Government and Democracy

OTTAWA – As the federal government prepares to table Budget 2025, Unifor is reiterating the critical need for government priorities to reflect a comprehensive, forward-looking industrial strategy. Unifor says that bold government action is imperative to safeguard Canadian jobs, build economic resilience, and defend Canada against aggressive U.S. trade threats.

EDMONTON—The provincial government’s back-to-work legislation is a sweeping attack on the basic rights and freedoms of workers in Alberta and a gross over-reach of government powers, says Unifor.

“Instead of working together to protect the Canadian economy and Canadian jobs, the Alberta government is choosing to fight workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.  

Unifor members in Ear Falls, Ont., gathered at the municipal government building to call for immediate action to reopen the Interfor Ear Falls sawmill that recently shut down production.

TORONTO –President Trump’s abrupt termination of trade negotiations with Canada is the latest excuse to drag out talks while the U.S. continues to siphon off investment and good jobs out of Canada. 

MONTREAL –Unifor is calling for an urgent domestic procurement plan to save the PACCAR plant in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, following the company’s announcement of 300 additional layoffs tied to the imminent imposition of heavy-duty truck tariffs by the Trump administration.

TORONTO –Canadians overwhelmingly support the protection of Canadian auto jobs and other key industrial sectors, according to a new Pollara survey. The nationwide poll shows three-in-four (74%) believe if the Canadian auto sector collapsed, it would have a “devastating” impact on the Canadian economy.

Importantly, 70% feel Canada should not sacrifice the auto sector to get a good trade deal with the US, with that figure rising to 75% in Ontario. 

As the Ontario Legislature resumes today, Unifor is calling on all parties and elected representatives to make workers the focus of every decision, from protecting Canadian jobs to supporting key sectors like auto, health care, forestry, and energy.

“Workers are facing tough, uncertain economic times, and now is the moment for the Ontario’s elected leaders to step up,” says Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. 

Unifor’s Stellantis Council, representing more than 8,000 members working at Stellantis facilities across Canada, strongly condemn the company’s decision to relocate future J4U (Jeep Compass) vehicle production from Brampton, Ontario to the United States. 

Stellantis’ decision is an egregious violation of the company’s collective agreement commitments made to our union, our members and their families. 

EAR FALLS, Ont.—Unifor is calling for immediate action from all levels of government following today’s announcement that Interfor is shutting down its Ear Falls, Ont., sawmill indefinitely.

A delegation of Unifor auto leadership, led by Unifor National President Lana Payne, met with Premier Doug Ford on October 14 to discuss escalating U.S. trade threats, punishing tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles, and the urgent need for a coordinated national strategy to defend Canadian auto jobs.

“America is bold enough that the U.S. Commerce Secretary has said out loud that the Trump administration’s goal is the elimination of assembly plants in Canada. We need an equally bold, coordinated Team Canada approach to fight back,” said Payne.