Labour leaders are calling on the government to push through measures to protect workers as U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods loom but prorogation could delay this process.
Bea Bruske, national president of the Canadian Labour Congress, and leader of the NDP Jagmeet Singh held a press conference with leaders from the United Steelworkers union. In it, labour leaders said workers need an emergency plan that would provide economic support to workers, impose retaliatory tariffs and look at foreign policy to safeguard jobs against future threats.
A 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods is expected to be introduced in the U.S. as early as February 1. As workers share worries about their jobs, livelihoods and cost of living, parliament remains suspended until March 24.
Marty Warren, national director of USW, said workers are ready to stand up against tariff threats but some politicians are preoccupied with political games.
“If you’re not fighting these tariffs, if you’re not calling for emergency plans for workers, you’re not fighting for workers,” Warren said.
A report from the Globe and Mail said the federal government is planning a multibillion-dollar package which would help workers pay for rent and groceries as well as support businesses in paying bills and compensating workers. However, the Globe reports that many of these programs would require approval from Parliament, which cannot happen until it reconvenes on March 24.
“Workers need Canada’s political leadership to recognize the urgency and to address it before it becomes a full blown crisis,” Bruske said. “President Trump is a bully, and labor in Canada will not back down from a bully.”
Millions of workers’ jobs could be affected, Bruske said. More than two million jobs are directly or indirectly dependent on export to the U.S. Last year, 1.8 million people worked in industries where more than a third of jobs depended on U.S. demand for Canadian products, Bruske said.
Bruske said workers’ concerns are highlighted by a recent survey. It showed that 80 per cent of Canadians expect these tariffs to affect cost-of-living. Ninety per cent of Canadians support an investment plan to grow the country’s economy and support its industries. More than three quarters of Canadians believe the federal government should retaliate by placing tariffs on American imports and 75 per cent want Canada to cut off American access to Canadian resources like electricity, oil and wood.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, called on the Liberal government to recall parliament in order to address the tariff threats. He said opposition leaders should come together to support a package for workers then there can be an election in the Spring.
Singh said the NDP still plans on voting against the Liberals in any confidence votes past March 31. Before that date, Singh said there is an opportunity to support workers.
“Is the Liberal government seriously saying they’re going to do nothing for these workers for two months and just wait until the end of March?” Singh asked. “I think that is wrong. So, I’m calling on the government, if they’re serious about helping out these workers, recall Parliament right away.”
Liberal Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada told reporters on Thursday that parliament will reconvene when it needs to, but for now the Liberals are having conversations with their sectors so it can be ready to support those affected.
“We have levers that we can use today,” she said.
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne added the government is exploring ways to use existing programs, which would not require parliament to reconvene.
A legal challenge to Prime Minister Trudeau’s prorogation of parliament has been expedited by the Federal Court. This challenge argues that this move effectively denied Parliament’s ability to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification. The challenge was expedited due in part to the imminence of the 25 per cent tariffs.
“This is a very pivotal moment for unity in our country,” Bruske said. “Workers expect their leaders to come together.”
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