Northern town responds to U.S. tariffs with buy Canadian policy

Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands – which at times sees an influx of U.S. tourists – has passed a motion supporting Buy Canadian First policies.

A small northern Ontario town is taking a stand against U.S. tariffs by urging residents, businesses and other municipalities to limit the purchase of American goods.

The Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands passed a motion on Tuesday in response to what it calls “the unwarranted actions of the President of the United States,” which it says will increase costs and create undue hardship for Canadians. The motion outlines three key actions: supporting federal and provincial calls for a “Buy Canadian First” policy, promoting the policy locally, and encouraging other municipalities and levels of government to limit purchases of U.S. goods.

Mayor Al MacNevin emphasized that the motion is not an attack on American citizens but a direct response to the policies of the U.S. government.

“I guess the message for us is that we have a lot of visitors and property owners in terms of cottages on Manitoulin and in Northeastern Manitoulin in particular,” MacNevin said.

“We just want to be clear that we’re not attacking American citizens, we’re responding to an attack from the American government. We’ll continue to be friends, as we always have (been) for generations, with our neighbours. It’s just that we can’t sit idly by and let this take place without pushing back.”

MacNevin added that he hopes that the trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. will eventually return to normal and that the temporary measure will be reversed once U.S. tariffs are eliminated.

The town, which often sees an influx of American tourists and seasonal residents, is known for its close ties with its southern neighbours. The mayor said the town values its long-standing relationships with the American people as “friends and neighbours” and that he trusts that they will understand that our decision was not made in anger but rather as a well-thought-out response to the actions taken against us by U.S. President Trump.

MacNevin called the resolution a calculated response to the economic impact of the tariffs and not a reflection of animosity towards Americans.

The motion aligns with broader efforts by the federal and provincial governments to prioritize Canadian-made goods in procurement and infrastructure projects and comes as communities across Canada continue to grapple with the economic repercussions of U.S. trade policies, with many looking for ways to support local industries and mitigate the impact of tariffs.