Good — Canada has every right to push back against blatant bullying from the White House. But retaliation is a blunt tool: the tariffs may be politically necessary, yet they risk hurting ordinary people on both sides of the border — workers, small businesses and families buying groceries and clothing — unless paired with a clear plan to protect them. This isn’t just about one angry president or one company’s threats over Bombardier; it’s about rethinking a trade model that has too often rewarded corporations while hollowing out communities. Progressive answers should include targeted, strategic measures (not broad sweep tariffs that raise consumer prices), stronger supports for workers who lose hours or jobs, emergency aid for affected small businesses, and major public investment in home-grown green manufacturing so we’re not hostage to geopolitical whims. At the same time Ottawa should keep talking — durable deals that raise labour and environmental standards, keep supply chains stable, and protect public interest are possible if Canadians push for them. If we’re serious about fairness, we need smarter trade policy plus bold domestic programs to rebuild and diversify our economy, not endless tit-for-tat escalation that lets neither workers nor the climate off the hook.
