Yesterday, the Trump administration imposed unjustified tariffs on most US trading partners across the globe. Today, Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) supports the Canadian government as it takes all necessary measures to protect Canadian workers and the economy. While Canada secured a reprieve from additional tariff measures, punishing tariffs on energy, steel, aluminum, lumber, and the automotive sector remain in place, as well as 25% tariffs on goods not covered by the existing USMCA agreement. The situation remains challenging for Canada’s unionized construction workers. These unjustified tariffs threaten jobs and economic stability.
However, this moment also presents a clear opportunity for Canada: to take our goods and resources to new markets, expand trade to more reliable trading partners, and overcome the internal barriers to trade and labour mobility that have held Canada back from building a more vibrant economy that works for all Canadians.
“We are at a pivotal moment,” said Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions, “Canada is rich with talented workers and natural resources. Through strategic investments in infrastructure that opens new trade routes, enhances transportation networks, and enables access to international markets, Canada can diversify our trade partnerships, and maximize the value derived from our goods and resources —while investing in economic growth that delivers high-paying jobs for Canadian workers.”
“While we have secured some degree of a reprieve from additional tariffs, the tariffs that do remain in place are job killers,” continued Strickland, “We must take more actions to support workers. We are calling on the government to make the necessary strategic investments to sustain a resilient, globally competitive economy. As we re-orient our national economic and industrial strategy, we must be laser-focused on building a prosperous and sustainable domestic and export economy that leaves no worker behind.”
CBTU has successfully advocated with the Government of Canada for immediate measures to support workers impacted by tariffs, such as changes to the EI program including changes to the treatment of separation monies, waiving the one-week waiting period, and extended benefits for impacted workers. Many of these new measures took effect this week.
CBTU continues to advocate for regulatory efficiency for trade, energy, and resource projects, so that new projects can get underway faster and create high-quality, unionized jobs. By building or upgrading energy infrastructure, railways, and ports that connect Canadian resources to new markets, including Asia and Europe, Canada must build a more resilient economy that delivers good wages to workers. Canada can not only unlock economic opportunities but reinforce its energy security and resilience to international shocks — such as a drastic change with our largest trading partner.
For Canada’s skilled tradespeople, this is a decisive moment to ensure that the benefits of infrastructure investment are reinvested into our country’s future. By creating more jobs, improving training programs, and supporting the trades, Canada can build a more resilient workforce. Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ message is clear: it’s time to build.
