As the U.S. tariff situation continues to evolve, the City of Prince George is reinforcing its commitment to support local businesses by encouraging residents to buy local whenever possible.
This initiative promotes purchasing goods and services made in Prince George, British Columbia, and Canada. The city has partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to relaunch the Support PG initiative, originally developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist impacted businesses.
To support this effort, the city worked with the chamber in securing grant funding of $396,000 through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) in February 2024 to reinvigorate Support PG.
Additionally, the chamber, the city, and several business support organizations launched a survey last week to assess how local businesses will be impacted by the tariffs and what supports could help. The survey remains open until March 31.
Neil Godbout, Executive Director of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, said the threat of tariffs has renewed consumer interest in supporting local businesses.
“What we have seen through evolving tariff threats from the U.S. is increased awareness about where the products people purchase are made, and we are also seeing a united and collaborative approach in terms of retaliation,” said Godbout.
“We are also seeing a more ‘Team PG’ approach. Take the survey for example, in the past, each of the partners would have unilaterally done this kind of survey for each of our members/clients/contacts, staying in our silos/lanes rather than working together. But now is the time to stop worrying about stepping on each other’s toes and spend more time holding hands and working together.
“It needs to be broader than just consumer activity but also local businesses and not for profits, local and regional governments, and area First Nations, supporting one another and developing new partnerships, both in the city and across the region, to bolster the local economy and protect jobs.”
Mayor Simon Yu also emphasized the importance of local support during this period of uncertainty for small businesses.
“The situation is constantly changing, and it’s challenging for business owners to predict the long-term impacts,” said Yu. “As a city, we want to explore what changes may be possible within our own procurement processes while ensuring we continue delivering essential services.”
At the March 10 council meeting, a report on the city’s current procurement practices was discussed. The report outlines that the city is subject to trade agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA), the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA). These agreements emphasize open and non-discriminatory procurement and do not permit preferential treatment of local suppliers above certain thresholds. However, municipalities are not subject to the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.
Council has requested a follow-up report outlining next steps regarding procurement practices, the implications of national tariffs, and potential options for adopting social procurement practices that complement the city’s existing criteria.
Residents can also show their support for local businesses—and have a chance to win a Mr. PG shopping bag—by participating in the city’s social media campaign.