By Staff
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Today, Mayor Meed Ward issued a Mayoral Direction focused on supporting Canadian businesses, workers, and the broader Burlington community, aligning with provincial and federal efforts to bolster national economic resilience.
The Mayoral Direction issues the following directions to staff:
- The Chief Financial Officer to prepare a report for the March 3, 2025, Committee of the Whole outlining ways the City could, where possible, prioritize Canadian vendors and suppliers in the event new tariffs are imposed on Canadian exports to the United States of America, including: Limiting contract renewals and new contracts to Canadian-only companies;
Pausing procurement;
Ensuring all new purchases of goods and services are from Canadian companies;
Ending all conferences or trips to the U.S. other than for advocating for a removal of tariffs; and
Reporting on costs and funding sources for any measure taken in response to tariffs.
Staff to undertake research and provide advice to the head of Council on potential responses to the tariff threats, including attendance at Mayor’s Tariff Task Force meetings as required in a research and advisory capacity.
The Head of Corporate Affairs to develop a “Buy Canadian” webpage where residents can find resources to make Buy Canadian decisions.
The directions are effective immediately.
With growing concerns over potential new tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States, this proactive approach seeks to protect local jobs and businesses while promoting the well-being of Burlington’s residents.
Through targeted measures, the City aims to prioritize Canadian vendors and services while fostering long-term community strength and economic stability.
The Mayoral Direction outlines key measures for staff to determine ways that the City could prioritize Canadian vendors, promote local businesses, and safeguard community interests in the event tariffs are imposed. This action follows a recent Council resolution to Buy Canadian.
The City is focused on ensuring Canadian businesses have the support they need to stay strong, competitive, and resilient in the face of uncertainty.
By sticking together and supporting each other, we will navigate these uncertain times
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward added: “As we face continued uncertainty regarding potential tariffs, I am committed to ensuring that our local businesses, workers, and residents are supported in every way possible. Today, I have taken a proactive step to protect our community, ensure our economic stability, and prioritize Canadian vendors and services. With a 30-day reprieve from tariffs announced this week, today’s action enables staff to take full advantage of the time afforded to prepare a response and assess all available options. Burlington has faced challenges before, and time and again, we have come together with strength, determination, and optimism. This situation is no different. By sticking together and supporting each other, we will navigate these uncertain times and protect Burlington and our local economy.”
I’m pleased to see that the Mayoral Direction allows her and her ‘tiny task force’
to travel to the USA to advocate for the removal of tariffs. I’m sure that her voice
will be a significant factor in American political considerations. I believe that she
holds citizenship in both countries. Perhaps, she should visit Washington and in
the presence of the US Congress renounce her American citizenship
Why is everything with this mayor so “dramatic”, so over-the-top, so much a
“look at me’. It is tiresome and trite.
How will she deal with US companies with branch plants in Burlington ?
Good initiative from City Council and the Mayor to support Canadian businesses.
It would be good to also review existing contracts and not just new ones.
And, there is no use making trips to the U.S. regarding Tariffs. Influencing the Trump administration directly at the mayoral level or through influencing U.S. mayors is not a good spend. We won’t be telling them anything they do not already know. And I don’t think Trump cares.
We have to be very careful before boycotting all things American. Canadian and American companies are very intertwined.
Kraft peanut butter for example is produced in Canada, using American peanuts but the company is American owned. What will happen to the employees in Canada? They could lose their jobs. There are many other Canadian companies that will find themselves in this situation.
According to the news and I agree the first thing that needs to be done is to get rid of the inter provincial tariffs that are presently in place. Canada needs to expand its trading partners to avoid being so dependent on the United States.
I found it interesting seeing photos of the empty shelves in some of the LCBO stores on Monday. Some Canadians I guess are not so patriotic to switch out Kentucky Bourbon for Canadian Rye.
Is it patriotic to freeze to death? I seem to remember that our oil pipelines go through the U.S., with Line Five shutting down Ontario, also our Provincial grids are connected, wouldn’t bother me, I’d rip out our gas fireplace inserts and go back to burning wood; not sure what our pink-haired stop oil activists would do.