Okay. >> Test one, two, three. Test. One, two, three. >> Everybody ready? Yeah, >> Rod look >> Mayor Patrick Brown here joined by Councelor Maduros, Councelor Santos, councelor Kenan, councelor Power, and our director of economic development uh Denise Mccclure. Uh we've had a mayor's tariff task force that was set up uh since June of 2025. Um really as a um response to the punishing consequence of tariffs. Uh and this group has been uh those who are tariff affected industries uh in our city. And our approach is this. Um we're all in this together. This is a team Canada moment. local government, provincial government, federal government, we really need to be united in the face of this uh adversity. Um, understanding the premise that you can never underestimate the resilience of Canadians, and we're certainly seeing that in Bmpton. So, today I'm pleased to outline Bmpton's 10point US tariff and economic resilience plan. a practical plan to protect jobs, help businesses compete, and build a stronger local economy in the midst of the turmoil uh that we're seeing right now with the Trump administration's uh punishing tariffs on American businesses and Canadian businesses. I would note that the friendship with Canada in the US is one that will endure. It's uh not always a straight line. Sometimes it zigzags and we're seeing that right now with the Trump administration, but we will overcome this moment. Um, Bmpton is one of Canada's most important manufacturing and logistics hubs. Our businesses are deeply connected to North American supply chains, particularly automotive, advanced manufacturing, steel, and aluminum. We are one of the critical components of the North American supply chain. US tariffs are increasing the cost, disrupting production, delaying investment, and putting jobs at risk on both sides of the border. We have seen the impact of this uncert uncertainty. You look at the Stellantis plant uh which has been idle since December of 2023. And we want to see those Unifor workers back to work building great product. The city actually reszone those lands that it cannot be used for any other purpose other than automotive. But our response when it comes to tariffs must support the entire Bmpton economy. Building on the mayor's tariff task force, our tariff action plan, we are advancing 10 actions organized around three pillars. protect, compete, and build. The first pillar is to protect jobs and businesses. Our first action is the Canada first procurement policy. We will strengthen the resolutions already passed at the region appeal in the city of Bmpton to prioritize made in Canada procurement, review all existing contracts for opportunities to transition to Canadian suppliers where feasible, and encourage other public sector partners to do the same. Let's leverage every tool we have to support Canada first. And a great example of this would be our partners with a local utility, Electra, where Brian Benz and James Douglas have shown leadership by transitioning smart meters. This is an example that will bring 2,000 jobs to Ontario and a $2 billion investment in manufacturing. Previously, uh they used an American supplier for smart meters. So when we all lean in to made in Canada procurement, it can have huge consequences to create jobs here and be an economic stimulus. The second pillar is to protect manufacturing. We will advocate for Canadian procurement opportunities, including the defense and government vehicle fleets and assure Bmpton's growing aerospace, defense, and space sectors are positioned to benefit from the new federal investment we're seeing. And I would say those sectors are booming in Bmpton. We already seen Bmpton manufacturers adapt. Aberger, which used to do 100% auto parts, um have transitioned to also supporting the defense sector and aerospace. This year, their non-automotive work is expected to represent 15 to 20% of its business. A great example of a Bmpton manufacturer who successfully is pivoting to meet new opportunities. And just two weeks ago, Bmpton based Brandon Steel was recognized as a key supplier for Canada's 11.3 billion investment in six new Coast Guard ice breakers. That's the exactly that's the exact kind of opportunity we want to see Canadian procurement create for Bmpton businesses and workers. Third is business adaption. We need to focus uh on where the jobs are going to be um and make sure that our businesses are as innovative as possible. Through a 2.5 million federal regional tariff response initiative investment through our friends in the government of Canada, we now can support a new Bmpton business growth accelerator. We have a staff that will be dedicated to helping businesses grow, tariff affected businesses grow. The second pillar of our action plan is to compete by fostering productivity and growth. We also got a grant from the federal government for AI training and we're working with our partner Beehive which is a tech incubator in Bmpton to train tariff effective uh affected industries um to really lean into new technology uh to be leaner to be more effective to be more efficient in a global competition for jobs. And that's our fourth action. Um our fifth uh pillar of the our fifth point of our 10-point plan is to diversify trade. We've launched a Go Global Bmpton. Building on our 310 businesses already engaged in exports outside of Canada. We're working to connect local companies with opportunities across Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico, and other markets. We are already seeing incredible global opportunities. We've got some of the most incredible businesses in Bmpton. And we believe they can compete anywhere in the world. And an illustration of that would be MDA space, who now is in partnership with a European space ay's Argonaut lunar mission. It's a great example of a Bmpton headquartered company strengthening its ties with Europe and competing in a growing global space economy. The United States will always be an essential trading partner, but our businesses should not be dependent on any single market. And when you see the success of a company like MDA, it speaks to the fact a Canadian business, a Bmpton business can compete anywhere. Our sixth point in our action plan is to attract investment. We will launch the Invest Bmpton campaign in alignment with the Canadian Investment Summit showcasing the strengths of our advanced manufacturing, innovation, life sciences, logistics, and global trade. And I would note we submitted two proposals as part of that major Canadian investment summit that Prime Minister Carney is hosting. Our seventh point is we must invest in talent. We will continue supporting entrepreneurship, work, workforce development and skills training to connect BMPon residents with growing industries and align people with the jobs that exist. And so, you know, we had a workshop this summer on um getting people involved in the skilled trades. We literally had a workshop at city hall funded uh by the Ministry of Labor proincially and we're going to do more of that. There are jobs out there. We need to make sure that our residents have the tools to fill those jobs. We're also committed to building our long-term resilience. So, our eighth point of our action plan is unlocking incentives. We will help businesses and development projects identify and combine eligible funding of financial supports to reduce costs and accelerate investment. So, there is a federal fund for tariff affected industries. We're going to have our staff help businesses apply because the red tape of that application process can be intimidating. So, we're going to work handinhand with businesses to make sure that if they're eligible, they can benefit from those programs. Our ninth point is we will accelerate infrastructure projects. And this is one that I think could be a major economic stimulus program for Bmpton. We're in the midst of the big BMPON build, as I like to call it. We have major projects, 10 major projects representing $9 billion in investment. And these are projects with the federal and provincial government. Everything from the second hospital construction, which was supposed to start in the fall, and we hope it does, the Hazel Mallen LRT extension phase one and phase two. Um, our new police stations and police facilities, our new Embleton Community Center, our Riverwalk project in the downtown for flood mitigation. Um, these are just some examples of the massive infrastructure investment happening right now and we're going to work with our partners to accelerate all these projects. We want to see shovels in the ground now. There's no better time to stimulate the economy with construction jobs than in the face of this adversity. And if I recall in 2009 when we had the global economic turndown, then it was Prime Minister Harper and Premier McGinty who said, "Let's expedite infra infrastructure projects in Ontario immediately." And they did that in 2009. It helped Canada weather that storm. We should be expediting all infrastructure projects right now to help be a a spur, a momentum for our local economy. There's huge economic spin-off from these construction projects. And to put this in context, the $9 billion of construction we have before us right now, you know, you go back 10 years ago, we had 200 million of construction of of public projects in Bmpton. So we're in the midst of the largest infrastructure investment in our city history. So it's an exciting moment in time. Our 10th point is as much as we have all these responses to how to pivot to this economic aggression by the Trump administration. Our 10th point is to speak directly to Americans to mobilize the crossber support. There are so many businesses in Bmpton that have businesses in the US. Whether it's a Medtronic that is in Bmpton but also in Minnesota. Uh whether it's an Axiom Plastics that's in that's in Bmpton but also um in Columbus. There are literally hundreds of examples of businesses that are creating jobs in the US and creating jobs here and they're at peril. And so we need to speak directly to the American people uh that we don't that we we love Americans in Canada. They're our closest neighbor, closest friends. Um it's why a year ago I wrote an op-ed in uh the newspaper saying, "Don't boo the American anthem. Our disagreement is not with Americans. is with a misguided, reckless president who is taking uh the wrong course that's going to cause massive inflation in the US, massive job losses in the US and it will hurt here too. And I'm a big believer if we speak directly to Americans that wisdom can win the day and that we can see a course correction in the US when this administration realizes they have lost popular support for these punishing tariffs that are taxes on prosperity. Let me say plainly and clearly, Canada is not America's economic problem. For generations, Canada has been part of America's competitive advantage. We will continue to build alliances that support open, mutually beneficial trade. In closing, we cannot control every decision made in Washington, but we can control how we support our businesses, attract investment, develop our workforce, and position Bmpton to compete. This action plan is about positioning our businesses to compete. This plan is about protecting jobs while building a stronger economy for tomorrow. I want to thank our Bmpton Board of Trade, our Economic Development Office, the Mayor's Tariff Task Force, and our businesses for working closely on building this plan together. Together, we are taking action to build a stronger, more competitive, and even more resilient BMPON. On that note, um we're proud to release this plan and happy to take any questions you may have. >> We'll start the formal Q&A. Just make sure you stand right over here. the mics here. So, please state your name um and your outlet. And it's one question, one followup, please. >> Uh hi, Alicia Hash from the Toronto Star. Um I'm just wondering how you would categorize the seriousness of this threat to Brandon's economy. You talked a little bit about um sort of all the different things that can be done, but how serious is this uh sort of threat we're looking at now with the changing tariffs day by day? Like how Yeah. Where are we at kind of now? You know, I would say we can't um underestimate um the gravity of um the consequence of these tariffs um and what it means for for jobs. And I look at Stalantis, 3,000 workers that are sitting idle. You I spoke to one worker today that um told me he hasn't had a paycheck in two years. You know, how to there there's families that struggle to put food on on on the table. And so there is real consequences to these dangerous uh tariff uh policies. Um we're also a major logistics hubs. I don't think any city in Canada has as many logistics companies as Bmpton. We move product across North America. So when Trump tries to really close borders to trade, you know, those logistics companies are going to face the brunt of that difficulty. And so it does hurt Bmpton and it's why we're so determined to pivot um and show resilience through this difficult period. >> Um and I just want to ask about uh the first point which is about procurement. Um I understand municipalities already sort of do a lot of business with Canadian companies and I'm just wondering how much space there is for Bmpton to actually make any additional changes that would be meaningful at this point or um are there any sort of future >> contracts that you were looking at changing from American suppliers? Uh is there an amount of money that you can sort of say is available? Well, what I'd say is the totality of municipal procurement across Canada is significant. If you look at one city at a time, um it may not seem significant. Like Brmpton, a year we do 350 million on good services and construction. Um and we've seen companies win bids under this new policy. You look at Genitech supporting our 360 intersection cameras, Antara um providing waste services, Ellis Dawn doing our our riverw walk. Um and so it does create an ecosystem where Canadian companies can be successful. But you know a great illustration that I that I shared was um utilities. You know these are um mun municipally owned um institutions and the transition to smart meters with Electra by James Douglas and Brian Benz of our local utility that shifts 2,000 manufacturing jobs uh to Ontario. That was an American company doing smart meters. And if we did that everywhere in Canada, that the totality would be massive. This creates jobs and prosperity locally. And so I don't think the Trump administration has really realized how much this hurts the US too. It hurts both countries and I think he's he's missed that component of it. >> Uh Taranjit from Red FM. Uh in this ongoing trade war, what is your biggest concern right now? Uh losing the jobs or losing the existing businesses or losing the future US investment? So I I think it's about one retention of current jobs because we've got a lot of great companies in Bmpton. We want them to continue to stay afloat and succeed, but it's also about recruiting new opportunities. So when I mention an MDA having part of a EU space agency contract, that's going to create new employment, new prosperity. When a brand and stills part of a federal defense procurement, that creates new opportunities. And I would say we are actively speaking to major um defense companies uh about production in Bmpton. And I think I've mentioned in the media before whether it is light armored vehicles, whether it is ammunition, whether it is uh military drones, we have active conversations with defense companies about creating manufacturing here in Bmpton um as part of the opportunities created by Prime Minister Carney's commitment to meet NATO defense spending targets. Uh so what is the plan of city for the small businesses who don't have resources to diversify their market? >> You know our go global uh program um our AI program um the supports we offer the business growth accelerator program are eligible for all tariff affected industries. So whether you're small, medium or large, these are services now provided at city hall to support businesses affected. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Hi, Grant Fris from the Bmpton Guardian. I'm just curious about your thoughts on I mean for politicians of all levels of government in Canada. I mean, we're dealing with an administration here that lies constantly about Canada that is putting out memes with maps taking over Canada. And how can our politicians who are being serious deal with an unserious government and expect to come to any kind of rational agreement? At this point, >> I think it's important to continue to speak directly to Americans. I believe when you speak fact, when you speak uh truth, um that that breaks through um the chaos of the current administration's noise. If you look at public opinion polling in the US, the president's approval ratings at the lowest point um of a president facing midterms. I think the last one I saw a 67% disapproval. And where it's hurting most is if you look at these border states um where businesses, American businesses are very upset, Americans are very upset with this administration because they see the consequences. You look in Michigan where this could be the largest tax in history on America's big three um auto sector. Um and so I I think we need to continue uh to speak to our friends in in the US. It's why I've done a fair bit of US television and radio um to say we want to continue to build great products together and hopefully we can get past this impass. And you know I I do think the Trump administration there they have two and a half years of runway um but there's only so long you can push a policy that has lost popular support and I think the reckoning for that is going to come sooner or later. >> Now um obviously the US midterms are coming up. I don't know if you've spoken to any sort of Democratic Democrats Democratic party there in the states, but um if should the Democrats um be able to win either both houses of a Congress or or or just one of them? Do you foresee that changing the sort of dynamic and and the relationship between Canada? Do you see that sort of maybe helping things if that >> Well, I think the legality of the tariffs would be um threatened if it's lost support of um of the US um houses of government. Um I went with a group of mayors to Washington about a year and a half ago to speak to Republicans and Democrats. And what I'd say is there is broad support for Canada. There is broad support in both the Republican and Democratic party um who believe these tariffs are um have huge consequences for their constituents. You know, look at the inflation numbers in the US. This is hurting the US. They are becoming less competitive. Competitors to American businesses are sipping champagne at the chaos created by these tariffs. uh Nathan from hashtag uh mayor negotiators job is to get the deal done and uh for the both sides and finally the result is that we don't have a deal for last two years um and uh you are quite a popular leader in Bmpton and across Canada and we heard from many Canadians that Patrick Brown name should be there to be one of the negotiator because Canadians heard Bmpton Bmptonians get hurt what if Prime Minister Carney is listening And if you get this job to get a deal done for the Canada for the Bmpton, will you accept this job? >> So right now, let me say it's a team Canada approach. We're all in. Um and I think what one of the advantages that Canada has, if you look at the public opinion in the US, there is not a united mandate to pursue these these reckless tariffs. The majority of Americans, you look at governors, congressmen, um senators, they there is a real disagreement in the US about this approach. in Canada, mayors, premers, the prime minister, we're all um speaking in a unified manner um that we stick together as Canadians when we face this this adversity, these um attacks um these memes, these insults to um uh Canada. I don't think Donald Trump appreciates how proud we are of our country, how much we love our country, how fiercely patriotic we are of Canada. And it's anything I think he's only enhancing the resolve and unity of Canadians. And if asked in any way of how I could help, I think I like any other mayor would say to the prime minister, "We're in this together. We're here to help." >> Uh Stellantis 3,000 plus jobs lost and uh they are struggling. Uh Stalantis want to sell this land and what was the initial deal between city and Stalantis? If that land was given as a freight to the Stalantis or not, we don't know the truth. If that can be uh elaborate uh can they sell this land and is there any legal action can go against them by the city? >> So the city um provided land in the 1980s for the purpose of the precursor company for having automotive production where I think the greatest legal tool uh for Canadians is in the federal contracts. So, Stalantis took billions in subsidies for production incentives for for for the automotive production in Windsor and Bmpton. And the agreement, I understand, from Minister Jolie specifically says Bmpton. So, we do have legal tools where they'll owe that money back to Canadians. Listen, our first choice is they come back, they bring a product back right away, but if they do um cut and run, um there is a legal responsibility they have to Canadian taxpayers. I do know there are offers on the plant, but I think um the federal government wants to measure um are those jobs good jobs? Are they uniform jobs? Um how are we protecting workers? And uh you know I right now I think everything's on the table. >> Thank you. >> Sean OSHA with Global News. Uh mayor since we're talking about Stalantis, they have a deadline tomorrow. A deal deadline is September 11th. Make a deal possibly have a strike or something else. If they can't get a deal on that, if Stellantis doesn't commit to coming back with uh auto production there, to the previous speaker's point, is there a plan there? Is the federal government perhaps thinking of defense procurement, defense manufacturing there? Is this going to be a white elephant or is something going to be built here? >> What is encouraging um is there is so much interest there is so much interest in these highskilled workers. Um the fact that this is a facility that has um power, it's it's it's set up. that's ready to go for a production that could be um pivoted to different products. I've actually been surprised by the level of of interest, but it's about getting um the right product. You know, for example, you know, there was a proposal from Leap Motors, a Chinese joint venture with Stalantis um that only had 800 jobs and it was largely just assembly jobs and rightly so. The provincial and federal governments said to Stellantis, "That's not good enough. you know, we we want to see those 3,000 jobs back, high-skilled jobs like we have currently. Um, and so I believe if Stalantis renegs on their obligations, um, abandons their workers, um, there would be a number of opportunities to make sure that plant is immediately uh, used. Uh but uh you know I would say again uh we do hope Stalantis um doesn't choose that path does isn't bullied by the Trump administration and does what is right by their workers and their obligations to Canadians. >> Second questions back to the economic resilience plan you're talking about here. I mean you guys have been working on this clearly for months. >> Earlier this week Trump said that you know Canadian companies are not really welcome to bid on or be accepted for American uh government procurement. How much of a hit does that take? you're telling people, hey, let's build, let's buy, do it here in Bmpton, here in Ontario, here in Canada. But if you can't sell to the United States based on that and those kinds of things, how much more difficult and challenging is it? And as part of that, isn't this really about just waiting it out? Because every day it could be a different uh new threat, a different new tariff, new something. Can you really put all these things into effect very quickly? >> Yeah, it does feel like we are watching uh a different tantrum um every day uh by the US administration. Uh but we need jobs for our our community. It's why we have this plan. Um you can't just wait two and a half years for a new administration. Who knows how much longer after that to to change policies. Um so it's why we're pivoting. It's why we're looking for opportunities. Um and I hope this zigzag in our friendship with the US is one that is that is short. And you know I you look at history and whether it was um you know Barack Obama and Steven Harper from different ideological perspectives. You know Ronald Reagan um and Brian Rooney ushering in free trade the close relationship of Bill Clinton and Jean Kretchen. Our countries have worked so closely with such a strong bond such a strong alignment of leadership. It really is extraordinary what we're seeing and I really do believe and hope it'll be a blip in history. >> Last question. >> Yeah. Hi Anmul Singh from Hamda TV. Uh so you mentioned about in your 10th point how we going to diversify our business with the border state of USA. On that point I want to mention there is a growing sentiment in Canada that we want to grow closer to European Union for business or other strategic relationship. How do you think government or your collaboration with our premier and prime minister is going to put Bmpton businesses to make it easier for us to do businesses with European businesses? >> So our our 10th point was to speak directly to Americans. So we we believe there is broad support for Canada and broad affection for Canada and it's why I've I've done significant US media about um about that. Um our fifth point was diversifying um uh trade. our go global program, our staff uh that will work with businesses of all size to identify new market opportunities. Um and if you look at um MDA getting the EU space agency contracting is example that there is a ton of opportunity out there and I know Denise could probably give you a hundred examples of businesses that we're seeing that have find opportunities for export beyond the US. I think geography has made us very comfortable where we just focused historically on what was easy and I think this moment in time is a healthy one in the sense that it's really focusing us on where can we export anywhere in the world. We build great products and if the US doesn't want to continue to have this joint prosperity while there are other countries that we can build great products with. >> Thank you very much. Great. >> Thank you so much. This concludes the press conference for today. >> Okay. Thank you everyone.