Countless surveys have told us Canadians want to buy Canadian.

They say they want to support local farmers and processors, keep dollars at home and protect jobs. But when standing in front of the grocery shelf, good intentions often give way to convenience and price.

That contradiction, however, seems to be fading. And geopolitics has a lot to do with it.

According to the latest NIQ (formerly NielsenIQ) retail data, sales of “Made in Canada” food products are up more than 10 per cent year-over-year as of September 2025, while U.S.-made products are down nearly nine per cent. That trend has persisted for more than six months.

In the world of consumer data, that’s not a blip—it’s a shift. Canadians aren’t just saying they want to buy Canadian, they’re actually doing it.

Turn on the television any night and there’s one recurring face—U.S. President Donald Trump. Canadians, whether they follow U.S. politics closely or not, are constantly reminded of his message of “America First.”

Consciously or not, they’re responding. Every fiery clip about tariffs, immigration or foreign competition reinforces the sense Canada needs to rely on itself. Buying........

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