Saanich council has unanimously approved recommendations to prioritize Canadian products and services in its procurement processes amid the ongoing tariff war between Canada and the U.S.
In response to the 25 per cent tariff imposed by the U.S. on Canadian imports, Saanich staff proposed two recommendations to increase local purchasing for goods and services valued under $75,000, the threshold set by the most restrictive trade agreements.
This move aligns with efforts across municipalities to prioritize Canadian-made products.
However, staff explained that identifying product origins and navigating trade agreements may be challenging. As the two countries are deeply economically intertwined, raw materials and other goods often move back and forth between the two nations before becoming final products.
Staff added that the municipality has little to no visibility into the country of origin of goods it buys from Canadian suppliers.
Undeterred by the challenges ahead, council stood resolute in supporting these recommendations.
“I’m delighted to support this motion,” said Coun. Susan Brice. “I think around all the local council tables, there’s been a [movement] to provide Canadians a response, but we know that we must operate under identified legal agreements and at the same time seek the best value for the taxpayer.”
Although the municipality sometimes purchases specialized goods such as IT software and fire trucks from the U.S., Coun. Karen Harper suggested this could be an opportunity for the district to reduce its reliance on American suppliers and build new partnerships worldwide.
“I do think we need to go further in the longer term,” said Harper. “It’s not just about banning U.S. [goods and services], it's also about a preference for Canadian and other preferential partners like the E.U. because I don't think this is going to be a short-term problem, quite frankly.”
As the trade dispute is ever-evolving, staff mentioned maintaining their work with other local governments and organizations to monitor tariff impacts and explore additional local purchasing options.
