Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore recently appeared as a guest on the Agenda with Steve Paikin, TVO Today’s leading current affairs program, which examines significant social, political, cultural, and economic issues.
The episode focused on the practicality of municipal Made-in-Canada initiatives.
In response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Canadian goods — and Canada’s retaliatory tariffs — municipal leaders are increasingly promoting Canadian-made alternatives for products and services previously sourced from the U.S. However, with tightly connected cross-border supply chains, procurement professionals now face greater challenges in sourcing goods.
The panelists, which included managing director of procurement Paul Emanuelli, who has offered purchasing advice to hundreds of public institutions across North America, and London Mayor Josh Morgan, as well as Moore, all spoke of the challenges related to changing the way they purchase on behalf of their organizations.
While it may seem simple on the surface, there are many regulations and trade agreements, both federal and provincial, which govern the more than $150 billion dollars in goods and services purchased every year by all levels of government.
A reoccurring comment from all panelists was the challenge in identifying just how Canadian a product is and whether a comparable alternative might be available (at a similar cost) from a local supplier. Additionally, there’s the consideration of where the raw materials for goods come from that go into the products being procured.
We spoke to Moore for her thoughts on how Northumberland County is working to address tariffs.
Audio PlayerMoore says that legislation doesn’t always provide a lot of latitude, especially for large projects, but only about one per cent of the county’s vendors are from the U.S. Where it gets tricky is the amount of U.S. content in locally-procured goods.
Audio PlayerAccording to Moore, one of the projects the county is currently working on is a buy local campaign for both residents and businesses.
Audio PlayerAs part of the initiative, the county will collect data to understand who is purchasing its goods and services. She says they know that many local businesses send a significant proportion of their goods to the U.S.
Moore says they hope to advocate for local business with provincial and federal governments in the event that more reciprocal tariffs are introduced, looking for ways to mitigate the impact.
Moore says the Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland is taking the lead on a buy local program and they’re working to bring together a task force of community members to create a promotional program locally.
The Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre is great opportunity, according to Moore, for entrepreneurs to make an impact locally.
Audio PlayerWhile the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are expected to continue to cause economic pain, they have brought the county together in a surge in Canadian patriotism. More and more consumers are looking for ways to buy local and support domestic manufacturers and suppliers.
As imported products become more expensive, Canadians are expected turn to homegrown alternatives, strengthening local economies and fostering a greater sense of national pride. This shift in consumer behaviour can also create new opportunities for Canadian businesses to expand, innovate, and meet growing demand.
Additionally, tariffs may promote stronger cross-provincial trade, as regions within Canada increasingly rely on each other for goods and services, enhancing economic ties and reducing dependence on international markets.
While tariffs continue to pose economic challenges, Moore says Northumberland County is responding with a proactive approach to support local businesses and promote Canadian-made products. By encouraging residents and businesses to buy local and working with partners like the Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland, the county is fostering economic resilience.
To learn more, watch the episode of the Agenda: How Practical Are Municipal Made-In-Canada Initiatives? featuring Moore.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
