Councillor postpones celebration of Starbucks arrival in Ottawa neighbourhood due to U.S. tariffs

This is the Starbucks sign on Black Friday shoppers line at a Starbucks kiosk in the Walden Galleria in Buffalo, NY., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

An Ottawa councillor is postponing plans to celebrate the arrival of Starbucks in Riverside South ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods.

Starbucks is set to open its first location in the south Ottawa neighbourhood at Armstrong Plaza on Earl Armstrong Road.

• Mayor, Ottawa Board of Trade urge people to buy local in response to U.S. tariffs

In a post on social media, Coun. Steve Desroches said now is not the time to celebrate the arrival of the Seattle-based coffee giant to the neighbourhood.

“Normally, the opening of Riverside South’s first coffee shop Starbucks Canada would be welcome news. We would celebrate the local service and jobs – especially for youth,” Desroches said Monday.

“Not feeling (heart emoji) right now and we will hold off party plans in the hopes cooler heads prevail in U.S.”

Desroches shared a photo of the plaque he was going to present to Starbucks for opening their location on Earl Armstrong Road.

“We want also to thank the principals of Starbucks for continuing to invest in Ottawa, and particularly Riverside South, as a prime marketplace for their business operations,” the plaque said.

The Starbucks website has job postings for a shift supervisor and barista at the store in the area of Earl Armstrong and Limebank roads.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an across-the-board 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports and a 10 per cent tariff on energy, beginning on Tuesday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced counter tariffs on $30 billion in American goods, rising to $155 billion later this month.

Premier Doug Ford announced Ontario is ripping up $100 million contract with Starlink and is banning other American companies from provincial contracts. Ontario is also removing all American liquor will be removed from LCBO shelves and from its online store.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he will introduce a motion at a city committee on Tuesday to ensure the city’s “buying decisions at the City of Ottawa prioritize Canadian products and services over American counterparts.”