How Newcomers Can Support Canadian Businesses in 2025

This means you have a lot more power to support your local community than you might think. Every purchasing decision you make is another opportunity to make a difference.  

Key Takeaways 

• 66 cents from every dollar you spend at small local businesses stays in your local community.  

• Buying local also gives you opportunities to connect with your local community more deeply – and it feels good! 

• Know that a maple leaf, beaver, or other Canadian symbols on a product do not necessarily mean that it’s Canadian-made. 

• We’ve compiled resources to make it easier for you to find local products.  

Why Buy From Local Businesses in Canada?  

At the time of writing this post, the US just imposed sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian goods entering the US, and Canada introduced retaliatory tariffs in response. So, the cost of goods that cross the border has gone up. This sudden pricing increase is one reason to buy local products.  

But, outside of the current political environment, there are so many reasons to buy local products – including that it’s a simple way to feel more connected to your new community is by choosing to shop local.
Here are some ways buying from nearby businesses can help you settle in and make a difference: 

• It feels good. When you purchase products or services from Canadian businesses, you’re not only showing pride in your new home, but also embracing the spirit of local support. This act helps you feel more rooted in the community and less alone in your new surroundings. 

• Every purchase strengthens Canada. By spending your hard-earned money at local shops, you’re fueling our economy and creating a stronger, more resilient country. Your contributions help build a place that welcomes newcomers and values the support they bring. 

• You support local jobs and dreams. Choosing to shop local means you’re investing in the livelihoods of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and workers in your neighborhood. It’s a direct way to help the people you see every day. 

• You boost Canadian innovation. By driving productivity and supporting businesses in your area, you encourage resilient supply chains that can lead to better prices and more diverse options. This means you’ll find the products that fit your needs and tastes as you settle in. 

• You help protect the environment. Many small businesses source from local suppliers, which lowers the carbon footprint tied to transportation. A simpler supply chain often means a greener approach, and that’s something all Canadians can feel proud about. 

• It’s personal. Supporting local businesses is more than a transaction—it’s an opportunity to forge new friendships and connections. These relationships can ease the loneliness newcomers often feel and create a network of neighbors who care about your success in Canada. 

• You discover one-of-a-kind finds. Shopping local means tapping into unique offerings and cultural touches specific to your region. You’ll uncover items and experiences that help you settle into your new home and truly make it your own. 

Quick Subscription-Based Switches to Support Canadian Businesses 

• Use Well.ca and Indigo instead of Amazon. 

• Stingray and CBC Listen instead of Apple or Amazon Music.  

• Sync.com instead of Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive. 

• Use Skip (started in Manitoba, though now owned by a British company) instead of UberEats or DoorDash.
• Use Flex Fitness instead of Peleton or the hundreds of other US-based fitness apps on the market.  

Canadian Streaming Alternatives 

Keen to cancel Netflix? Here’s what you can use instead:  

• Crave 

• CBC Gem 

• StackTV 

• Kidoodle.TV 

• OUTtv 

Tips To Buy Provincial Products 

Before we dig into the resources for finding local products, we want to quickly point out that Canadian markings, like maple leafs, beavers, or other similarly iconic ‘Canadian’ things, do not guarantee that the product is made in Canada.  

Here’s a list from the Canadian government showing each province and territory’s resource for buying products made within that province:  

• Alberta: Alberta’s Own

• British Columbia: Buy BC

• Manitoba: Support Manitoba. Buy Local. 

• New Brunswick: Buy Local NB 

• Newfoundland and Labrador: Buy NL 

• Northwest Territories: Business Directory Search 

• Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Loyal  

• Nunavut: Shop & Support Local Nunavummiut businesses 

• Ontario: Ontario Made 

• Prince Edward Island: Explore PEI LOCAL Businesses

• Québec: Marché de l’achat local au Québec (only in French) Signé Local (only in French) 

• Saskatchewan : SaskMade Marketplace) 

• Yukon : Buy Local Program | Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce 

Managing Your Budget When Buying Canadian 

It’s true that sometimes supporting local stores can be more expensive than buying at Amazon. Amazon, and other similar multinationals, are able to negotiate preferential pricing due to massive orders on certain products. Plus, no local warehousing and no storefronts reduce overhead for those sales. This means these companies can sell products at a discount. However, the cost of that is fewer dollars remaining in your local community and fewer jobs for local residents. That’s the push-pull that’s important to remember when making your buying decisions.  

That said, life in Canada is expensive. And shopping locally made products may not be viable economically. So, what can you do instead?  

• Consider shopping secondhand instead to buy from a Canadian resident. Secondhand marketplaces, like Karrot (which is a Korean-based app that’s expanding into Canada), can help you find local people with secondhand items you need.  

• Delay purchasing if possible. It’s possible that Canada’s trade war with the US may end, or that CUSMA may be renegotiated. If you need to buy from the US, consider waiting until a new agreement has been reached and the political climate has cooled.  

• Shop in-season food items, ideally from local famers markets or fruit and veg stands.  

Finally, if a vacation is on the horizon, consider travelling within Canada for now. There are so many incredible places to travel in Canada and your tourist spending will be greatly appreciated!