployment rates in Canada since many surveys, declarations and articles show differences results. In fact, several articles, authors and recent political people raise conflicting arguments about NAFTA and unemployment rates. For instance, Rich in 1997 provided statistics of unemployment rising “Because of the peso crisis and a lack of skill of workers". Brown in the Economist 1998 on the other hand, argues that the NAFTA created many new jobs in the country. (Nafta Revisisted, Gary Clyde Hufauer and Jeffrey J Schoot . 2005). The effects of NAFTA are, as we can see, complicated to quantify. I think the agreement has been in effect for too short time to know the real effects of the agreement, even if Gary Clyde Hufbauer and J Schott think that: “employment are less than promised by politicians and more than promised by pundits” (Nafta Revisisted, Gary Clyde Hufauer and Jeffrey J Schoot . 2005) My feeling is, this quotation reveals exactly what people have experienced in Canada : they expected more jobs due to NAFTA but in reality, and according to one book, employment increased in the NAFTA area approximately at about the same rate the population did from 12.7 to 15.7 million between 1993 and 2003 (Nafta Revisisted, Gary Clyde Hufauer and Jeffrey J Schoot . 2005)). In my point of view, NAFTA didn't involve loss of jobs but created some new opportunities for some people. In other words, I think that NAFTA, through this "more open market", is bringing corporations from three different national cultures together. More precisely with a market of 439 million people, companies from any of the three countries can generate and meet new needs for people, new cultural approaches and as a result produce new jobs. In addition, more Canadian companies are, since the agreement, investing (acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, strategic alliances) in USA or Mexico to penetrate new markets and acquire new resources. "Job growth associated with exports to Mexico is estimated at between 90,000 and 160,000" (NAFTA's impact. Foreign Affairs and internationalTradeCanada)
Finally, I believe that NAFTA not only contributes to the creation of more jobs and lower consumer prices through better competition, but also better trade relations among the three countries. It is a positive-sum game where Canada can find and share important resources with their partners for a better economy in all three countries.
The Canadian economy enjoys many benefits from this agreements and managed its trade relations with the United States and Mexico well over the years since 1994. Despite the increase of the Canadian farm debt, I believe this agreement is very auspicious for the future of Canada economy. This Free Trade Area has been for Canada a historical turning point. However NAFTA needs, in my point of view, more time for satisfy everybody in order to build this agreement more able to compete with the European Union or other Alliances.
samedi 14 novembre 2009
Travel
Finit les week ends à Saint Catherines enfermé à travailler ... la semaine prochaine j'ai l'intention d'aller chez un ami pour un week end et la semaine d'apres : direction CHICAGO
mercredi 11 novembre 2009
mardi 10 novembre 2009
Une reprise difficile
3 semaines sans sport... c'est du jamais vu ! et en toute logique j'ai souffert...
Une reprise difficile, souffle court, mal de ventre, mal au crane... je pense que la courte nuit de la veille m'a aussi pas mal affecté.
"Allez c'est la reprise c'est normal..."
Mais bon je n'aime pas me voir ainsi ... Il est temps de rentabiliser sa carte de fitness.
Avec ces nouveaux examens dans la foulée il faut que je prenne le temps de tout concilier, sinon je risque vraiment de le regretter...
Parfois je me dis que je ne profite pas comme il se doit de mon voyage au canada...mais bon je ferai le bilan à la fin...
Allez j'ai du boulot j'y retourne ;)
lundi 9 novembre 2009
Fond du gouffre
Ne remets pas au lendemain ce que tu peux faire le jour même
Voilà ce que m'a inculqué ma mère depuis que je suis tout petit et que je me suis toujours efforcé d'appliquer tout au long de ma vie...
Cependant après tous ces examens, je me suis pris 1 semaine... voir 2 semaines de break... Alors ce ne vous étonne pas si je ne vous dis qu aujourd'hui je suis en plein Rush :
2 disserts pour lundi + un partiel , et un contrôle jeudi...
La semaine s'annonce donc hard...
Je suis d'ailleurs à la library là et il est 2h50... la nuit va être courte...
A demain
Voilà ce que m'a inculqué ma mère depuis que je suis tout petit et que je me suis toujours efforcé d'appliquer tout au long de ma vie...
Cependant après tous ces examens, je me suis pris 1 semaine... voir 2 semaines de break... Alors ce ne vous étonne pas si je ne vous dis qu aujourd'hui je suis en plein Rush :
2 disserts pour lundi + un partiel , et un contrôle jeudi...
La semaine s'annonce donc hard...
Je suis d'ailleurs à la library là et il est 2h50... la nuit va être courte...
A demain
dimanche 8 novembre 2009
Jusqu'à la dernière minute
Brock rencontrait ce samedi l'équipe d'ottawa...
Le choc a accouché d'un match exceptionnel, spectaculaire et à rebondissements !
Une fois rentré dans l'arène vous comprenez rapidement que le niveau est plutôt élevé : DJ / sono / supportrices / banderoles / entrée à 5$ ... bref, la réputation que s'est forgée Brock sur ses qualités sportives est donc confirmée : le spectacle est à la hauteur d'une équipe semi pro...
L'échauffement est en public, sonorisé par 300 décibels de sono.
Après quelques galipettes de la part des pompom girls et l'hymne nationale canadien (si si je vous assure), Brock rentre en jeu et fait bonne impression pendant son premier quart temps. Ottawa réagit rapidement sans se laisser dépasser par le score ...
On assiste alors à une course poursuite au tableau d'affichage puisqu'aucune des 2 équipes ne parvient à devancer son adversaire. L'écart n'est jamais plus de 2 points.
Le match est palpitant, le show me rappelle les quelques films dans lesquelles ont aperçois des images de Show à l'américaine...
En effet, les temps morts et mi temps sont comblés par l'intervention des groupies :
Le match maintient son intensité après le retour des vestiaires.
Brock a cependant du mal à se remettre dedans et se fait alors devancer de 6
points. Un temps mort est ,par conséquent, demandé.
Les boulons sont resserres et voilà brock qui recolle au score quelques minutes plus tard.
On approche alors des dernières instants de jeu.
Il reste 50 secondes de jeu et le tableau affiche un score en défaveur de Brock :
La tension est palpable et le public retient son souffle à chaque shoot !
" DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE " crient les supporters de Ottawa.
Les tentatives ne mènent à rien et l'ensemble des supporters à du mal à croire à une victoire...
Quand soudain, un tire 3 points sorti de nul part, permet à l'équipe de recoller et dépasser Ottawa alors qu'il reste à peine 12 secondes de jeu !
"NO WAY "
Le public n'y croit pas, les 12 dernières secondes de jeu sont excitantes et on craint qu'Ottawa ne tente un tire à 3 points...
Et pourtant, alors qu'il reste à peine 5 secondes de jeu un dernier "shoot" est effectué, probablement le plus de long de la partie, aussi bien en terme de seconde d'apnée que de seconde en suspension... La balle se voit alors frôler l'arceau et retomber quelques mètres plus loin...
Soulagement général... Brock l'emporte alors avec 2 points d'avance sur Ottawa !
Ce fut grandiose, intense, sensationnelle... un vrai spectacle sportif !