To Manage Its Reputation, Canada Needs To Stop Toxic Souvenirs

October 24, 2008


More than a year after lead-laden toy scandals broke,  toxic toys are turning up in the worst possible incarnation: Canada-branded souvenirs.

Health Canada ordered a recall of  toys like miniature hockey sticks and stuffed toys dressed as Mounties after an investigation by the Toronto Star found they contained dangerous amounts of lead.

It looks terrible on Canada that souvenirs-momentoes of our country that will be brought back to countries around the world-are poisonous and could seriously harm a visitor to our land.  It’s even worse that lead is turning up in souvenirs that are aimed at children.

Perhaps its time for the government to do more than monitor and recall products containing lead (not that, obviously, they’re doing that very well.)   If the government wants to manage Canada’s reputation among visitors, it should do more to regulate the sales of souvenirs.

Anyone is free to create and sell Canadian souvenirs at the moment.  Perhaps a little more government involvement would ensure that the knick-knacks and toys meet regulations and come from reliable sources. Many of the recalled souvenirs came from dollar stores and were made overseas.  Considering the current state of the economy, it would be better to create more jobs at home anyways.

For now, the government better hope no one who has visited Canada gets sick back home.  I doubt anyone in Finland or India is going to hear of a Canadian recall.

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It is damaging to the country’s reputation as a whole to allow toxic souvenirs to be sold.  It will require the government’s intervention to restore it.


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