Ottawa, ON – Kyle Seeback, Conservative Shadow Minister for Labour, released the following statement in response to the federal government’s announcement of additional support for workers impacted by tariffs and global market shifts:
“Today’s announcement is an admission that Mark Carney does not expect Canada to secure tariff relief anytime soon. Instead of protecting Canadian jobs, the government is preparing workers for layoffs and retraining. Canadians want their jobs protected, not training for different ones.
“Our workers are already paying the price. In the last 6 months alone, more than 4,300 auto jobs, 1,300 forestry jobs, and 1,300 steel jobs have been lost across the country.
“The federal government’s plan amounts to a modest top-up to existing programs, $228.8 million over three years, or about $76 million a year through Labour Market Development Agreements. An 8 per cent increase to current programs is welcome, but it is not a game-changing response for workers facing layoffs due to tariffs and global market shifts.
“Mark Carney said Canada can ‘give ourselves more than others can take away’. Conservatives agree. That is why the Liberals should approve nation-building infrastructure like the Ring of Fire and an east-to-west pipeline so workers in our forestry, steel, aluminum and auto sectors are not losing their jobs in the first place.
“Instead, Canadian workers are facing layoffs while the government continues policies like subsidizing U.S.-made electric vehicles. Canadian workers deserve solutions that protect jobs at home.”