WELLINGTON COUNTY – A recent motion unanimously approved at an Upper Grand District School Board meeting will see the board look to cut ties with American suppliers amid the tariffs imposed on Canada.
Direction has been given to staff who are already working on this- with a recommendation to “immediately pause the negotiation or execution of any contracts with US suppliers.”
As well, staff are to go through existing contracts to figure out when renewal is, and investigate if they can be terminated or suspended without a financial penalty.
“We’re not out there to make a problem in the budget just to make a point,” trustee Luke Weiler told the Grand at 101.
Weiler says the impact he hopes to see from this action as a large purchaser of goods and services includes not only directing funds away from American suppliers, but also locally speaking, redirecting those dollars back into the local economy.
He added the goal is to send a message to the region.
Weiler went on to say children “have nothing to do with any of this,” though the tariffs’ impacts on families and young ones could be drastic.
He says the UGDSB has a fairly substantial budget of $523 million.
He noted 34 million spent on supplies and services within the board’s budget, as well as $41 million in fees and contracts and 17 million on renovations. The aim, Weiler says, is to make the reductions of business noticeable to the United States.
While Weiler says he takes this issue incredibly seriously, and wants the board to do their part, he mentioned he realizes UGDSB will by no means be able to get the tariffs taken off singlehandedly. He says the hope is to unite with other boards, municipalities, colleges universities and hospitals to further the impact.
