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Public life and public service are not easy, and I want to sincerely thank Prime Minister Trudeau for his service to our country. Despite everything, it is indeed a privilege to serve Canadians and Canada.
A few thoughts on some important progress made over the last decade for working Canadians, the moment we are currently in and the very big challenges ahead. Also, to workers, you can count on Unifor to provide the kind of leadership that will be needed in the days and months ahead.
It’s important for us to remember that Canada did important things during the global pandemic. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and support for workers and businesses kept the wolves from the door.
Our economy recovered well because of those decisions. One main criticism is the federal government could have, but did not make lasting changes to Employment Insurance.
Critically, the lessons learned from the pandemic are important. Canadians came together in solidarity, and we will have to do the same with the threats to our economy, our nation and Canadian workers posed by a Trump presidency.
Prime Minister Trudeau led a minority government that delivered key advances for workers: child care, pay equity, significant investments in the auto industry, a reversal of bad Harper-era policies on retirement and labour laws, 10 paid sick days, dental care, the start of a pharmacare program. And of course, the long-awaited anti-scab legislation, to name a few.
Our job now as trade unionists is to protect these advances and push for more. We have a moment to do so.
To build a strong, robust Canadian economy where we build big things here at home, where we invest in Canada, where we put Canadian workers first. You will continue to hear us talk about industrial strategies as they can carry our economy forward to a more resilient place.
We are indeed at a critical time in the world. This will be a very difficult year for Canada, and it will require serious leadership. Slogans won’t cut it.
The chaos-driven Trump agenda will have to be tackled as the very serious threat it poses to our country, our economy and to Canadian workers. I want to be clear; this is not a time to kowtow to a Trump-led United States.
This is a time to be firm, to stand on guard for our country and to fight like never before. Smart. Strategically. But fight. Elbows out. We need serious leadership that will stand up for Canadians, Canadian jobs and this country. Because the moment requires it.
Unifor will organize and fight for workers today and always. Solidarity friends.
