We’ve gotten a 30-day reprieve from US tariff threats. That’s good, but it’s not over. There’s no guarantee we’ll evade them 30 days from now, a year from now, or even 4 years from now. Even if we appease the current US administration by addressing border issues, there’s nothing stopping the same threats from being used again for another issue. Many are informing and preparing themselves should it happen. Their main form of action, buying Canadian-made!
What different terms mean
Shop Canadian-made, sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, though not impossible, it’s not as simple as it sounds. There are various terms used to describe products made in Canada. Which term a product is allowed to use depends on how much of the raw material and manufacturing process used to make the item is based here in Canada.
Non-food items
Product of Canada
For a non-food product to carry the Product of Canada claim, 98% of the product must be Canadian-based materials and manufacturing.
Below are some other versions of the Product of Canada claim that must follow the same guidelines:
- 100% Canadian
- Canadian
- Canadian “ingredient” or “raw material”
- Using an official symbol of Canada such as the national flag or stylized maple leaf.
Made in Canada
While still the majority, only 51%, of a product must be comprised of Canadian-based materials and manufacturing to carry the Made in Canada.
Food items
Food is its own category that follows slightly different guidelines. While the guidelines to use the claim Product of Canada or Canadian are the same, Made in Canada is different. The use of the Made in Canada claim on food requires that the products’ “last substantial transformation” occurs in Canada. This means that if a company brings broth, carrots and potatoes into Canada to manufacture soup they can use the claim Made in Canada because the raw ingredients underwent a “transformation” into soup.
There is a caveat. In cases like our soup, where most of the ingredients were imported into Canada, the Made in Canada claim should also include a qualifying statement. For example, if the raw ingredients were imported from Ireland it would say Made in Canada with imported ingredients. Some companies may include a more specific claim such as Roasted in Canada.
Canadian Brands
To help those wanting to buy Canadian-made navigate the aisles, below are some of our tried and true Canadian brands. To make things easier the brands have been sorted by category.
DAIRY
CEREAL
MEAT AND SEAFOOD
BREAD AND GRAINS
SNACKS
PAPER PRODUCTS
TOILETRIES
CLEANING PRODUCTS
CANNED GOODS
DRINKS
FROZEN
CLOTHING
What this could mean to our economy
Statista reports that, in 2021, over one-third of Canadians were planning on spending less than 10% of their grocery budget at local stores. There are countless reasons why this push to buy Canadian-made products is great for the individual and all Canadians in general.
- It fuels the economy because the money stays within Canada. That means more money in the hands of Canadians and more money to go towards better programs, infrastructure and other things that create a healthy and vibrant place to live.
- Canada enforces fair wage regulations so you can be assured that all those involved in making the item were paid fairly.
- Less shipping means less pollution, which is great for the environment and all humankind.
- Reduced risk because of the need for companies to follow Canada’s strong health and safety standards.
- Fewer middlemen means the opportunity to meet and build connections with those you’re buying from. In other words, building something money can’t buy, community.
Let’s put all this into perspective.
CBC reported that the Premier of Nova Scotia, Tim Houston, said that in some instances regulations make it so difficult to sell in other provinces that some Canadian companies only sell to the US.
In 2022, Statistics Canada reported that $528 billion worth of goods and services moved between provinces and territories. That’s not even 1/5 of our whole economy.
In Canada, we classify small to medium businesses as those that have between 1 to 500 employees. According to Merritt Herald, in 2020, 99.8% of businesses in Canada were listed as small-medium. Altogether, these businesses are reported to employ around 85% of our workforce.
Taking all this into consideration, it seems like, with a little streamlining, there’s a whole lot of room available for us to grow within our own country.
Controversy
This focus on Canadian-made leans way more positive than negative. When you think about it, even just the fact that more people are considering buying Canadian is a small win. That being said, there is some pushback to the idea that warrants consideration.
One such pushback is encouraging people to focus on avoiding US products instead of solely looking for Canadian-made. They reason that they feel we shouldn’t punish other countries because of what’s happening with the tariff threat.
Another pushback is a concern for Canadians who work at American companies. Less spending at these companies could put these Canadians’ jobs at risk. There’s no getting around the fact that, like in life, there are no guarantees. This is a possibility. There’s also a possibility that the US economy plummets and, to survive, these companies close their Canadian branches. Two different possibilities, the same end result.
All this to say, there are very few people in the world (if any) who truly know how things will unfold. So spend your hard-earned cash how it feels right to you.
Staying informed
The Canadian-made movement is moving at a rapid-fire pace. From large businesses to small local stores, all of them are already getting in on the action. Many are posting Canadian-made indicators on their shelves, making them easier to spot. One of our major grocers has announced that they are looking at places, like Mexico for those items we normally get from the US this time of year, like fruit. Many websites like MadeinCa.ca and Facebook groups have exploded with information. No matter how dedicated someone is to the movement, it’s important that all Canadians stay informed about what’s happening.
Wrap-up
This tariff threat situation is concerning, to say the least. If we look for one bright spot it’s that this unsettling situation has spurred a movement that is bringing Canadians together. Buying Canadian-made may not be possible in every situation or for everyone. Even so, it’s nice to see that we’re giving it more serious thought. Moving the needle even just a little could do a lot of good for Canada.
If these tariffs do go through at one point it’s quite possible some will struggle financially. Should you find yourself struggling with debt you’ve taken on to make ends meet, we can help. During a free consultation, our trained Credit Counsellors will walk you through what debt solutions are available for you.
