Rip and Ship

I came across this passage in a letter to the editor last night regarding the CETA,  "At an August conference, a senator from France perplexedly asked why Canadians export raw resources. He does not understand why we “rip and ship” resources rather than exporting profitable value-added goods". It was the phrase rip and ship that caught my attention as it vividly sums up the Conservatives resource policy.

Now I understand nations such as the US and China wanting to purchase raw bitumen, ore and wood in order to create much needed jobs at home, I just wish our government had the same concern for domestic jobs. Does anyone think for a minute that China and the US would refuse to buy our refined and value added products such as crude, lumber and refined metals, resources that they have a great thirst for, I don't.  

While it is true that it is difficult to build new refineries here in Canada it isn't impossible, it merely takes the political will to do so. Something Harper has displayed on many fronts usually to the detriment of Canadians. Here is a project that as part of an integrated strategy of maximizing our rate of return on our natural resources and creating Canadian jobs that would actually be of benefit and  one I believe could be easily sold to the public. But alas Harper's neoliberal fervour won't permit him to even consider it, instead we will continue to rip and ship