Canadians are suffering sticker shock: paying incredible mark-up prices on everyday items, which can be purchased for a fraction of the cost just over the border. Puzzled by the hefty discrepancies, MARKETPLACE investigates and uncovers the raw numbers behind Canada’s high price tags. Tom Harrington explores why some items cost so much more in Canada, and why Canadian stores can’t combat rising prices.
Price Tag Confidential with Tom Harrington airs on CBC News’ MARKETPLACE, Friday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC-TV.
Canadians are demanding to know why they are paying a higher price for products that they know cost less in the U.S. MARKETPLACE is on the case, crunching the numbers to see if Canadians are being ripped off by their favourite multi-national brands. After consulting with the Retail Council of Canada and conferring with industry insiders, they reveal the true story behind popular products. Tom Harrington exposes a shocking double-standard causing Canadians to pay substantially more for products that our American neighbours can buy for much less. MARKETPLACE also talks to insiders who reveal why other products - from face creams to hearing aids - cost so much.
MARKETPLACE has been nominated for three 2013 CSA Awards, including: Best News Information Series, Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research for What FX?, and for Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series for When The Repairman Knocks.
Celebrating its 40th season this winter, MARKETPLACE takes a look back over the first five weeks at some of the series’ most memorable moments, and features Canadians who have been impacted by MARKETPLACE‘s investigations. Winner of the 2011 Gemini Award for Best News Information Series, MARKETPLACE airs Fridays at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Television. MARKETPLACE also airs Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. ET and Sundays at 5:30 p.m. ET on CBC News Network. For more information on MARKETPLACE, visit our website at cbc.ca/marketplace, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/cbcerica and twitter.com/cbctom. Executive producer is Tassie Notar.
To view past episodes of MARKETPLACE, and other CBC programming, visit CBC Player, download the CBC App for your mobile devices, and download CBC podcasts.
About CBC News
For more than 75 years, CBC has been the source Canadians turn to, to keep them informed about their communities, their country and their world. Through regional and national programming on multiple platforms, including CBC Television, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca, mobile and on-demand, CBC News and its internationally recognized team of award-winning journalists deliver the breaking stories, the issues, the analyses and the personalities that matter to Canadians.
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CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
About CBC’s New In-House Publicity Team
CBC’s new team of in-house publicists are delivering a comprehensive publicity service for all CBC programming and events. For a complete list of publicity contacts and for more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the new CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre.
For further information, or to request interviews, contact:
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