TORONTO –President Trump’s abrupt termination of trade negotiations with Canada is the latest excuse to drag out talks while the U.S. continues to siphon off investment and good jobs out of Canada.

“From the start Trump’s intention has been to destroy our industrial base and bully Canada into economic subservience,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The President’s fake outrage over a TV ad is just his latest ploy to sabotage any progress made by the Canadian negotiating team.”

Unifor maintains that the U.S. administration has no real interest in a reasonable, comprehensive trade agreement. Instead, its strategy is to cherry-pick sectors to extract the materials and advantages America wants, while escalating attacks on vital industries that sustain good middle-class jobs in Canada.

“This is why Canada cannot allow the U.S. to pit workers against workers, sectors against sectors, regions against regions and Canadians against Canadians. We fight back together, we stand together because that is how we win,” warned Payne.

The TV ads at the centre of Trump’s manufactured dispute—sponsored by the Ontario government—highlighted former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s own anti-tariff message.

“Premier Ford, whose province has been hit hard by the trade war, understands that we can’t negotiate from our knees. We need to fight back. We can’t remain silent while we are bleeding jobs, and our workers and industries are under attack by unjust and punitive tariffs. That is exactly the outcome Trump is counting on,” said Payne.

BRAMPTON/INGERSOLL –Unifor members and supporters are rallying this week at the Brampton Assembly Plant and CAMI Assembly Plant to defend Canadian auto jobs and send a clear message to automakers – if you want to sell here you need to build here.

“By eliminating good paying auto jobs here in Canada automakers are betraying the very workers and communities that built their success,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We know there is a trade war, but the Canadian market is very important. We are in fact their number one export market and Canadians expect these companies to maintain production here and any attempt to dismantle operations at these plants will not be tolerated.”

Earlier this month, Stellantis announced plans to transfer the Jeep Compass program from Brampton Assembly Plant to the U.S., breaking commitments made to Unifor members and to both the Ontario and federal governments.

Shortly after, General Motors cancelled the BrightDrop electric vehicle program at CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll with no replacement product named, while it continues preparations to eliminate the third shift at Oshawa Assembly Plant in January.

Workers, union leaders, and community allies gathered today at both facilities as part of coordinated Solidarity Actions to show the collective resolve to protect good jobs and keep production in Canada. The Solidarity Action will continue October 30 with possible future dates.

“The future of these plants are tied to the livelihoods of Canadians. Stellantis and GM cannot treat these jobs as bargaining chips in their dealings with Trump,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. “These companies owe it to their workers and to Canada to stand by their commitments and keep production here.”