As tariff threats continue, Manitoba shopper says she's 'far more vigilant' about buying Canadian
Rosanna Hempel | CBC News | Posted: January 30, 2025 11:00 AM | Last Updated: January 30
Buying locally could become easier 'because many producers will have no better choice,' says economist
Donald Trump's re-election in the United States, and his ongoing tariff threats, are compelling some Manitobans to change how and where they shop.
A Brandon woman says choosing Canadian products over American ones is her way of promoting and supporting Canadian culture and the local economy.
Maria Askham checks her grocery labels more closely these days. She disapproves of Trump's comments about Canada becoming a part of the United States, she said, and eyes products for Canadian flags, maple leaves and fine print indicating they're made in the country.
"It's the one thing we can do as Canadians," Askham said Tuesday from her home in Brandon. "I don't feel comfortable sitting back."
When she can't buy Canadian, she also looks for alternatives from other countries.
"I'm not anti-American. I will buy American products if I find that they're better than something else I've used," Askham said.
"But I am far more vigilant now."
The U.S. president has threatened to hit both Canada and Mexico with a 25 per cent tariff on all goods from entering the U.S. from those countries, possibly as soon as this Saturday, citing border security issues as one reason.
Those continuing threats have spurred conversation about shopping local and tariffs at Brandon's Chez Angela Bakery and Café.
General manager James Chambers says buying local was already a priority for Chez Angela, with 80 cents on every dollar spent on local items, including dairy, eggs, flour, meat and vegetables.
It's about 20 to 30 per cent more expensive to source products locally and takes more work, Chambers says, but he feels it's doable and worthwhile for community building and environmental reasons.
"[Local greens and vegetables] also taste better — like, there's nothing like a Manitoba tomato, like a BLT sandwich, in the middle of summer," Chambers said.
WATCH | Brandon, Man., shoppers look to buy local:
Manitobans hoping to buy more Canadian products can look to local stores for tips, he said.
"Those mom-and-pop shops that are owned locally, they've often already made an effort to find those relationships and are willing to help … make those connections with you," said Chambers.
The Brandon Chamber of Commerce echoed that sentiment, saying it's a good opportunity for people in the region to put a bit more thought into what they spend their money on, and where.
"That can be tricky, and you know, certainly … that alone isn't going to address some of the significant impacts that these tariffs may have," said Lois Ruston, the chamber's president. "[But] it's a great first step."
Many economists say buying Canadian is more complicated than consumers might assume in the highly integrated North American economy.
Nearly $3.6 billion worth of goods and services crossed the Canada-U.S. border daily in 2023, according to the federal government.
Economist Viet Vu says the threatened tariffs would be devastating for the economy, but he expects the market will adjust if they go ahead.
"You'll find that suppliers who are price-sensitive will start pursuing trade or sourcing with other countries or getting stuff locally, because those end up being cheaper," said Vu, the manager of economic research at the Dais — a public policy think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University.
"It's not an ideal world that I'm painting here, but in a perverse way, buying locally will become easier, because many producers will have no better choice," he said during a Tuesday interview with CBC Manitoba's Information Radio.
As for Brandon's Askham, she's doing her research for every dollar she spends.
"I just think that we need to see this as a very positive step, and that supporting local, supporting Canadian products is important for our economy, important for our culture and important for our country, because we're Canadian," she said.
"We're an amazing country."