BRADFORD - In the face of U.S. tariffs, Bradford has decided to keep on truckin’.
Based on a report from Vanessa Morum, manager of legal, risk management and procurement, council approved an additional $15,000 to purchase three new snowplows during the April 1 council meeting.
That came in response to a March 20 letter from Currie Truck Centre explaining the cost of each could jump by $5,000 thanks to increased costs from both American tariffs and potential retaliatory efforts from Canada, and the order needs to be reconfirmed at the new amounts to ensure the town has the new trucks ready within the next 18 to 24 months.
“This request will likely be the first of many requests staff will receive,” Morum said in the report, referencing U.S. President Donald Trump’s then upcoming April 2 decision to continue with previously announced tariffs on Canadian automobiles, steel, aluminum, energy and potash, plus new tariffs on other countries.
Ahead of the president’s official announcement, Ward 2 Coun. Jonathan Scott shared a blunt message for Trump.
“What you’re proposing is insane,” he said.
Noting the two countries have worked together economically for more than 100 years and many vehicles cross the border during assembly to be partially built in both, Scott said “whatever bozo scheme” Trump’s “addled brain” is proposing would cause “massive economic disruption” to both countries.
Ward 6 Coun. Nickolas Harper asked if staff could investigate switching to Canadian suppliers using Canadian-built equipment.
While Morum said they have been looking into it, she cautioned staff would need more time, and without council’s approval of the additional funds, there was a risk the contracts for the three plows in question would be cancelled.
While he acknowledged the immediacy to that particular contract, Harper still pushed for more proactive investigation for future agreements as part of the town’s “national support,” but Mayor James Leduc suggested councillors should temper their expectations.
Having recently returned from the annual Good Roads conference and trade show in Toronto — focusing on road infrastructure and servicing in Ontario — the mayor said he and Ward 7 Coun. Peter Dykie couldn’t find any providers of chassis for large trucks (like plows or fire engines) made in Canada. Even after visiting more than 50 different vendor booths, the mayor said they found no option that was 100 per cent Canadian made.
“I do certainly want to source Canadian as much as possible,” he said. “It’s difficult out there right now.”
Ahead of the April 2 decision, the prices for the plows were estimated to be about $405,000 for each of the two single-axle trucks and about $472,000 for the tandem axle truck.
Just two weeks ago, and in response to a separate report from Morum, council approved updating the town’s purchasing policy to support local, regional and other non-American businesses in light of U.S. tariff threats, the timing and extent of which has varied in messaging from the American government.
The latest price increase for the plows comes after committee of the whole recommended on Feb. 4 approving an additional $84,602.
A report at the time that explained the cost difference was partially due to the drop in Canadian dollar value, but also because manufacturing costs for both the trucks and required equipment had increased.
Of the additional funds approved this week, $10,000 is set to come from the capital replacement reserve, and $5,000 from the development charges reserve.