Page 20 - GBC summer English 2025

Understanding
Canadian
Product Labels
Before making purchasing
decisions, it is important to
understand the distinction
between different product
labels in Canada:
Product of Canada
At least 98% of the direct
manufacturing costs and
ingredients must be sourced
from Canada, and the last
substantial transformation of
the product must have taken
place in Canada.
Made in Canada
At least 51% of the direct
costs of production must be
incurred in Canada, and the
last substantial transformation
of the product must have taken
place in Canada.
While both categories
contribute to the Canadian
economy, ensuring
transparency in your product
selection will help reinforce
trust with golfers who prioritize
locally made goods.
20
Golf Business Canada
of Golf, Innerkip Highlands. “This
shift reflects our commitment to
supporting Canadian businesses
and strengthening the local
economy at a time of heightened
uncertainty.
“Our efforts have been
especially visible in the food and
beverage departments where
we have prioritized sourcing
Canadian-made items on our
menus and in our beverage
selections.”
For golf course owners and
operators, these trade tensions
present both challenges and
opportunities. Here’s how your
facility can respond effectively:
•  Supply Chain Adjustments:
Explore Canadian suppliers
or renegotiate contracts with
existing vendors to minimize
financial impact.
•  Cost Management Strategies:
Canadian sourcing can help
mitigate tariff-related price
fluctuations and improve cost
predictability.
•  Support the Local Economy:
Canadian-made products help
sustain local businesses, support
Canadian jobs, and align with
golfer values.
•  Marketing & Customer
Engagement: Promoting the use
of Canadian-made products can
be a unique selling point and will
appeal to golfers who prioritize
supporting domestic businesses.
•  Long-Term Resilience: Strength-
ening ties with Canadian
suppliers can create a more
resilient supply chain, reducing
future disruption risk.
A BORDER TOWN PERSPECTIVE
Kingsville Golf & Country Club,
located just 30 minutes from the
extremely busy Windsor-Detroit
border, is a semi-private club
with a robust membership of all
ages and backgrounds. As such,
Kingsville needs to be acutely
aware of the current demands
and expectations of their golfers
in a region that is anticipated to
be the third hardest hit city by
a tariff war, next to Calgary and
Saint John, N.B., [as per a recent
study by the Canadian Chamber
of Commerce2]. A large portion of
this region’s workforce is involved
in motor vehicle manufacturing,
auto parts manufacturing, local
farming/greenhouse operations,
and metalworking machinery
manufacturing.
“Even before the tariffs were
introduced, we were dedicated to
supporting local businesses,” said
Kingsville’s General Manager,
Doug Quick. “Our ‘farm-to-table’
strategy, capitalized on the region’s
rich agriculture, including local
farms and greenhouse operations.
The unexpected introduction of
tariffs, along with discussions
about Canada becoming the 51st
state, only deepened our resolve
to prioritize local businesses and
maximize our use of Canadian
products.”
“We are privileged to have 13
wineries, various craft breweries
and several distilleries throughout
the local area,” highlighted Quick.
“Pelee Island Winery, situated
on the eastern side of town, has
established itself as a longstanding
producer of high-quality wines
highly valued by our customers. It is
a delight to have this establishment
just minutes from our club!”
Quick also noted that the
shift to local has unearthed new
supplies: “Local suppliers are
actively reaching out, informing us
that they are increasing production
to meet the new demand from
facilities like ours. Surprisingly,
we were unaware of some of
these businesses right in our own
community. For example, we use
tomatoes grown on our Kingsville
and Leamington farms for ketchup
production. Primo, another local
company, produces high-quality
ketchup reduced in sugar, which
we plan to integrate into our food
and beverage operations.”