A staff report to be presented to Port Moody council’s finance committee on Tuesday, Mach 18, recommends the city stay the course in its procurement procedures for goods and services.
But staff and councillors will only be approved for travel to the United States for pre-booked activities or critically important conferences or training.
The report, from Port Moody’s finance and technology department, said a strict “buy Canadian” policy or boycott of American goods and services in response to the escalating trade war with the United States could lead to increased costs, fewer suppliers, potential disruptions to the supply chain and limited access to specialized products. Such actions could also lead to a political or public backlash, especially from Canadians who work for U.S.-based employers.
The report said staff are reviewing existing contracts to determine which might be impacted by tariffs.
“However, this is a very arduous task,” it said, adding tracing the country of origin for all products isn’t always possible.
And while cancelling existing contracts or purchase commitments that were already in place before Donald Trump was elected president could cost the city money or disruptions, the report suggests future acquisitions could be done with an emphasis on Canadian-sourced goods and services.
Another nearby city is taking a similar approach
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said staff are on a “fact-finding mission” to determine which of its suppliers are U.S.-based, but an analysis showed 95 per cent of the city’s vendors are already Canadian.
Meanwhile, Port Moody has distributed information to the city’s business community advising them of federal programs that are available to help them navigate economic challenges brought on by tariffs.
With a file from Lauren Vanderdeen, Burnaby Now
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