REGINA - An NDP private member’s bill has been introduced aimed at encouraging more people to shop local.
The bill would create The Buy Local Day Act, which would officially proclaim the first Saturday of every month as Buy Local Day in Saskatchewan.
The goal, according to the Oppositiom, is to encourage people to support local businesses and keep more money circulating in local communities in the face of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Regina South Albert MLA Aleana Young introduced the bill in the Legislature Thursday.
“I was really proud to stand today and introduce my first private members bill in the House today,” said Young.
“It’s going to be read again at the next sitting of the Assembly. This seems like a pretty simple straightforward feel-good piece of legislation. It would be my hope that we can pass it unanimously in the House, I don’t see any reason not to. I think that’s this is about encouraging incredible support that we already see,out there in the community for people trying to support the local businesses, trying to shop Saskatchewan.”
Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon called shopping local “a really good way of investing in our neighbours and our communities and our main streets locally.”
“When we spend our money at a local shop or local brewery, we are supporting our neighbors, we’re supporting their ability to buy a home or rent or support their ability to put their kids in hockey or swimming lessons. There’s such a ripple effect when we buy local throughout our community and throughout our economy.”
The announcement was made at District Brewing, a local craft brewery in Regina that was the scene for a previous NDP announcement in March when the Trump tariff threat was particularly in the news. Their marketing coordinator Hayden McPherson said there has been a big momentum for “shop local” since then.
“Every business is facing a tricky time when it comes to the tires, but the thing we can keep is our optimism,” McPherson said.
He said there has been “definitely more interest” in seeing Saskatchewan products in stores, with more opportunities in stores and better spots on the shelf to highlighting the products.
McPherson called the private member’s bill “an amazing opportunity to highlight Saskatchewan business,” said McPherson, who welcomed “any effort that is a push forward” to highlighting and making it easier to support local businesses.
