A Narrative Research poll shows there is still a strong desire to “buy Canadian” across the country in response to the ongoing trade war with the United States. Approximately 68 per cent are actively searching for Canadian products when they shop, said a Thursday news release. This number is up five points since the movement to buy Canadian started gaining momentum in February. “Canadians feel strongly about supporting our country’s products, and manufacturers are clearly heeding the call, by helping shoppers to identify products from Canada,” said Narrative Research CEO Margaret Brigley. “Though given how strong the desire is to buy Canadian, there is still room to help consumers to more easily identify Canadian products.” More than half of Canadians, 56 per cent (up three points), are looking at labels to avoid American products even if they aren’t actively seeking Canadian goods, said the release. A minority of Canadians are avoiding American products and services. Two in 10 have cancelled planned trips to the U.S. The same number say they have sought Canadian entertainment and one in 10 have cancelled American streaming services. “Lately, especially with the tariffs, I have been trying to support local businesses more. Generally for morals I do that, but I think with food costs fluctuating as much as they have been, it’s been more challenging to afford buying local,” says Jeremy Costell, a Dartmouth, N.S., resident. More than half of shoppers who are looking for Canadian products say they’ve been easy to find but a quarter say it’s been difficult. “We do expect things to slow down as a result of higher food prices,” says Sylvain Charlebois, lab director for Dalhousie Agri-Food Analytics. “We saw that a few years ago and of course with food inflation people go back to their budget, they focus on the money and price much more than the providence of food products. “I think what is likely going to end it or slow it down is food inflation. I think that people will look at prices. We are expecting food inflation to be a little bit of an issue going through 2025.” Canadians also tend to trust their own producers. Sixty-eight per cent say they trust Canadian labels. Sixty per cent say they trust labels created by grocery retailers. Survey participants were asked about their shopping and spending habits in relation to Canadian and American goods, the ease of identifying Canadian products and the trust they place in labels. - With files from CTV’s Emma Convey
