The Town of Aurora is banning U.S. companies from its procurement processes, in the wake of 25 per cent U.S. tariffs being imposed on all Canadian goods, barring energy exports.
Mayor Tom Mrakas issued a statement March 4, the day U.S. tariffs came into effect, saying Aurora is “heeding the calls of Premier Ford” by implementing the ban, and called on other Ontario municipalities to do the same.
“Today, the United States government imposed sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods – an economic attack that threatens jobs, businesses, and industries across the country,” Mrakas wrote in a news release. “Aurora will not stand idly by as our workers, residents and local economy are put at risk.”
“Effective immediately, the Town of Aurora will ban U.S.-based companies from bidding on municipal contracts, ensuring that taxpayer dollars support Canadian industries, workers, and communities.”
Aurora council already passed a change to its procurement bylaw at its Feb. 25 council meeting.
The changes included updating requirements to prioritize Canadian procurement, including treating procurement from other countries neutrally “so long as treaty partners are acting in good faith” — defined later in the staff report as “honouring the terms of their trade treaty and not applying additional tariffs.”
But Mrakas said the town is taking the next step, standing "with our provincial and federal partners in defending Canada’s economy.”
Reacting on social media, several residents applauded the move, including Mike Cartwright, who wrote: “Way to go Mr. Mayor” on Facebook.
“We should have been buying Canadian all along, especially all government agencies,” said Maureen Crosby.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both said Tuesday they believe that the U.S. president is trying to destroy Canada’s economy with tariffs to make it easier to annex the country.
President Donald Trump's tariffs took effect Tuesday morning, implementing a 25-per cent tariff on Canadian exports to the United States. That is except for energy exports, which are subject to a 10 per cent tariff. In response, the Trudeau announced 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, with further levies on another $125 billion worth of American products to come in 21 days.
