Trump tariffs an ‘existential threat,’ NDP leader warns in Windsor

Article content

The head of Ontario’s main opposition party condemned U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats as an “existential threat” to the province’s workers during a visit to Windsor Monday.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles, at a gathering with other local NDP leaders and union representatives at the Unifor Local 444/200 union hall, urged Premier Doug Ford to abandon what she called his election-focused efforts and instead collaborate on action to protect the province’s workers.

Article content

“This is a terrible position for us to be in, facing down a threat like we are facing right now, which is an existential threat to Ontario jobs and to Canadian sovereignty,” Stiles told reporters at the press conference.

“We need everybody at the table working together,” she said, calling on Ford’s Progressive Conservative government to bring back the provincial legislature to work on an all-party plan.

Trump continues to threaten to impose a universal 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports once in office Jan. 20.

Trump has also recently stated he would prefer cars be built in Detroit rather than relying on the current automotive supply chain, which significantly benefits Windsor.

“Right now, it’s almost like a whack-a-mole in terms of assessing what Trump might put a tariff on or not,” MP Brian Masse (NDP — Windsor West) told reporters Monday.

“We don’t know if other sectors are going to be left alone, so we have to come up with a more robust plan. It’s hard to really understand what the repercussions would be, but what we can do is control some of our responses in a better, organized way.”

Article content

Stiles urged the Ford government to stop focusing on a potential early election, which she believes could happen soon.

“We are ready and willing to sit down and talk about anything that it’s going to take … to keep workers employed, to keep people well, and to push back against this threat to Ontario,” she said.

“I think it’s absolutely critical. I don’t think Doug Ford needs to go to the polls to get that.”

During Monday’s press conference, MPP Lisa Gretzky (NDP — Windsor West) warned that the threatened tariffs could create a “dire situation” for the region’s agricultural sector.

“When you’re adding tariffs and you’re making it more difficult for them to get their product to market, we’re going to look at even higher costs of food on our side,” Gretzky said.

In a press release Monday, Stiles also addressed Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner ruling that records from Doug Ford’s personal phone, which he was accused of using to conduct government business, should be made public.

“Today is a step towards transparency and accountability in Ontario,” said Stiles.

“We have seen this government use every trick in the book to keep things hidden from the public — from secret code words to “accidental” data wipes. Today’s IPC decision means there’s one less place for them to hide.” 

According to the news release, records revealed that Ford’s government-issued phone remained unused for months, prompting the NDP to push for the release of his personal phone records.

[email protected]

Share this article in your social network