St. John’s Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary wants to get the ball rolling on the city’s strategy in response to new, crippling tariffs by the U.S.

The flat 25 per cent tariffs are due to take effect next week, and could devastate business and government across the country.

O’Leary tabled a motion yesterday seeking a review of wherever the city can exclude U.S. goods and services.

It also seeks to shut down the city’s X (formerly Twitter) account and look at other options, of which there are many, noted Councillor Ophelia Ravencroft.

“There is always opportunity to shift. We at the city have a fantastic, proactive communications team who propagate information through multiple platforms and avenues and there lots of different ways to go about this. We do not need to rely on Twitter moving forward. But beyond that, I’d say this motion is incredibly important. I’d say I’m proud to support it but I wish you didn’t have to put it forward.”

The motion also calls for continued support of local business to diversify and strengthen the economy, and writing the Prime Minister to keep him apprised.