As Canadians prepare for the next step in Canada's trade dispute with the U.S., Unifor Local 444 and 200 are holding a public town hall meeting on trade.
It starts at 5pm Wednesday night at the union's hall on Turner Rd. in Windsor.
"Trade is an issue that impacts all of us. Every worker and every community" said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "This is especially evident as the U.S. escalates a trade war with attacks on Canadian industries including auto, steel, and aluminium."
On June 1, the U.S. imposed a 10% tariff on Canadian aluminium and 25% on steel. President Donald Trump has also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imported automobiles, a move that is expected to impact the Canadian auto industry dramatically.
In retaliation, Canada will impose its tariffs on a variety of American goods including whiskies, non-caffeinated coffee, pickles, toilet paper, and appliances.
Wednesday's town hall is the fifth event organized across the country to document ideas and experiences of residents. There will be more town halls in the fall, and the union will write a report with recommendations for the federal government to use when it negotiates future trade deals.
The guest speaker will be Essex MP Tracey Ramsey who is the New Democrat Party's trade critic.
"The Liberal government needs to hear from Canadian workers and businesses impacted by the unfair U.S. tariffs," said Ramsey who added the government has yet to hear from groups representing the steel, aluminium and auto industries. "While the government claims they are working on an action plan to support affected workers, we learned the government has yet to even talk to the groups who represent these workers."
Finance Minister Bill Morneau said this week Canadians should hear more in the days to come about Canada's plan to deal with American tariffs, and ways the government will work to protect workers.
Earlier this month, MPs in the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion introduced by Ramsey calling for solidarity among Canadian political parties to stand behind retaliatory trade measures.
MPs also supported a motion tabled by Ramsey inviting Canadians impacted by tariffs to submit information to the House of Commons trade committee.
