Statement from Danny Cavanagh, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour on the thirty day pause on tariffs
The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour appreciates the announcement of a 30-day pause on tariffs and extends our gratitude to Prime Minister Trudeau for his commitment to this critical issue. Do we need to see more muscle flexing? Sure, but the time to do that is also essential. Let’s be clear: the potential ramifications of these tariffs on our economy are significant, and our workers are anxious to see what happens next.
The unknown stress workers feel is profound, and as long as Donald Trump holds power, we must stand ready to respond decisively. He must hear our message loud and clear: our country is not for sale, and any attempt to wage an economic war against our workers and communities will be met with unwavering resistance. Our workers must hear from their governments that they will be protected and that our elected leaders, like their unions, will fight the fight to protect jobs and workers. We have not heard that from our province yet. I think, like many others, we have reached a pivotal moment, and the USA’s smugness is not an option that can be tolerated. The threat of economic harm to our workers cannot be ignored; it demands a strong and unified response.
As Canadians, Let’s unite to fortify our communities and build a robust, resilient economy. It’s high time elected leaders at all levels step up and recognize that we must forge a new path forward that brings about greater self-sufficiency, safeguards our economy and creates sustainable jobs. That said, no matter what our provincial government does, we will convene a meeting of union leaders to advance our work of protecting workers. But this is just the beginning. We are also calling for substantial, lasting changes to enhance the strength and resilience of our economy.
This means actively diversifying our industries and providing unwavering support for our workers. Changes to our employment insurance system because workers deserve a safety net responsive to the realities of our evolving economy. We will examine how our province approaches procurement and ensure that government contracts amplify local jobs and industries. It’s time to change how we think and buy more locally; our government must lead that charge. We need to protect the public services that are the economic backbone of our communities and build on them, including more infrastructure and transportation links, to name a few. Now is not the time to let our guard down. We must intensify our efforts to empower our economy and protect our workers. We have seen a reality check on the economy that cannot be lost if government leaders do not learn from these challenges, adapt to new realities, and fight fiercely against any threats. The demand for strong local jobs drives economic prosperity in our communities and, therefore, our province.
