Union calls for bold action to protect jobs and economic resilience
Unifor has pressed the federal government to deliver a robust, forward-looking industrial strategy in Budget 2025, warning that Canada’s economic foundation faces unprecedented threats from United States trade aggression and global uncertainty.
The union, representing 320,000 workers across key sectors, said Ottawa must act decisively to safeguard jobs, strengthen domestic industries, and reduce the country’s reliance on the US market.
“This budget must be a strategic blueprint for a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president.
“We are facing an existential threat to our industrial base. The government must be ready to deploy every tool at its disposal, from strong domestic procurement to strategic public investment, to ensure the economic well-being of Canadian workers and industries.”
Five-point plan for economic resilience
In its August 2025 pre-budget submission, Unifor outlined five immediate strategies: penalizing companies that move jobs to the US by extending retaliatory tariffs across all industrial sectors; connecting Canadian forest products with a national homebuilding strategy; expanding west-east energy shipments and building Canadian-made tanker cars; revamping defence procurement to support domestic firms; and restricting foreign ownership of critical minerals.
Unifor’s call comes as the union continues to warn against “piecemeal, sector-by-sector negotiations that could surrender critical leverage” in the face of ongoing US tariff threats.
“The trade war is here, and Canada cannot allow the U.S. to pit workers against workers or sectors against sectors,” Payne said.
“Canada must leverage what we’re good at – our resources, our talent, and our advanced manufacturing – to build a self-sufficient economy. That’s the kind of transformational vision we expect from this budget.”
Beyond trade: Defending public services and fair growth
The union’s recommendations extend beyond trade and industry, cautioning the government against austerity measures that could undermine core public services.
“Austerity is a crisis waiting to happen,” Payne said.
“Strategic investment in public services is a vital economic lever that keeps people and our economy afloat in turbulent times.”
Unifor’s recent convention saw delegates unanimously endorse a plan calling for ambitious, worker-inclusive industrial strategies and a renewed focus on ‘fair trade’ agreements that prioritize Canadian ownership and democratic management of critical resources.
Mortgage and housing sector implications
For mortgage professionals, Unifor’s push for a Made-in-Canada affordable home strategy and enhanced support for the forestry sector could signal increased demand for domestic building materials and a potential boost to home construction.
The union’s stance aligns with ongoing industry calls for policies that address housing affordability and supply.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has urged Ottawa to increase infrastructure funding, warning that Canada’s housing and economic targets are at risk without it.
Ottawa’s plan to build 500,000 homes a year and boost the economy relies on strong local infrastructure, FCM said.
However, municipalities, which own over 60% of Canada’s core infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, water systems, and transit—are struggling to keep up. They receive only eight to 10 cents of every tax dollar, while the national infrastructure deficit now stands at an estimated $270 billion.
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