Drama is brewing in Surrey over the city’s decision to continue its $500,000 consulting contract with a U.S. company.

Some local officials argue the decision goes against the spirit of supporting Canadian businesses amid a trade war.

The contract was awarded to Chicago-based Hunden Partners last year to conduct a feasibility study for the development of Surrey’s city centre and the future of the Cloverdale fairgrounds.

Now, two Surrey First councillors, Mike Bose and Linda Annis, are calling for its termination.

“I don’t think there’s any appetite whatsoever for companies that are U.S.-based doing business in Canada,” Annis told 1130 NewsRadio.

“We know we’ve got more tariffs coming, and these tariffs are very real and they’re hurting our businesses. We need to be looking to support Canadian businesses.”

Annis adds that the contract, which was offered before the ongoing trade conflicts became clear, should be reconsidered given the current economic climate.

“We are not that far down the road that cancelation wouldn’t be the right choice. I think it’s absolutely imperative that we cancel this contract. There may be a fee, but there’s many businesses in Surrey or in Canada that could do the same work.”

Both Annis and Bose are also frustrated by what they describe as a lack of transparency at Surrey City Hall. Bose, in particular, claims he had to file a Freedom of Information request just to access details about the Hunden contract.

“City councillors need access to all city information in order to do their jobs,” said Bose in a press release Monday.

Annis echoed these concerns, emphasizing the increasing number of decisions being made in “meetings behind closed doors.”

“The public, quite frankly, is being kept in the dark, and contracts like this is just one example. At the end of the day, we as councillors and as the mayor, we have to remember who’s paying the bills, and that’s the taxpayers.”

1130 NewsRadio has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.