Some Sask. shoppers prioritizing Canadian products ahead of U.S. tariffs

Some Saskatchewan shoppers are making a statement with their shopping carts, with many people checking for a “Made in Canada” label at the grocery store ahead of U.S. tariffs being implemented on Tuesday.

In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced Canada would slap 25-per-cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods.

Read more:

• Ontario joins B.C. in removing U.S. booze from provincial liquor retailers
• Support, silence and confusion: Republicans respond to Trump’s trade war
• Which industries will feel the pinch of Trump’s tariffs the hardest?

Sherry Ziegler was shopping at the Real Canadian Superstore on Sunday and said she always looks for local products first.

“I always do. I find that I prefer supporting the locals. We have some great places in here in Saskatchewan that have local produce, and I think we should be starting to look here instead of the U.S.”

Val Roy said she is even changing which grocery stores she will be shopping at.

“We don’t usually shop at Superstore, but we know it’s Canadian, and there’s a lot of products here, and I’ve been seeing it on my Facebook which products are Canadian and which are American.”

Some shoppers in Regina said they’re choosing Canadian products, in hopes of pushing back against U.S. tariffs. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

Amilee Waelchli said her family is making sure products she buys carry a maple leaf label.

“We just got pizza pops, and my mom had to make sure that they said Made in Canada on them before we got them.”

She is hopeful that a united front from Canadians will create change.

“I feel like if we do it enough, then the U.S. won’t make the money that they’re looking for, and maybe they’ll take the tariffs off.”

Jeff Walters said he already prioritized Canadian products but added that it is a renewed push with the tariffs.

“We were doing that beforehand, but this has kind of incentivized us to be a little more proactive,” he said.

“I’m not gonna call it a patriotic act or anything like that, but even just to be more informed of what we’re ingesting is, to me, worthwhile.”

However, several other shoppers told 980 CJME that they are not yet at the point of looking where their products are made before putting them in their cart.

Josie Thorhaug said that for her it is more about the price of the item rather than where it is made.

“I would like to in some situations, but mostly I’m just looking for the best deal for my family,” she said

“Prices are outrageous, and it takes a lot of groceries to feed a big family, so we’re just looking for the best price to match.”

CKOM/CJME business analyst Paul Martin said people should be prepared for the fact that the “price of everything” is about to go up.

Read more:

• Ontario joins B.C. in removing U.S. booze from provincial liquor retailers
• Support, silence and confusion: Republicans respond to Trump’s trade war
• Which industries will feel the pinch of Trump’s tariffs the hardest?