The federal government has a new guide for buying made-in-Canada products

Find Canadian-owned retailers

Over the last few years, the government of Canada has supported provinces and territories — through chambers of commerce and other organizations — to encourage people to shop locally.

Here are the buy local directories that make it easier for you to choose Canadian businesses:

• Alberta — Alberta's Own
• B.C. — Buy BC
• Manitoba — Support Manitoba. Buy Local
• New Brunswick — Buy Local NB
• Newfoundland & Labrador — Buy NL
• Northwest Territories — Business Directory Search
• Nova Scotia — Nova Scotia Loyal
• Nunavut — Shop & Support Local Nunavummiut businesses
• Ontario — Ontario Made
• P.E.I. — PEI LOCAL Businesses
• Quebec — Marché de l'achat local au Québec and Signé Local
• Saskatchewan — SaskMade Marketplace
• Yukon — Buy Local Program

These directories showcase local products, businesses, services, brands and more.

If you can't find any local retailers near you, the federal government said to consider buying from elsewhere in Canada instead of abroad.

Look at product labels

The federal government also recommended making informed decisions when spending your money.

That includes looking at product labels to figure out what's actually Canadian.

Here are the government's tips for making informed shopping decisions with Canadian products:

• stop and think before you buy — consider the costs and benefits of a local item versus an international product
• be mindful about marketing — a Canadian symbol like a maple leaf, an Inukshuk or a beaver on a product doesn't mean it has been sourced or made in Canada
• look for labels that say "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada"
• check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's how to identify Canadian food site if you need more help identifying foods grown, raised and prepared in Canada
  • certain labels are Canada-specific, like the "Canada organic" logo

Buy Canadian products in-store and online

If you want to buy Canadian instead of American right now, the federal government suggested shopping local and looking for products that are of Canadian origin.

Sometimes shopping local isn't always possible, so here's what you can do at Canadian-owned chains that stock American products or at American stores in Canada:

• check store shelves and displays for clear markers and signs highlighting Canadian-made products
• ask a store employee about made-in-Canada and Canadian sourced products

When shopping online, here's how to find Canadian products:

• filter your search for products by country or origin
• check product descriptions to see if the product is sourced, manufactured or assembled in Canada
• look for an origin section on product pages
• visit the "About Us" sections of sites to determine if a company is Canadian

Then, buy those Canadian products — if that's what you want, of course!