Elbows Up Finances: How Canadians Are Responding to Tariffs

3 Ways Canadians are Responding to the Trade War — and What It Could Mean for Their Wallets

In response to tariffs and sovereignty threats, many Canadians are shopping local, axing American services and rethinking cross-border travel. But values-driven money moves can have hidden costs.

As Canada and the U.S. lock horns over tariffs, Canadians aren’t just bracing for impact — they’re making intentional shifts in how and where they spend. From switching to local products to cancelling U.S. subscriptions and rethinking cross-border travel, these changes reflect more than just cost-cutting.

At the heart of these adjustments lies a bigger question: Do Canadians fully understand the financial consequences of these values-driven behaviours?

1. Buying Canadian: A tariff dodge, but at what cost?

More than 4 in 5 Canadians (85%) say they will adjust their spending in response to rising tariffs, most commonly by buying more Canadian-made products to avoid tariff-related price hikes (58%), according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet Canada.

And it’s not just lip service. In Reddit’s r/PersonalFinanceCanada, the “US Tariffs on Canada” megathread is full of people swapping imports for domestic alternatives:

“I understand some people may not be able to afford it but wherever you can, we need to start buying Canadian.” -Office_glen
“Also went grocery shopping yesterday and purchased Canadian made products only. It took a lot longer to look through everything but I think it’s super important.” -crazyplantlady81
“Time to start buying local… Buy local, eat as local as possible, eat seasonal, etc.” -cptstubing16

The Buy Canadian movement has gained broad traction in the wake of U.S. pressure on Canada’s autonomy and economy, becoming a vehicle for asserting independence, signalling national pride, and redirecting purchasing power.

But will favouring Canadian goods actually save you money?

🤓 Nerdy Gut Check: You’ll avoid markups but may not come out ahead.

Canadian-imposed retaliatory tariffs mean you’ll pay more for American produce, dairy products, coffee, liquor, toiletries, furniture and more. Tariff-free Canadian alternatives may save you, but only on tariff costs.

For example, if a 1lb package of American butter jumps from $8 to $10 due to tariffs, but the Canadian equivalent is priced at $9, you’re still paying more — even if it’s slightly less than the import.

2. Cancelling U.S. services: Will hitting unsubscribe reduce your monthly spend?

Subscription bloat can creep up on you, thanks to fees quietly buried in monthly charges. But Canadians say they’re looking closely at their subscription services and taking action.

3. Rerouting tourism dollars: Does staying in Canada cost more?

Over 1 in 5 Canadians (22%) are considering avoiding summer travel to the U.S. this year due to high costs or political tensions, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet Canada. And that sentiment is already reshaping travel patterns. In April 2025, the number of Canadians venturing south of the border by car dropped by over 35% from the same month in 2024, according to Statistics Canada.

As more Canadians rethink travel below the border, interest in the Great Canadian Staycation is on the uptick. Searches for domestic accommodations in Canada are up nearly 20%, according to Airbnb’s 2025 Canadian Spring Travel Trends report.

Posts in r/PersonalFinanceCanada and r/AskCanada echo these sentiments:

“We cancelled our trip to Disneyland this year. We will be doing Canada’s Wonderland, and Niagara Falls instead!” -crazyplantlady81
“We wanted to go to the U.S. on a few occasions for a family trip and didn’t. If things were normal we would have been in the U.S. at least 2 times since the tariff war started. Actual visits: 0.” -throw_away__go_away
“A California trip we planned this fall has changed to the Caribbean. Annual Michigan golf trip has changed to an Ontario location. Winter 2026 ski trip to Colorado has moved to BC interior.” -Imaginary_Ad7695

Tourism shifts are also affecting cross-border flight routes. The Official Aviation Guide reports a 70% decline in 2025 summer season air fare between Canada and the U.S. compared to the same time last year.

But does skipping U.S. travel in favour of staying domestic save you money?

🤓 Nerdy Gut Check: Canadian trips aren’t necessarily cheaper, and you may incur cancellation penalties and fees.

Cancelling travel plans puts you at risk of penalties and fees, depending on the provider and the fine print. You may also face outright losses on any money you’ve spent on air fare, accommodations or vehicle rentals.

Don’t assume travel insurance will bridge the gap either — it usually only covers cancellations for qualifying reasons, like medical emergencies, unforeseen job loss and natural disasters.

Still, you won’t necessarily be entirely out of pocket for your cancelled trip. Some travel service providers may offer a full or partial refund. Others may limit your reimbursement to a travel credit or flight voucher. Check the fine print and watch cancellation deadlines — credits may expire.

Final takeaway

These money moves aren’t just about cost savings — for many, it’s about spending with intention.

Whether it’s switching grocery brands, cancelling a streaming service, or changing vacation plans, these financial choices involve more than convenience or cost. Regardless of motivation, it’s worth understanding the potential costs and benefits of these values-driven, wallet-impacting decisions.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet from April 24-28, 2025, among 1,017 Canadian adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this survey, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 3.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For further information on the survey, please contact [email protected].