Here are some of the ways we’re (not so politely) pushing back.
1. Saying good-bye to American products
Surveys repeatedly show that Canadians plan to buy fewer U.S. goods. The provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia have removed American booze from their liquor stores, causing grief for California wine-growers and other companies. And big grocery chains are reportedly ordering fewer U.S. products and bringing in more Canadian and international merchandise.
2. Sharing shopping tips in the family chat
We use messages and group chats to plan trips, reunions and babysitting. But one MoneySense editor also uses them for spotting Canadian produce at the grocery store. It’s pretty frustrating to head to a supermarket and only see a limp lettuce leaf left on a vegetable stand. So when a member of the family picks up something, they’ll drop the grocery store address pin in the chat and say what they got. And if another member responds quickly enough, they might have someone doing their personal shopping. It’s like a tariff-friendly Instacart.
3. Joining Facebook groups devoted to Canadian products
No matter how you feel about Facebook, you’ve got to admit, the groups can come in handy sometimes. The platform already had “buy Canadian” groups pre-tariffs, but they’ve positively exploded in recent weeks. A group named “Made in Canada – Canadian Products” boasts 1.4 million members, sharing leads and helping each other find dupes for popular American products. A quick search on Facebook yields dozens of similar groups.
4. Learning about “Made in Canada” and other package labels
What’s the difference between “Made in Canada,” “Product of Canada” and other variations? A lot, actually, and the devil is in the details. For definitions, read “If you want to buy Canadian, you’ll need to do your research” plus tips from the Competition Bureau of Canada.
5. Tagging products affected by tariffs
Loblaw is using a special “T” symbol on shelf labels at Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart and Maxi locations to show customers which U.S.-sourced products are affected by tariffs. In the past, the retail giant has been the subject of a customer boycott over high food prices, so perhaps they’re just trying to get ahead of the next one?
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6. Using Canada-focused shopping websites and apps
If you want to buy local but don’t know where to start, check out these websites devoted to Canadian businesses:
- Not Amazon: This cheeky site lists businesses in Toronto, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver (all of which ship nationwide). It places an emphasis on businesses owned by women, BIPOC, AAPI, and 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.
- Made in CA: Since 2018, this site has been promoting Canadian companies—everything from automotive, electronics and internet services to food, clothing, furniture and housewares.
- Made in Canada Directory: You’ll find thousands of Canadian-made products on this site, which lets you filter your search by province or territory as well as by product category.
- Well Made in Canada: “Stop the maplewashing.” With that rallying cry on its homepage, this site helps Canadians find locally produced goods. It requires brands that want to join the directory to declare what percentage of the products they sell are eligible for the Made in/Product of Canada label, and what percentage of their company is Canadian-owned. Products range from food and beverages to skin care, fashion, home and pets.
- UFCW Canada Made: UFCW is a union that represents hundreds of thousands of workers in food retail, manufacturing and processing, as well as agriculture. This site highlights the many food products made by UCFW members, from breads, cakes and pastas to produce, dairy products and meats.
- BuyBeaver: This free app, available for iOS and Android devices, was created by tech entrepreneurs in Montreal. Users can learn about product origins and add to BuyBeaver’s database of ratings and reviews.
- Shop Canada: This free app, available for iOS and Android, lets users scan barcodes to find out whether a product is Canadian.
- The Canada List: Search, sort and filter this list of thousands of Canadian-made products and brands on this site.
7. Travelling within Canada instead of heading south
For many Canadian families, Disney World, Myrtle Beach and other U.S. travel destinations have lost their shine. Canadian-resident return trips to the U.S. by air fell 14% year-over-year in April and 24.2% in May, continuing a downward trend that began in September 2023, according to Statistics Canada. Road trips to the U.S. have also dropped sharply. In May, visitors from Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario declined by 52.5%, 52.3% and 33.7%, respectively, year-over-year.
Instead of going stateside, many Canadians are protesting U.S. tariffs by vacationing right here at home—and saving plenty of money, too. For inspiration on how to budget and where to go, read “Affordable family vacations: How to travel when the Canadian dollar is weak.”
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