"It's too bad that it's as timely as it is, quite frankly," said Coun. Sandy O'Dell, speaking of the announcement that the John Deere plant would close in 16 months.

"I haven't heard anything more devastating than what I've heard today."

While the debate on Tuesday night was supposed to pertain to city support for a motion passed by Thorold council in August calling for a region- and city-wide buy-Canadian policy, the discussion quickly turned into a roundtable on Canada's faltering manufacturing sector, with the John Deere announcement as the main motivator.

O'Dell called the announcement "another blow to the chin" after the city began to recover from a series of plant closures, including Atlas Steel, in 2003.

The motion included points such as a municipal "Buy Canadian" policy, meaning public transit vehicles have a minimum of 50 per cent Canadian content and domestic assembly, as well as calling on upper levels of government to pass similar measures.

"We need to do all we can and I think passing this resolution is a good first step," said O'Dell.

Coun. Rick Alakas, president of the Canadian Auto Workers local 523, said that the number of manufacturing jobs lost in the country the past five years is up to 400,000.

"You have to sit up and start to take notice," said Alakas.

He said passing the resolution would help protect the local economy. Other governments, whether at the provincial level within Canada or the federal level, have begun taking similar buy-domestic policies, he said.

The fact that it comes on the heels of the John Deere announcement, which will ultimately cost the city about 800 jobs and indirectly affect many more, makes it all the more pressing, said Alakas.

"The impact is unbelievable and it's going to hurt us."

Some councillors had concerns on how a strict buy-local policy would restrict the city's purchasing power. Coun. Paul Grenier successfully amended the motion to remove the point calling for a 50 per cent Canadian material and final product assembly percentage.

But Alakas continued to hammer his point home.

"I don't know what we're afraid of," he said. "There's no bogeyman here. We're the only country not protecting our jobs."

Mayor Damian Goulbourne, speaking with noticeable emotion in his voice, said the city should draft its own buy-local policy and "walk the walk" when it comes to grassroots support.

"The City of Welland does it," Goulbourne said, referring to an award the city received earlier in the night for its LED streetlight pilot project.

"On some degree, we don't need to be told. Tonight, you were awarded for this leadership."