‘Buy Canadian’ slogan losing steam, says Metro

Is the Buy Canadian movement losing its popularity? CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco checks in.

Windsorites are still buying Canadian, despite what grocer Metro says.

“Yeah, we’re definitely buying Canadian. We’re definitely buying in Canada,” said Connie Day while shopping at Fred’s Farm Fresh.

The push to “buy Canadian” at the grocery store is still going strong, but according to Metro, one of the country’s top grocers, and smaller stores like Fred’s Farm Fresh, that movement may be losing a bit of momentum.

“They’ve got that taste in their mouth with Trump and all that other stuff and I think they’re still trying to but it’s not as important as it was, say, six months or seven months ago,” said owner Fred Bouzide.

Shoppers may not be as engaged with the slogan, but some say they are committed to buying Canadian.

“I think that people really do want to see this Windsor, especially, and Canada in general to produce what they need and, make sure that we buy our things so that we are promoting our own people,” Day told CTV News.

Frank Boschin added that instead of buying into the slogan, buy into your culture and local neighbours.

“Go out and say hello to your friends, see your local butcher, your local market, have a conversation,” he said.

Shoppers know that American products are on the shelf and are sometimes left with a decision.

“I’m debating this purchase,” said Althea Di Gregorio, who had an American product in her hands.

“This only because I can’t find (a Canadian version). If I had a garden, I’d have my own. I have no desire to spend any money to support what’s going on south of the border (in the U.S.)”

Tariffs are affecting the way Bouzide buys for his store.

“Lemons, for example coming out of California at a certain price,” he said.

“Now what we’re giving them is out of Argentina or Spain or something like that. So, it’s a further way. The price has got to be higher because of shipping costs.”

He supports the “buy Canadian” movement but says tariffs have affected the bottom line.

“I mean, they put tariffs on certain things, on watermelons, and different kinds of fruit that were bringing in,” he said.

“We’ve had to raise our prices and we’re not selling as much as we used.”

Those prices are hitting the consumer. Some of them are buying, while many aren’t, and that is reflected in the quantity of produce he buys.

When he buys, Bouzide said he sometimes can’t avoid not buying American. He added Canadian grown food is good, but sometimes not as good as American grown, which many customers like.

“For example, watermelons coming out of Canada, they’re very good but they don’t compare to Texas or Georgia watermelons are incredibly sweet and very good,” he said.