CUPE National President Mark Hancock joined CLC President Bea Bruske, Unifor’s Lana Payne, United Steelworkers’ Marty Warren, PSAC’s Sharon DeSousa, and Dave Chartrand from IAMAW on Parliament Hill today to call for a workers-first approach to the economy and trade, as Donald Trump reignites threats against Canadian jobs.
The leaders from all sectors of the economy across Canada made one point clear: we need a national, worker-centred trade strategy that protects domestic industries, strengthens public services, upholds human rights, and reinforces Canadian sovereignty.
Hancock said the challenge ahead is to preserve a Canada worth living in. “American corporate interests – backed by an increasingly aggressive, imperial approach to trade – see Canada’s public services and natural resources as untapped markets. They want to rob us of the very things that make up our national identity and the lifeblood of our communities.”
Supporting a worker-centred approach to trade and the economy is ultimately about strengthening Canadian sovereignty, Hancock continued. “Real sovereignty isn’t about slogans or flag-waving. It’s about having the democratic power to decide our own future. To protect public services, regulate in the public interest, and build an economy that works for people.”