By Matt Harvey
February 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The threat of tariffs has the people of Burlington feeling unsure about what could happen.
I asked 26 people outside two of the Fortinos supermarkets about what they thought about the possibility of tariffs and how it would affect their households; there were different sentiments about the looming threat.
Many of the people I talked to said that the threat did not have them concerned – they didn’t think it would affect them or their household. June, a retired person who didn’t want to say which sector she worked in did say: “I know it will affect others if it comes into place”.
Many others shared their concerns such as Collen who is an accountant said: ” We are looking at buying more Canadian products, my breakfast cereal for instance is made in the United States so will be looking at buying more things Canadian”.
The tariffs if imposed will affect United States and Canadian citizens.
Brandon who is an owner of a gym said to me “It affects my business because my business is derived off people who have to spend money on their health and when other things cost more then that is the one thing that they give up”
Canadian politicians taking part in a meeting called by the Prime Minister to determine what the Canadian response would be if tariffs were imposed.
The possibility of tariffs has people worried about the future of our country as we know it
Chris, who is a chemist, told me straight up that “It will affect the company I work at because we export a lot of stuff to the states and I’m not happy about it”.
Only time will tell if the tariffs come into place and the ripple effect it will have on our country.
Many of the people I approached didn’t want to talk about the tariff question. If they are imposed it will be something everyone will be talking about.
Lessons from the 2018 US tariffs on steel and aluminum.
USA job gains in the Steel and Aluminum industry by 2019 =14000
In the Downstream Steel &Aluminum industry —— 75000 fewer jobs created by 2019.
Hard to know what Trumps real objective is.
If tariffs are imposed by the USA these will not increase prices in Canada. It raises prices in the USA.
If counter tariffs are imposed by our government this is what will raise prices in Canada.
This reader believes that is has become the goal of the Liberal Party to save a few seats on the Titanic by not seriously negotiating with the US. They see this as a last ditch electoral opportunity to distract from their failures and blame all of the woes in Canada on Trump.
If the Canadian dollar continues to fall against the US dollar Americans will barely feel the pinch however the opposite will be true here, lots of pain.
It us guaranteed that prices will go up when tariffs go on. Estimated the average Cdn will incur $2k each.
How many people did the author actually interview?
26