“Strange days we live in, are they not?” District of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman questioned at the February 18 council meeting. Lehman was referring to the threat of U.S. tariffs.
He told councillors that a local effort is underway between lower-tier municipal economic development officers, Muskoka’s chambers of commerce directors, and the district’s economic development officer.
“They’ve been meeting for the past couple of weeks on a single source of local information in support of tariff relief or response should that occur,” said Lehman. “There was a 30-day reprieve, but, of course, the steel and aluminum piece has gone ahead.”
Lehman said, notwithstanding the pause, the issue has not gone away. He said preparations are underway in the event that further tariffs are imposed. “You know, these are trade decisions by the U.S. president. Our ability to influence them is minimal, but our support and the efforts that we can make to support our local business community, should this occur, there is an effort being made to plan for that eventuality and offer what support we can at the municipal level in that kind of a business environment.”
Lehman said it is obviously hoped that the tariffs will not move forward, “but if they do, there is work to prepare and at least get information out to support our business community. Some more to come on that. Hopefully, we will not need too much of it.”
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