Surrey, B.C., mayor joins alliance of border communities ahead of possible tariffs

CBC

30-01-2025

Surrey, B.C., Mayor Brenda Locke has signed onto an alliance advocating for Canadian border communities, saying U.S. tariffs would put hundreds of jobs in her city at risk.
Locke said Thursday that 20 per cent of businesses in Surrey have direct trade ties with the United States, amounting to roughly $2.8 billion in cross-border commerce each year.
"The introduction of these tariffs threatens to disrupt vital supply chains impacting cities and communities across the country, and therefore demands a Canada-first approach," Locke said.
The Border Mayors Alliance includes about 20 Canadian mayors and was formed in response to the threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods imported from Canada as early as Saturday.
Surrey is home to two border crossings, including the Peace Arch crossing, one of the busiest in Canada.
Locke said the city is also the "hub" of B.C.'s trucking industry.
A statement from the City of Surrey says it has approximately 113 import and export businesses and 900 transportation and warehousing companies that may experience "spillover consequences" if there is a disruption in manufacturing and exporting activities.
WATCH | Mayors of Canadian border communities join together against tariff threat:
Mayors along the Canada-U.S. border form alliance against Trump tariffs
4 days ago
Duration 2:03
The alliance's co-founder, Creston, B.C., Mayor Arnold DeBoon, told CBC News tariffs would undoubtedly affect major employers in the Creston Valley too, including three lumber mills and the Kokanee beer brewing company.
Creston, located in southeastern B.C., is about 10 kilometres from the Rykerts border, which crosses into Idaho.
"It's going to have an impact," said DeBoon. "We are going to see mills possibly close, or at least very much curtail their activities. And they are good paying jobs."
Windsor, Ont., Mayor Drew Dilkens, chair of the alliance, told a news conference in Surrey on Thursday that mayors of border cities and towns witness first hand how interconnected communities are on either side of the border.
"The alliance notes that our two nations have never faced a circumstance that so profoundly threatens our shared economy and poses such devastating impacts on our country, on our cities, and, of course, on our families," he said.
Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters earlier this week that a Feb. 1 date was "still on the books" for imposing tariffs against both Canada and Mexico.
B.C. Premier David Eby said this week that any money gained through possible retaliatory tariffs should be immediately used to help businesses survive and diversify their markets away from the United States.
All three levels of government in Canada have been responding to the tariff threat, with premiers holding a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and Immigration Minister Marc Miller are all in or travelling to Washington, D.C., Thursday and Friday for meetings with senators and some of Trump's team.
Canadian premiers have a trade mission to Washington planned for Feb. 12.
According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, $3.6 billion in goods cross the Canada-U.S. border every day.