Manitoba Building Trades Statement on U.S. Tariffs

March 4, 2025

Manitoba Building Trades Statement on U.S. Tariffs

The United States has chosen to hit Canada with harmful tariffs, and the effects will be felt nationwide. Manitoba’s workers didn’t ask for this, but we’re the ones who will pay the price if our leaders don’t act quickly. Construction jobs, manufacturing, and resource development all stand to take a hit. Without swift action, families across Manitoba will feel the strain.

The federal government needs to step in with real solutions to protect jobs and ensure working families aren’t left struggling. Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) is already pushing for strong action at the national level, including fixing Employment Insurance so workers can access benefits faster, keep them longer, and have the option of job-sharing instead of layoffs. Major investment in transportation and energy infrastructure is also needed so Canadian resources and products can reach more stable and diverse markets.

These are critical steps to protect workers across Canada, but Manitoba needs to take care of its own. We cannot afford to sit back and wait. Our focus should be on ramping up local infrastructure investment to keep our skilled trades workforce employed and our economy moving. We must see clear commitments to long-overdue projects to create good-paying, long-term jobs. Every infrastructure dollar spent in Manitoba supports local businesses, strengthens communities, and helps stabilize the construction industry against uncertainty.

We also need a plan to ensure Manitoba’s workforce is ready for whatever comes next. That means investing in training and apprenticeship programs so that the next generation of skilled workers has opportunities right here at home. It means ensuring that public projects prioritize hiring local tradespeople instead of sending work elsewhere. And it means standing up for policies that create steady, well-paying jobs in our province.

Manitoba’s tradespeople are the backbone of this province. We build the critical infrastructure that keeps this economy running. We’ve always stepped up to do what needs to be done, and we expect our leaders to do the same. We’re calling on all levels of government to get serious about solutions—fund critical projects, create job security, and ensure we come out of this stronger than before.