NDP Workers for Canada plan to support B.C. jobs and workers « Canada’s NDP

PORT MOODY— In the face of Donald Trump’s attacks on Canada, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have a plan to protect workers, fight for Canada and its economy, and build, build, build using British Columbia forestry products and other resources and skills.

The Workers for Canada plan was built based on consultations with labour leaders, progressive economists and expert advisors and includes better employment insurance, protections from grocery price hikes and a plan to keep workers working with a push to build the infrastructure Canada needs, including rescuing at-risk home-building projects and building an East-West energy grid.

“In the face of Donald Trump’s illegal trade war, British Columbians are standing strong. And they deserve a federal government that stands with them to resist Donald Trump. Let’s build, build, build—from hospitals to bridges to the affordable homes we need, and let’s do it using 100 per cent Canadian lumber and other B.C. grown and B.C. built products as much as possible,” said Singh. “We can make sure B.C. workers keep working, keep putting food on the table and keep building this great country.”

B.C. businesses say Trump’s tariff fight is already causing layoffs and chaos. Forestry supports over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in B.C., paying $9.1 billion in wages, salaries and benefits annually. More than 4,800 Indigenous people are directly employed in the forestry industry in the province.

B.C. exports about 74.8 per cent of its softwood lumber to the United States. Trump has threatened a tariff of over 50 per cent on softwood lumber crossing from Canada into the United States.

Singh warned that the powerful big-business lobby is already using the trade war as an excuse to push an agenda of tax cuts for the rich and job cuts for workers.

“Laying off workers and weakening our economy is exactly what Trump wants us to do. Instead, let’s build an economy that isn’t dependent on the United States—a Canada-first, worker-first economy that’s resilient in the long-term,” said Singh. “This is how we beat Donald Trump. This is how we win.”

“Mark Carney’s plan to give tax cuts to the wealthiest and make workers pay for it with cuts is a big red flag for me. And Pierre Poilievre will never stand up to Trump and he’ll never risk his endorsement from Elon Musk. He wants to make Canada more like America, and I think that’s dead wrong. It’s time to fight for the Canada we love—the Canada where we take care of each other and stand up for each other, including B.C. workers and their families.”