'Anywhere but the U.S.'

Council backs buying Canadian-built sidewalk cleaner

By next winter a vehicle like this will be cleaning Campbellford sidewalks.

This story was going to be about how a chunk of your taxes is being spent by the Trent Hills roads department, and we’ll get to that shortly, but it’s a sign of the times that this tale starts with a question about where a product is made.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Neil Allanson, Manger of Roads and Services, presented a report about a new sidewalk plowing and salting machine that the municipality wanted to purchase.

Allanson explained the low bid for the desired machine came in at $189,744.11 plus HST, under the $260,000 set aside in the 2025 budget.

But Councillor Dennis Savery wanted to know: “The equipment you are referring to, it’s a product that’s made in Canada or anywhere but the United States?”

There was a sense of relief in the council chamber when Allanson responded that the machine, officially known as an articulating multi-purpose utility tractor sold by Cubex Ltd., is assembled in Calgary but some of the elements are manufactured in Mexico or the United States.

Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf said that the issue of purchasing from Canadian suppliers has been discussed at Northumberland County and by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus.

“It’s something we’ll need to look at in the future,” Metcalf said.

Last week during the on-again, off-again imposition of tariffs, the Wardens’ Caucus called for municipalities to support local suppliers.

“It is a moment to double down on our efforts through defending Canadian values, building partnerships within Canada and across borders, and investing in our own businesses and assets,” said Bonnie Clark, EOWC Chair and Warden of Peterborough County. “We stand with the Prime Minister and Premier to condemn these tariffs and will work together to continue to support and champion Eastern Ontario.”

Cubex is a Winnipeg-based, family-owned equipment company that has been in business since 1972.

Allanson said the new sidewalk machine will be deployed in Campbellford and the 2016 machine it replaces will be shifted to Hastings. The machine that has been used in Hastings will become a spare that can be used when another unit is being repaired, or after severe storms.

Council also approved contracts for calcium chloride to be used for dust control and compaction. The 2025 public works budget includes $221,944.32 for these items. There was a wide variation among the three quotes received but the low bid for a 20 per cent solution was $0.2039 per litre, up only 3 per cent from last year, and the winning bid for 35 per cent solution, from a different supplier, was $0.4282 per litre, up 7 per cent from last year.

Council also approved purchase of a Ford half-ton pickup truck from Benton Fry Ford for $57,830.00 plus HST and accessories and attachments up to $14,000, as set in the budget, which had allocated $80,000.

Allanson said it was the first time in 15 years that the municipality has purchased a Ford from the dealer. He said the Ford was selected because it included fog lights, which are essential, and has an eight-cylinder engine.

The municipality also approved its first contract with Dufferin Construction Co. to tar and chip about 31 kilometres of gravel roads this year and next. Dufferin’s bid of $841,405 plus HST was about $150,000 less than the second-lowest bid and almost half the highest of the four bids received.

Council also approved the $437,717 purchase of a snowplow. Councillor Rick English noted that the plow it is replacing has been in service since 2003. “Twenty-two years is a long time to have a plow in service,” he said.

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