Niagara Region councillors will only be allowed to cross the U.S. border if they are advocating for better treatment from U.S. president Donald Trump.
Trade shows and conferences are prohibited for regional councillors to attend as participants.
These new rules were agreed upon at last Thursday's council meeting through a motion brought forward by Lincoln Regional Coun. Rob Foster, in an effort to snub to the Trump administration in the wake of what he believes will be an “economic tsunami” brought on by tariffs being imposed by the president.
“Government relations opportunities” will remain a permitted reason to travel south of the border.
Foster’s motion encourages staff and councillors to instead prioritize local and Canadian-based engagements that “foster domestic collaboration and knowledge-sharing.”
One piece of Foster’s recommendation, that all savings realized through these initiatives be allocated to Niagara Region’s reserves, and specifically earmarked to support programs and services designed to mitigate the effects of this economic situation, raised questions from Welland Mayor Frank Campion, who said it will take time to realize any savings.
This portion of the motion was separated but also approved.
Foster said he finds it troubling that low-income families will be hit hardest by tariffs.
“All of us are hearing concerns from our communities,” he said to fellow councillors in the room.
Fort Erie Regional Coun. Tom Insinna offered a brief comment in support of Foster's recommendation.
“It shows we need to do something,” said Insinna.
“It’s the middle class that’s going to take the brunt of everything,” he added.
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, who has made trips to the U.S. to fight for Canada, thanked Foster for including an exemption for councillors who travel to advocate for their economy.
He said it has been encouraging to hear from heads of council immediately across the border who appear to be on Canada’s side in the ongoing trade war.
“The mayors around the Great Lakes are 100 per cent opposed to this,” he said, referring to the tariffs being thrown at Canada.
Niagara Region, along with communities across Canada, is facing an emerging economic crisis, says Foster’s motion.
Niagara is “uniquely and disproportionately impacted by these global disruptions,” with 72 per cent of goods produced in Niagara exported to the United States and 54 per cent of the region’s input materials imported from the U.S., putting local supply chains and business viability at significant risk, said Foster.
Regional council took a similar step in February when a motion brought forward by Pelham Regional Coun. Diana Huson (who has since resigned) was unanimously approved, a list of suggested measures and actions that could help navigate the local business community through a time of uncertainty.
Some of the specific actions in her motion are that the regional chair be directed to work with staff to take on advocacy efforts calling on the federal and provincial governments to enhance the “economic strength and resiliency of Niagara,” reduce barriers to interprovincial trade, enhance internal trade and economic flow within the country, and encourage the formation of local trade alliances to strengthen regional supply chains and ensure greater self reliance.
Supporting export market diversification by promoting the intensification of foreign market development and opportunities in places such as the United Kingdom and European Union, are also steps contained in Huson’s motion earlier this year.
