Disclaimer: I am going to be talking about the current geopolitical situation in this post, and if you need a break from that, this is an invitation to hit the exit ramp.
Tariffs are on, then they’re delayed a month, then on, now there’s exceptions, wtf? It is confusing and frustrating and above all DRAINING to try and keep up with the latest madness from south of the border. The best I can offer is a reflection: are you able to take in this information right now, or do you need to rest and recharge?
There has been a lot of talk of boycotts: for a day, for a month, forever. Organizing to send a unified message can be an excellent tactic in times like these, but I want to highlight that we always have the power to vote with our wallets. Here are some financial practices I have been engaging in:
- Supporting local, smaller business when possible. For me this looks like going to the Korean grocery store in their new location (6170 rue Sherbrooke O), or Fruiterie N.D.G. (6270 ave Somerled). The workers and owners are always friendly, the prices are comparable, and there’s no self-checkout prison gate.
- Avoiding Amercian companies like McDonald’s and Starbucks. I prefer supporting community spaces and the coffee is better anyway (I love Café 92° and Café de’ Mercanti). They also tend to sell cool art by local crafters, which makes for great gifts.
- Keeping out of the United States. I’m no big traveller by any means, but I have pre-warned my family in Louisiana that I am not comfortable entering the country under the current administration. I also won’t be spending my money there.
There are a lot of other things you can do: cutting down on subscriptions, selling your Tesla, and voicing your support of Canadian options. It may not be as convenient, there may be some research involved, but we can support one another in putting our energy into our country, our city, our neighbourhood.
One last thing: it is always a good time to redirect our limited financial resources. I deleted my Uber account when their AI couldn’t connect me with a human. I moved this website when I realized Wix is an Israeli company and thus supports genocide. I stopped giving money and views to the HP fandom after the author doubled down on her TERFdom, and you know what? There are better and queerer fantasy worlds out there!
There may be no ethical consumption under capitalism, but I feel better diverting my money away from giant corporations and negative influences.
A note about my mailing list: Mailchimp is NOT Canadian, but neither am I giving them any money. I am investigating alternatives and considering a manual mailing list; it wouldn’t look as fancy, but who needs the frills? Let me know if you’ve got thoughts.