It’s been 18 months since Buy Social Canada first posted about Trump’s trade war against Canada. Trade negotiations broke down again last week on August 21, 2026, due to last minute changes with a proposed economic future that would cripple Canadian sovereignty. Prime Minister Mark Carney was clear when he announced what Canada was seeking and what we are not willing to cede in negotiations with those who negotiate in bad faith.

We are sharing and reiterating the importance and impact of social procurement – initiatives that prioritize purchasing from small businesses, social enterprises, and Canadian-owned businesses. 



Who we do business with matters.

In Gibsons BC, a small coastal community is reeling from the announcement that the local pulp and paper mill will be shutting down with a loss of 400 jobs. The owner, Domtar, has shut down 5 out of the 7 pulp mills it owns in BC. Domtar, formally Paper Excellence, is the largest private manager of forests in Canada, with close ties to Asia Pulp and Paper. This closure comes despite GreenPeace Canada’s estimates that the company and its subsidiaries have received $200 million in government funding between 2020 and 2024.

Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Montreal recently announced an agreement to sell payment processor Moneris Solutions Corp. to San Francisco-based investment firm Francisco Partners for $2 billion. This would put one third of Canadian transactions under US ownership and pricing. The sale is still subject to regulatory approval, and we will wait to see if the trade war escalation will impact the sale’s approval. 



Despite the challenges ahead, Canadians have the tools, the values, and the opportunity to look at our economic choices with intention. We can prioritize businesses that support our neighbourhoods, our country, and our communities to thrive.

We recommend following our friends at Social Capital Partners for their great work on Canadian economic sovereignty.

Read our first blog post in response to the trade war to learn more about how to leverage purchasing for maximum impact when you buy local and buy social.