Halton Hills Mayor Speaks to Tariffs, Patriotism and Fair Trade

HALTON HILLS, ON – At yesterday’s Council meeting, Halton Hills Mayor Ann Lawlor made it clear that the Town was taking steps to ensure alignment with municipalities across the country.“ We support the advocacy efforts led by our federal government and supported by our municipal colleagues and associations,” she said. “There is strength in having a collective voice and we stand together on issues that threaten both our economy and our democracy.”

The Town is looking to amend its purchasing policy to ensure that the municipality is not purchasing from companies that originate in countries with free trade restrictions. “Our policy amendments will focus on fair trade and my direction to the CAO is that the Town, as one of the larger corporations in Halton Hills, should be a leader. For example, we will try to purchase locally rather than using an Amazon account. That said, we will still honour our obligations under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and the European Trade Agreement.”

The Mayor also encouraged residents to patronize local stores over the convenience of Amazon shopping, read grocery store lables and buy Canadian. To further support businesses, Economic Development staff collated and sent businesses a list of resources from the Government of Canada and other sites. As well, the Mayor personally reached out to some businesses to understand their concerns.

The Mayor finished with a rallying cry that “As Canadians, we are united in times of difficulty, and we are resilient” and noted that February 15 is Flag Day – a day that celebrates the adoption of the iconic red and white maple leaf as our country’s national symbol. “Wear your pin and wear your patriotism,” she said. Pins are available at no charge from Town Hall.

Mayor Ann Lawlor

About the Town of Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 64,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga, and Toronto. The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

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