Buy Canadian, Buy Local: A Shopping Guide

As many of us across the country are joining in a movement to support Canadian-made products and retailers, we’ve put together a guide to buying Canadian. Read on for tips on understanding product labels, lists of Canadian and local businesses, and tools to help inform your shopping choices.

Product Labels

  • Product of Canada/Canadian

    “Product of Canada” means that the product was made and processed in Canada, with almost all the ingredients coming from Canada. At least 98% of the production costs must be spent in Canada.

    If a label says “Canadian,” it meets the “Product of Canada” rules.

  • Made in Canada

    This means the product must have been mostly changed or made in Canada, and at least 51% of the production costs must be from Canada.

  • 100% Canadian

    The food or ingredient must be fully Canadian, including how it’s processed and made.

  • A Maple Leaf

    A maple leaf on the label does not always mean that the product is Canadian. Always check the label for details on where it was made and where the ingredients come from.   

  • Local

    A product labeled “local” must be made in the province or territory where it’s sold or sold within 50km of the border from where it was made.

  • The Blue Cow

    The blue cow logo on dairy products means they are made with 100% Canadian milk and milk ingredients, according to Dairy Farmers of Canada.

  • Meat and Poultry

    Meat can be labeled as a “product of Canada” if it meets these conditions:

    • The animal must be from Canada and slaughtered in Canada.
    • An animal is considered Canadian if it was born, raised, and slaughtered in Canada.
    • Feeder cattle are considered Canadian if they have lived in Canada for at least 60 days before being slaughtered here.
  • Fish and Seafood

    Fish and seafood can be labeled as “product of Canada” if they meet these conditions:

    • Wild fish and seafood must be caught by Canadian boats in Canadian waters. They must also be processed in Canada using Canadian ingredients.
    • Farmed fish and seafood must come from farms in Canada. They must be processed in Canada using Canadian ingredients.
  • Dairy and Eggs

    Eggs from imported hens and milk from imported cows can use the “product of Canada” label as long as the hen laid its eggs in Canada and the cow is milked in Canada. 

  • Other Helpful Hints
Canadian Council for Indigenous Business: Buy Indigenous to Buy Canadian

Support Indigenous Businesses

The Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) provides more than 2,500 members, including more than 1,300 Certified Indigenous Businesses, with advocacy and tools to keep Indigenous entrepreneurs positioned for growth.

Connect with and buy from Indigenous businesses by browsing the CCIB’s member directory. 

View Directory

Apps for Buying Canadian 

  • CanMade (iOS only)

    CanMade empowers you to make informed choices about the products you buy. By scanning barcodes, you can instantly see if a product is made or produced in Canada. Powered by the Open Food Facts API and CanMade’s own database, the app provides access to a global database of food products. 

  • Buy Beaver

    Buy Beaver is an app that lets you scan product barcodes to see how truly Canadian they are.

  • Maple Scan

    Shop Canadian-first with Maple Scan by snapping a picture of any product to instantly learn about its Canadian ties and local alternatives. No barcodes needed! 

  • Shop Canadian

    Shop Canadian helps you support Canadian businesses by giving you instant information about a product’s company and location. With a quick tap, you can find out if a product is locally made before you buy.

    Apple Store | Google Play Store

  • O SCANada

    Scan a barcode or type the name of the product into the search bar on O SCANada and it will tell you who makes the product, where it is made and where it is sold.

    Apple Store | Google Play Store

Local Markets and Grocery Stores

Waterloo Public Library

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