The unjust trade war initiated by the United States poses a clear threat to Canadian jobs and Canadian sovereignty. Unifor continues to call for all levels of government, as well as representatives from all industries, to employ all measures necessary to fight back and take sustained action as tariffs persist.
While some industries are more heavily impacted than others through direct trade activity, the tariffs pose an economy-wide threat to Canada.
Canadian workers are rightfully concerned that a sustained trade war will cause widespread job loss and economic hardship for families across the country.
Supporting Canadian workers
Canada needs to be prepared for the potential economic impacts of a sustained trade war by strengthening social supports for working people. This includes:
- The federal government providing additional income supports for workers affected by tariffs, like measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes improved access to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits or other income assistance programs with more accessible qualifying rules, enhanced income support, longer duration, and allowances for workers to earn supplementary income or pursue education while receiving support.
- The federal government following through on the promise to implement a universal pharmacare program to provide coverage for essential medications for all Canadians, regardless of income.
- The federal government working together with each provincial and territorial government to ensure that the $10/day childcare program is a success and that there is a balanced and equitable rollout of the program across the country.
- Governments making permanent improvements – including assistance rates, eligibility criteria, and minimizing claw backs – to provincial and territorial income assistance programs.
Canada’s competitive advantage
Some Canadian manufacturing facilities have closed and relocated production to avoid U.S. tariffs.
Investment delays and temporary layoffs continue to impact a number of Canadian industries. These are short-sighted decisions that overlook the competitive advantages of investing in Canada.
Canada’s strong public services are among the keys elements that give the nation a competitive advantage, especially when compared to the United States. Canada’s health and social services programs, including its public health system, dental care plan, and pharmacare program, provide free or significantly reduced services to Canadians, as opposed to private employer-paid health plans or out-of-pocket costs incurred in the United States. Other social programs – including $10/day childcare, income assistance programs, and government-funded services provided by social service agencies – provide integral support for Canadian workers and their families.
Canada’s strong public education system is highly regarded internationally and serves as an important equalizer, narrowing the gap in outcomes between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Federal and provincial/territorial governments continue to play a significant role in funding post-secondary institutions, enabling the knowledge and skills that drive the Canadian economy.
Canada’s robust public service sector is a significant incentive for companies to keep their operations in–and move their operations to–Canada.
These public programs offer real advantages to companies by reducing health care costs, improving overall employee well-being, and attracting skilled workers seeking a stronger social safety net to support their families.
About the Health Care, Education & Social Services Sectors
Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union, with more than 320,000 members across the country, working in every major sector of the Canadian economy.
Unifor represents approximately 44,000 members in the health care, education and social services sectors. Unifor members work in hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, home care, health clinics, paramedic services, school boards, universities, colleges, and a diversity of social services.