An unofficial caucus in southern Vancouver Island mayors tackled some tough talk Friday (March 7) with a special guest at the table, invited by Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto.

鈥淢y first feeling was I got little choked up. I鈥檓 really grateful we鈥檙e still invited frankly,鈥� Kate Baxter, mayor of Port Angeles, Wash. said outside Victoria city hall, ahead of the drive west.

U.S. tariffs imposed on Canada just days earlier are a concerning topic on both sides of the border, the mayors agreed.

Even as the Canadian government announced the first steps of new measures to protect businesses and workers, the mayors planned to talk issues, solutions and a path forward achievable at the local level.

Alto and Baxter both feel good about the relationship between the border towns, separated primarily by a ferry or flight. Both communities face similar issues, such as economic development and housing.

鈥淭he worst thing for our economic development in our community right now is a trade war with Canada,鈥� Baxter said.

She鈥檚 in the early stages of a building a mayor coalition across the States, akin to the Canadian Border Mayors Alliance that Alto is a member of. The alliance was launched by Windsor, Ont. Mayor Drew Dilkens to protect local economies and advocate for the interests of communities along the Canada-U.S. border. 

鈥淚t does feel advocacy at the federal level is a bit falling on deaf ears beyond our local elected (officials), and they鈥檙e so busy dealing with every hit that comes. There鈥檚 a new thing every day, so I think a lot of this work is going to be done on a local level,鈥� Baxter said, adding her focus is maintaining the 鈥渧ital鈥� relationship.

鈥淚 have seen, across the board regardless of political affiliation, significant concerns about the impact of a trade war and what that will mean for our community.鈥�

Those concerns go beyond the impacts of tariffs themselves.

鈥淭here鈥檚 also just the issue of understanding why Canadians might choose to vote with their dollars and not come to visit us. And we rely heavily on tourism,鈥� she said, noting the Coho literally ferries over tens of millions of dollars in economic impact. 鈥淲e would like for Canadians to still be on that boat.鈥�

The Port Angeles chamber director is already working on pitching their community as Victoria鈥檚 鈥渟outhern suburb,鈥� in hopes Canadians will continue to visit.

Alto said it鈥檚 all about nurturing the positive and long relationships with Port Angeles and other communities in Washington State, while acknowledging resentment that exists.

鈥淵ou have a relationship that鈥檚 been frankly harmed and we don鈥檛 know to what extent at this point. Where you have what we thought was our closest  friend and ally telling us we鈥檙e neither of those things. We鈥檙e trying to find that balance point between understanding that this was a government decision and no reflective of many many U.S. citizens,鈥� Alto said.

鈥淲e do need to be respectful of our residents concerns, resentment, disappointment. at the same time we understand if we鈥檙e going to have any chance of nurturing, resuming that allyship that friendship we have to find a way forward.鈥�

The south Island mayors meet every two months 鈥� hosted by Sooke this time 鈥� to talk regional issues.