A special council meeting to discuss the impacts of tariffs on Chatham-Kent is being held Thursday at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.
Called by Mayor Darrin Canniff, the event will examine what the municipality and individual citizens can do to mitigate the impacts of U.S.-imposed sanctions on trade.
In a news release, the mayor asked residents to pull together to face the threat.
“Now more than ever, I am calling on Chatham-Kent residents to support each other by buying local, shopping local, and choosing Canadian-made products whenever possible,” Canniff said. “Our community is strong, and by working together, we can lessen the impact.”
The mayor acknowledged that many local businesses will be affected by cross-border trade, that could stymie growth and lead to job loss.
The agriculture sector, which Canniff called the “backbone of Chatham-Kent,” also faces increased costs making it harder for farmers and agri-business to remain competitive in a global market.
The tariffs will also put a strain on families, he said, as prices rise on essential goods.
Canniff said elected officials and C-K’s administrative staff will keep fighting on behalf of C-K, pushing upper levels of government for fair trade policies.
“We will continue to fight for a fair deal for our country and our community,” he said.
The meeting, which begins at 5 p.m., will be live-streamed on YourTV Chatham-Kent.
