Editorial
Are you shopping Canada first?
Not only is this a good way to fight back against Donald Trump’s tariff threat, it’s a great way to keep Canadian businesses alive and kicking, especially during these challenging times.
On your next trip to the grocery store, seek out “product of Canada” goods or ask a staff member to point them out. Read the label before you toss a product into the cart as it could be made in America. There are also new apps you can download such as ‘Maple Scan’ or ‘Buy Beaver’ to help identify Canadian products. Simply scan the bar code and it gives you the information you need.
It’s time to give Trump a taste of his own medicine!
Hopefully local businesses have established special aisles dedicated solely to Canadian products —Maple Syrup Lane, Beef Boulevard, Apple Avenue, Vegetable Way . . . the list goes on.
There are also many clothing products made in Canada, so the next time you’re shopping for a shirt or a pair of pants, ask for a Canadian brand. The same goes for fuel stations — stick to Canadian.
But let’s be realistic for a moment. A lot of consumers make their buying decisions based on price, and you can’t blame them. Many families are under financial pressure, living paycheque to paycheque, trying to make every penny count, so they can’t always buy Canadian if the neighbouring product on the shelf is $5 cheaper. It’s a Catch-22.
All this label reading and research is a bit overwhelming because it’s not always easy to determine what is Canadian and what isn’t.
Maybe it’s time for a holiday. With what, wooden nickels? Forget Jamaica or the Ivory Coast, make it a Canadian get-away. Or if the piggy bank is really low, try a ‘staycation’ in your own region; that way you’ll save money and support local business at the same time.
If you’re an online shopaholic, be sure to buy Canadian. Besides, the US exchange rate is a killer right now. For example, a $50 item in US funds will cost you $71 Canadian, which is ridiculous.
Canada should not be so reliant on the US; it needs to strengthen alliances with other countries, such as Mexico to gain access to more products.
This spring and summer will be a great opportunity to thumb your nose at Trump and support local business through the Columbia Valley’s farmers’ and artisans’ markets.
If you’re still confused about sorting through Canadian products, check out the Buy BC website at https://buybc.gov.bc.ca or Buy Canadian First on Facebook.
Lyonel Doherty, editor
