| In over 30 years, since November 1976, the US | | | | The Canadian tourism industry will also |
| dollar and Canadian dollar have not been par | | | | suffer, as more American visitors will |
| until now. As the Canadian economy has been | | | | decline as the dollar parity discourages |
| progressing over the years, the US economy | | | | Americans from shopping in Canada, since the |
| seems to have fallen behind with all its | | | | one time savings of up to 40%, due to the |
| turmoil. The war in Iraq has not helped the | | | | dollar value, will no longer be available to |
| US economic situation but rather offset the | | | | Americans. |
| deficit, and in a move to avoid the | | | | |
| forecasted economic recession due to the | | | | Although, Canadians will suffer in sales, |
| credit crunch, the feds cut interests rates | | | | they will gain in purchasing from American |
| by 0.5 points to 4.75 percent. | | | | based businesses, and buying cars from the |
| | | | American side is becoming more attractive to |
| The move to cut interest rates to ease the | | | | some Canadians. As car prices in Canada are |
| mortgage industry has weakened the US dollar | | | | much higher than in America, a lot of |
| against foreign currency including the Euro, | | | | Canadian shoppers will find drastic savings |
| and giving the push for the Canadian dollar | | | | by traveling south of the border to buy a |
| to hit parity with the US dollar. One US | | | | car. The difference in prices may not be the |
| dollar now buys one Canadian dollar. But the | | | | greatest for all cars, but gaps in some |
| Canadian dollar's gain isn't only linked to | | | | categories such as luxury sports cars, will |
| the US federal interest rate cut, but can | | | | save a Canadian buyer almost $14,000 on |
| also be seen as the Canadian economy has been | | | | average. |
| booming in an upward gain from 2006 with a | | | | |
| low inflation rate, and a red hot oil | | | | But the high loony will put pressure on |
| industry. | | | | Canadian companies that are dependent on |
| | | | exporting to the US, who is also Canada's |
| This rapid progression of the Canadian dollar | | | | largest trading partner. Already, in 2006 |
| against the US comes as a shock to some | | | | there were almost 100,000 job losses in |
| Canadians, who measured the Canadian dollar | | | | southeastern Ontario, due to the rising |
| value at .62 USD only four years ago in 2002, | | | | Canadian dollar against the US dollar. |
| and now hitting par seems too good to be | | | | |
| true. | | | | Even with such a massive job loss, the |
| | | | Canadian economy is still doing well, as the |
| As Jeff Rubin, chief economist and strategist | | | | manufacturing sector loss a total of 289, 000 |
| at CIBC World Markets, stated, "the Canadian | | | | jobs since 2002, the Canadian economy has |
| economy that once used to be the sleepy | | | | created over one million jobs in resources, |
| little resource backwater of the North | | | | construction, services, health care, |
| American economy is certainly turning the | | | | education and financial industries, leaving |
| tables on its big brother in a hurry." | | | | the national jobless rate at 30-year low. |
| | | | |
| So what does all this have to do with | | | | In contrast the Canadian dollar seems to be |
| Canadian and American dealings with each | | | | stronger over the American for the time |
| other? Well, for starts there will be an | | | | being, but only time will tell the future of |
| increase in American exports as buying from | | | | the American dollar vs. the Canadian. If |
| the American markets will become cheaper for | | | | asked to predict, there is always |
| Canadians. Although, vice versa Canadian | | | | uncertainty, but given factors such as future |
| exports to America will also decrease, as it | | | | interest rate cuts by the Americans, could |
| will simply cost more for Americans to buy | | | | possibly even lower the US dollar compared to |
| Canadian manufactured goods. | | | | the Canadian, and this could become reality |
| | | | in the next 6-12 months. |