By applying the “ factor’s standard,” company traders could demand more from Indigenous traders for less than was customary, or offer worse quality items in exchange for the usual quantity of furs. Such practices created shared obligations between the parties, although this did not stop factors from shorting Indigenous traders. These were required if HBC factors wanted access to the goods and for Indigenous traders to return the next season. Speeches and gift exchanges stretched over multiple days, practices that reflected the customs of the Indigenous societies participating in the commercial trade.
The fur trade was about more than exchanging goods - it was about building loyalty. For a century, bayside factories bustled with trade activity, where Hudson’s Bay Company men operated as a type of trader know as factors. In 1670, Charles II granted one company exclusive privileges to exploit the area around Hudson Bay. Canada has a long history of big business antics, stretching as far back as pre-Confederation fur trade. There is nothing new or surprising about the lengths corporations will go to maintain market dominance. The pandemic and other global crises has been especially profitable for the food business sector. Among top grocery retailers in Canada like Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro, it also means protecting and growing their dominant market position. In today’s market economy, competition means standing out by offering customers more while working faster for less cost. Meanwhile, profits are surging for grocery retailers, raising concerns about monopolies. According to a recent Angus Reid Institute study, nearly 60 per cent of Canadians are struggling to provide food for their families. With rising prices caused by inflation, Canadians are struggling to afford the basic costs of living.
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