TORONTO – September 10, 2026 – The Society of United Professionals supports Canada’s decision to stand firm rather than accept a trade agreement that would put Canadian workers, industries and economic interests at risk. At the same time, counter-tariffs will have impacts here at home, and protecting workers from those consequences must remain central to Canada’s response.
“Canada is right to stand up for Canadian workers and industries when faced with unfair trade measures, but workers should not be left to carry the cost of this dispute,” said Rebecca Caron, President of the Society of United Professionals. “For our members, particularly the skilled professionals who help operate, maintain and advance our energy and electricity systems, stable supply chains, predictable investment and the ability to keep skilled people working are essential. Canada’s response must protect those workers while strengthening the industries and infrastructure our economy depends on.”
New Canadian counter-tariffs on U.S. goods took effect September 8th as the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States continues to create uncertainty for workers, businesses and industries across the country.
Canada’s new countermeasures impose tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 per cent on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. imports, matching U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar and rate for rate. The measures apply across a range of sectors, including steel, aluminum, machinery, electronics and other goods that are important to Canadian industries and supply chains.
For Society members, trade uncertainty has the potential to reach well beyond the industries directly named in tariff measures. Many Society members work in sectors that depend on stable supply chains, long-term investment and access to specialized materials and equipment. This is particularly important for professionals working across Canada’s energy and electricity sector, where major infrastructure, maintenance and capital projects rely on predictable access to steel, aluminum, machinery, electrical equipment and other inputs.
The federal government has announced 7.5 billion in new and enhanced measures alongside the counter-tariffs, including 3.5 billion in rapid-response supports for workers and employers. These measures include extended Employment Insurance provisions, work-sharing, worker retention and retraining initiatives, and additional support for businesses affected by tariffs.
The Society of United Professionals welcomes the focus on keeping people working and retaining skilled workers through periods of disruption. As the broader labour movement has emphasized, supports for workers will need to keep pace with the economic effects of the trade dispute, including for workers who may be affected indirectly as investment, production and supply chains adjust. The Society joined the Canadian Labour Congress in calling for stronger Employment Insurance protections and long-term investment in Canadian industrial capacity and good union jobs.
For Society members, protecting existing jobs in only part of the picture. Canada’s response should also strengthen the domestic industries, supply chains and infrastructure that will support good jobs over the long term.
As Canada navigates an increasingly uncertain trading relationship with the United States, the expertise of skilled professionals will remain essential to maintaining the services, infrastructure and industries Canadians rely on. Workers must remain at the centre of Canada’s approach to building a stronger and more resilient economy.
