‘Full court press’: Ontario cities look for ways to fight Donald Trump’s trade war

Municipal politicians from across Ontario have been pondering ways that they can show support for Canada as the ongoing trade dispute with the U.S. drags on.

On Friday, a group of mayors from border towns across Canada issued a plea to higher levels of government, asking for help for their communities as the threat of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump had caused them to see traffic through their towns dwindle.

One of the group was Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, who earlier in the week had issued a letter to council members, which asked them to consider removing U.S. flags from municipal facilities.

In his letter, Bradley said that he felt it was highly inappropriate for the American flag to be flying in municipal venues such as local hockey arenas as the U.S. government makes mention of turning Canada into the 51st state.

“While many of us have cross-border friendships and respect for Americans individually, this action cannot be allowed to stand,” the letter read. “I recommend thot all American flags be removed from municipal lands in Sarnia.”

If Sarnia were to make the change, it would follow on the heels of similar moves by Mississauga, Barrie and Essex while other towns and cities have made moves in other areas to provide counter in the trade war.

On March 17, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow introduced a 10-page plan to counter Trump’s tariffs including limiting staff travel to the U.S. as well as limiting American companies from bidding on city contracts.

A number of other cities are looking at similar options including the City of Kitchener, where Mayor Berry Vrbanovic says his city has already made some changes although there are limits.

“We have actually directed staff to amend Kitchener’s procurement bylaw to support buy Canadian, buy local, where we can do it within the legal framework that exists of existing trade agreements that Canada is involved in,” he told Global News.