Just days before the American government imposed huge tariffs on many Canadian products, the board at the Cowichan Valley Regional District unanimously voted for the district to explore options to buy products and services from Canadian sources and/or other nations instead of from the U.S.
Cowichan Bay director Hilary Abbott introduced the motion at the board meeting on Feb. 26 for staff to prepare a report on exploring options.
He said that in just a few weeks since elected, American President Donald Trump has caused an unprecedented degree of economic disruption, worldwide political instability and financial implications to most countries in the western world, and Canada in particular.
B次元官网网址淭here appears to be no apparent end in sight for the uncertainty that President Trump will continue to invoke upon formerly favourable trading nations and allies,B次元官网网址� Abbott said.
B次元官网网址淎ccordingly, it is critical that the CVRD use its procurement process and financial clout to direct procurements from Canadian sources where possible, and to acquisitions from other U.S. tariff-impacted countries, while concurrently honouring contract obligations.B次元官网网址�
Abbott said similar types of initiatives are currently being taken up across Canada by consumers and local governments.
B次元官网网址淪taff is already taking measures, but cost effectiveness has to borne in the process so that we donB次元官网网址檛 see double-digit price increases a year from now based on this motion.B次元官网网址�
North Oyster/Diamond director Ben Maartman said a problem he sees with moving forward in this direction is that itB次元官网网址檚 not always clear what is Canadian and what is American.
B次元官网网址淚f a company in Canada has fully filled their warehouse with products bought from the U.S., do we buy it?B次元官网网址� he asked. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just direction perhaps more than philosophy, but how do the nuts and bolts of it get integrated into a report? IB次元官网网址檓 wondering if weB次元官网网址檙e asking staff to go down a very complicated path here.B次元官网网址�
CFO Tracy Bowen said staff have already been talking to the districtB次元官网网址檚 procurement manager on the issue, and the manager has been talking to her colleagues in B.C. about the tariff situation, so staff are prepared to write a report for the board on the issue.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of things to weigh here because, as CFO, I have to ensure that IB次元官网网址檓 getting the best value for our taxpayersB次元官网网址� dollars and weB次元官网网址檙e not going into double digits for items, but to also making sure that we are also buying local and Canadian first,B次元官网网址� she said.
Saltair/Gulf Islands director Jesse McClinton said heB次元官网网址檚 angry and feels very disrespected by the U.S.
B次元官网网址淚t may be a little bit of an emotional vote, but I also think the wording [of the motion] gives a lot of flexibility, so Canada first,B次元官网网址� he said.
North Cowichan director Mike Caljouw agreed that staff should write the report.
B次元官网网址淢r. Trump has created the best buy-local program that we could have asked for,B次元官网网址� he said.
