VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - With so many Canadians heading south of the border to shop, the
Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce is looking into why some goods are so much cheaper in the US than in Canada.
David Hull with the Chamber says, "there's a real dramatic difference in pricing between Canada and the United States on identical items, at identical stores, owned by identical corporations."
He says that's sending shoppers south, which is frustrating for local businesses and the Chamber is now looking at why there is a disparity.
"Stuff that's made in China, brought in a container, one ship turns at Seattle, one ship turns at Vancouver, and somehow there's a 20 to 30 per cent price difference when the Canadian dollar has been so close to parity for the past year. Let's call it what it is."
Hull says it's a big and complex issue that affects the entire country. He says the shop local mentality is gone, and if prices are cheaper, Canadians will keep heading south to take advantage of the deals.