In wake of U.S. tariff threat, Vancouver city council unanimous on buy local motion

With Canada-U.S. tensions mounting, Vancouver city council unanimously passed a motion aimed at making sure the city prioritizes Canadian businesses.

With an all-out trade war with the United States looming, Vancouver city council unanimously passed a motion aimed at making sure city procurement contracts go to Canadian businesses, rather than American ones, whenever possible.

“It’s anxiety-inducing. I feel personally dismayed,” Green Party Coun. Pete Fry said about U.S. President Donald Trump’s economic and annexation threats.

“I have friends and family in the United States.”

Fry is far from the only one who finds the bluster dismaying.

“At city council, we are taking a united, Team Canada approach,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “So, we’re all united. It doesn’t matter what party you’re from.”

Fry brought forward a motion called “Choose Canada, Tariffs and Buy Local Imperative” – and says he worked closely with the Mayor’s office on the final amended draft, which passed by unanimous vote in a special session of council on Tuesday morning.

According to staff, in 2024 the city spent approximately $6.1 million on direct business with American vendors.

Since 2009, U.S.-based suppliers have accounted for about eight per cent of city procurement.

The motion directs staff to review all city business through a “Buy Local/Buy Canadian” lens – and then report back to council.

“(The goal is) to grow a more resilient economy, to protect our local businesses, and really to jump on board with the rest of Canadians who are passionate about protecting our sovereignty and our economy and really this Team Canada approach that we are seeing from coast to coast,” said Fry.

The motion also calls on the city to find new ways to create a business environment to help British Columbia achieve annual three-per-cent GDP growth in each of the next five years.

It’s a pledge the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has asked every level of government to make in response to the tariff threat.

“Streamlining costs, controlling permitting, really cutting red-tape,” said GVBOT CEO Bridgitte Anderson. “Those are the things that can be done at the municipal level that really do help businesses operate. And given the kind of economic crisis that is before us, every little bit helps.”