Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a campaign-style whirlwind visit to the city Thursday to ‘fight’ for local workers.
In just five days, President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian exports.
Trudeau met with local union leaders before touring one of the region’s largest tool and dye manufacturers, Anchor Danly.
Trudeau said his visit was meant to illustrate the federal government “…continues to be there for them and will fight for them in this incredibly crucial time.”
“If indeed the incoming administration moves forward with these unfair and unjust tariffs, Canada will respond,” Trudeau said. “We will respond in measured ways but in robust ways, demonstrating once again that Canadians know how to stand up for ourselves.”
Trudeau did not provide specific details of how Canada would respond.
He will be resigning once a new leader is chosen for the Liberal Party of Canada on March 9.
Union leaders warn of impact
Earlier in the day, Trudeau met with local labour leaders at Unifor’s hall on Turner Road.
President of Local 444 James Stewart feels Trudeau heard their message about the threat of tariffs on the automotive sector.
“If you understand the system, you know that parts go back and forth across the border maybe six or seven times before it goes into a vehicle,” Stewart said. “And then ultimately, when the majority of our sales are in the states, you can understand clearly that that could be devastating. There’s no doubt about it.”
Stewart estimates “tens of thousands” of automotive workers will be impacted by the tariffs.
“We have a lot of things that Canada can do to protect Canada and hopefully, the governments realize that and do it,” Stewart said.
He noted with Trudeau resigning as prime minister once a new Liberal leader is selected and a Canadian election sometime later this year, Unifor needs to make sure they met with all political parties to protect their industry.
Stewart also called on the Conservatives, NDP, Liberals, and Bloc Quebecois to work together.
“The parties have to find a way to get by their partisanship, start getting in bipartisan, wrap themselves, like I said, in the Canadian flag and defend Canada,” Stewart said. “We all have to be on the same page.”
