National

#BuyCanadian: Pocketbook Patriotism Takes Off Amid U.S. Trade Tensions

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Jun, 2018 11:42 AM

Social media users are pledging to #BuyCanadian amid a simmering trade standoff with the U.S., but experts say pocketbook patriotism may have unintended consequences on both sides of the border.

Bonnie Hallman of Winnipeg says she cancelled a long-desired trip to Alaska shortly after President Donald Trump took aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for pushing back against American tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The 53-year-old says she's now booked to visit P.E.I. next summer because she would rather spend her dollars towards supporting Canadian tourism.

I have always tried to buy Canadian products first & foremost, but given the current trade enviro, I will ensure I do from now on! No disrespect to my US friends, but I must stand behind & defend Canadian goods. #cdnpoli #BuyCanadian #NAFTA #TradeWar #trade #Canada #Ontario pic.twitter.com/wfaXwD5Rlm
— Quarkybirdy 🇨🇦 (@Quarkybirdy) June 13, 2018

First trump-free grocery cart. Focusing on great Canadian products and those from countries with stronger leadership. #buycanadian #trumpfree pic.twitter.com/XHgGJNtzcJ
— Scott Chamberlain (@scottawan) June 10, 2018

Want to stick it to Trump? Stop buying American...no American products. No spending at American stores (Walmart is a good start, McDonalds etc..) no cross border shopping for the summer. Show this fool his isolationism only hurts his constituents.#buycanadian #ohcanada
— Dan Gowette (@digemden) June 11, 2018

I bought local strawberries @ $6 last night instead of the California ones at half the price. I'm done playing. #BuyCanadian
— Athena (@tinsbabe) June 11, 2018

Just cancelled all plans to go to California, will be discovering our own beautiful east coast by road this fall!! :) #BoycottUSA #BuyCanadian
— Hamad E (@Realistology) June 13, 2018

Went grocery shopping. Took twice as long. Checking all labels for origin of product/produce. Put back all American produce and bought Mexican, Chilean,South African and Australian. Put back all Heinz products and replaced with French #buycanadian #fuusa
— Daniel (@minnow54) June 12, 2018

Scott Chamberlain, a father of four in Ottawa, says he's been trying to fill his grocery cart with mostly homegrown goods to bolster the Canadian producers who could be hardest hit by cross-border friction over trade.

Robert Wolfe, a professor emeritus at Queen's University's School of Policy Studies, says the #BuyCanadian movement could fan the flames of a trade war in which no side would prevail unscathed.

He says the mirror of 'buy Canadian' is 'buy American,' which could have a detrimental impact on Canadian companies trading in the U.S. market.

"If it starts to escalate the Canada-U.S. tensions so that Americans begin to think we're actually just mad at them, as opposed to mad at their president, that could be difficult for Canada-U.S. relations, and ultimately, not good for the economy."

Food economist Mike von Massow of the University of Guelph says a show of Canadian fiscal solidarity may buttress the country's position in trade negotiations, but swearing off American-made products is easier said than done.

An online poll conducted by Abacus Data between June 1 to 6 — after Trump said he would impose tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel but before trade tensions erupted at last week's G7 summit in Quebec — found that more than half of 2,200 Canadian surveyed reported that they intend to avoid buying U.S. wines and cross-border shopping.

The polling industry's professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. Tech Advocate To Help Boost Federal Funding For Innovative Projects

VICTORIA — British Columbia has appointed its first innovation commissioner to advocate for the province's technology sector in Ottawa, Washington state and abroad.

B.C. Tech Advocate To Help Boost Federal Funding For Innovative Projects

India's Surya Sekhar Roy Choudhury Wins Silver At International Young Chef Olympiad 2018

It is the first time that we've got the trophy back home. It is an honour. I hoped I could live up to the expectations I had on my shoulders to perform

India's Surya Sekhar Roy Choudhury Wins Silver At International Young Chef Olympiad 2018

Woman Tells Court Toronto Police Officer Sexually Assaulted Her In 2008

TORONTO — The sexual assault trial of a Toronto police officer is hearing today from a woman who alleges she was forced to have sex with him.

Woman Tells Court Toronto Police Officer Sexually Assaulted Her In 2008

New Mortgage Rules Sending Borrowers Down The Credit Ladder To Alternatives

Mortgage brokers say the borrower rejection rate from large banks and traditional monoline mortgage lenders has gone up as much as 20 per cent after Canada's banking regulator imposed a new stress test for home buyers who don't need mortgage insurance.

New Mortgage Rules Sending Borrowers Down The Credit Ladder To Alternatives

Mother Dead, Boy In Critical Condition After Being Struck By Car In Montreal Lot

MONTREAL — An accident that claimed the life of a woman and left her young son in critical condition is highlighting the issue of aging seniors behind the wheel.

Mother Dead, Boy In Critical Condition After Being Struck By Car In Montreal Lot

Officers Cleared After Arresting Suspect In B.C. Constable John Davidson's Death

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — British Columbia's police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing after a man suspected of fatally shooting a constable was injured during his arrest.