Town Hosts Manufacturing Roundtable to Address Tariff Challenges

On November 7th, the Town brought together 10 local manufacturing businesses, government officials including Hon. Caroline Mulroney and MP Scot Davidson, and economic development partners for a Manufacturers Roundtable on Tariffs. The session, moderated by Brock Dickinson of the University of Waterloo and Invest Ontario, provided a platform for manufacturers representing thousands of local jobs to discuss the challenges they're facing due to tariff uncertainty and trade disruptions.

Companies from sectors including automotive, metal processing, plastics and chemicals, construction materials, and logistics shared how ongoing uncertainty is making it difficult to plan investments and grow their operations. Key concerns raised included the collapse of the housing market affecting construction suppliers, Canadian manufacturers being excluded from government-funded projects in favor of overseas competitors, and the risk of companies relocating operations to the United States.

Following the roundtable, Mayor Leduc and participating manufacturers are sending a letter of support to federal, provincial, and regional officials requesting urgent action to support our manufacturing sector. The recommendations include implementing "Buy Canadian" requirements for government projects, accelerating trade negotiations to provide certainty, simplifying access to support programs, and reducing regulatory barriers that make it harder for manufacturers to compete.

Our manufacturing sector is a vital part of our community's economic foundation, and the Town is committed to serving as a connector between our local businesses and the government resources they need to thrive. By advocating for our manufacturers, we're working to protect jobs, attract investment, and ensure Bradford West Gwillimbury remains a competitive place for businesses to grow for generations to come.