During its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20, the Municipality of Casselman unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) regarding ongoing trade negotiations between Canada and the United States. The resolution expresses strong support for the Canadian and Ontario governments’ efforts to address proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
The resolution, originally moved by Corinna Smith-Gatcke, Warden of the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville, and seconded by Steve Ferguson, EOWC Vice-Chair and Mayor of Prince Edward County, highlights the significant threat that the proposed 25 per cent tariffs pose to Canadian exports and local economies.
In response, the resolution commends the federal and provincial governments for their proposed actions, including strengthening cross-border trade, creating jobs on both sides of the border, and forming the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations to support ongoing negotiations. It also stresses the importance of municipalities playing a role in the coordinated “Team Canada” approach to defending Canadian interests.
Casselman Council joined other Ontario municipalities in calling on the federal and provincial governments to take all necessary measures to protect Ontario’s interests in trade talks, remove legal and regulatory barriers that prevent municipalities from prioritizing Canadian suppliers and services, eliminate interprovincial trade barriers to better support Canadian businesses, compensate municipalities facing legal challenges when choosing to buy Canadian, and to continue long-term infrastructure investments to stimulate job creation and economic stability.
The resolution also notes the critical role municipalities play in public procurement, particularly as Ontario is expected to invest up to $290 billion in infrastructure over the next decade.
Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to key federal and provincial leaders, including the Prime Minister, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, federal and provincial ministers, and municipal associations such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
Casselman’s endorsement signals strong regional support for coordinated action in trade matters affecting municipalities and their local economies.
