canadianveggie

Trade War – Time to Buy Canadian

There’s nothing like a trade war to unify Canadians. I normally am not too picky about where the products I buy come from – I just want quality at a good price. I’m a proud Canadian but I’ve never felt nationalistic. That all changes now.

I’m ready to American products and replace them with Canadian-made alternatives. Screw Trump and his stupid 51st state garbage.

Groceries

On my last grocery shopping trip I spent time looking at the country listed on every product I bought and put back things that were from the USA. Surprisingly, the majority of products were already made in Canada and finding alternatives for the others wasn’t that hard. I picked up Gusto sausages (from Montreal) instead of Field Roast (from Seattle). I made sure the apples I bought were from BC and skipped buying grapes.

Canadian Breakfast

It helps that some of my favourite vegan food brands are already Canadian:

  • Nature’s Path – I eat their cereal daily
  • Earth’s Own – Canadian oats making delicious oat milk
  • Big Mountain Foods – as someone allergic to soy, their tofu has been a game-changer
  • Daiya – the original meltable vegan cheese, made right here in Vancouver
  • Que Pasa – some of best tortilla chips, also locally made

Adams peanut butter will be harder to replace (I eat a lot of it), but Fatso (from Victoria) will fill that hole. And I’ll be experimenting with other protein powders (like Good Protein) to replace Vega, which moved to the States in 2021.

The only products that seem truly irreplaceable are fresh produce. On my last grocery shopping trip I bought broccoli and cauliflower even though they came from California (and were expensive). Going forward, I’m going to try and eat more seasonal, and try to source more from the farmers market.

Household Products

Outside of the grocery store, I’ll be doing my best to avoid Amazon and do more purchasing at London Drugs, Canadian Tire, and direct from companies online.

Here are some of my favourite products that just happen to be Canadian. These companies are going to struggle most under Trump’s tariffs, so check them out and support them if you can.

Tentree Clothes – Vancouver-based clothing company that makes the iconic Juniper Hoodie. The clothes are super comfortable and the company has a big sustainability focus.

DUER Jeans – The only jeans I’ve found durable enough to withstand to the abuse I put them through. A lot of their designs are cyclist friendly, with gusseted crotches and reflective strips.

Vessi Shoes – Made in Vancouver for our wet weather. Everyone in our family owns a pair. They’re like rain boots but a lot more comfortable and stylish.

Meyer Frying Pan – I just ordered two of their frying pans. They’re extremely well reviewed and made in PEI.

Crown Baking Sheets – Hardworking and high-quality baking sheets. Ours are over 4 years old and still work great. Pairs perfectly with silicone Silpat baking sheets (made in France not Canada).

Atlas Pizza Steel – For Christmas, I bought myself their Pro pizza steel. I’m still getting the hang of it, but I’m getting close to the perfect sourdough vegan pizza (photo proof). Made in Altona, MB.

Pela Case – Ingenious cellphone cases made from flax straw (instead of plastic). They come in a wide range of beautiful designs.

Nellie’s Dishwasher Powder – A planet-friendly, Canadian-made dishwasher detergent. I usually buy it at London Drugs.

Rocky Mountain Barber Company – I’ve been using their shaving cream with my safety razor for many years. Great stuff.

ComfySleep Buckwheat Hull Pillow – A more sustainable and less-chemically alternative to memory foam pillows. It takes some getting used to, but I’m a fan.

Mysa Smart Thermostat – Canadian-designed technology for controlling baseboard heaters. We installed ours 5 years ago and love them. I love seeing a tech company headquartered in Newfoundland.

Travel

Air Canada - Nearly Empty Plane

We’ve done a lot of travel to the States in the the past 2 years – some memorable trips to Disneyland, Great Wolf Lodge, Seattle, Everett, and Denver. We also have two upcoming trips that we aren’t going to cancel (one is a best friends wedding). But that’s it. After this summer, we’ll be avoiding the country until Trump’s presidency ends and the country returns to sanity. Instead we’ll be traveling to Japan, Mexico, and within Canada.

Final Thoughts

Trump may have paused the tariffs for now, but I still plan on changing my shopping habits. It’s the least I can do to fight back against the bully down south.

To my Canadian friends, I hope you’ll join me in supporting Canadian businesses and pushing back against the tyrant next door. We can do this, together. If you have good recommendations for Canadian-made products, please send them my way.

To my American friends, it’s not you but your government that I don’t like. I hope our countries will be friends again in the future. The brands I mentioned above are all amazing and I’m sure they’re super cheap in USD. You should check them out and buy some amazing Canadian goods before the tariffs start in 30 days.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the crap Trump is doing right now, that’s what he wants – he’s “flooding the zone”. I highly recommend you listen to this Ezra Klein podcast to put it in perspective and give yourself a chance of fighting back.

And the final word goes to the great satirists at The Beaverton.

At the end of the day, Canada is many things. But above all else, we’re a bunch of grudge holding motherfuckers. You’ve taken your shot at us, so now we won’t rest until we get you back. And not just with the big, tariff stuff. Get ready for a whole bunch of small, ultimately inconsequential but still pretty annoying moves from us. We’re going to boo your anthem, pour out your bourbon, and continue not driving your Cybertrucks. We might even turn off the electricity for the northeast right before the Super Bowl. Fuck it. Why not?


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