LAURIE WEIR
Smiths Falls council is weighing its response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports, a measure currently delayed until March 1.
During a special committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 3, Coun. Peter McKenna added the tariff threat to the agenda, prompting discussion on how the town could support Canadians.
“It looks like the country is pulling together in response to this threat,” McKenna said. “Other municipalities may be wondering what we can or cannot do.”
McKenna pointed to the town’s procurement bylaw, which governs purchasing decisions. “I wonder if there’s an appetite to ask staff to review our purchasing power to see if we can buy more Canadian products—or fewer U.S. products,” he said.
He also referenced a national petition urging individuals, municipalities, provinces, and the federal government to push back against the tariffs. Supporting such a pledge, McKenna said, would be a symbolic and meaningful show of unity.
“At the very least, it demonstrates that this country will stand together and push back on these threats,” he said.
Mayor Shawn Pankow acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the tariffs. “Whether they take effect next week, on March 1, later, or never, we don’t know,” he said. “But we do need to be prepared for change and challenges over the next four years.”
The mayor noted that while the town is already reviewing its procurement policy, it might be time to formally incorporate language that prioritizes local purchasing where appropriate.
Chief Administrative Officer Malcolm Morris said the timing of this discussion aligns with ongoing updates to the procurement policy. “We didn’t initially expect tariffs to be part of that dialogue, but we can certainly address it,” he said.
The current policy, he noted, already includes provisions for local purchasing preference—but only within Smiths Falls. Broader considerations must support international trade agreements, including the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (formerly NAFTA).
Morris acknowledged legal uncertainties. “I’m not sure if we can legally circumvent that agreement just because someone else is trying to,” he said, adding that a consultant is working on a draft of the new policy.
As part of the review, town staff will examine upcoming capital purchases and operating budgets—including essential supplies like those for water treatment—to assess the feasibility of shifting toward more Canadian or non-U.S. products.
Coun. Jay Brennan suggested bringing the issue to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, noting that it affects all 444 municipalities in Ontario.
Council members agreed that a resolution should be drafted, balancing Smiths Falls’ close ties with American communities while supporting provincial and federal leaders in their trade negotiations.
A motion will be prepared for discussion at a future committee meeting.
