An unofficial mayoral caucus in Sooke tackled some tough talk Friday (March 7) with a special guest at the table, invited by Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto.

The south Island mayors meet every two months B次元官网网址� hosted by Sooke this time B次元官网网址� to talk regional issues.

B次元官网网址淢y first feeling was I got little choked up. IB次元官网网址檓 really grateful weB次元官网网址檙e still invited frankly,B次元官网网址� Kate Dexter, mayor of Port Angeles, Wash. said outside Victoria city hall, ahead of the drive west.

U.S. tariffs imposed on Canada just days earlier are a concerning topic on both sides of the border, the mayors agreed.

Even as the Canadian government announced the first steps of new measures to protect businesses and workers, the mayors planned to talk issues, solutions and a path forward achievable at the local level.

Alto and Dexter both feel good about the relationship between the border towns, separated primarily by a ferry or flight. Both communities face similar issues, such as economic development and housing.

B次元官网网址淭he worst thing for our economic development in our community right now is a trade war with Canada,B次元官网网址� Dexter said.

SheB次元官网网址檚 in the early stages of building a mayor coalition across the States, akin to the Canadian Border Mayors Alliance that Alto is a member of. The alliance was launched by Windsor, Ont. Mayor Drew Dilkens to protect local economies and advocate for the interests of communities along the Canada-U.S. border. 

B次元官网网址淚t does feel advocacy at the federal level is a bit falling on deaf ears beyond our local elected (officials), and theyB次元官网网址檙e so busy dealing with every hit that comes. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a new thing every day, so I think a lot of this work is going to be done on a local level,B次元官网网址� Dexter said, adding her focus is maintaining the B次元官网网址渧italB次元官网网址� relationship.

B次元官网网址淚 have seen, across the board regardless of political affiliation, significant concerns about the impact of a trade war and what that will mean for our community.B次元官网网址�

Those concerns go beyond the impacts of tariffs themselves.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 also just the issue of understanding why Canadians might choose to vote with their dollars and not come to visit us. And we rely heavily on tourism,B次元官网网址� she said, noting the Coho literally ferries over tens of millions of dollars in economic impact. B次元官网网址淲e would like for Canadians to still be on that boat.B次元官网网址�

The Port Angeles chamber director is already working on pitching their community as VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渟outhern suburb,B次元官网网址� in hopes Canadians will continue to visit.

Alto said itB次元官网网址檚 all about nurturing the positive and long relationships with Port Angeles and other communities in Washington State, while acknowledging resentment that exists.

B次元官网网址淵ou have a relationship thatB次元官网网址檚 been frankly harmed and we donB次元官网网址檛 know to what extent at this point. Where you have what we thought was our closest friend and ally telling us weB次元官网网址檙e neither of those things. WeB次元官网网址檙e trying to find that balance point between understanding that this was a government decision and not reflective of many many U.S. citizens,B次元官网网址� Alto said.

B次元官网网址淲e do need to be respectful of our residents concerns, resentment, disappointment. At the same time, we understand if weB次元官网网址檙e going to have any chance of nurturing, resuming that allyship, that friendship, we have to find a way forward.B次元官网网址�