Majority of Atlantic Canadians plan to support local this summer: survey

A reveller carries a Canada flag on the Halifax Waterfront during Canada Day celebrations in Halifax on July 1, 2025. (Darren Calabrese / The Canadian Press)

The majority of Atlantic Canadians plan to support local this summer, according to a new survey.

The results, released by TD, show 75 per cent of people in the region plan to buy from local or Canadian businesses.

Nearly half – 47 per cent – of those surveyed said their desire to support local is even stronger than it was last year.

TD says the trend is also shaping Atlantic Canadians’ summer travel plans, with 81 per cent saying they plan to stay within the country, 51 per cent plan to travel within their own province and 59 per cent elsewhere domestically.

Thirteen per cent plan to travel abroad and only six per cent plan to go to the U.S. – the lowest in Canada.

“Together, the findings point to a broader shift this Canada Day: Atlantic Canadians are not just celebrating where they live, they’re making more deliberate spending choices that reflect their values, supporting local businesses and the communities they’re a part of while keeping a close eye on costs,” reads a release from TD.

A previously-released poll also shows Atlantic Canadians plan to spend less this summer, due to the cost of living and gas prices.

TD says Gen Z Canadians are the most likely generation to increase their summer spending, with social pressure influencing their decisions.

The bank’s latest survey was conducted using the Leger Opinion panel with a “nationally representative sample” of 1,500 Canadian adults.