Last week, Canadians across our country heard the news that Prime Minister Mark Carney walked away from the negotiating table on a trade deal with the United States after the Donald Trump administration made outlandish proposals that would have severely threatened Canadian sovereignty.
The demands of the Trump administration were outrageous to all Canadians, not least of which was the demand around language. The attack on the French language and Québécois culture is despicable and disgusting. French is an official language of Canada, and the premier language in Quebec. That is not, now or ever, up for negotiation. On this issue alone, I am glad Canada walked out on the negotiations.
As union members, we know what it’s like when someone is bargaining in bad faith. In those situations, when it becomes clear a fair deal is not going to be found at the negotiating table, it is absolutely the right call to walk away. Our union knows that better than anyone. Our distinctly Canadian union was formed because we too walked away from a bad deal from the Americans and we have thrived ever since!
Unfortunately, we know the Trump tariff threats will have a very negative impact on working people in Canada, some devastatingly. Our national union will work with COPE locals across the country to provide support where necessary to our members who are feeling the greatest impact of Trump’s tariffs.
We will support our locals and councils as they talk to governments at all levels to ensure their response to the Trump tariffs is to focus on supporting workers, protecting Canadian jobs, strengthening our public infrastructure, and defending our national and provincial sovereignty.
COPE members across the country can also play an active role to support Canadian workers and strengthen Canadian industries in the face of American threats to our economy and our sovereignty by matching our actions with our values. Buy Canadian and Buy Canadian Union-Made Products and Services aren’t just slogans. It should be a way of life from now on.
To find a list of Canadian union-made products and services, visit the Canadian Labour Congress website.
Working together, we will emerge stronger than ever. We have done it before. We will do it again.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth
President