Buy Canadian: Ottawa’s Commitment to Domestic Metal in National Projects

Amidst rising tensions with the US and President Trump’s looming threat of increased steel and aluminum tariffs, Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has made a significant announcement: a firm commitment to prioritizing Canadian-made steel and aluminum in all national infrastructure and defence projects.

The declaration follows a Sunday summit in Montreal where Minister Joly met with key players in the aluminum industry. While Ottawa awaits the outcome of Trump’s potential executive order—which could see tariffs skyrocket to 50%—Joly’s statement provides a reassuring message of support for the domestic metals sector.

This move has been met with enthusiastic approval from the United Steelworkers union. National director Marty Warren expressed his organization’s welcome of the announcement, emphasizing their intent to closely monitor the federal government’s actions to ensure this commitment translates into tangible results. The union will be actively ensuring the government follows through on its promise to utilize Canadian-produced metals.

This decisive action by the Canadian government not only bolsters its domestic steel and aluminum industries but also demonstrates a strong stance in the face of potential economic pressure from its southern neighbour. The coming weeks will be crucial in observing whether the commitment translates into concrete policy and project implementation.