In response to the US going off the rails, I’m seeing lots of push to buy Canadian products as much as possible and I love it.
But it’s never that simple, is it?
Easiest case: You can buy leather bags and wallets from Adrian Klis. These are made in Canada, by a Canadian company, from Canadian materials (Buffalo hide leather).
Unfortunately, neither manufacturing or ownership are that straightforward most of the time.
Creemore Springs is a small brewery in Ontario, using local product and brewing locally. AND they’re owned by the Molson Coors Beverage Company - a cross-border multinational.
Likewise, Canada Goose (winter jackets) is now owned by Bain Capital in the USA.
A lot of us use Melitta filters in our drip coffee makers. Melitta is a German company that manufactures in the USA. (FYI, Technivorm filters are manufactured and headquarted in The Netherlands.)
Coca Cola is unabashedly American, and has backed militant extremists in other countries; but the bottle of coke you buy in the store likely came from one of their five bottling plants in Canada, bottled by a Canadian.
Aylmer’s soups are Canadian through-and-through. Everything other than soup under the Aylmer brand and logo is now owned by Conagra.
Everyone knows that Costco is American, but they’ve also got a long history of paying above average, giving better than average benefits, and standing up to the excesses of capitalism and fascism.
Of course, “Canadian” is no guarantee of “good” either for products or for companies. Loblaws has spent decades gouging customers (often illegally) and Shopify’s executives are advocating for a Canadian DOGE.
I’m not suggesting for a second we throw our hands up in the air and give up, but I’d like to see a bit more clarity on all of the “Buy Canadian” lists.
Country of manufacture.
Country of components.
Company headquarters.
Ultimate company ownership.
None of this is going to be as easy as “buy the thing with a maple leaf” but we need to be more aware of how we’re supporting the US or other economies, either deliberately or inadvertently.
In a globalized economy it’s really difficult and nearly impossible to buy something completely made in Canada from start to finish.
I don’t think there’s a single tannery left in Canada at this point, so you might get a nice leather jacket made in Canada, but the Hyde was tanned in the U.S. or elsewhere.
I could be wrong. Doesn’t matter though, we as Canadians need to start manufacturing our products back here in this great nation and work with countries that aren’t the US that stand for free trade and democracy.
The U.S. at this point is no longer a partner, friend, or ally. We can do better Canada! We will do better!!
Exactly. I “don’t buy American” rather than “buy Canadian” for the most part. No need to punish our other trading partners. We need to support them too.
There are a few tanneries left, although not many. It’s a messy, toxic process that is often performed in countries with laxer environmental standards.
But your point is well taken. If a garment maker has to bring in leather (or another material), I’d like to know if it’s from China, USA, India, or the UK before making my decision.
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In a globalized economy it’s really difficult and nearly impossible to buy something completely made in Canada from start to finish.
I don’t think there’s a single tannery left in Canada at this point, so you might get a nice leather jacket made in Canada, but the Hyde was tanned in the U.S. or elsewhere.
I could be wrong. Doesn’t matter though, we as Canadians need to start manufacturing our products back here in this great nation and work with countries that aren’t the US that stand for free trade and democracy.
The U.S. at this point is no longer a partner, friend, or ally. We can do better Canada! We will do better!!
I am fine with certain other countries being involved. I will do whatever I can to avoid US anything though
Exactly. I “don’t buy American” rather than “buy Canadian” for the most part. No need to punish our other trading partners. We need to support them too.
If you do an internet search for “Canadian tanneries” you will find several.
Oh this is good to know. Thanks for the correction!!
There are a few tanneries left, although not many. It’s a messy, toxic process that is often performed in countries with laxer environmental standards.
But your point is well taken. If a garment maker has to bring in leather (or another material), I’d like to know if it’s from China, USA, India, or the UK before making my decision.