There’s always narrative when it comes to restaurants in Canada deciding not to use Canadian beef and there’s always two sides to every story. Canada has high standards when it comes to their beef production, but recent advertising tactics by restaurants promote “no hormones added,” etc… Which Canadian cattle might receive vaccines or other shots, but the remnants of them must be out of the animal’s system before it is processed.
So, the marketing ploy in essence simply hurts the Canadian cattle industry and is based on bogus “facts.” A little research makes this evident. Additionally, when animals aren’t vaccinated, if they do get sick… then what? Is it not more humane to vaccinate and try to ensure a healthy animal than not vaccinating them and making that animal more susceptible to a disease?
The other day on Facebook, Brad Wall, called out a restaurant on their policy of attempting to source as much beef as possible from Canada, but that there isn’t enough to meet their standards. Although he only wrote, “So most Canadian beef is below [restaurant’s name] standards? Interesting, I have always thought it’s the best beef in the world.”
It is in my opinion, but I don’t think someone of Mr. Wall’s stature should be calling out a restaurant – which is why I didn’t name it here – because those people who operate a franchise live in our communities across this province, they pay taxes, and they are not the ones making these decisions – HOWEVER – they are the ones that will pay for those decisions that higher ups make.
If a boycott of the restaurant is called for, and people follow through, you’re hurting local business. So, although I much prefer “Made in Canada” products to anything else out there because it’s supporting our home economy… at the same time we are a global economy. Money comes and goes as products are bought and sold.
So, write letters and decide not to go there as often, but don’t completely write a restaurant off because at the end of the day they are a business in a community, in a province, in Canada and maybe the world that is still a part of the community. It’s not their decision and yet they will be the ones mostly affected by it.
I agree Canadian beef is the best; I agree that the marketing ploy is ridiculous; and I agree that restaurants should use as much locally sourced products as it can… I don’t agree with calling people and businesses out on Facebook.
Go to the source. Whether it’s a problem you have like the restaurant not using as much Canadian sourced beef as you think they should, you were treated poorly at a restaurant, you’re wondering why the grass hasn’t been cut in a public place or why it isn’t being watered, etc… there’s an answer and rampaging on social media isn’t the way to deal with it.
Write a letter to the editor asking questions or go in and ask them yourself, but don’t share things without thinking through the consequences and how it could affect someone. Or, if you don’t have all the facts, you’re just inciting others with a glimpse of the whole picture.
