This patriotic shift has led to a surge in the popularity of the Buy Canadian movement. The movement is being felt the strongest in small businesses like Ottawa’s Maker House, where nearly everything is proudly made in Canada.
Sales at Maker House have soared since early 2024, with spikes that align closely with political announcements and trade threats from south of the border. T-shirts sporting Canadian slogans and novelty items that celebrate Canadian identity are among the top sellers. Founder Gareth Davies attributes much of the shop’s success to growing consumer sentiment favouring local businesses.
The movement gained significant traction following trade tensions ignited by the Trump administration. Many Canadians began boycotting U.S. products and travel as a form of protest. The result has been a sustained increase in sales of Canadian-made goods and a cultural shift in consumer habits.
Recent surveys support the strength of this trend. A poll conducted in June revealed that more than 75 per cent of Canadians support retailers removing U.S. goods from their shelves. Two-thirds say they are actively seeking out Canadian-made alternatives. These numbers highlight a shift in consumer values, with many placing national loyalty and economic support ahead of convenience or brand familiarity.
Canadian travel to the United States has also seen a sharp decline. Air travel has dropped by nearly a quarter, and land crossings have fallen even further. Stricter border security measures and growing unease with American politics have pushed many to consider alternatives. Some conferences and events have even been relocated to Canada to avoid the complications of U.S. customs procedures.
Although not everyone can entirely avoid travelling to the U.S., many are adjusting their habits. In cases like Ottawa resident Emily Olmstead, the solution has been for American relatives to visit Canada instead. For her, avoiding American-made products and travel is a deliberate choice driven by dissatisfaction with U.S. political discourse.
Businesses are also seeing the effects. A Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey reported that 40 per cent of respondents had seen an uptick in sales of Canadian products since the start of the trade conflict. Meanwhile, many also noted a decline in demand for American goods.
Experts say that while most boycotts fade, the current movement may have lasting power. For many, buying Canadian has moved beyond protest—it has become a matter of identity, pride, and economic support. As more consumers form habits around local purchasing, the effects of this shift could shape Canadian retail for years to come.
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