Have you ever thought about how much of the money you spend stays within your community?
Supporting Canadian businesses isn’t just important – it’s how we make our economy stronger and more resilient. Every time we buy locally, whether it’s a product from a nearby artisan or a service from a local consultant, we’re contributing to the community. Supporting small businesses creates a ripple effect, generating jobs and opening opportunities for others
Every dollar spent on Canadian goods stays in our communities, helping create jobs and drive growth. This isn’t just true for physical products–it applies to services like technology, consulting and marketing too. By supporting Canadian service providers, we not only boost our local economy, but we also stay competitive in the global market.
Tips for Buying Canadian
- Support Canadian Service Providers: Choose businesses that are Canadian-owned and operated to keep our economy thriving.
- Understand Product Origins: Take time to review where products come from. Even if they’re not fully made in Canada, those assembled here still contribute to local growth.
- Explore Local Alternatives: Global platforms like Amazon and innovations like AI might be tough to replace, but local alternatives could surprise you.
- Spot the Labels: Look for “Made in Canada,” “Product of Canada,” and “Assembled in Canada” to better understand product origins and make informed decisions.
- Shop Local: Farmers’ markets, independent retailers, and Canadian online marketplaces are great places to discover homegrown products.
- Spread the Word: Share your favorite Canadian businesses with friends and on social media to help amplify their reach.
Understanding these tips is just the start. To dive deeper into making informed choices, it’s important to recognize what Canadian product labels actually mean. This will help you make smarter decisions and better support Canadian businesses.
But there’s still a challenge: interprovincial trade barriers. These barriers–ranging from inconsistent regulations to licensing restrictions–are like a 21% tariff on Canadian businesses, limiting access to talent and new markets. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates that removing these barriers could boost GDP per capital by 4%, unlocking more opportunities for businesses to grow.
The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) has made great strides in opening up markets across provinces, including removing more than half of federal exceptions. But, despite the progress, barriers remain. Provincial restrictions on professional qualifications and inconsistent regulations continue to stand in the way of the free flow of goods and services.
Now it’s time for businesses and governments to Go Canadian. Whether it’s goods or services, we need to look inward and support homegrown talent. Canadian companies should review their service providers and source more locally. By doing this, we help keep money in Canada and create more opportunities for Canadian workers. According to a report from Canada’s Economic Strategy Tables, companies that source services locally tend to be more productive and innovative, benefiting from a more responsive and agile supply chain.
Governments should also ensure public procurement policies prioritize Canadian services. By doing so, we ensure taxpayer dollars are spent in our economy, rather than flowing out of the country. Plus, this supports Canada’s sustainability goals. By reducing our reliance on international services, we can shrink our carbon footprint and strengthen the local green economy.
We all have the power to help build a stronger economy by choosing Canadian-made goods and services. It’s the small, everyday choices we make that add up. By reducing trade barriers, choosing local, and investing in homegrown businesses, we can help create a prosperous future for all Canadians.