Strengthening the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement to Support Economic Prosperity in Toronto and the Great Lakes Region - by Councillor Paul Ainslie, seconded by Mayor Olivia Chow

Catharines, which was subsequently adopted by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative at its Board Meeting during the 2026 Annual Conference on May 6, 2026. By adopting these recommendations, the City of Toronto formally supports the City of St. Catharines' proposed resolution and the Cities Initiative's efforts to ensure the upcoming July 1, 2026, Six-Year Joint Review of Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement reinforces regional supply-chain resiliency and economic competitiveness.

supports the active use of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement's institutional cooperation mechanisms, such as the North American Competitiveness Committee (Chapter 26), to encourage regional investment and regulatory transparency. 2. City Council urge the Federal Government of Canada to continue investing in strategic customs clearance capacity at regional ports, consistent with Chapter 7 (Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation), to facilitate robust maritime commerce throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. 3. City Council request the City Manager to engage with relevant stakeholders and regional partners to provide a Toronto-based perspective on the evolution of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement to ensure the agreement delivers tangible benefits to the local business community. 4. City Council forward this motion to: a. the Honourable Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy; b. the Mayor Mat Siscoe, City of St. Catharines, Ontario, Co-Chair - Cities Initiative Board of Directors; c. the Mayor Cavalier Johnson, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Co-Chair - Cities Initiative Board of Directors; and d. Jonathan Altenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.