The federal NDP is calling for a "Buy Canadian" policy to prioritize domestic production and union labor, but the party declined to comment on whether its own MPs would be required to divest from U.S. companies, including non-unionized Amazon.
“We need to put in place better protection for our workers,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters.
“What we want to do is we want to build Canadian and buy Canadian. What we need to do is change our procurement rules, the way we buy things at the federal level.”
Singh said the proposed policy would ensure Canadian companies are prioritized for federal contracts, especially those with unionized workers.
“We need to change the rules so it favours also companies that have unionized workers that pay their workers a good wage. That is a way to fight back and protect workers,” he said.
Blacklock's Reporter says the NDP's plan would bar U.S. companies from federal procurement contracts when Canadian workers could do the job, provided the United States continues to impose "outrageous tariffs" on Canadian exports.
It would also implement permanent changes to procurement rules to favor unionized and Canadian firms while strengthening Canadian content requirements.
The party did not respond to questions about its MPs' private investments in American corporations.
Ethics filings show MP Bonita Zarillo (Port Moody-Coquitlam, B.C.) and her husband, Carlo, hold shares in Amazon, Alphabet Inc., and Apple Inc., along with various mutual funds containing U.S. assets.
MP Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski, Man.), a member of the Commons heritage committee, owns stock in the Walt Disney Company. MP Lindsay Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe, Ont.) has investments in an exchange-traded fund managed by BlackRock Canada, nearly 44% of which is tied to U.S. markets.
The push for a Buy Canadian policy comes in response to a potential 25% tariff on all Canadian exports to the U.S. as early as tomorrow. Singh said the NDP is committed to defending Canadian businesses and workers.
“For these workers, we owe it to them to say very clearly we are going to fight like hell for your jobs,” Singh said.
“We are also going to make sure we are stepping up to support you if these tariffs come forward.”