Because the T97 ended up being garbage and it had a huge jacked up price to start with.
Explain my Vs 58 , Bushmaster ACR and Hk Sl8 price issues. It's not just the M10x... It's everywhere.
ACR DMR U.S. MSRP $2569, @ Wolverine $3455 (US street price closer to $2000)
$2000 × 1.28 = $2560
Not quite the same but sort of close. This is just to buy the gun in the US, importing it and all the headache that goes with that isn't calculated here.
VZ-58
Not comparable as the kit guns like the 858 are no longer being imported. When they were common about 10 years ago, they were $700. The CSA's are all new mfg, so not comparable to US ones manifactured on new receivers from surplus parts.
SL8's are comparable in price too:
$1422 USD (Buds, MSRP is higher)
$2099 CAD (Wolverine)
$1422 × 1.28 = $1820
Again, the $2100 from Wolvering includes the cost to import the rifle and all the other costs. We also get the double stack version. The reason this is closer than the ACR is in the US, the ACR is domestically produced (always cheaper), while the SL8 is an import (just like for us).
With these guns so far, we are looking at about 15-20% more for firearms in Canada when exchange rates are taken in to account. This is fairly consistent across the board, with a few exceptions. The tacticool rifles are generally on the higher end due to the niche market and small import numbers (the ACR falls in to this category).
If you actually run the numbers, clear and consistent patterns emerge. The fact exists that imported items cost more, and 99% of our guns are imported. The reverse exists in the U.S.
Yes, manufacturers (Robinson Arms, M+M, etc.) do charge a premium for Canadian models, which sucks, but it beats not having Canadian models!