Amid Trump’s Tariffs, Support for Local Canadian Content Builds: “It’s Become Imperative”

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As President Donald Trump ignited a growing trade dispute with Canada, leading to a rise in Canadian patriotism, there’s been a boost in backing for homegrown entertainment productions within Canada.

Ashleigh Rains, festival director and head programmer at the Canadian Film Fest (CFF), shared with The Hollywood Reporter that it’s never been more important to watch Canadian films in theaters. With current events unfolding in the U.S., now is the perfect opportunity to immerse ourselves in our own Canadian narratives and boost our local film industry.

As a representative of indie cinemas within the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors, led by Sonya Yokota Máté William, I’m keeping a close eye on how Canadians are feeling about potential Hollywood film boycotts. The situation has been evolving rapidly, and it remains to be seen where things will land. Naturally, cinema operators are worried, but the main topic of discussion at this point is the increasing costs we’ve been experiencing for some time now and what these rising prices could mean for our communities.

Since President Trump initiated his trade conflict, which as of Wednesday morning encompasses a 25% tariff on most goods from Canada, a 10% tariff on oil and energy exports, a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum that was raised to 50% on March 11 before being reduced back to 25% following negotiations with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Canadians have shown an increase in national pride, seemingly uniting the nation despite the approaching general election. The newly elected Liberal leader Mark Carney, who will succeed outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, met with him on Monday. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, he mentioned that he and the outgoing PM had a lengthy discussion about handling Trump’s trade war. After assuming office, Carney is anticipated to promptly call for an election in an attempt to obtain a mandate, with Canadians expected to vote by late April or early May.

On Wednesday, Canada retaliated against Trump’s aluminum and steel tariffs by imposing a 25% counter-tariff on steel goods and increasing taxes on various items such as tools, computers, sports gear, and cast-iron products.

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In response to Trump’s aluminum and steel tariffs, Canada announced a 25% reciprocal tariff on steel products and raised taxes on items including tools, computers, sports equipment, and cast-iron goods on Wednesday.

Prior to Trump’s election and the commencement of the trade dispute between nations, the Liberals, who have been in power in Canada since 2015, were expected to lose decisively against the Conservatives, led by populist right-wing candidate Pierre Poilievre. However, Trump’s actions against Canada have significantly altered the political landscape. The Conservatives’ lead in polls seems to have diminished. Data from the polling group Nanos, released on Tuesday, shows a close race between the two parties, with the Conservatives at 36% and the Liberals at 35%. The left-wing New Democratic Party is currently polling third with 15%.

A clear sign that Canadian nationalism was growing stronger emerged towards the end of February when Canada defeated the U.S.A. during the final match of the National Hockey League’s 4 Nations tournament. Notably, this was the second time these teams had met within six days. The atmosphere was already tense following their initial encounter in Montreal, where Canadian spectators voiced their disapproval of Trump’s “51st State” remarks by booing the U.S. national anthem. During the final game held in Boston, Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk altered the lyrics of Canada’s national anthem to show defiance against Trump. She sang “that only us command,” instead of the original “in all of us command.” On Instagram, she explained her action, saying “We should express our outrage in the face of any abuses of power.” In the accompanying post, she shared a picture of the revised lyrics as a symbol of her stance.

The winning overtime goal scored by Connor McDavid in Canada’s game received high-level applause, as Prime Minister Trudeau used the moment to make a jab at the current U.S. President.

“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau wrote on X.

In his address at the Liberal party gathering on Sunday, PM Carney drew a parallel to the game and used a hockey brawl analogy. He stated, “We didn’t initiate this confrontation, but Canadians are always prepared when someone decides to fight. So, let the Americans understand clearly; just as in hockey, Canada will emerge victorious in trade.

With Canadians adopting a fresh sense of national identity, Williams perceives a chance for independent cinemas across the country. “What defines being Canadian?” Williams posits, “I believe we all understand that there’s no single response – which is why it’s crucial to watch a Canadian film, read a Canadian book, attend a Canadian theatre production,” he emphasizes.

In light of the rising trade tensions leading to increased tariffs across borders, local film sets have felt the repercussions too. For years, caterers on these sets have depended on American products, while consumers in Canada often buy goods from local stores. However, Evelyn Gharibian, head of catering at Hearty Catering in Toronto, believes it’s high time to focus on sourcing goods from within Canada first. As she explains to THR, “In support of our country, we plan to prioritize local sources initially. If an item can’t be found locally and we absolutely need it, then we will consider purchasing it from another nation.

The catering company responsible for supplying meals and snacks on recent Toronto film sets, such as Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and the Peacock series ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’, had been purchasing locally whenever possible before the current political tensions across borders. However, the ongoing tariff disputes have forced Gharibian and her team to shift their focus away from purchasing American products as much as feasible.

Gharibian suggests that for now, we could focus on coming up with more creative solutions, and possibly look to other countries for resources, should this situation continue.

Ariadne Reid, a catering manager at Blazing Kitchen in Toronto, notes that the tariffs will indeed affect them. “We can only take so much before we need to raise our prices,” she says. “The solution is to buy locally produced goods. We’re making a conscious effort to support Canadian businesses and our economy by focusing on local products.

Due to Canadian tariffs on imports from the United States, liquor stores run by provincial governments all over Canada have decided to stop selling American products, such as California wines, from their shelves.

Exclusively handling distribution, American brands will no longer be listed in the LCBO catalog. Consequently, other provincial retailers, bars, and restaurants can’t replenish U.S. products. This decision significantly affects American manufacturers, according to Ford, as he spoke to the media last week about the potential temporary withdrawal of U.S. alcohol products from LCBO stores until the tariff dispute is resolved.

The escalation of nationalistic sentiments has also made its way into the realm of online streaming services. Since the onset of the trade war, numerous discussions have arisen on Reddit, inquiring about whether there are homegrown options comparable to Netflix.

For Canadians looking to end their Netflix subscription, an alternative could be CBC Gem – an online service operated by Canada’s public broadcaster. According to a representative from the CBC, it’s premature to suggest a significant increase in viewers for CBC Gem due to the tariff dispute, but indications suggest a promising year ahead.

In response to current trends, the Canadian pay-TV service Super Channel swiftly updated its brand, replacing its old logo with a distinctive Maple Leaf and adopting the slogan: “Proudly Canadian, Forever.

Don McDonald, president and CEO of Super Channel, stated, ‘Now is when we should stand behind Canada.’ This isn’t simply a rebranding; it’s a tribute to our Canadian heritage and an affectionate expression of our love for our nation, the resilient, powerful North.

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2025-03-12 21:25