As we sink deeper into the Great North American Trade War, Canadians are taking their own protectionist measures in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
For one, 3 in 4 Canadians say they will stop visiting the United States and keep their precious dollars at home. There’s also a growing sentiment among Canadians to buy local, an effort made all the easier by a ‘Made in Canada’ database started by 17-year-old Tyler Campbell together with his dad and uncle.
“As the tariffs on many American goods go into place, and a trade war heats up with an unreasonable American government, Canadians have been looking for products manufactured in Canada,” reads the summer project’s mission statement. “At Made In Canada, we are compiling a list of those products in one place, so you can support Canadian jobs and Canadian workers.”
The last few days have seen ‘Made in Canada’ gain momentum across the country.
Busy morning! We've been getting tons of submissions to the site and traffic is growing rapidly. Apologies if we don't get your submissions up as quickly as we'd all like, but we're working on it. https://t.co/VLpi5141zY. #buycanadian #canada
— Made in Canada (@MadeinCanada4) July 10, 2018
Products featured are divided into around two dozen categories, from food to mattresses. Each entry provides an overview of products offered, where they are manufactured, where to buy them, and whether they are Canadian-owned. Users can also send submissions.
“There’s not a way for us to easily find Canadian products so why not make a way to find Canadian products?” said Campbell in an interview with the CBC about the inspiration behind the project. It’s also important to note that there is a big difference between something made in Canada and it being a product of Canada. Campbell’s website distinguishes between these terms. Chapman’s ice cream, for example, is a symbol of Canadiana, though many of their products aren’t made here. A&W, meanwhile, is probably a lot more Canadian than you think.
Oh, and in case there was any doubt…
Looking for a coffee shop chain that's actually Canadian? It's not Tim Hortons, it's Second Cup: https://t.co/Gwvy8rdWk0 #buycanadian #canada
— Made in Canada (@MadeinCanada4) July 8, 2018
Tim’s simply can’t buy a W these days.