Sask. NDP launches campaign, new website urging support for local businesses amid tariff threats
'We all understand this is an incredibly serious threat': NDP Leader Carla Beck
Amid the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs, Saskatchewan's Official Opposition party is urging people to shop local.
The NDP launched its "Shop local, shop Sask" campaign Wednesday at SaskMade, a Saskatoon marketplace filled with products made in Saskatchewan.
NDP Leader Carla Beck said the campaign was created in hopes of urging shoppers to put their money back into the pockets of people who live in Saskatchewan.
She said there's a need to support Saskatchewan businesses, as potential tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump could come into play next week.
Trump threatened to impose the 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods — except energy, which would be levied at 10 per cent — earlier this month, but those tariffs were later put on hold.
He has signalled that pause will be lifted around March 4. However, the White House clarified Tuesday that is not a done deal.
Trump has also mused about Canada becoming a 51st state of the U.S.
"I think we all understand this is an incredibly serious threat," the NDP's Beck said Wednesday. "Whether we're talking about tariffs or threats that continue to be levelled around sovereignty, we can't take this lightly."
She also said many people in Saskatchewan are "already making a conscious effort to shop local, to support their neighbours, to support local businesses and Canadian-based businesses here at home."
WATCH | Sask. NDP launches buy-local campaign:
Beck also announced the launch of a website Wednesday called shopsk.ca to highlight small businesses in Saskatchewan, which she said will make it easier for people to shop locally by letting them search for products they need.
People can also submit their favourite local businesses to have them featured on the website, she said. Users can also download graphics for social media or sign a petition asking the province's Saskatchewan Party government for a well-developed response and plan to tariff threats.
In the wake of the tariff threats, many Canadians have said they're trying to limit their support of American products, food or travel.
SaskMade said the current push to shop locally is the strongest it's seen since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the store has been busy since the tariff threats began.
"Usually February is our slowest month of the year," said Mark Diakiw, SaskMade's general manager. "But our sales have already surpassed January and are almost up 50 per cent from last year."
Diakiw said a strong push to shop local will greatly benefit the province.
"All of the money stays in the local community economy," Diakiw said, and most of the businesses his store works with are small businesses with just a few employees.
"You're literally putting money into their pocket for them to help take care of their family and their lives," he said.
SaskMade features products from 450 small businesses, said Diakiw — 300 that sell groceries and 150 that sell gifts or home goods. He also said he has 50 new applications to review.
"People are definitely talking about the situation with the United States a lot more when they come into the store," Diakiw said. "[They're] pointing out things like, 'Oh, I didn't realize you could get this here.'"
Meanwhile, Premier Scott Moe is in Washington, D.C., again this week, along with a group of Saskatchewan businesses and organizations.
They're meeting with U.S. decision makers and business leaders, trying to make the case against the proposed tariffs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
