In response to the tariffs imposed on Canada by the United States this week, RMA President Kara Westerlund has made the following statement:
The United States’ blanket 25% tariffs on Canada, along with the 10% tariff on Canadian energy exports, will have direct and lasting impacts on rural municipalities, rural residents, and the resource-based sectors that call rural Alberta home and drive the province’s economy. RMA remains focused on working with both the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to strengthen the resiliency of rural municipalities and identify opportunities for local, regional, and domestic market and supply chain growth.
During times of global uncertainty, rural municipalities continue to be a stable, Alberta-first partner for government. While rural municipalities operate at the local level, they provide the infrastructure and services that Alberta’s largest companies rely on to access resources and markets. RMA is committed to working with the province to turn this challenge into an opportunity by removing interprovincial trade barriers, supporting development of new resources and other projects, and expanding access to new domestic and international markets.
While these issues may seem beyond the scope of municipalities, rural infrastructure is the foundation of Alberta’s supply chains and a critical link to economic growth at both the national and global levels. By working together, rural Alberta can strengthen its role in supporting the province’s economic future.
For all media inquiries, please contact Shamelle Pless, General Manager of Marketing & Communications, at shamelle@rmalberta.com or 780.886.2480.
Duane Gladden
Executive Director and CEO of the RMA Group of Companies
780.955.4080
duane@rmalberta.com
Shamelle Pless
General Manager of Communications
780.886.2480
shamelle@rmalberta.com