At home he feels like a tourist
He fills his head with culture
He gives himself an ulcer

- Gang of Four, "At Home He's a Tourist"

Much has been said about U.S. president Trump's open threats to annex Canada, calling it the "51st state", mockingly referring to the prime minister as "Governor Trudeau", applying pressure to Canada with tariffs, but something that has been less talked about is how much of Canada that the U.S. has already taken over. From our businesses, our products, our politics, how much of what we do and consume is dominated or influenced by the U.S.

At Home He's a Tourist 9Yonge-Dundas Square

There is no better example of the pervasive U.S. influence than Yonge Street in Toronto. This is the main street of Canada's largest city, the country's most famous and iconic street, so surely not only should it represent what Toronto is all about, it should also reinforce the Canadian identity. Someone walking down Yonge Street should get a taste of Toronto's culture, and by extension a taste of Canada's culture. Yonge Street should be a place that is special and unique to Toronto, showing people and reminding people, whether they are Canadian or not Canadian, what being a Torontonian and what being Canadian really means. And yet...

At Home He's a Tourist 7Outside the Eaton Centre

While this all may have been true in the past, you will find very little of what makes Toronto "Toronto" or Canada "Canada" remaining along Yonge Street in the downtown core. Many of those locally-owned, mom-and-pop shops have long been replaced multi-national retail and restaurant chains. The U.S. brands especially dominate the streetscape today. The American tourist visiting Toronto may as well have just stayed home. After all, they don't get a taste of Toronto or Canada by eating at another Popeyes. And the European tourist may as well have just gone to the U.S. instead to get a true taste of U.S. culture (assuming they are not concerned about being arrested, imprisoned, and deported by US border control).

At Home He's a Tourist 14Yonge north of Dundas

Of course, the real dilemma here is for Canadians, especially Torontonians. If even Yonge Street of all places has become "Americanized", robbed of all its identity, then what about the rest of the city? What about the rest of Canada? Where can we experience the true Toronto? What does it really mean to be Canadian nowadays? In response to Trump's tariffs, there has been a growing "Buy Canadian" movement, but it could be more difficult to follow than most Canadians realize.

But perhaps it will serve as a wake-up call and reminder of how important it is to support local, independent businesses. And when I say local and independent, I don't just mean Canadian. Because this is not really about Canada. In this particular example, it's really about Toronto. And this should be also be a wake-up call to people outside of Canada. Wherever you live, whether it be in Canada, the U.S.A., the U.K., France, Germany, etc., don't just think about your country, think about your city.

At Home He's a Tourist 16McDonald's at 356 Yonge St.

At Home He's a Tourist 21McDonald's at 470 Yonge St.

At Home He's a Tourist 25McDonald's at 552 Yonge St.