Port Dover business steps up 'buy Canadian' policy in face of tariffs

A Port Dover business owner is issuing a call to arms in the Canada-U.S. trade war.  

Mark Stortini said it was the last straw for him after trade talks between Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government and U.S. president Donald Trump’s administration collapsed last week and new 50 per cent tariffs on about $28 billion worth of Canadian goods took effect. 

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Stortini, co-owner of Dover Coast, a residential and recreational development along the north shore of Lake Erie, took to his keyboard. 

“We support our local farming community and the greater regional supply chain,” he posted on social media. “The difference we make may be insignificant but principle matters. The failed nation state of America stands in our rear-view mirror.” 

Stortini said that management at Dover Coast, an “adult lifestyle community” that includes 200 condos, a nine-hole golf course and two restaurants, have long been advocates of supporting local. Now they plan to take a look at everything they purchase, “from toilet paper to limes,” with a goal of buying Canadian. 

“It’s time to move on,” said Stortini. “With new challenges presented to our national sovereignty we feel it necessary to align with our suppliers in support of Canadian and international products that break us free of the American marketplace.

“We’re not doing this in the face of our American friends and allies. We’re doing this as a concerted effort to bring a small amount of attention to the administration of the current American government and their attempt to challenge the Canadian ideology and economy.”

Supporting local is “at the core of Dover Coast’s culture,” said Stortini. They were one of the first businesses designated (in 2014) a “Feast On Facility” by the Culinary Tourism Alliance for consistently sourcing a minimum of 25 per cent of its food and drink ingredients from growers and makers within Ontario. 

Stortini said some of the changes have been easy. There are many alternatives to California wines and American liquor to serve in their David’s of Dover Coast Restaurant and outdoor Nonni’s Fesca Cucina. And being plunked in the “bread basket” of Norfolk County makes local produce plentiful. 

More challenging have been finding other goods, including Canadian-made petroleum products and irrigation systems for turf at the golf course. 

Now they’re taking it up a notch. 

“We’ve now engaged our management team to sit down with suppliers and review all our product lines, slowly moving it to Canadian or outside of the U.S. product purchasing,” said Stortini. 

This could spell the end of David’s popular Caesar salad. The romaine lettuce used in the customer favourite comes mainly from the U.S., particularly in the fall, winter and spring. 

“If only romaine lettuce from California is offered by our suppliers, then Caesar salads will be removed from our menus,” said Stortini. “I’ve asked our chef to be creative and we will develop a unique replacement.”

He said the company has printed a line on all the electronic payment notices it sends to vendors. 

“We’re saying we want them to provide us with assurances about where their products are coming from. If it’s American, we’re saying you need to find other suppliers.” 

Stortini’s post announcing the change is generating public interest, with more than 1,000 “likes” and 150 comments, most supportive of the effort. 

“Great news,” said one. “We all need to stick together.” 

Stortini is encouraging other local businesses to follow suit, recognizing that for small operations changes can be difficult. 

“People are motivated and want to do the right thing. This isn’t a guilt program. It’s about doing small things that can make a difference. A lot of small players can make a big movement.”