Mayors from 23 of Canada’s largest cities met in Ottawa to present a united front against U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods.
London Mayor Josh Morgan chaired the meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Big City Mayors’ Caucus on Thursday.
“This is an economic relationship that is the envy of the world,” Morgan said during a news conference alongside other Canadian mayors. “To try to take a step back to dismantle it, or do damage to it, I think the rest of the world could be sitting back and laughing at us.”
The Big City Mayors’ Caucus met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly to discuss the evolving trade landscape and ensure municipalities inform the federal response.
The mayors emphasized that any counter-tariffs or other responses by Canada must be cost-neutral to municipalities and developed in consultation with FCM.
As chair of the Big City Mayors, Morgan will travel to Washington D.C. next week to join a delegation led by Premier Doug Ford.
Canadian mayors will also be meeting with their American counterparts at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Phoenix, Arizona (Feb. 20-23) and will return to Washington D.C. (March 9-12) for further discussions with the National League of Cities.
Those meetings will focus on minimizing the impact of tariffs on local economies and strengthening cross-border cooperation.
“We’re not looking to step on toes here, we’re here as part of the Team Canada approach.” Morgan explained.
The mayors also confirmed their intention to ensure their municipal purchasing policies prioritize spending local tax dollars on Canadian suppliers of goods and services.
“Our message for Canadians is that we have your back. We know the concerns. We hear your voice, and we will partner with the provincial and federal governments to do what we can as cities to ensure that your voice is heard, the jobs are protected, and that businesses will thrive in this country,” said Morgan.
On Friday, Morgan will be back in London to meet with business leaders and economic development organizations to discuss the potential impact of tariffs on the local economy.
