‘Buy local’ movement embraced by rural communities

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/02/2025 (210 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rural leaders have decided to take action in the shadow of tariff threats from the U.S. by vowing to buy Canadian-made products.

The R.M. of St. Andrews council unanimously passed a motion Tuesday, promising to purchase products made in Canada “whenever possible.”

Mayor Joy Sul said the idea, raised by deputy mayor Rob Mirecki, is a no-brainer.

“Say the grader needs new tires, and they’re made in China, they’re made in the U.S. (or) they’re made in Canada. They should be buying (products) made in Canada,” she said Thursday.

“Even, for example, paper towels, pens, office supplies, basically anything we use in the R.M., Manitoba or Canada will be given priority for purchasing.”

The call to shop local has gained traction across Canada in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned 25 per cent tariffs on a range of Canadian products, and an additional 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, both scheduled to begin in March.

Canada’s premiers, including Premier Wab Kinew, met with Trump’s advisers in Washington, D.C. this week.

In St. Andrews, people have cancelled trips to the States and are checking their groceries for made-in-Manitoba products, Sul said.

She’s backed out of an annual business convention in the U.S., in part because of the expected hit to the value of the Canadian dollar amid a trade dispute.

“It’s going to have a huge impact,” she said.

In Gimli, a similar resolution passed at Wednesday’s council meeting. It calls on the administration to “bring forward recommendations for updates to the R.M.’s procurement bylaws, policies, and processes to ensure they are sufficiently flexible to support the purchase of local, Canadian and non-American goods and services, wherever possible.”

“Everything is new in terms of the tariffs, and in terms of provincial government supporting buying Canadian. I think this is the flow to the municipalities to also look at their policies, procedures, etc., and update them and reflect on them,” said Christine Payne, the Gimli municipality’s manager of community engagement.

She noted Gimli has several large manufacturers that would be hurt by U.S. tariffs, including the Crown Royal distillery.

Saturday is the National Flag of Canada Day, with the added significance of being the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of the flag of Canada.

Gimli’s public works department will erect Canadian flags on Centre Street to mark the occasion.

“I think it’s the conversation that is happening organically with all of the news that’s coming out,” Payne said. “This is just one way the R.M. can start to position and show our support.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca