Canadians are shifting towards their Canadian identity and culture as the US has paused its proposed tariffs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged Canadians to choose local over US options, while businesses are pushing forward with the “Buy Canadian” sentiment. Some Canadians believe that people are angry and will boycott American goods, while others plan to avoid them as much as possible.
Businesses are also pushing forward with the buy Canadian sentiment, with some leaders encouraging retailers to promote local goods. Unifor national president Lana Payne suggests businesses should harness this feeling and make Canadian products more widely recognizable, including the “big three” grocers, Loblaw, Sobeys, and Metro. However, some economists and retail experts caution that it may be difficult to achieve a lasting avoidance of American products. Retailers will continue sourcing from the U.S. and global partners like they have been doing for decades.
The shift to buying Canadian products to teach Americans a lesson raises questions about whether higher prices are worth the cost. Lander suggests that if the movement is impactful, it could potentially lead to Americans reconsidering their decision. However, Naylor believes that people should focus on supporting each other, even if tariffs are rescinded, and that being Canadian is a strong and fantastic country.
Canada’s grocers are shifting away from American products and increasing efforts to make more local alternatives available. Metro is working to optimize the visibility of local and Canadian products in-store, online, and on promotional tools like the weekly flyer. Sobeys, owned by Empire Company Limited, has a clear and robust strategy that favours and displays local products in its stores across the country. Longo’s, Ontario-based, claims that 100% of its beef is Canadian and 100% of chicken, pork, turkey, lamb, and veal is from Ontario.
Source: Global News
Source: Global News
Source: CBC
