How Our Mayor Should React to the Trump Threat

With strength, courage, reassurance and opportunism.

Photo credit: CBC

Bad actor

It should be clear by now that Trump is going to be an agent of chaos for the next 4 years, and that he has Canada in his crosshairs.

He talks about the illicit flow of drugs and unfair market access, but this is more serious. Trump is genuinely interested in turning Canada into the 51st state. He’ll keep destabilizing Canada, in the hope that it makes us acquiesce to his demands.

All hands on deck

Trump appears to believes in manifest destiny, that American exceptionalism should spread across the continent.

If so, we need our leaders to rise to the occasion.

Federal and provincial, of course. But local leaders too.

This is far closer to a threat to our way of being than many of us have ever experienced.

This is when we need true leadership, not just managers parading as leaders.

I have four suggestions for how Ottawa municipal leaders, and the Mayor specifically, should respond.

1. Stand up to the bully

School yard bullies operate on the expectation that people will cower and cave in. Bullies respect strength. Our Mayor needs to signal that we are ready to stand up and fight.

That means showing up in person and being heard out loud.

Do like Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who held a press conference flanked by her executive committee, to let people know how seriously she is taking this threat.

This is too important to just tweet it in.

2. Call out Shopify

Shopify is one of the great Ottawa success stories. But now CEO Tobi Lütke is following in the footsteps of the other tech bros and bending the knee to Trump, by calling out Canada for defending itself. Lütke repeated the fantasy that this trade action is about the illegal flow of drugs across the border.

Given Shopify’s roots, we need a Mayor with the courage to call out Lütke for trying to legitimize the US President’s actions and suggesting that we appease the aggressor.

3. Be the calm in the storm for all residents, not just businesses

Sutcliffe’s response to date has been about helping local businesses impacted by any Trump tariffs. For some firms, tariffs could be catastrophic.

It was a welcome move by the Mayor to suggest a business roundtable to better understand the concerns of the local community. However, the Teams call that Mark Sutcliffe had with a few BIA-types is not sufficient. This is the time when a Mayor needs to be talking to actual business leaders, not their lobbyists.

Source: Mark Sutcliffe’s newsletter of 8 February 2025

And if this is about more than just tariffs — that this is about sovereignty — then Mark truly needs to be the mayor to everyone. He needs to stand up for all residents, not just businesses.

Everyday people are affected by the Trump actions. Many residents are legitimately concerned that trade tensions could morph into something bigger.

The Mayor should be a voice of assurance for all residents in these troubling times.

Sutcliffe should be letting the people of Ottawa know that their local government will be there for them, helping however it can.

He should hold a business roundtable, but he should also hold a community roundtable, giving residents the opportunity to express their concerns and hear that the local authority will be there in our time of need.

4. Capitalize on the opportunities

Trump creates chaos. But chaos creates opportunity.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, for example, is using the Trump tariffs to justify an early election.

One area where the Trump tariffs could have an immediate and positive impact is on the tourism sector. Not just Canadians, but people from around the world, are cancelling their plans to visit the US in 2025. Where will they go?

Ottawa Tourism should be in overdrive right now, making sure that Ottawa is forefront in people’s minds as they make alternative travel plans. There is a lot of international sympathy for Canada right now, and a lot of Canadians looking for summer plans in their own country.

Likewise, buy local campaigns are only as successful as peoples’ ability to find local products. City Hall should be putting out a directory of local alternatives to American goods.

The leadership we need

I don’t believe Trump will be able to implement tariffs on the scale he suggests. Their impact on inflation and job losses in the US, not to mention financial markets, will be too painful for his supporters.

But Trump will continue to try to destabilize Canada. He will “flood the zone” with fear and havoc. He will try to demoralize Canadians.

And that’s where our leaders come in. Federal, provincial and municipal.

Their job is clear.

Stand up to the bully. Call out his enablers. Be the calm in the storm. Turn chaos into opportunity.