Retaliatory tariffs are estimated to impact the Mission Secondary replacement by almost $7 million.
The monthly update to the Mission Public School District board of education on June 17 outlined tariffs as “a major challenge for the project team”.
According to the report, the potential cost of the tariffs is estimated to be $6.87 million, and the Ministry of Education is unable to cover the cost through additional funding. The impact would have to be managed within the current budget.
Changes were approved to the Mission Secondary project to address the tariffs, including holding back $5.66 million from the project design-build contract and $1.21 million from the equipment budget.
“This will provide a $6.87 million contingency fund to cover the cost of any retaliatory tariffs,” the report reads.
MPSD superintendent Angus Wilson said it’s a disappointment, but a lot of uncertainty remains surrounding tariffs.
“I think the Canadian government would happily not have any tariffs effective tomorrow if the Americans were reasonable about things, so who knows,” Wilson said.
The province announced the approval of $175 million in funding for the new high school in April 2024. The new school will have a capacity of 1,500 students – 250 more than its current building.
The announcement also planned for an Indigenous education centre, along with a neighbourhood learning centre for community use and child care. However, those projects could be cut due to the tariffs.
Items that would be removed if tariffs continue include long-term childcare spaces, a community kitchen, new electric teaching kitchen equipment, and additional energy efficiency. Other items include preparing the field for a future running track, telescopic seating for the theatre, tennis courts, basketball courts, bike storage enclosures, and an additional year of warranty.
“All this stuff is valuable but our priority, of course, is ensuring that the actual school is completely whole,” Wilson said.
The aforementioned items could be added later, depending on timing, if retaliatory tariffs aren’t applied.
“If the tariffs do not materialize, this contingency fund can be used to add back items to complete the project as necessary,” the report reads.
Per the report, the school district may need to reuse furniture and equipment rather than purchasing new equipment.
Bids have been submitted by the three proponents interested in the project, and the project team is currently reviewing the proposals.
"They've had to calculate in this potential cost,” Wilson said.
The contract is set to be awarded in October 2025, with substantial completion of the building expected by July 2028.
“Now what happens is, next year, when they start actually digging a hole and putting sticks in the ground ... is watching and seeing what's happening with tariffs in terms of whether we can add these things in or not,” Wilson said.
