As part of its coordinated response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, Peterborough County will be supporting and promoting businesses located in the county.
The action is one of a series approved by county council during its meeting on Wednesday (March 5) — the day after the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Trump took effect — along with a video and written statement by Warden Bonnie Clark that was released the following day.
In the statement, Clark highlights the county’s commitment to supporting businesses, advocating at all levels of government, and encouraging residents to shop local, buy Ontario, and support Canadian-made products.
“Peterborough County is a strong, agriculture-rich, and small business-driven region, built on the spirit of resilience and innovation,” Clark says. “Our businesses are the backbone of our local economy — employing our friends, families, and neighbours while producing high-quality goods and services that support industries across Canada and beyond.”
“Now, more than ever, we must come together to support local, buy Ontario, and support Canadian-made. Every dollar spent locally strengthens our economy, secures local jobs, and reinforces the values that define us as Canadians — kindness, partnership, and community.”
The warden’s complete statement is provided below (a written version is included at the end of this story).
VIDEO: Peterborough County Tariff Response – A Message from Warden Bonnie Clark
At Wednesday’s council meeting, county CAO Sheridan Graham presented the “Peterborough County Tariff Implications and Response Actions Plan,” which features a series of immediate and mid-term actions the county’s economic development, tourism, and communications teams will execute in the areas of procurement, economic development, and collaboration and advocacy.
For procurement, the plan includes recommendations and actions to enhance the county’s purchasing policy and processes to support local and Canadian suppliers, which the county’s finance department will bring back to council for approval. Among other actions, the county will hold “Doing Business with the County” sessions for local companies, contractors, and suppliers.
Economic development actions include issuing a call for county-based businesses to register with the county by completing an online survey. Businesses will be included in a county business directory, and the survey results will also help the county better understand local business needs and the support needed.
The county will also be partnering with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce to host a series of roundtable talks at the recently established “The Local Advantage” business program in county townships to encourage local businesses to share how tariffs are affecting their business and to identify what types of support will be most helpful.
The county’s collaboration and advocacy actions will include lobbying the federal and provincial governments to establish a “stay local” tax credit, similar to what was done during the pandemic, to support Canadian resident tourism. Other actions include creating and promoting a support/buy local campaign in the county and highlighting local businesses and local products.
For more information about Peterborough County’s tariff response plan, and to register your business with the county, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev.
PDF: Peterborough County Tariff Response – A Message from Warden Bonnie Clark
Peterborough County Tariff Response - A Message from Warden Bonnie Clark
