By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
During the same April 1 meeting where trustees highlighted Halton Learning Foundation Month (click here for more on that item), the Halton District School Board also discussed the possible effects of new U.S. tariffs on students and school resources.
Among the items was a response to tariffs recently imposed by the United States on Canada.
A report on the tariffs was drafted by the Financial Advocacy Standing Committee and resulted in a motion that was read by Amy Collard, chair of the board and trustee for Burlington Ward 5.
“Be it resolved that the chair of the Board of Trustees write a letter to the Government of Ontario drawing attention to the funding school boards will need to ensure the American tariffs do not negatively impact student achievement and well-being,” Collard said.
The motion requests that the letter also be circulated to all MPPs, school boards, and associations in Ontario.
It also says that the HDSB Fair Funding webpage be updated to reflect the new financial situation and the implications it may have on the board’s budget and support for students.
“All policies and procedures related to the procurement of goods and services” will also be reviewed to ensure emphasis is being placed on prioritizing Canadian vendors “and that the Halton District School Board give preference to Canadian vendors listed on the vendors of record lists provided by the Government of Ontario.”
Roxana Negoi, superintendent of business services, spoke to the challenges that the tariffs will pose to the board.
“We do have some work ahead of us in terms of working with the ministry and our provincial partners just to try to understand what the impact of the tariff war might be on our education sector and the funding model,” Negoi said.
“It’s hard to say what the full impact would be, but we are concerned that this will have an implication on some of our goods and services that we count on in the budget for the next year,” Negoi said.
She said that when planning the budget in December, the board was “cautiously optimistic” that it could manage the tariffs with a minor reallocation of resources and reductions.
Negoi said that that may no longer be the case.
She also said the board already tries to prioritize Canadian vendors, but that they will engage in a more “diligent review of our procedures to ensure that they’re more aligned.”
Joanna Oliver, vice chair of the board and trustee for Oakville Ward 4, spoke about some of the sacrifices that may have to be made due to the tariffs.
“It may result in having to shift money from classroom student supports and resources to be able to finance some of these implications of the tariffs,” Oliver said.
Negoi said that in their review process, they have noticed that many renewals of U.S.-based technology licenses have come with higher increases, although she said they may not be directly related to the tariffs but the “uncertainty of the market.”
Negoi also said that she has been hearing concerns from bus operators about replacing school buses, many of which are procured from the U.S.
The motion passed unanimously.
