Photo credit: the Wall Street Journal
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rolled out measures that he says will transform the country’s economy into a force that can withstand the trade shocks of the Trump administration.
CBC News reports that the measures, announced on Friday, are targeted to specifically help workers and businesses that have been most impacted by US tariffs and trade disruptions.
Carney said, “If you look back over our our country’s history, we have turned challenges into opportunities. And now, at this moment of profound change, we bear the same responsibilities and we should have the same ambitions as those who came before us.
“We know we need to act now. Invest now. Precisely when it’s hard. We are charting an economic strategy to move Canada from reliance to resilience, from uncertainty to prosperity.”
A major part of the plan is to pause the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, a demand by the auto industry. The strategy waives the mandate for the 2026 model year and launches a 60-day review of the policy.
The mandate requires the number of new ZEVs (zero-emission vehicles) sold in Canada to hit 20 per cent by next year, 60 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035 in order to help the country hit its emission-reduction targets.
The EV pause and other measures in the strategy will also help workers acquire new skills, businesses retool and spur domestic demand, according to a government release.
Up to 50,000 workers will be able to access a new “reskilling package” that will help them with training through heir employer or recruitment companies.
To help laid off workers bridge to their next job the federal government is extending EI to 65 weeks for long-tenured workers – 20 weeks more than they currently go. In addition, the one-week waiting period is being waived for as many as 700,000 workers, Carney said
Carney said, “Canada’s public procurement is following outdated rules of free trade order that no longer exists.
“For years we have been buying significantly from foreign suppliers for short-term gain. Now, we need to use government procurement, using Canadian taxpayers dollars, to spur businesses for longer-term prosperity.”
The prime minister said his government would also help the Canadian canola, beef and seafood industries, which have been hit hard by tariffs imposed by China.
However, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has dismissed Carney’s initiatives as “a big show about nothing.
“With Carney it’s been all show business and no real business. He’s gotten absolutely nothing done this summer other than shuffle a lot of papers and hold a lot of meetings while Canadians lose their jobs, can’t afford food and are unable to buy homes.”
