Plattsburgh, NY- Cornwall, Ont. sign cross-border Friendship Pact

PLATTSBURGH | The Town of Plattsburgh and the City of Cornwall in Quebec signed a Friendship Compact on July 24, reaffirming longstanding bonds. The ceremony was held at Bluff Point Golf Resort. City of Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale and a contingent of city advisors spent the day meeting in roundtable discussions coordinated by Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman. Assemblymember Billy Jones, who chairs the state's New York-Canadian Relations Task Force, and North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas took part in the talks. Against a windswept backdrop of Lake Champlain whitecaps crashing on Bluff Point shores, Towndale and Cashman said the agreement declares their commitment to friendship and cooperation across borders. Both leaders said their communities are experiencing reduced tourism travel and economic challenges caused by the current downturn in trade relations. "Though we are two distinct municipalities, we are joined by geography, shared values, and deep belief in the power of community," Cashman said. "Our histories, our economies, our cultures reflect a deep bond between nations, the United States and Canada. "Together, we affirm that local governments have an important role to play in strengthening cross-border relationships; that people-to-people connections through culture, conversation and collaboration enrich our communities." The relationship between the U.S. and Canada is made stronger through local engagement, he said. And the Friendship Compact, though ceremonial, reflects their commitment to keeping the flame of friendship burning. "While there may have been some comments made at the highest level of this country, we realize that does not reflect the views of everyday Americans," Mayor Towndale said. "Our two countries have a long history together, and that includes friendship, family and trade. "We want to keep the conversations open. At our level (of leadership), we don't have the ability to negotiate, but we can still work together diplomatically to advocate for a resolution to the trade moment that is happening to our countries. We're still friends. We have to get past this hurdle." "Today has been about local government," Cashman said. "And local government is the closest to the people that we serve." The Friendship Pact was signed, Cashman said, "so that when we advocate for change at the state and federal level, we can bring those voices upward ... in a manner that is mutually beneficial." Any member of community can likewise be an ambassador to friendship, Cashman said. "If you see a license plate from Canada, welcome them to Plattsburgh. If we go north, that could be reciprocated the same way. "There's a lot of national noise, but this is about people-to-people, making sure we are protecting businesses like this golf course," Cashman said. "Protecting our small businesses, like our restaurants, our hotels, our campgrounds, that depend on Canadian visitors. While it's not going to be fixed quickly, it's something we have a resolve for." ECONOMIC DOWNTURN Both leaders said they hear daily about the negative impacts of ongoing tariff threats and harsh rhetoric. Towndale said he is a member of a Canadian coalition called the Border Mayors Alliance, started by the mayor of Windsor, Ontario, that has brought border community leaders together across Canada. "We're reaching out to our peers in the United States and having these discussions, having these visits to address the elephant in the room, the tariffs and the administration," Towndale said. "We've learned the unique dynamics that border communities have, some that we didn't realize before." Tariff pricing has impacted Cornwall in Ontario, he said. "Recently announced, we're losing a business. That's 300 families that lost their primary source of income due to this trade war. We have to advocate to try to prevent this from happening further." Border crossings from Canada to the North Country dropped 30 to 31 percent in May, with numbers improving somewhat (up four points) for a 26 percent drop in June, according to data just released by the North Country Chamber. Commercial crossings in truck traffic have held steady. Cashman said that means 70 percent of Canadian travelers remain engaged. He said sentiment emerging from roundtable talks understand that recalibration of trade agreements needs to occur periodically. "What is occurring currently, though, is nonsensical and is not done at the very core of the people that are being hurt the most," Cashman said. "We are trying to elevate that conversation to see change, to make sure people are protected, and that the very fabric of our friendship doesn't fray in the meantime." Rhetoric from the U.S. has been harmful, Cornwall's mayor said. "It's like your best friend suddenly turns around and says something hurtful, despite being friends all your life. It takes time to heal that. I think that's what you're seeing. If Canadians feel attacked, they're going to make different decisions, and they are going to show how they feel through those decisions." Bluff Point Golf Resort owner Paul Dame said the friendship between the North Country and Canada has been very tight. "We have had the friendliest cross-border relationship in the world," he said. But business at Bluff Point has dropped between 18 and 20 percent, Dame said, to numbers worse than during the COVID pandemic. They have been able to retain staff, but hours are fewer, tips for housekeeping are gone, and they have dropped all projects planned for expansion this year, including 12 new lodging rooms. Cashman said it isn't national-level businesses that hurt most in tariff wars. It's the local businesses, like Bluff Point, and campgrounds, marinas and restaurants. "We all want to move forward. We all want to get back to the way things were before. Things were fantastic," Dame said. "It is definitely tough to put my heart and soul into making a beautiful place that has been visited by Canadians -- that used to be owned by Canadians -- and then to have my customers, who have been coming for 10, 15, 20 years, call me this spring and say 'we love you, we love your place, but we're just not going to come down with this change in (federal) administration'. You know, that hurts ... to have the carpet just pulled out from underneath me with no reason that I can see." Dame said it is going to be a challenge going forward. "But we will persevere."

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Plattsburgh, NY- Cornwall, Ont. sign cross-border Friendship Pact

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