Council backs “Buy Local, Buy Canadian” as Canada-U.S. trade tensions escalate

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Mayor Bryan Paterson brought a motion to Council at their last meeting in response to the recent breakdown of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations.

Entitled “Buy Local, Buy Canadian”, the motion is aimed at encouraging residents and businesses to choose local or Canadian-made products and services.

The motion also directs that the City will promote local businesses, work in partnership with local organizations, and explore other opportunities for collaboration.

This is not the first motion of its kind to reach Council since the start of U.S.-Canada trade tensions, but recent escalation encouraged Mayor Paterson to rebroach the subject in Council chambers.

“I think it is fair to say that in the last couple of weeks that trade tension has gone to a whole new level,” said Mayor Paterson. “This is an incredibly difficult time for many of our businesses. … One of the critical parts of this is really an encouragement to our community to once again pull together in the midst of this very challenging moment to make sure that we are supporting one another.”

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