Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., utility gets thanks for helping northern Michigan neighbours hit by storm

Despite current political tensions between Canada and the United States, Rob Brewer says he didn't think twice after he was asked to send a hydro crew south of the border to assist after a winter storm hammered parts of northern Michigan.

Brewer is president and CEO of PUC Services, the hydro and water utility for Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., which borders the town of the same name in Michigan's upper peninsula.

"Sault, Michigan has been our neighbour for 108 years," he said.

"There's gonna be some ups and downs with respect to political leadership and that kind of thing. But at the end of the day, you know, our kids play hockey together. We visit quite regularly in both directions…. And so we get a call like that asking for help, we're going to go."

Brewer said the Cloverland Electric Cooperative in Michigan requested his assistance when a winter storm hit the state in late March, cutting power to thousands of homes.

PUC Services ended up sending a five-person crew south to help repair damaged power lines.

Canada and the U.S. have been in a tariff war triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump's levies introduced in recent weeks. The tariffs have impacted work and sentiments on both sides of the border.

"You hear stories with what's been going on with respect to the political side about people not being welcomed," Brewer said.

"That has not been our experience. I can tell you it has just been phenomenal. I think the bonds we have are stronger than some of the current situation will impact."

A thank you letter

To show their appreciation, a group of residents from the affected area banded together to purchase ads in the Toronto Star and Sault Star newspapers to thank the utility workers from the Canadian Sault for their help.

Patrick Shannon, a retired prosecutor from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was one of the people who signed the thank you letter.

"The Ontario people coming over to assist was just an indication of how we work together," he said.

Shannon's home is near the St. Marys River and he said he sees Canada whenever he looks out the window.

He said his community has had close ties with its Canadian neighbours for over a century.

"Fighting with Canada is stupid. It's just boneheaded," he said about the ongoing trade war.

Margaret Doud, the longtime mayor of Mackinac Island, Mich., also signed the letter. 

"We want to continue to be great neighbors and we just wanted to make sure everyone in Canada knew that we appreciated their help," she said.

Mackinac Island is a popular tourist destination, and Doud said she worries tensions between both countries will impact the upcoming travel season.

"We hope that it will be resolved and everything will get back to normal."

Rod Nelson, retired CEO of the Mackinac Straits Health System, signed the letter and said he disagrees with his federal government's approach to Canada.

"I think it's very sad that certain statements have been made by folks in Washington, D.C., about our Canadian friends," he said.