Unifor is calling on governments and corporations to adopt a “Sell Here, Build Here” policy as Canada marks one year of job losses triggered by U.S. tariffs on the Canadian auto industry.
The union says companies that profit from the Canadian market should be required to invest and manufacture in Canada — or face penalties including tariffs and loss of Canadian customers.
“The last twelve months saw workers in trade exposed industries go through hell,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We’ve witnessed job loss and workers left in limbo as Trump continues to hammer our economy.”
“What Canada needs now is a coherent national strategy to protect jobs and hold companies accountable if they cave to Donald Trump. This starts with one simple principle — if you want to sell here, you must build here.”
One year of disruption
April 3 marks the first anniversary of the 25% U.S. tariff on Canadian-made vehicles. In the year since, several major employers have cut or suspended operations:
- Stellantis paused retooling of the Brampton Assembly Plant
- General Motors idled the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll and cut the third shift at Oshawa Assembly
- Autoneum announced the closure of its London auto parts facility
- TitanTool and Die locked out workers more than seven months ago as it prepares to move parts production to the U.S.
The U.S. has also launched tariffs on Canadian aluminum, steel, energy, copper, forestry, and heavy-duty trucks, while threatening additional sectors including aerospace and industrial equipment. Unifor says the most damaging sectoral tariffs remain in place despite some measures being struck down.
Parliamentary push
Last week, Payne led a delegation of Unifor leaders and members to Parliament Hill to press members of Parliament from all parties for action. The union’s requests included strengthening Buy Canadian rules for public procurement, requiring companies selling in Canada to invest in Canadian industry, increasing financial support for workers in trade-exposed industries, using available tools to stop job offshoring, and imposing financial and market access penalties on companies that move jobs out of Canada.
Unifor says it is also taking its message directly to the public through social media and billboards.
“Canadian workers have shown incredible resiliency and solidarity throughout this unprecedented trade war,” Payne said. “The fight to defend Canadian jobs and strengthen Canada’s industrial future is far from over, and Unifor will continue to lead that fight.”
The “Sell Here, Build Here” campaign is part of Unifor’s broader “Protect Canadian Jobs” initiative. Unifor represents 320,000 private-sector workers across Canada.
