Claire Cameron is a novelist, essayist and author of the memoir How to Survive a Bear Attack. This poem was assembled using quotes from Canadian reporting about legislation passed in the United States in 1930, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.
‘Seek markets elsewhere’
The worst tariff bill in the nation’s history walls as high as the Eiffel Tower it is the product of a series of deals concealed, but executed with a brave affrontery
An unusual feeling of concern and even of irritation has been created in Canada at the expense of the consumer who, of course, pays
Mutton and lamb poultry, clover turnips, maple syrup milk, cheese ham, bacon
Small packers of tinned fish will almost certainly go out of business up to the present there has been no duty on canned clams
1,028 experts from 46 States join in opposition they declare that the pending bill will raise the cost of living and injure the majority of our citizens
Beating the tariff drum again has sown seeds of international ill will which the United States is already reaping in the form of retaliatory measures relations with foreign nations are impaired
How to hurdle these tariff difficulties? Canada cannot afford to sit down meekly and hope for the best should and must at least retain her self-respect
Seeing that Uncle Sam doesn’t want our productions the time has now surely come when the Canadian government should seek markets elsewhere
And again is the lesson driven home it is being translated into positive action the markets of the world may be shut but between the Canadian provinces there will always be free trade
If Canada is to be permanently prosperous trade is secured not by ill-will but by good will history doesn’t repeat, it rhymes no nation liveth to itself alone.