Mayors from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Michigan meet for cross-border discussion

An annual meeting between two cities on different sides of the border was about "relationships, camaraderie and a bond that transcends borders and politics," according to the mayor of the host community.

On Monday night, city councillors from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., crossed the border to hold a joint meeting with city councillors in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

"We share the same name. We drink the same water. We breathe the same air and we're friends. We're neighbours and many of us are families," said Don Gerrie, the mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

"The true partnership looks like the daily work of neighbours, helping neighbours, community to community, and remaining friends even when events out of our control seemingly try to pull us apart."

Tensions between Canada and the United States have risen since Donald Trump was re-elected president in the United States. Trump has implemented a series of tariffs on Canadian goods, resulting in a disruption to economies on both sides of the border.

"We do continuously advocate to our representatives at all levels," Gerrie said.

"In addition, we also have provided information and insight to our collective advocacy groups for their lobbying efforts within the state and federal representatives. We will continue to support our relationship."

'Stronger than politics'

Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said the meeting was "under much more difficult circumstances" than in the past.

"Despite those challenges, I believe it was important to hold this meeting to reaffirm long-standing friendships between our communities, a friendship forged over more than a century of shared history, common purpose and respect," he said.

Shoemaker said the recently imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel are impacting not only his community, where Algoma Steel is a major employer, but other parts of Canada.

"These tariffs threaten the livelihoods of thousands of steelworkers and their families. Jobs are being lost. Incomes that once supported not only Canadian households, but businesses and throughout Michigan are at risk. This dispute over steel tariffs has created real disagreements between our nations."

However, Shoemaker said the bonds between the people in the two countries are solid.

"The bonds that Sault Ste. Marie Ontario and Michigan hold are stronger than politics," he said.

Shoemaker thanked the mayor and council for continuing to lobby higher levels of government to see "a quick return to policies that strengthen this shared region we call home."

Shoemaker was joined by most of city council. On the day of the meeting, Coun. Angela Caputo posted on social media that she would not be attending.

"I cannot, in good conscience, cross the border and participate in discussions about the development of our Twin Saults as though the current realities — trade disputes, unwarranted military deployments, threats to Canadian sovereignty and grave human rights violations — are not occurring the in United States," she wrote.

"This decision not to attend is one small but deliberate action to show the people of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, that I stand with them in the face of tariffs, job losses and the border erosion of human rights and due process affecting people on both sides of the border."