Elbows up for who?

The vast majority of Canadians have given a decisive answer: no bloody way. 

So it’s elbows up, for sure. I’ve met countless neighbours at the doorstep who tell me this with conviction. Folks are rallying to the cause, and this is good. 

And yet, as we brace for Trump’s tariffs, recent history suggests we aren’t ready, and I can’t be the only one with a profound feeling of déjà vu. 

Five years ago, COVID-19 also tanked our economy, creating the highest levels of unemployment since the Great Depression. Public help was needed, and fast. 

Back then, the federal NDP went to bat for Canadians. We used our leverage over the Trudeau minority government to push for what was necessary. I got a first-hand account from NDP staff involved in those negotiations. 

At first, the Trudeau government suggested $600 per month via Employment Insurance (EI) for folks who were unemployed. That was vastly insufficient. The amount was unacceptable, and the approach wouldn’t work. 

After decades of cuts to EI, only 34% of unemployed workers are now eligible for benefits. Thousands of gig workers and temporary foreign workers are left out. Many small businesses would fall through the cracks. 

These folks, we told PM Trudeau, would likely continue to work if sick, and spread the COVID-19 to others. That put us in peril, so we demanded more. 

And that’s how we won a $2000/month Canada Emergency Recovery Benefit (CERB), and a Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for employers. CEWS, we insisted, must not be used for CEO bonuses or dividends to shareholders. 

As we prepare for the Trump tariffs, the federal government is once again relying on modest changes to EI for workers. A $6 billion fund for employers has been proposed  without mechanisms to ensure public funds aren’t siphoned for private profit. 

Talented staff in the federal public service were critical in getting CERB and CEWS to people and companies in need. 9 million Canadians got the CERB in record time. 

But now, at the very time we will rely on them, the federal government is cutting federal public service positions. We must demand better. 

This Sunday at 10:30am, I will host a zoom conversation with Pam Frache, a lead organizer with Justice for Workers. Pam will discuss a compelling plan to ensure we can resist the Trump tariffs and help everyday Canadians. 

Please join us!  You can RSVP for the Zoom session here.

Last week I met an old friend from my hometown of Vankleek Hill, Ontario. He told me that 150 steelworkers at IVACO Rolling Mills (where I once worked as a summer student) had received layoff notices. 

What are those families saying at the dinner table tonight? They must be terrified. 

Let’s go elbows up for them, and for every Canadian that will suffer from the arrogance and cruelty of Donald Trump. 

Let’s push the federal government to do far better in this critical moment. If I am elected as Ottawa Centre’s MP, you can count on me to do that every day. 

My very best, 

Joel