Lana Payne to advocate to protect jobs as member of federal Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations

Profile picture for 666601
Unifor
|April 21, 2026

TORONTO - Unifor National President Lana Payne will advocate for bold federal action to protect Canadian jobs, rebuild domestic capacity, and put workers at the centre of Canada’s industrial strategy as a member of the new federal Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations

“This is a consequential time for our country. More than a year into Trump’s trade war, Canadian workers are paying the price for U.S. tariffs and trade aggression. We will need assertive strategies to sustain and grow our country’s industrial base and the jobs it supports,” said Payne. “We obviously need a trade agreement with the United States that protects key sectors of our economy while making sure workers and their jobs are front and centre in those negotiations.”

Payne is honoured to serve the interests of workers during this challenging period for them and for our country. 

Unifor outlined a three-way strategy during the union’s recent federal lobby week, when members and leadership met with MPs across party lines. 

Buy Canadian - Sell Here, Build Here

If companies want to sell in Canada, they must build here. We must invest Canadian procurement dollars into Canadian jobs. We are an industrial economy and that means defending and supporting a strong manufacturing base.

Worker‑Centred Industrial Strategies

Canada needs worker‑centred industrial strategies, with workers, employers and government at the table, focused on job quality and retention, worker-led retraining, whole‑of‑supply‑chain planning, and sustained public investment to plug strategic gaps.

Promote Good, Union Jobs

Unionized work is good work. Public funding should not bankroll employers who block union rights and government must defend free collective bargaining and the right to strike in federally regulated sectors.

Read Unifor’s calls to the federal government here.

Visit protectjobs.ca for the latest on U.S. tariffs and how workers and communities can take action to support Canadian jobs and industry.

Get Updates

*By clicking "Sign up", you consent to receive periodic updates from Unifor by email, text and/or phone. You can unsubscribe or text STOP at any time. Message and data rates may apply.

Search

Recent posts

You might also be interested in...

Unifor testimony regarding Canadian Energy Exports

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
May 05, 2026
Watch National President Lana Payne testify to the House of Commons Natural Resources committee to express Unifor's support for reducing Canada's export dependency on the U.S. and warned against the...
In the News, Videos

Unifor Local 88 CAMI Update

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
May 05, 2026
CAMI Assembly Plant members packed the Unifor Local 88 union hall on May 1, to hear from National and Local leaders about the future of the idled facility, U.S. auto...
In the News, Videos

CAMI workers pack hall for update on fight for jobs in Ingersoll

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
May 04, 2026
CAMI Assembly Plant members filled the Unifor Local 88 union hall on May 1, to hear from National and Local leaders about the future of the idled facility, the impact...
In the News

More focus on effects of U.S. tariffs and global volatility on Canadian jobs needed in Spring Fiscal Update

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 28, 2026
OTTAWA – The federal government’s spring fiscal update includes a number of important advances including in the area of worker training but presents an overly-optimistic view of Canada’s economic health,...
In the News

CBC Power & Politics | April 24, 2026

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 24, 2026
In the News, Videos

Canada’s industrial future depends on action today

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 07, 2026
The following statement was released jointly today by Canada’s two largest industrial unions, Unifor and the United Steelworkers: U.S. sector-based tariffs (“section 232 tariffs”) have hit Canadian manufacturing workers and...
In the News

CTV Power Play | April 2, 2026

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 02, 2026
Unifor’s Lana Payne warns accepting limited jobs in Chinese EV kit vehicle assembly is a false option for Brampton Assembly Plant.
In the News, Videos

CBC Power & Politics | April 1, 2026

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 02, 2026
Lana Payne on reports Stellantis is considering Chinese EVs for Brampton
Videos, In the News

CTV News Channel | April 1, 2026

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 02, 2026
Anniversary of Trump’s auto tariffs
In the News, Videos

BNN Bloomberg | April 1, 2026

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 02, 2026
Trump tariffs one year later
In the News, Videos

Unifor Forestry Council Executive meet to discuss stepping up campaign efforts

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 01, 2026
Members of the Forestry Sector Council Executive Committee and Unifor leadership met in the Unifor National Office March 27–29 to share bargaining updates and discuss the state of the industry....
In the News, Videos

Unifor calls for ‘Sell Here, Build Here,’ mandates on anniversary of Trump auto tariffs

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Apr 01, 2026
TORONTO—As Canadian workers mark one year of economic disruption and job losses triggered by U.S. tariffs targeting Canada’s auto industry and other key sectors, Unifor is escalating the union’s clear...
In the News

One year into Trump’s tariffs the fight for Canadian jobs continues

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Mar 31, 2026
This week marks one year since the United States imposed 25% tariffs on the import of Canadian autos, one of the most damaging measures in a series of escalating trade...
In the News

Sell Here, Build Here

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Mar 31, 2026
For more than a year, Canadian workers have been on the front lines of Donald Trump’s trade war and the damage it has caused across key sectors of our economy....
Videos, In the News

Unifor heats up the campaign to Protect Canadian Jobs with federal lobby week

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Mar 27, 2026
Unifor took to Parliament Hill to push MPs from all sitting parties to enact worker’s demands to Protect Canadian Jobs, as U.S. imposed tariffs continue to put Canadian jobs and...
In the News

Unifor responds to Ontario Budget 2026: Progress noted, but workers need stronger protections amid economic uncertainty

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Mar 26, 2026
Unifor welcomes targeted investments in Ontario’s 2026 Budget that support workers including improved pension protections. The union stresses that more needs to be done to address rising unemployment, affordability, and...
In the News

Unifor embarks on urgent Protect Canadian Jobs lobby week in Ottawa

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Mar 23, 2026
OTTAWA – Unifor leaders from across the country are in Ottawa this week, meeting with more than 75 MPs from all sitting parties to deliver the message to Protect Canadian...
In the News

Daniel Cloutier advocates for members at Forestry Communities Forum

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Mar 18, 2026
On March 11, Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier addressed more than 150 leaders gathered at the Forestry Communities Forum organized by the “Fédération québécoise des municipalités” (FQM), bringing forward the...
In the News

Unifor’s assessment of the Conservative’s proposed Auto Strategy

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Mar 17, 2026
Hon. Pierre Poilievre Leader of the Official Opposition House of Commons  Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 RE: Unifor’s assessment of the Conservative Party of Canada’s proposed Auto Strategy Dear Mr. Poilievre, Our...
In the News

Final report from Unifor Local 200 Crown Royal Plant Chair Doug Benekritis

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Feb 27, 2026
After more than a century, whisky production in Amherstburg, Ontario has come to an end. The landmark Crown Royal plant was shuttered on February 25, as parent company Diageo moved...
In the News

Brampton Council locks in auto assembly zoning for Stellantis plant

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Feb 25, 2026
BRAMPTON, Ont.—Today, Unifor welcomed the news that the Mayor of Brampton and the City Council moved and unanimously adopted a motion to protect the future of the Stellantis Brampton assembly...
In the News

Diageo closes Amherstburg Crown Royal plant early without warning

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Feb 25, 2026
AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - Diageo has closed its Crown Royal whisky plant in Amherstburg, Ontario two days ahead of schedule, without advance warning to workers.  “This is a final show of...
In the News

A.I., U.S. trade war and bargaining spotlighted at GTA Local Presidents’ Meeting

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Feb 25, 2026
Unifor local presidents from across the Greater Toronto Area gathered on Feb. 24 at the union’s National office, where they heard updates from national departments and exchanged ideas about the...
In the News

U.S. tariffs struck down - CTV News Channel

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Feb 20, 2026
Videos, In the News

U.S. tariffs struck down - CTV National News

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Feb 20, 2026
In the News, Videos

Federal Auto Policy CBC Power & Politics

Profile picture for 666601 Unifor
|
Feb 09, 2026
In the News, Videos