Employment minister promises ‘robust series of responses’ to support employers

Amid growing concerns – if not alarm – among Canadians about the impact of US tariffs on the economy, and their jobs, Ottawa is offering reassurance. 

“The government will be there for Canada,” said Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Steven MacKinnon, in a recent interview. “Tariffs are a really bad idea, but Canada is going to stand up for itself and respond.” 

As bad as this could be, this won’t be as bad as when the pandemic hit and things shut down overnight, he said, in trying not to “sugar coat” the impact of tariffs. 

Fighting back against tariffs 

Ottawa will be fighting back “ferociously “against the “unjustified” and “ill-considered” tariffs, which will hurt both Canada and the U.S. MacKinnon, said in the CityNews interview. 

The employment minister cited as examples potash from Canada that’s used in fertilizer for crops, along with large amounts of Canadian aluminum needed south of the border. 

“Those products are suddenly going to become a lot more expensive, and their businesses are going to have to cope with this,” he said.  

“Auto workers in Michigan and steel workers in Pennsylvania, they cannot count on the kinds of supports that Canada will have in place to protect its workforce and… American consumers, they're going to be paying a lot more for a lot of things.” 

Supporting Canada’s auto sector 

Of course, the auto sector will be especially hard hit, especially in Ontario, with many job losses anticipated. And U.S. automakers agree the tariffs are a bad idea, said MacKinnon in the televised interview. 

“No less than the CEO of the Ford Motor Company has said that these tariffs will cripple the North American car industry. The worst idea you can put in place for North American automobiles — [with the] US, Canada and Mexico, vis a vis the German competition, the Chinese competition, other car competitors around the world — is to put in place tariffs.” 

But Canada will have a “robust series of responses” to help employers, he said. 

“We will absolutely be putting in place measures to help businesses,” said MacKinnon. “[We] already possess the tools and the flexibility required to respond vigorously in support of our workers. The government has a number of tools that it can use in addition to responding very decisively to these tariffs, that it can use to help businesses if it's required.” 

And there will be “concrete measures” to support auto workers, if needed, he said in the interview. 

“We're very conscious of the importance of the auto sector, specifically to southern Ontario, and the government will be very, very decisive in terms of its actions.” 

‘Safety nets’ for Canadian workers 

MacKinnon also spoke of the safety nets offered by the federal government when it comes to employment. 

“Nothing will ever replace a job, but we have nets under people to make sure that they don't fall too far. And you can expect the government, in the coming days and weeks, we'll be proposing additional measures to protect and target those who have been most affected by this really unjustified action.” 

For one, Canadians can count on a “robust” employment insurance (EI) system, he said in the interview with CityNews. 

“That system will see improvements, better access, perhaps better duration, other measures that we are going to be proposing to put in place.” 

MacKinnon also tried to offer reassurance about leadership, speaking of prorogued Parliament, which is required to come back by March 24, along with the election of a new Liberal leader on March 9. 

“We know there's going to be a general election in 2025, and Canadians will get to have their say.”