Statement by Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, on the Prime Minister’s trade and tariff announcement

Ottawa – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement:

“Canada’s unions are ready to work with government to make sure today’s announcement delivers for workers and for our economy. Ottawa‘s strategy must prioritize good jobs and better lives for workers their families. To succeed, we need we need a clear industrial strategy that coordinates across industries, regions, and different levels of government while bringing workers into the heart of decision-making. 

We want to work together to ensure that trade diversification efforts are not just about opening new markets, but about building the infrastructure and capacity here at home to succeed. That means major federal investment in warehousing, rail, ports, energy, and logistics, all delivered with prevailing wage requirements and strong labour standards. It also means supporting decarbonization so that Canadian exports can reach Europe and other markets without being penalized by carbon border tariffs.

The new ‘Buy Canada’ plan could become a powerful tool for strengthening our economy and creating demand for Canadian products. But we know from past experience that procurement rules only succeed if they are designed to prioritize creating and protecting good, unionized jobs. Otherwise, public money will flow into corporations and private hands without securing long-term benefits for communities and working people.

Workers welcome enhancements to Employment Insurance — this is a great move that if done right is an essential piece of building a resilient economy. As government moves ahead, it will be important to ensure these improvements cover everyone who needs them, including women, young people, and those in precarious or non-standard jobs.

There are always ways to find savings, but governments must remember that economic strength also depends on strong public services. Canadians need access to health care, child care, and housing that help bring down costs for families. Workers need confidence that Employment Insurance, skills training, and supports will be there when they are needed most. These investments make the economy more resilient and help families weather the shocks that tariffs, trade disruptions, and corporate decisions can bring. With unemployment rising and the job market deteriorating fast, now is the worst possible time for austerity and severe budget cuts to social programs and public-service jobs.

While today’s announcement is welcome, there are still some gaps that need to be addressed. For steel and aluminum producers, the absence of strengthened tariff rate quotas is a missed opportunity. Without this breathing room, workers and employers alike will struggle to adapt to fast-changing market conditions. On electric vehicles, relief for automakers must be tied to clear commitments: investments in Canadian production, guarantees for Canadian jobs, and support for the transition measures that unions are calling for. Canadians expect no less when billions of dollars in public funds are being put on the table.

The funding programs and worker supports announced today are important, but they will only succeed if they look beyond short-term reskilling. We want to ensure these tools prioritize upskilling, retention, and pathways to unionization so that workers can build stable, long-term careers in growing industries.

Canada’s unions will continue to push for a bold and comprehensive plan — one that connects today’s measures into a coherent industrial strategy, ensures public investments build Canadian capacity, and guarantees that the payback is measured in secure union jobs. We look forward to working with government to make that vision a reality, because that’s the only way to secure Canada’s future in a turbulent global economy.”

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