Push to purchase Canadian products strong in Prince George

“I would choose more Canadian, like I would avoid American products,” said Prince George resident Hedvi Jariwala.

“I’m definitely trying to buy more, Canadian produced goods,” added Prince George resident Logan Cochrane.

Even some Americans living in Prince George agree, such as University of Northern British Columbia Student Leah Swanson from Oregon. While she only expects to live in Canada for around 2.5 years, she says the tariff threats are definitely something she’s keeping track of, as both an American and someone living in Canada.

“I have given it thought from the American perspective and how things are definitely going to be more expensive now. And something that concerns me is a breakdown of trade relations between Canada and America, which I don’t think is a positive thing. I think we should continue to be trade friends,” Swanson said.

While Swanson obviously wouldn’t be motivated by Canadian patriotism, she does feel that so long as she lives here, she wants to support local.

“I do kind of agree with the thought of supporting Canadian because I think when you support Canadian, it does build your local community and your local economy a bit,” she added.

Most people interviewed said they would be willing to spend a little bit extra to support Canadian, but within reason, as any significant additional costs would be too much of a burden when the cost of living is difficult to navigate as is. However, should the U.S. move forward with tariffs, Canada has already announced retaliatory tariffs are planned, which UNBC Dean of Economics and Business Ron Camp says could help make supporting Canadian easier on the wallet.

“If we are losing an American market because of tariffs, the only way to prop up companies over the short term would be through some kind of tax scheme, tariffs, or duties, that would help balance the playing field here,” Camp said.

As for the feasibility of purchasing Canada made product, Camp says the alternatives are largely there, with some exceptions.

“There’s a lot of products that we produce that other people do, so switching from American to Canadian producers is possible. There are some things where it’s a unique product coming out of the States or out of Japan, we couldn’t make that transition, but there are a lot of products we do produce that could be shifted to, say, coffee from Starbucks to Tim Hortons,” he said.

In light of potential tariffs, is Canada prepared to stand on its own regarding manufacturing? Camp says no, as the world has become increasingly interconnected and globalized, but believes strengthening Canada’s self-reliance should be a priority.

“Can we, over the long term, support what international business academics refer to as reshoring? We can. You can bring production back home, but you’ve got to support the development of companies that could do that. Companies that would produce, say, mass timber structures in B.C. for sale overseas, rather than selling logs overseas to become mass timber structures produced there. We can do that. But it would take a certain amount of support from the government. It would take active consumer participation and say, you know, I’ll spend a few dollars more for a Canadian product on a big scale because it’s worth maintaining the the jobs and the production in Canada or returning it to Canada,” he said.

Another huge way to strengthen Canada’s economy, in Camp’s opinion, is to reduce the red tape around interprovincial trade barriers, a move he says should’ve been done 50 years ago.

“We have these inter-provincial policies that make it easier to ship goods and services north and south, meaning over the American-Canadian border, than it is east and west between provinces. Why would we give preference to American trade rather than trade between the provinces of Canada?” he said.

While purchasing Canadian may cost slightly more in the early going, Camp believes that if consumers support Canadian, not only will it strengthen the economy and help in the long run, it would also send a message to the U.S. that Canada will not fold.

“I think it’s important that the actions we take, we understand some of the symbolic value of standing up and telling truth to power, that we need to be clear that we’re acting in the best interest for all Canadians.”

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your inbox every evening.

by Tommy Osborne

Push to purchase Canadian products strong in Prince George

What's Trending