Below is the statement in its entirety by Warden Brian Ostrander released on February 5, 2025:
While the United States federal government has announced a 30-day hold on the tariffs on Canadian goods that were proposed February 1, 2025, Northumberland County remains deeply concerned about the far-reaching impacts of the U.S. decision to target a long-standing, trusted ally. Despite this pause, the threat of 25% tariffs on most Canadian goods and a 10% tariff on energy continues to jeopardize economic stability. It also puts at risk the historic trade relationship between Canada and the United States, which has made our nations the world’s largest trading partners.
While border security was the rationale given for these tariffs, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data shows that less than 1% of all fentanyl seizures and only 1.5% of illegal border crossing arrests involve the Canada-U.S. border. Still, even this is too much. It was therefore encouraging to see the $1.3 billion investment announced by the Federal Government in December 2024 to enhance border security and strengthen the immigration system.
Northumberland County also supports our federal and provincial partners’ response to the tariffs, including reciprocal tariffs on U.S. products. These measures are unfortunate but necessary to protect Canadian businesses, jobs, and the interests of our residents.
We remain committed to advocating for a swift resolution to this trade dispute, and stand with all levels of government in Canada-federal, provincial, regional, and municipal-in reinforcing our commitment to strengthening the Canada-U.S. alliance. This partnership is critical to the long-term economic resilience and future growth of our region. To this end, I am reaching out to U.S. border communities, seeking collaboration with elected officials on both sides to ensure our local economic concerns are heard and addressed. We must work together to support a swift and sustainable resolution that protects the interests of all border communities.
The County is actively assessing the potential impact of these tariffs on our economy and operations to better inform future decision-making. I will also be meeting with elected officials and Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) from across Eastern Ontario to better understand the potential broader economic effects. The strength of our communities lies in our ability to respond to challenges together, and we are committed to collaborating to safeguard our local economies.
I continue to be inspired by the resilience of our community. I encourage residents to support one another and our local businesses in any way possible. Whether it is by buying locally, participating in staycations, or other steps to keep money circulating within our region, we can each help strengthen our economy.
As we navigate these uncertain times, Northumberland County will continue to advocate for a Canada-U.S. partnership that remains a cornerstone of mutual prosperity and collaboration.
(Written by: Jospeh Goden)