Edmonton business owner urges support for ‘Made in Canada’ products amidst US tariff threat 

Ontario premier Doug Ford is asking Canadians to combat the tariff threat by President-elect Donald Trump.

“This is an opportunity for Canadians to stand up and be proud,” said Ford.

Buy products that say, ‘Made in Canada’, that is what the Ontario premier asked during a meeting with fellow provincial leaders and the prime minister.

One local business owner in south Edmonton responds by saying “it is about time.”

“A lot of people talk that they want to support local and they want to do these things but how many people do, they say that and all of the sudden they’re all on their phone and ordering something from here and there,” said David Johnston, owner of Playmore Tables and Games. “People should do more research on where the products are built or where they are made or where they are coming from.”

Playmore Tables and Games focus on different gameroom products, from foosball to ping pong tables, as well as their locally made pool tables, which they have been making for more than 20 years.

“You’re supporting the local economy as well, everything from products from materials to our maple, our finishing, maybe our bolts, our hardware,” said Johnston. “It’s actually contributing back to the economy.”

Despite being manufactured in Edmonton, some of the parts like the textile used on the pool table comes from the U.S. and Johnston is worried this could impact the price and their business.

“People are going to find that goods like what we’re selling and most goods in general are going to go way up if they haven’t already,” said Johnston.

While he is optimistic that both governments are going to talk about the tariffs, right now buying products that have a sticker of ‘Made in Canada’ is much more crucial than ever.

“I think you’ll find that the product that we’re offering for the money is a lot more superior than what’s out there,” said Johnston.