Local NDP officials outline plan to address tariff war

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Windsor-area New Democrats outlined their plans to address the tariff war unfolding between the U.S. and Canada Thursday, arguing that autoworkers need more clarity.

“If our response right now — and this is what I’ve heard mostly from the other parties that are involved — is basically do tit-for tat-tariff, that is not going to solve the situation,” said Brian Masse, NDP candidate for Windsor West. 

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President Donald Trump did not levy new tariffs on Canada’s auto sector Wednesday, but tariffs put in place earlier this year remain, prompting Prime Minister Mark Carney to levy 25 per cent retaliatory duties on $35 billion worth of imported U.S. vehicles. 

“We do agree with the fact that there will be tariffs on American vehicles to reciprocate what’s taking place. But it can’t just be that alone,” Masse said.

Carney said the levies on American imports will raise about $8 billion, which will be passed on to workers and businesses affected by the trade war. 

But there are no plans on how to support workers otherwise, Masse said. 

“We’re going to send $8 billion back to the auto workers, but we don’t know how. How is it … a Stellantis worker can’t tell you how the government has their back right now? How is that possible?” 

Alex Ilijoski, NDP candidate in Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, MPP Lisa Gretzky (NDP—Windsor West), and Unifor Local 200 President John D’Agnolo joined Masse at his campaign headquarters on Walker Road to address the tariffs.

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Stellantis announced Thursday it will pause production at its assembly plants in Windsor and Mexico for two weeks, impacting more than 3,000 workers locally. 

“I want to really impress upon Canadians, it’s time to buy Canadian, build Canadian,” Masse said. “We can actually do domestic procurement. That’s critical with regards to municipal, provincial and federal fleets. 

“There’s no reason they can’t buy a minivan that’s produced at Stellantis here in Windsor or other plants. That won’t solve everything, but they will provide some relief.” 

Masse has long pushed for a national auto policy, which he said would have helped prepare for this situation. 

Ilijoski advocated for removing the GST from all Canadian–made vehicles. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre support the idea, he said. “Now we need to have Mark Carney do the same.” 

Gretzky said electric-vehicle incentives for those built in Windsor should be reinstated. Ontario government incentives of up to $5,000 for purchased or leased EV, hybrid or zero-emission vehicles ended in 2018. The federal government’s rebate ended in March.

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She also called for the Doug Ford government to recall the legislature. “There is absolutely no excuse for the (Progressive) Conservative government not to recall the legislature and have all parties, all elected officials, regardless of political stripe, working together to come up with solutions,” she said. 

D’Agnolo, who represents workers at Ford Motor Co. in Windsor, outlined an ominous future, with tariffs on auto parts imported to the U.S. expected May 3.

“Now there’s going to be decisions that have to be made, because they’re going to decide on the parts facilities,” he said. “Now the company’s got to call every one of those parts facilities and say, are you going to survive?” 

“Companies won’t survive,” D’Agnolo said. “They will not survive through this. So we have to have our governments involved.” 

Tax breaks won’t work for unemployed people, he said. He also noted that the U.S. has imposed tariffs on imported aluminum and steel, as well.

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Auto workers are “constantly talking” about the economic situation because anxiety levels are high, he said. 

“I’ve heard on the floor that ‘If we get an annexed,’ and I say to the workers, well, if we get annexed, do you think Ford Motor Co. is going to give you the same pension in American funds? These are the things that we discuss all the time. 

“The scary part is, I don’t have the answers.” 

Auto companies will try to remain in Canada, he said. “I build the engine for the number one selling truck in Canada. They don’t want to lose that money. They want to build here because we support them.

“We can’t allow them to leave. That cannot happen. There’s a lot of people’s livelihoods on the line. They won’t know what to do. This city will be a ghost town. Ingersoll will be a ghost town.” 

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