Federal, provincial tariff relief should include municipalities, Ontario big city mayors say
Mayors of Ontario's big cities are calling on the federal and provincial governments to include them in any stimulus packages they launch to offset the impacts of U.S. tariffs, saying the money could be used for infrastructure projects.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said the group unanimously passed a resolution at its meeting on Friday, asking to be included in any federal or provincial tariff relief funds.
As the chair of Ontario's Big City Mayors, Meed Ward said the group believes municipal infrastructure projects could help put people to work at a time when many are facing job losses due to the tariffs.
"We believe that infrastructure funding not only provides sustainability for projects into the future, but it gets our people to work at a time that there is great uncertainty," Meed Ward said.
"In terms of how much, we will take whatever the federal and provincial governments want to give us."
Meed Ward said changes to the global trading system will affect businesses, communities, workers and municipalities. If people are laid off, stimulus packages could get them working again, she said.
"We will have an active and ready labour force. And so, if we can get them working on infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, schools, community centres, all of the things that we need in community, that's what we want to do."
Toronto to convene meeting on procurement in June
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who has indicated that she would like to work with other municipalities to reduce reliance on U.S.-based suppliers, told reporters that she is convening a discussion on June 6 in Toronto to work out the "fine details" of such a partnership that will look at procurement.
Chow said the federal and provincial governments can also help to lower municipal costs of building affordable housing.
"We need partnership with the federal and provincial government. We welcome their partnerships," Chow said.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said municipalities are trying to make sense of the tariffs.
"I'll just say I don't think we've ever seen such a consistent level of inconsistency. And so that really, I think, says it all in terms of how we're trying to react," he said.
"That being said, there are very strong bonds between communities, first and foremost in Canada and the United States. And we want to make sure that we continue to foster an environment that not only says you're welcome, but we want you to stay and continue to be part of our economic success."
Last week, Canada was spared when U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his widespread so-called "reciprocal" tariffs, but Canada continues to be subject to a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian-made automobiles. On March 12, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminum products.
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Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
B.C. Sikh temple whose president was murdered calls for Modi's G7 invite to be pulled
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Cision Canada
2 hours ago
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Vancouver Sun
3 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Updated: Minister raises concerns over B.C. Ferries' deal with Chinese shipyard
B.C.'s transportation minister has raised concerns with B.C. Ferries about its decision to have a Chinese shipyard build four new large ferries for its passenger fleet during a trade conflict between Canada and China. The winning bidder on the contract announced Tuesday is Chinese state-owned China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards. Mike Farnworth said in a statement he was worried about procuring services from 'any country that is actively harming Canada's economy' with tariffs and protectionism. 'B.C. Ferries is an independent company responsible for its own operational decisions. While B.C. Ferries has made its decision to purchase new vessels offshore, I am disappointed more involvement from Canadian shipyards was not part of the contract,' he said. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Farnworth's remarks came hours after the announcement by B.C. Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez that the Chinese shipyard had been chosen to build its vessels, with the first expected to come into service in 2029 and the others following in six-month intervals. Jimenez said he wasn't worried about geopolitical tensions between Canada and China, adding his primary focus was getting the province a good deal. 'Customers expect us to go source the best possible deal, (the) highest quality, a yard that provides safety, a yard that provides the highest in standards when it comes to oversight (and) labour, and to get the best cost,' he said at a news conference Tuesday. 'When it comes to things like trade policy, industrial policy, geopolitics, I think we would really defer that to the federal and provincial governments and expect them to manage and work those issues.' He said in a news release that the shipyard was 'the clear choice based on the overall strength of its bid.' It said Weihai Shipyards has built vessels for Canada's Marine Atlantic ferry company and other operators such as Corsica Linea and Brittany Ferries of France. Canada and China are engaged in a trade dispute, with Beijing imposing retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola and meal, peas and seafood after Ottawa slapped levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Jimenez said Tuesday that there are currently no tariffs associated with the import of vessels of this type into Canada and tariff disputes didn't factor into the decision. B.C. Ferries is not releasing the value of the contract other than Jimenez saying it fits within the budget approved by the B.C. Ferries Commissioner earlier this year. He said releasing the deal before the project is complete could put future procurements at risk. The corporation has said it expects to spend up to about $5 billion replacing both major and smaller vessels by 2034. 'To protect B.C. Ferries and our customers, we've structured the contract in a way that reduces our risk while increasing shipyard accountability. Most of the payment is tied to delivery, and that means the shipyard doesn't get fully paid until the vessels are delivered and meet the rigorous standards that we've laid out in the contract,' he said. 'There are also measures like refund guarantees and fixed price terms that will further protect B.C. Ferries and our customers.' B.C. Ferries' head of fleet renewal, Ed Hooper, said no Canadian companies bid on the ships that will carry about 52 per cent more passengers and 24 per cent more vehicles than the ferries they are replacing. Jimenez said 60 per cent of the world's ships are built in China, and B.C. Ferries did due diligence to make sure it understood the 'technical and delivery and country risks associated with making this decision.' B.C. Ferries said it will have its own team of experts at the shipyard throughout construction to provide oversight and quality assurance. In a statement, the Opposition B.C. Conservatives accused Premier David Eby of 'abandoning Canadian workers' by awarding a 'multibillion-dollar' contract to a Chinese state-owned enterprise. The oldest ferry being replaced is the Queen of New Westminster, built in 1964, while the Queen of Cowichan, Queen of Alberni and Queen of Coquitlam all turn 50 next year. B.C. Ferries had hoped to buy five new vessels and bring its fleet size from 10 to 11 but earlier this year the provincial regulator rejected the pitch, saying a fifth ferry 'is not in the public interest' as it is 'not essential for safe and reliable service and is not fiscally prudent.' The parent company of China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards is China Merchants Industry Holdings. The conglomerate's website describes it as a 'centrally administrated state-owned' enterprise with more than a 100 years of history, making it one of the oldest 'Chinese-funded enterprises' in existence. The website says the company is based in Hong Kong and operates nine major shipyards across the Chinese coast as well as overseas subsidiaries and agencies in countries such as Finland and Germany.
