In Miche cafe and bar in British Columbia’s capital, Victoria, owner Allan Sinclair is turning around specific alcohol bottles on the top shelf to hide the labels from public view.
He picks up a bottle of Jack Daniels.
“This is from Tennessee and they supported Trump so we can’t have that,” he says.
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Bottles of American liquor were being turned around in the Canadian store
A bottle of Wayne Gretzky’s cream liquor is nearly finished.
“Once it’s gone, I’m going to get rid of it,” says Allan. “He’s shown he doesn’t respect our country anymore.”
Gretzky, once a Canadian ice hockey hero, has alienated many here with his steadfast support of the American president.
Allan also sells “Canadianos,” which he says, wryly, are stronger than Americanos.
They are quiet but considered acts of defiance in the face of a trade war started by the United States.
“It is a small protest in the form of a coffee,” he says. “What we can do is hope that they don’t follow up with all of this madness.”
Tuesday began with Donald Trump announcing a 50% tariff on aluminium and steel coming from Canada. Just hours later, that was revised back down to 25%.
There is a grinding, on-off, tit-for-tat nature to these economic punishments.
The British Columbia premier David Eby retaliated to the Trump tariffs by prohibiting the sale of American-manufactured alcohol in his province.
The Miche cafe and bar doesn’t sell Americanos
‘Buy Canadian Instead’
BC Liquor Store is just steps away from the premier’s office in Victoria.
On the shelves where Kentucky bourbon would usually be there are signs saying: “Buy Canadian Instead.”
Dozens of…
