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Tina Sawyer: Earlier this month president trump called for a 25% tariff on Canadian imports and a 10% tariff on energy from Canada following a thirty day hold the president has renewed his commitment for the tariffs to go into effect Tuesday. WCMU's David Nicholas spoke with Ken Boschoff the Mayor of Thunder Bay Ontario about relations between the two countries during this tense political moment.
Ken Boschoff: As of this communication between us, Nolan has called to say, "those gosh darn American's or other such words.".
KB: So I'll just say it doesn't seem like this is coming from either the business sector or any of the other communities it seems to have come out of the blue not in response to any public demand or interest group demand to put these up. You know our relations between our two countries we talk to each other and we we're in lots of things together so such things as you know it's not Canada versus the United States it's North America and dealing with many other countries that are using substandard wages and unsafe working conditions it's not us that are the problem.
David Nicholas: And I wonder Mayor Boschoff, if you think that the relationship should breakdown between the U.S. and Canada do you see any potential for a ripple effect in your dealings with other countries if something as basic and fundamental as the U.S. and Canada could this potentially impact other relations that you have with other nations?
KB: On the contrary, I actually believe that it would compel Canada to find other trading partners and other markets who would want to sell to Canada if the doors are being closed to us. But that's way past a municipal mayors preview to you know to direct policy you're asking me as a citizen as to what might happen and as someone who understands the political scene, because to us we like dealing with Americans we speak the same language and it's a safe border so to put all these artificial constraints I can't see it being a helpful thing.
DN: We mentioned also then mayor that the original 25% tariff, 10% tariff on energy set for February 4th the delay of thirty well we're a few days out as we talk today from that thirty-day mark what is the latest that you hear about the status of that original announcement that was made the original proposed tariffs?
KB: We're kind of hoping that cooler minds and diplomatic solutions can be arrived at and that's we have a great deal of faith and trust in the American legislators and I think that there's some pretty bright minds in congress and the senate and the state I we're putting lot of pressure on them to get some balance out of this and restore some equanimity so that so that the stock markets can recover and that and people can you know resume and there's enough stuff going on in the world without us.
KB: causing dissension between our that's the last thing we need
DN: The honorable Ken Boschoff, the Mayor of Thunder Bay Ontario. Mayor thank you very much for taking the time to talk with us we do appreciate it
KB: I appreciate the opportunity to communicate with you and thanks for reaching out.
TS: That's Thunder Bay Ontario Mayor, Ken Boschoff, speaking with WCMU news David Nicholas. President Trump has said the original proposed tariffs will be put in place Tuesday, the same day the president addresses a joint session of congress for the first time since his return to the white house.
