‘Made in Canada’ vs. ‘Product of Canada’ What’s the difference? [Video]

The push to buy Canadian has turned out to be more complicated than some consumers expected.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged Canadians to buy domestic goods in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariff threats, suggesting picking “Canadian rye over Kentucky bourbon or forgoing Florida orange juice altogether.” Several premiers have made similar pleas.

But those heeding the calls have run into some confusion, because some products are labelled “Made in Canada” while others say “Product of Canada” — or something else entirely. So what does it all mean?

Under the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, a “Product of Canada” label means at least 98 per cent of the total direct costs of producing the item were incurred in Canada. Essentially, it was made in Canada by Canadians, with negligible imported elements.

If a product is 100 per cent Canadian, the label can say exactly that.

WATCH | Different labels, different meanings:Some …