Mayor B. Vrbanovic has given notice to introduce the following motion for consideration this date:
WHEREAS the City of Kitchener and the communities within our region are home to a strong and vibrant economy, including vital small businesses, large Canadian-owned companies and diverse international firms that create good paying jobs locally; and,
WHEREAS the vibrancy and success of our economy is, in part, reflective of our country's long-standing economic ties with and proximity to the United States of America; and,
WHEREAS the City of Kitchener’s procurement by-law establishes rules that ensure taxpayer value, protects the City's financial interests, and encourages competitive bidding in the purchasing of goods and services; and,
WHEREAS in Ontario, procurement practices are required to comply with all applicable trade agreements, laws and regulations, including the practice of reciprocal non-discrimination and geographic neutrality with respect to Ontario’s trading partners; and,
WHEREAS Canada currently has 15 free trade agreements with 51 different countries, including the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement which has created the largest free trade region in the world; and,
WHEREAS Canada is the top customer for goods and services exports from the United States and a critical supplier of goods and services integral to the Unites States’ economy; and,
WHEREAS on February 1, 2025, the President of the United States issued an executive order to impose new tariffs on Canadian imports, effective February 4, 2025; and,
WHEREAS on February 1, 2025, the Government of Canada announced countermeasure tariffs against the United States, effective February 4, 2025; and,
WHEREAS on February 3, 2025, the Prime Minister announced that Canada and the United States had agreed to delay respective tariffs on imported goods for a period of 30 days;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff be directed to examine opportunities to minimize the impact of tariffs and countermeasure tariffs on the City of Kitchener, including opportunities where it is legally permissible for the municipality to pursue a Buy Canadian preference in the procurement of goods and services; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor work with the CAO and economic development staff to work in partnership with local businesses, area municipalities and associations on a shared action plan to support our local economy, in the event tariffs are levied against Canada by the United States in the short-term; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor, CAO and Executive Director of Economic Development work with Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation and their municipal counterparts nationally and provincially to advocate for and support the elimination of inter-provincial trade barriers and the diversification of trading partners globally; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener call on the Province of Ontario to provide clear and timely guidance to municipalities on the status of the trade agreement with the United States, including any implications for procurement practices by municipalities, should tariffs come into effect; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener, in conjunction with the Mayor and Council, as appropriate, support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), FCM’s Big Cities Mayors’ Caucus, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and Ontario’s Big City Mayors in advocacy efforts on trade, tariffs and stimulus funding; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener support the federal, provincial and territorial governments in its Team Canada approach to trade negotiations with the United States, supporting calls for the elimination of interprovincial trade barriers within Canada, and supporting a more diversified global trade strategy; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener, in addition to its own procurement strategies work with community partners including the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, the Kitchener Downtown BIA, the Belmont Village BIA and others to encourage residents and businesses to Buy Canadian, and Buy Local where possible; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that staff be directed to report back with an update on the actions of this motion, should tariffs come into effect, at the earliest possible meeting of council."