St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe has joined Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley and the Niagara Mayors in releasing a statement on the imposition of American tariffs on Canadian goods.
On March 4, 2025, the U.S. government imposed new tariffs on all Canadian goods coming into their country, and in so doing has threatened one of the closest, longest-standing and most productive trade relationships in history. While it is unfortunate that we have come to this point, the Chair and Mayors would like to commend and thank both their Federal and Provincial governments, who over the last two months have made every effort to avoid a trade war with our closest trading partner. It is still too early to fully assess the effect these tariffs will have. However, here in Niagara, our traditionally close ties with our American neighbours, our strong tourism and manufacturing industries, and our identity as a border community all mean that we will feel the effects of these taxes in a unique way. Despite this, Niagara’s regional and municipal councils remain united in supporting and advocating for our local businesses and workers.
Municipal councils and staff will continue working with the chambers of commerce and other business organizations to advocate for supports that meet the unique needs of Niagara’s economy. They will do this through both direct advocacy with the federal and provincial governments, and through organizations like the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. They will also continue to work productively with our counterparts in the State of New York, including through the Border Mayors Alliance and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, to develop joint advocacy efforts. They are also working to directly support our local businesses, through ‘Support Local’ campaigns, reviews of municipal procurement policies, and others.