Hamilton Mayor Horwath’s tariff-response plan heads to city council after gaining GIC support

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath’s motion to protect city workers and businesses from U.S. tariffs received unanimous support from the General Issues Committee Monday.

Horwath says the motion uses every tool the city has to protect jobs, businesses and families.

“Well, this is exactly what the plan’s for,” said Horwath.

The mayor’s Head of Lake Ontario Plan outlines what the city can do to support those affected by tariffs.

“Having a role to play here at the city is one of not only what can we do directly to support, but also how can our economic development department help navigate the waters, if you will, on the programs that people can access,” said Horwath.

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The seven-point plan, which now heads to next week’s council, includes municipal measures that would relieve financial pressures for Hamiltonians, and ones that would require provincial and federal support.

Meanwhile, Hamilton Ward 8 City Counc. Rob Cooper, who is also a member of the General Issues Committee and Horwath’s mayoral match, says he has questions about who can bring her plans to life.

“The critical part is who can bring this to life,” said Cooper. “We’ve seen how far too often in city hall there’s been a lot of inertia and we just haven’t brought these things to life. So what I’m running on is really moving beyond talk and bringing it to action.”

“If he wants to add something he’s welcome to,” said Horwath in response to Cooper’s comments, “but councillor Cooper can talk about things, but I have to do the work — I’m the mayor and I am doing the work.”

This is all part of the city’s ongoing efforts to tackle tariff impacts, in close collaboration with the city’s economic development team and Hamilton’s Chamber of Commerce (HCC).

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According to a report by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce from last year, on a list ranking the vulnerability of Canadian cities to U.S. tariffs, Hamilton ranks as the eighth most vulnerable, largely due to its steel industry, but it doesn’t end there.

“It really is impacting every industry in our community, because of the trickle-down effects that happen when our largest employers are being significantly impacted,” said Greg Dunnett, the HCC CEO.

In a statement to CHCH News, a spokesperson for the Minister’s Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade says the provincial government is using every tool it has to stand up to workers, businesses and communities and that, “it will continue to do whatever it takes to protect them on a municipal level.”

“It’s really important right now for us to make sure that we’re reinvesting in our community, because that creates a positive cycle of that money staying in our community, being re-spent in our community and supporting not only our small businesses, but also our neighbours who run them,” said Dunnett.

Hamilton Day, a day in support of local businesses, begins Oct. 29, with over 1,000 businesses expected to participate, and over $8 million of forecasted economic impact.

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