[Racehorse]

A kid walks into a store and goes up to the counter and asks the owner for 3 giant gumballs. The kid then puts their dollar bill on the counter and smiles, awaiting their favorite gumball colors.

How does that scenario play out in Canada these days?

On Sept. 20, the Canadian dollar, known as the "loonie" for the fowl that adorns it, became equal in value to the American dollar.

It was a moment of pride for our polite brethren to the north - the last time the loonie hit parity was 1976 but more important, it meant a 30% discount for anything bought in U.S. dollars compared with four years ago. In recent weeks, the U.S. has been looking like Canada's answer to Mexico: Citizens from the Great White North have been traveling south to gobble up everything from steak dinners to multibillion-dollar banks on the cheap.

[jedward]

Of course, one can read the story from the owner’s perspective or the kid’s (consumer). I hear ya.