The reality of hefty U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods kicking on Saturday has become an unsettling reality for many, including those in B.C. who are now worried it’ll cost them their job.
“We’re very concerned,” BC Federation of Labour President Sussanne Skidmore told 1130 NewsRadio. “We know this is going to hurt workers. We know it’s going to hurt workers on both sides of the border.”
She can’t pinpoint an exact number but says across the country thousands of jobs could be scrapped if the 25 per cent tariffs stick around for a while.
“We’re going to see massive spikes in prices of things that British Columbian workers produce, but also need. We are watching this really closely, and our first priority is making sure we’re defending workers and that their jobs are protected,” she said.
Earlier this week, Premier David Eby warned the tariffs would prompt an economic breakdown in this province worse than the 2008 recession. Additionally, he said his government would consider pandemic-style measures.
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated the tariffs on Canada and Mexico would kick in on Feb. 1.
Skidmore points out a number of sectors are at risk including lumber, seafood, mining, and tech.
“That’s the backbone of our economy. If we’re losing those jobs and workers are no longer able to do the work that they’re currently doing because of these extreme tariff threats, then we’re in a pretty serious situation here.”
She explains her organization is currently in talks with the provincial government, industry stakeholders, and unions to come up with a plan.
“We know there are some sectors that rely more heavily on exports, than others, but no one should be under any illusion that’s the only impact. It will, of course, have bigger, broader implications and the ripple effect will be very real. I’m from up north, I lived in Prince George for a lot of years and when a mill shuts down, the impact on a community is great. It has an impact on the education system, the healthcare system, the tax base for local communities and it hurts thriving communities in ways that sometimes it takes decades to recover from.”
Skidmore has spoken to workers on the frontlines and admits they’re scared.
“Most people feel this threat is real, so people are afraid. They’re afraid of not being able to pay their bills, put a roof over their families and keep working.”
The federation claims it’s figuring out ways to protect jobs. Skidmore didn’t provide much detail but stresses it relies heavily on the province.
“We’re looking at some of the different things that government can do to make sure that industry keeps moving and it supports … to keep jobs going.”
She feels now is the time for B.C., and Canada as a whole, to use this as an opportunity to diversify its trading partners, so we rely less on the U.S.
“We hear the premier talking quite a bit about the trade between provinces as well, closing some barriers around that and finding ways we can trade amongst our provinces more effectively and keeping jobs in Canada.”
Skidmore says there is an option on the table to ask the provincial government for a financial bailout should the tariffs last a while.
“We’re in conversations about what that looks like. We know who we’re dealing with. We know that the threats will continue, but right now we’re focused on the immediate impact and trying to alleviate some of the stress that workers are feeling and making sure we’re protecting them right now. The plan will be to figure out how to make sure we’re protecting jobs in British Columbia into the future.”
She explains there are talks at a national level with federation counterparts about how to support workers in all provinces, adding, that they all back the “Buy Canadian” movement that has surfaced online.
“It’s not just a B.C.-focused issue.”