'Buy Canadian' movement sees support in northern communities — even if it's not always easy

Shoppers and businesses in some small northern communities have mixed feelings about the "buy Canadian" movement started in response to the potential trade war between Canada and the U.S.

In Dawson City, some people say they've been opting for Canadian, and local, products before it became a national issue — though it's not always easy.

Nathan Naherniak manages the Bonanza Market, one of two grocery stores in Dawson City. He said about 40 per cent of his store's products are sourced from within Canada.

"It's a good initiative for customers to buy Canadian," he said. "There's a lot of great Canadian products being made and the way I view it is, it's unfortunate that sometimes we need a push from the outside, you know with the U.S. putting the tariffs on."

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened last month to impose punishing tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to warn of retaliatory tariffs and urge Canadians to support domestic businesses and products. Last week, Trump put his tariff plan on hold for at least 30 days.  

Naherniak said all of his store's dairy products and most of the meat section, including the fresh pork, chicken, and beef, are Canadian products. 

Naherniak said he isn't seeing a drastic change in what his customers are buying at his store but he is being asked what is made in Canada, and what isn't. Naherniak says he's been offering a little tip to those consumers who ask.

"Just to be aware that some products that are processed in Canada but made from items somewhere else outside of Canada," he said.

For example, he said many juices made in Canada are made from ingredients that come from elsewhere.

"Just because we don't have enough product being produced in Canada to go 100-per-cent Canadian," he said.

Naherniak said many of his customers are more concerned about affordability than where their groceries come from.

'Go Canada'

Dawson resident Cynthia Choban says she tries her best to buy local or made-in-Canada products for herself, but her dogs are a bit pickier.

Choban said her dogs normally eat an American brand of dog food, but Choban wanted to support the "buy Canadian" movement and so looked for an alternative at the local store. She said it wasn't going as well as she'd hoped, as her dogs didn't like the other brands.

"So I'm trying one from here to see how that goes, because I have princesses for dogs and they're picky," she laughed.

Choban said living in a smaller town means there are often limited options when it comes to products. People often have to weigh affordability with a desire to support local producers.

"You're always looking at what you can get," she said. "Fresh, what's good quality — and sometimes it's really difficult to just choose Canada."

Choban said for her, even buying a product that comes from outside of Canada is not too big of an issue because she's still supporting the local economy by shopping locally.

Another Dawson resident, Sheryll Mullan, was in the store shopping for her dinner and said she was also on board with the "buy Canadian" movement.

"Go Canada," she said.

'Consume it or dispose of it'

Allison Burgess, who owns the Atlin Lake Grocery Store in remote Atlin, B.C., says people should remember that buying anything locally — even U.S. products — can still help support Canadian businesses.

"I do have stock sitting on the shelves that is U.S.[-made], that is bought and paid for," said Burgess. "Once the expiry date hits, I have to either consume it or dispose of it."

Burgess said once that stock is sold, she will look to replace it with Canadian brands. But she also says it will all come down to cost, for her as the business and for her customers.

"I have lowered [prices] to make some stuff 'appeal-able' to people," Burgess said.

"I'm just hoping that everybody supports us [and] understand that we're not a big box store. We're small business and we can't afford to lose half of the inventory."