The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour is calling on all Nova Scotians to stand together against the Trump government’s unfair 35% tariff on Canadian goods. This tariff is a direct threat to good jobs in our province, especially in manufacturing, seafood, and forestry. These are the same jobs and industries many families rely on to put food on the table. And while it’s true that about 90% of our $3.3 billion-plus in U.S. exports are protected under the CUSMA trade agreement, that still leaves 10% so, hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs hanging in the balance. What’s even more frustrating is how our provincial government is handling this. Premier Houston says he’s standing up to American tariffs, but at the same time, his government is handing out millions in public contracts to American companies. Just recently, the province gave a $70 million contract to Liberty Blastech, a U.S. company, for work on the Halifax bridge. His excuse was that we lacked skilled workers. Then, the NSCC handed over food services at Nova Scotia Community College to Aramark, another U.S. company. That move cost 27 Nova Scotians their good union jobs. You can’t say you’re standing up to Trump’s trade war while quietly signing deals with American corporations behind closed doors. That’s not standing up for workers that’s selling them out.
Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is unpredictable. His tariff decisions flip-flop by the hour. He’s changed course on trade policy over 30 times in just the past few months. It’s time we expand our export markets elsewhere and start a real made-in-Nova Scotia/Canada plan. One that supports local manufacturing, builds up our industries, and keeps public sector work in the hands of Nova Scotians and Canadians. We’ve got the raw materials, the skilled workers, and the know-how. Now, we need governments that back us, not foreign corporations. This isn’t about being against American workers. It’s about fairness. It’s about defending our jobs, our communities, and most of all, our future. The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour represents 70,000 working people in this province. We will keep fighting for good jobs, fair wages, and a government that stands with workers, not just in press releases but in real decisions that affect real lives. We’re calling on all Nova Scotians to raise their voices. Demand better. Tell your MLAs to stop giving away our jobs and start standing up for working people in this province.
Through a Union Lens from Nova Scotia 