As Canada navigates a critical moment in its economic future, local leaders are stepping up to highlight the impact of trade disruption on communities across the continent.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) joined the U.S. Conference of Mayors and a delegation of Mexican mayors for a tri-national trade summit of local leaders in Washington, D.C. At the heart of these discussions: the shared consequences of recent tariffs on workers, industries, and communities in all three countries. Through direct exchanges with their counterparts, Canadian mayors shared local experiences and data on the economic toll these measures are taking. Together, local leaders issued a united call to bring an end to the damaging tariffs.
"Municipalities are the economic engines of this country, delivering the infrastructure, services, and conditions that drive Canada’s growth," said FCM President Rebecca Bligh. "When trade agreements are undermined, it’s our residents, our workers, and our industries who pay the price. That’s why we’ve come together to speak directly with our counterparts across North America, to share the realities in our communities, and to stand together to urge an end to this economic disruption — for the sake of jobs, industries, and families in all of our countries."
The message from local leaders is unified. These tariffs are hurting communities across North America, and we can’t afford to let this continue.
Canada’s delegation included:
- FCM President Rebecca Bligh
- Regina, SK – Mayor Chad Bachynski
- Toronto, ON – Mayor Olivia Chow
- Windsor, ON – Mayor Drew Dilkens
- Sturgeon County, AB – Mayor Alanna Hnatiw
- Surrey, BC – Mayor Brenda Locke
- Grand Bay-Westfield, NB – Mayor Brittany Merrifield
- Ottawa, ON – Mayor Mark Sutcliffe
- Mascouche, QC – Mayor Guillaume Tremblay
Election 2025: A Moment to Reinforce Canada’s Economic Foundations
The summit also comes at a pivotal time for Canada. With the federal election now underway, local leaders are calling for concrete action to build long-term economic resilience from the ground up. In the face of global volatility and economic uncertainty, municipalities are stepping up with solutions to drive growth and strengthen Canada’s future.
FCM is urging all federal parties to commit to ending interprovincial trade barriers, investing in trade-enabling infrastructure, and advancing a National Prosperity Partnership to ensure municipalities have the tools they need to deliver in areas that are critical to the strength and resilience of our economy, such as housing, infrastructure, economic development, public safety, and essential services.
With the right tools, local governments are ready to tackle the big challenges, so that every community, whether urban, rural, or northern, can contribute to a more secure and prosperous Canada.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is the national voice of municipal governments, with over 2,100 members representing more than 92 percent of the Canadian population.
For more information, please contact:
FCM Media Relations, (613) 907-6395, media@fcm.ca