We Need Real Relief
Ottawa, ON – Raquel Dancho, Conservative Shadow Minister for Industry, and Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative Shadow Minister for Canada-US Trade, released the following statement on the government’s response to ongoing U.S. tariffs:
“Today’s announcement confirms what Canadian workers and businesses already know: there’s no deal coming anytime soon. Despite being elected on that exact promise just a year ago, Canada has made concessions and received nothing in return. Businesses are facing higher costs, greater uncertainty, and no clear path forward.
“Real relief does not come from government loan programs, it comes from getting tariffs reduced or eliminated. Loans do not restore competitiveness. They saddle struggling businesses with more debt while the underlying problem remains.
“This is especially true for industries like moldmaking, workers who produce the tools and molds that make all downstream manufacturing possible. When these upstream industries are hit, the impact does not stop there. It ripples across the entire supply chain, putting production, investment, and jobs at risk across Canada’s manufacturing base. And when these industries leave, they do not come back.
“Short-term liquidity may help some companies survive another quarter, but it is not a solution. And once these programs run their course, companies will still be facing the same tariffs, the same uncertainty, and the same lack of action from this government. Jonathon Azzopardi, President of Laval Tool, was clear: ‘The tariff is now the problem.’
“When asked about relief funds going to executive bonuses, Joly simply invoked the fact that there were ‘always’ rules, despite similar loans to airlines in 2021 which went to millions in executive bonuses.
“At the same time, the Liberals are failing to focus on what Canada can control. Instead of strengthening our economy at home, they continue to layer on red tape, slow approvals, and policies that make it harder to build, produce, and compete.
“If Canada wants a deal with the United States, we need leverage. And our leverage comes from our strengths: our energy, our critical minerals, and our ability to supply the inputs that North American industry depends on.
“Conservatives believe we should be building that strength, developing our resources, expanding our capacity, and creating the conditions for investment, so that Canada can negotiate from a position of power, not weakness.
“Canada’s manufacturing sector cannot afford another year of inaction. We need to get stronger at home, restore our competitiveness, and use that strength to secure tariff relief and defend Canadian jobs.
“Conservatives will continue to push for real solutions. Canadian workers deserve more than temporary programs; they deserve a plan that delivers results, protects our industries, and puts Canada back in control of its economic future.”