Brockville, Ont. mayor on Border Mayor’s Alliance: ‘It’s just a time of great concern and uncertainty’

Brockville Mayor Matt Wren during an interview with CTV News Ottawa. Feb.1, 2025. (Jack Richardson/ CTV News Ottawa)

Municipal leaders of border towns across Canada have come together to form the Border Mayor’s Alliance in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat on all Canadian imports.

Saturday is the first day Trump said the tariffs would be imposed, but officials still aren’t clear exactly how they would be handled.

“It’s just a time of great concern and uncertainty and nobody really knows exactly what’s ahead of us at this moment,” said Brockville Mayor Matt Wren.

About 115 kilometres south of Ottawa, the St. Lawrence River is all that separates Brockville from the United States. According to Wren, the goal of forming the Border Mayor’s Alliance was to maintain a relationship with the municipal leaders south of the border.

“We all need to work our relationships,” he said. “The idea was just to build an understanding on the other side of the border. What the massive impacts of these tariffs could be.”

Wren admits municipal governments can only do so much when it comes to international trade concerns, but municipal leaders from coast-to-coast signed up for the Border Mayor’s Alliance to show unity with the federal and provincial governments.

“Right now, it’s about supporting our provincial and federal government’s efforts,” he explained.

“We don’t have a lot of tools at the municipal level, but we stand here in support of our local manufacturing sector, our local employers and we’re going to do everything we can to lend our voice to the situation.”

A variety of companies have their headquarters in Brockville due to the proximity to the United States - with a border crossing under 20 minutes away in Johnstown, Ont.

“A number of our manufacturers right here in the city of Brockville depend on selling their goods to the U.S. market,” Wren said.

The Border Mayor’s Alliance was spearheaded by Windsor, Ont. Mayor Drew Dilkens.

More details to come