Sask NDP; chambers encourage residents to shop local

“Together over the last 150 years, our two economies in Canada and the United States have built one of the strongest economic partnerships that the world has ever known,” she said.

In an emailed statement from the Saskatchewan Party, they said they are “Certainly supportive of any initiative that encourages people to support Saskatchewan businesses” and added the US will always be Canada’s largest trading partner.

“That is why Premier Scott Moe has been prioritizing being in Washington D.C. – to de-escalate the conversation about tariffs and reiterate the fact that tariffs will hurt both of our economies,” they said.

“We continue working to find a path forward that would remove tariffs, boost the economy and strengthen our continental food and energy security.”

According to Linda Machniak of the Battlefords and District Chamber of Commerce, supporting efforts to shop locally has always been a large part of their work for over 100 years.

“I mean there are some things I know we can’t always get in our own local community but certainly when we can, it would be important to share and to support those that support us,” she said.

Machniak explained that while this particular effort is being established by the opposition party, she pointed out that governments of all stripes have done similar initiatives in the past.

“During COVID, the federal government, the provincial governments were all working with communities to ensure that people were supporting the businesses that either had to be closed or were just starting to open up.”

“This has been a longstanding thought process is to try to encourage people to support their own local members and businesses in their communities and in the region,” she said.

Speaking to the website, Machniak said she thought it was interesting and although it’s currently only populated with businesses in the larger centres, she suspects there will be much more to come.

For Miles Nachbaur, president of the Meadow Lake Chamber of Commerce, taking a stand and choosing to only purchase Canadian products is a good thing.

“Even though those American products might have Canadian components in them, those components be replaced by cheaper American ones,” he said, noting because of the tariffs, they might eventually be cycled out.

Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for SaskBuilds and Procurement Erika Ritchie stands outside North Battleford Gold and Country Club on Thurs., Feb. 27. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“A message has to be sent I think that we will support local, and I think that that’s important for us as a community and us as a province and us as a country as well.”

Nachbaur acknowledged that it is hard for businesses to pivot and having to get product from other sources, but it is an opportunity for people to get to know Canadian producers.

“I think that that’s something that’s very important, not just in a time of tariffs but in a time of relative calm on the trade front,” he said.

“I think it boils down to the individual choices we make.”

According to Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for SaskBuilds and Procurement Erika Ritchie, who was in the Battlefords Thursday to connect with the local business leaders at the Chamber’s 119 Annual Chair’s Luncheon.

“We’ve had our ear to the ground, we’ve been reaching out to businesses right across the province to understand how the tariffs are going to be affecting their business,” she said.

“It sort’ve changes day to day it seems but it’s creating a lot of uncertainty.”

Richie explained that on the drive to the Battlefords, she grew introspective.

“I’m proud to be from Saskatchewan and I’m proud of our industries, our national resource sector,” she said.

“I want to make sure we’re protecting our industries and we’re building on our communities’ competitive advantage.”

The goal to become a sustainable developer of natural resources and being able to use that competitive advantage that will in turn strengthen access to markets and diversify.

“Not be so beholden to essentially a president who’s become a tyrant and creating these threats for our Saskatchewan economy.”

The local chamber’s job, the members said, is to encourage people to stay in the communities and support their neighbours, friends and residents.

“I believe we need to take a stand right, and vote with our pocketbooks,” said Nachbaur.

As for Beck, she has a more pointed perspective for the president south of the border.

“Now let me be clear that Saskatchewan and Canada will not bow down while threats to our economy and our sovereignty continued to be levelled at us,” said Beck.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social

by Julia Lovett-Squires

Sask NDP; chambers encourage residents to shop local

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