Bye America: A practical guide for patriotic Canadians

https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/1ifx562/bye_america_a_practical_guide_for_patriotic/

created by ZARFTRUCK on 02/02/2025 at 13:24 UTC*

1882 upvotes, 174 top-level comments (showing 25)

Hello r/canada

Long-time reader, first-time poster.

With Trump arbitrarily imposing tariffs on Canadian products and services, apparently as a starting point of a bigger economic war and possible annexation of Canada, now is the time for Canadians to stand together against his aggression. This post is meant to be practical, actionable ideas for all Canadians to resist Trump’s tariffs. Let's send the message to Trump: if you don't want to do business with Canada, you have no business here at all.

This is also a starting point. It’s unlikely that anyone will be able to do all of these things, all of the time, but the more people who do them, and the more of them we do, the bigger the impact will be. Many of the suggested Canadian alternatives are not present in every province. Please add your feedback and other ideas in the comments, and I will try to update the post.

Update: Thanks for all the comments! Have modified the list to correct and update it. A couple of useful websites flagged by other users.

Don’t shop at American-owned stores.

Not all of the alternatives are Canadian-owned; they are simply not American. You can also just shop local, as many Canadians own non-chain businesses providing these goods and services

1: http://madeinca.ca

2: https://european-alternatives.eu

Don’t buy American goods.

This will be difficult, because so many of our day-to-day consumer products are owned by American companies. That said, the big Canadian grocery and drug store chains have their own-brand “generic” versions of most of these American products, which are probably cheaper than the brand-name versions. When in doubt, check the label.

Worth noting (thanks commenter!) that Well.ca[3] allows you filter for Canadian products

3: http://Well.ca

Use Canadian transportation

Don’t buy American services.

Hard to avoid some of these, but not impossible.

Don’t buy American cars, or at least buy a car made in Canada.

It’s obviously impossible to buy a car without any American parts. But, if you’re buying new, at least support Canadian auto workers.

4: http://Sync.com

Non-American cars made in Canada:

Foreign car companies to consider — but check if their cars are assembled in the US:

American cars assembled in Canada:

American car brands to avoid (no manufacturing presence in Canada), other than the models assembled in Canada that are listed above:

Don’t go to America, but be friendly and welcoming to Americans

Travel elsewhere

Fly on Canadian airlines

Avoid American airlines:

What else?

Comments

Comment by ManofManyTalentz at 02/02/2025 at 23:12 UTC*

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Hi everyone - we took a while to reflect on this one, and decided it was so well done and with a positive, active intent that it was worthwhile posting here.

We remain committed to our sub's rules - please no full hatred and avoid generalizations. Ultimately we do need to come out the other side of this able to work with our neighbours, friends, and loved ones from the south, although there's no clarity on how long this will go on.

But Canadians have a strong history of kindness and togetherness, until someone takes advantage of that kindness. Then we plan, and act smartly and conclusively. This is that.

Edit: also a reminder that these are the products that Canada is creating tariffs for (the prior topic from r/canada)

https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/1ig1z2h/list%5C_of%5C_products%5C_from%5C_the%5C_united%5C_states%5C_subject/[1][2]

1: https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/1ig1z2h/list%5C_of%5C_products%5C_from%5C_the%5C_united%5C_states%5C_subject/

2: https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/1ig1z2h/list_of_products_from_the_united_states_subject/

...and a sister sub, https://www.reddit.com/r/buycanadian[3][4]

3: https://www.reddit.com/r/buycanadian

4: https://www.reddit.com/r/buycanadian

Edit 2: Mes amis Quebecoise, please feel free to add QC companies. Let's give Canada Post some steady work. There's plenty of maple syrup to flow around!

Edit 3: there was a temporary agreement between our PM and the USA - a 30 day pause is in effect for any tariffs, the same as with Mexico-USA. Since this is technically not over and might happen again in March, we will keep this list as an announcement for some time still, since attitudes have already shifted as reality sets in. Stay kind out there, but we have now seen that everyone has limits.

Edit 4: Do you influence purchasing and logistics for a Canadian company? You can have some win-win discussions, check this out: https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyCanadian/comments/1ih2crf/with%5C_one%5C_conversation%5C_at%5C_work%5C_i%5C_moved%5C_half%5C_a/[5][6]

5: https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyCanadian/comments/1ih2crf/with%5C_one%5C_conversation%5C_at%5C_work%5C_i%5C_moved%5C_half%5C_a/

6: https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyCanadian/comments/1ih2crf/with_one_conversation_at_work_i_moved_half_a/

Also a giant shout-out to www.simons.ca[7] for amazingly styled Canadian clothes, and www.twitter.com/dieworkwear[8] for amazingly detailed style.

7: http://www.simons.ca

8: http://www.twitter.com/dieworkwear

4 March Edit 5: We are re-unlocking this thread due to the new tariffs that have gone into play

Comment by Master_Engineering25 at 03/02/2025 at 00:08 UTC

99 upvotes, 7 direct replies

A very easy way to boycott streaming services/hollywood: Raise the black flag! 🦜⚔️☠️

Comment by accforme at 02/02/2025 at 20:40 UTC

113 upvotes, 3 direct replies

I agree fully with Chapman's. Unlike some other Canadian companies whose practice are questionable, like Loblaw, or their politics is a bit questionable, they have been very beneficial to their community and kind to their staff.

Comment by Saarubobo at 03/02/2025 at 22:21 UTC

56 upvotes, 1 direct replies

"Tourism is one Canadian export that Trump cannot put tariffs on" -- hell yeah dude. As an utterly exhausted American living just south of the border, I've been feeling just awful. You've inspired me to spend the weekend in beautiful Canada at Canadian hotels buying Canadian goods. Not that I've ever needed much motivation to do that.

Comment by Themeloncalling at 03/02/2025 at 03:18 UTC

47 upvotes, 0 direct replies

ULine is a Trump mega-donor. Stock your office and warehouse elsewhere.

Comment by NotAtAllExciting at 03/02/2025 at 01:28 UTC

74 upvotes, 3 direct replies

I’m going to disagree on Costco only because they do, at least in Edmonton, seem to carry a lot of fresh and frozen Canadian food and they treat their staff better than Sobeys/Safeway is treating their Alberta staff right now.

Comment by jats82 at 02/02/2025 at 20:21 UTC

30 upvotes, 2 direct replies

madeinca.ca

Comment by deskamess at 03/02/2025 at 00:12 UTC

30 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This is actually a pretty good list. I will not be doing the Walmart to Loblaws shift any time soon (cost reasons).

Now we can count on Canadian companies to not price gouge us, right? I don't think they are as patriotic as we think given their recent behaviour. Gouging Canadians is second nature to them.

Comment by bossington89 at 02/02/2025 at 19:13 UTC

139 upvotes, 1 direct replies

How am I the first comment on this post. I'll be bookmarking this post to refer back to until Agent Orange is out of office.

Comment by _hominin at 03/02/2025 at 10:50 UTC*

26 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Even better: shop CANADIAN LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. Remember that the Canadian oligopolies have not done much to help Canadians either.

and don't forget you can still buy international, just not US-made or -owned! Korean beauty companies are superior to US-owned beauty/skin care companies.

Comment by Embarrassed_Sail_379 at 02/02/2025 at 23:50 UTC

45 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Princess Auto is another entirely Canadian owned brand and can supplement some of things you would find at home depot, Lowe's, etc.

Comment by razorblade705_ at 03/02/2025 at 13:46 UTC

20 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I just would like to say that this can’t viably be an all-or-nothing situation. Not everyone will be able to abide by everything in this post, all the time.

But, do as much as you can. Every little bit helps!

Comment by ElJamoquio at 03/02/2025 at 20:09 UTC

19 upvotes, 3 direct replies

As an American - Thanks. And sorry.

Comment by jloganr at 03/02/2025 at 23:17 UTC

23 upvotes, 1 direct replies

stop watching/listening/following podcasts and influencers that gave Trump a platform on their channel/podcast.

Joe Rogan,

"Six Feet Under" with wrestler Mark Calaway

"Flagrant" with comedian Andrew Schulz

Barstool Sports’ "Bussin with the Boys" with former NFL football players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan

"This Past Weekend" with Theo Von

Adin Ross — a streamer who was banned from Twitch for offensive comments

"Lex Fridman Podcast"

"Full Send Podcast" with the Nelk Boys

"The Dan Bongino Show"

"PBD Podcast" with Patrick Bet-David

"Impaulsive" with Logan Paul

"All in Podcast" with Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks and David Friedberg

"Shawn Ryan Show"

Comment by [deleted] at 02/02/2025 at 23:06 UTC

53 upvotes, 1 direct replies

European lurking here. This is great. Here is an additional resources for European based technology alternatives: https://european-alternatives.eu/

Comment by MutedMeaning5317 at 02/02/2025 at 21:09 UTC

75 upvotes, 3 direct replies

In western Canada, please shop at your local Co-op when you can.

It really doesn't get more local for food, fuel and building supplies (where available).

They are also a large AG supplier owned by (and for) farmers.

Comment by hipnerd at 04/02/2025 at 02:40 UTC

14 upvotes, 0 direct replies

California native here. I fully support this.

Trump won by 1.5% of the popular vote. But the fact that anyone voted for him is embarrassing. Even if you agree with his abhorrent politics -- and I don't -- every time I listen to the man I am struck by how absolutely stupid, egotistical and mean he is.

I used to think that Hitler must have been a brilliant speaker. How else could he have gotten all those people to follow him?

Now, I realize that in order to get some people to follow you, all you need to do is tell them that it's okay to be the worst version of themselves. Be racist. Be xenophobic. Be misogynistic.

Instead of inspiring us to be the best version of ourselves, Trump tells us it's okay to be awful.

I miss Obama so much.

Comment by nikobruchev at 02/02/2025 at 20:24 UTC

32 upvotes, 2 direct replies

You should double check alot of these. Mondelez owns Cadbury, Keurig Dr Pepper owns Canada Dry, etc.

Lots of American ownership still in your list.

Comment by oddspellingofPhreid at 02/02/2025 at 21:16 UTC

50 upvotes, 2 direct replies

KFC, Popeyes → your local ma and pa chicken place

Mary Brown's

Comment by Various_Shape_3286 at 02/02/2025 at 23:15 UTC

12 upvotes, 2 direct replies

When canceling netflux, remember that it's still available until the end of your billing period, which might give you lots of time to download everything in your queue.

Comment by HammyMugats at 03/02/2025 at 21:47 UTC

12 upvotes, 0 direct replies

The key is not who “owns” the companies but rather where products are produced.

Killing American companies that are operating here and employing Canadians isn’t net positive because people are employed by them.

If we can force Walmart to stock more Canadian brands and let the US products rot on the shelf, that has the most impact. It supports both workers and rewards Canadian producers.

Comment by Rin_sparrow at 02/02/2025 at 20:41 UTC

46 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Lululemon is Canadian but the company is problematic. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/lululemon-greenwashing-investigation-competition-bureau-1.7194913

Also Chip Wilson is a dick

Comment by manonaca at 02/02/2025 at 21:23 UTC

41 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Skip the Dishes instead of Uber Eats

Comment by GN-004Nadleeh at 03/02/2025 at 20:37 UTC*

10 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Here is my list for Small and Medium size business to start breaking away from USA big tech. This will cheaper too! As its either free or doesn't require reoccurring licenses or even BOTH! Just need the technical know how. Put money back into internal IT employees.

- Windows/MACOS -

Zorin OS, Designed explicitly to replicate the Windows interface. Offers a "Windows-like" desktop layout option.

Zorin OS includes a macOS desktop layout option during setup, complete with a dock and top bar.

Zorin OS runs on Linux so you avoid all the viruses that target Windows Machines.

- Broadcom VMWare and Microsoft HyperV -

Proxmox Free opensource hypervisor to run your virtual machines/servers by guys in Austria

- Dell laptops -

Eurocom Ontario-based High-performance, customizable laptops for enterprise, gaming, and industrial use.

Lenovo (China), Acer (Taiwan), ASUS (Taiwan)

- Exchange/Gmail -

Proton Mail (Switzerland), Tutanota (Germany), Mailfence (Belgium)

- GSuite and Microsoft 365 -

LibreOffice in the cloud; pairs with Nextcloud (Canadian) for a full suite.

- Firewalls -

Combine Fortinet (Canadian) with Free Opensouce pfSense/OPNsense software for cost-effective edge security. No more expensive reoccurring license fees!

- Switches -

MikroTik (Latvia)

Cost-effective, enterprise-grade switches (e.g., CRS series) with RouterOS.

- Wifi Access Points (APs) -

Omada Enterprise AP (Which is TP-Link, which are made in China)

Comment by Ok-Clock-2779 at 03/02/2025 at 21:51 UTC

9 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I’m American and I support you guys