Ideal Can, a steel can maker based in Saint-Apollinaire, Que., is expanding its production capacity in Ontario next year, bringing it closer to clients like Sun-Brite Foods, Nortera and Weil's Food Processing — and giving it a larger presence in a major food-processing region.

Established in 2008, the company began by importing cans from China for the Canadian food industry. Roughly a decade later, it started manufacturing cans domestically, first for maple syrup before expanding into other products.

"The independence from American [production] is very important at this moment," said CEO Erick Vachon in an interview with CBC News. "So why [don't we] use Canadian steel with Canadian food, and a Canadian can maker?"