The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) explores tariff and trade issues with the United States and how this affects Lethbridge and southern Alberta.
How are tariffs and trade issues with the US affecting Lethbridge?
Lethbridge ranks as the 10th most vulnerable Census Metropolitan Area in Canada to U.S. tariffs, driven by a heavy reliance on cross-border agricultural and manufactured exports. Over 91 per cent of Lethbridge’s $2.2 billion in annual local exports go directly to the United States. U.S. exports account for roughly 19.4 per cent of the city’s total gross domestic product with agribusiness, food processing (beef, canola, wheat, and potatoes), and specialized farm/ranch equipment manufacturing facing the highest direct exposure.
Retaliatory tariffs and shifting trade rules increase input costs for local metal fabrication, construction supplies and agricultural operations. Broader trade friction trickles down to everyday goods, raising prices at local grocery stores and retail outlets, which can cause indirect job pressures. Economists warn that even businesses not exporting directly will suffer from reduced regional supply-chain demand and market uncertainty.
The City of Lethbridge has actively excluded U.S. suppliers from municipal procurement bids, favoring domestic and free-trade-compliant alternatives. Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce advocates for a unified Team Canada approach to defend market access while building long-term free trade between Canadian provinces and international trade resilience. The chamber also leads Team Lethbridge’s approach to mitigate economic hardship. The speaker will elaborate.
Speaker: Cyndi Crane
Cynthia (Cyndi) Crane is a double alumnus of the University of Lethbridge, holding a Bachelor of Music (BMus ‘95) and a Master of Education (MEd ‘01). She also possesses a Post Graduate Certification in Executive Coaching and Leadership Certification through the Napoleon Hill Foundation at Purdue University. An award-winning business leader, Cyndi has helmed successful companies specializing in registry services, health care and workplace safety. Her professional career began under the direction of her entrepreneurial parents, focusing on health care with We Care Health Services for 20 years, where she served as CEO for a decade. After selling the company at 39, she became the managing partner of Lethbridge Vehicle Licensing & Registry, the final enterprise under the family’s umbrella.
Since early 2019, Cyndi has been the CEO of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she has spearheaded a wide range of policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the local business community, including The Economics of Addiction, Digital Broadband as the Key to Economic Prosperity, Strengthening Post Secondary Education and Increasing Funding for Research and Creating an Effective Workforce for the Changing Economy, all of which received federal recognition. From an early age, she was taught the value of chamber membership and the importance of advocating for business.
A tireless volunteer, she has received national recognition for her philanthropic efforts. Recently, Cyndi served as Co-Chair of the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee. She also served as a member of the Community Wellbeing & Safety Advisory Committee and the Lethbridge Hurricanes Board of Directors. Currently, Cyndi serves on the YWCA Board of Directors and the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors.
Date/Time: Thursday, October 22, 2026. The presentation begins at noon & concludes at 1 p.m.
Free to attend. Donations, however, are gratefully accepted.
Location: SACPA sessions are held at Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO), Atrium Dining Room, 500 - 11 Street South, Lethbridge
Lunch and Refreshments: If you like, please arrive early to patronize the LSCO cafeteria and enjoy its excellent variety of good-value food/drink options in the Atrium Dining Room before/during the session.
For more information on the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs, visit the SACPA web page.
Contact:
Trevor Kenney | trevor.kenney@uleth.ca | sacpa.ca