‘As global trade evolves, no worker will be left behind’
The federal and British Columbia governments are investing $70.4 million over three years to retrain and support more than 8,000 workers in industries affected by global tariffs, with services delivered through the WorkBC network.
The Canada–British Columbia Workforce Tariff Response targets workers in softwood lumber, steel and other sectors directly and indirectly impacted by tariffs. The initiative, outlined by Employment and Social Development Canada, is intended to help workers adapt, retrain and transition into in‑demand jobs as global trade pressures reshape regional economies.
“Canada’s workforce is strongest when employers and training partners work together. As global trade evolves, no worker will be left behind,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
“Through the Workforce Tariff Response, that means providing the tools and training workers need to secure good jobs, continue building strong communities, and ensure Canada remains resilient in the face of global challenges.”
Funded through Employment Insurance contributions, the new supports will be offered through WorkBC’s province‑wide system to provide “timely, local, and personalized support” for workers who could benefit from retraining or employment assistance as they move into new opportunities.
CEO confidence in global revenue growth has dropped to its lowest level in five years, with artificial intelligence (AI), cyber risk and geopolitical pressures forcing employers to rethink workforce and capability strategies, according to a previous report.
Eligibility
The Ottawa–B.C. programme will be open to unemployed workers seeking skills for in‑demand jobs, workers whose employers are in Work‑Sharing agreements, and employed workers looking to build new skills to improve their resiliency in companies directly affected by tariffs or in single‑industry communities.
Implementation will use a mix of existing and new mechanisms and will incorporate input from labour and business representatives. The federal government says direct coordination with impacted businesses and stronger data‑sharing are designed to protect jobs and give tariff‑affected workers, including those in Work‑Sharing arrangements, better opportunities for upskilling or retraining.
Ottawa states that it also invests nearly $400 million annually through the Labour Market Development Agreements and the Workforce Development Agreements in British Columbia, which support training and employment services for approximately 90,000 people each year, including:
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40,000 people who secure employment within about 6 months of receiving support;
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30,000 youth (15 to 29 years old), 14,000 mid‑career workers (35 to 54 years old)
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30,000 workers from the trades, including 13,000 apprentices.
Tariffs, market pressures
Tariffs and market pressures have been particularly challenging for resource‑based industries and communities. “Tariffs and global market pressures have created real uncertainty for workers in key resource sectors across British Columbia,” said the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “This investment will help workers build new skills, will strengthen local industries and will ensure that communities remain resilient as global conditions continue to evolve.”
British Columbia’s Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, the Honourable Sheila Malcolmson, said the partnership is designed to move quickly through existing delivery channels. “Workers, families and communities in British Columbia are facing real uncertainty because of global tariffs, and they deserve support they can count on. So through WorkBC, this investment will help people build skills and move into new opportunities quickly,” she said.
The agreement is aligned with British Columbia’s Look West economic strategy and, at the national level, is intended to prepare workers for jobs arising from initiatives such as the Major Projects Office, Build Canada Homes and the Defence Industrial Strategy.
According to the federal government, British Columbia’s unemployment rate was 6.1 per cent as of January 2026, reflecting broader labour market challenges linked to global tariff impacts.
Recently, in a 6–3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded it was not legal for Trump to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, better known as IEEPA, for his “Liberation Day” tariffs and fentanyl‑related duties on Canada, Mexico and China.
Shortly after, in a lengthy social media post responding to the decision on the IEEPA, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the Court has “accidentally and unwittingly” handed him, as president, “far more powers and strength” than he had before what he calls a “ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling.”
Trump previously imposed a 10% tariff on Canadian lumber, on top of a 35% tariff already in place, CBC noted. The U.S. also put a 25% tariff on some Canadian wood products, like furniture.
Canadian manufacturers in heavily tariffed industries are seeing declining or stagnant employment despite mixed trends in output and rising prices, with auto, metals and forestry workforces under the greatest strain from the U.S. tariffs, according to an RBC Economics report.
