Calgary mayor reveals plans to shield taxpayers, businesses from potential U.S. tariffs

Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek has outlined plans that she says will help protect local taxpayers and businesses from potential American tariffs.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Gondek said the U.S. tariff threats present an opportunity to improve the city’s economy and infrastructure while ensuring Calgary is resilient to any outside economic threats.

“As we face these uncertainties, it’s important to consider our approach with a strategic and determined mindset,” says Gondek.

She outlined a two-step approach that includes protecting Calgarians by “tariff-proofing” the city and the major projects the city has planned, like the new Calgary Events Centre and Green Line LRT.

The second step, according to the mayor, is to protect businesses in the city to help preserve jobs for Calgarians.

“We need to do this work now, whether tariffs are immediately implemented, or the threats continue to be prolonged,” she says.

City administration is exploring protective measures that include procurement bylaw reviews, local purchasing support, and collaboration with neighboring municipalities that aim to strengthen supply chains and attract government investment.

Gondek says the mayor’s tariff advisory group will consult business leaders starting on Friday.

“We need to know what supports are needed from the city by tariff-impacted businesses,” she says. “We need to give businesses the comfort of knowing we are looking at relief measures.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff plan currently covers items like lumber, oil and gas, agriculture products, dairy, liquor, and more.

Canada’s forestry sector recently described the threatened tariffs as unnecessary and unwarranted, saying the U.S. meets only about 70 per cent of its homebuilding lumber needs domestically, and uses Canadian lumber to fill the gap.

Earlier this month, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce released a report establishing a “U.S. Tariff Exposure Index” that identified Calgary, Saint John, N.B., and Windsor, Ont. as the cities that would be hit hardest by tariffs.