The Town of Whitby said it is actively taking steps to navigate and minimize the impacts of U.S. imposed tariffs on Canadian and local businesses.
On April 14, Whitby Town Council unanimously supported amendments to the town’s procurement by-law, which will go to regular council for approval on April 28. The updates to the by-law prioritize the purchase of goods and services from Canadian suppliers whenever possible and restricts U.S. businesses from bidding on town contracts.
The changes build on the town’s actions taken to combat trade tariffs, protect the local economy, and keep jobs, said a Whitby statement.
It said the town continues to review its by-laws and permitting processes to identify further opportunities to support Canadian and local businesses. Staff are also monitoring the potential financial implications of the tariffs on key contracts and infrastructure projects that could affect the town’s budget.
“Whitby’s economy is built on the strength of our local businesses and workers. These by-law changes send a clear message: we stand with Canadian and local businesses and we’re taking decisive action to protect jobs and our local economy. We will continue to explore every available tool to support our business community through these challenges,” said Mayor Elizabeth Roy,
These updates reflect our commitment to supporting Canadian and local businesses and doing what we can at the municipal level to reduce the impact of tariffs. I encourage residents to visit whitby.ca/tariffs to learn more about how to support our business community during this time, added CAO Matt Gaskell.
Quick Facts
- The by-law updates align with recent Procurement Restriction Policy made by the Province of Ontario’s to define a ‘U.S. Business’ and restrict U.S. Businesses from accessing public sector procurements in Ontario.
- A U.S. Business is defined as having its headquarters or main office located in the U.S. and fewer than 250 full-time employees in Canada at the time of the applicable procurement process.
- The Town will continue to monitor guidance and best practices from all levels of government and make further updates to the Town’s procurement policy and practices, as required.