Oshawa mayor talks tariffs, homelessness during year-end address to business leaders [Video]

Tariffs, the “significant” challenges of the opioid and homelessness crisis and the growth of the city’s increasingly diversified economy was the focus of a sometimes passionate year-end address by Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter to a sold-out audience at the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Luncheon on March 6.

Dispensing with the usual podium speech, Carter opted to engage in a conversation with Ontario Tech University’s Jennifer Alsop, with the discussion kicking off with Carter addressing the elephant in everyone’s room, the impending tariffs being implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Carter reassured his audience of business leaders that the city is “committed” to understanding the impact on the local economy and Oshawa businesses and asked the community to “unite to face these new challenges.”

Carter said he is meeting with local businesses to understand their needs during the tariff wars and promised to advocate for them and to try …