DR. JACK MINTZ
President’s Fellow at the School of Public Policy,
University of Calgary

The tariff package was introduced by the federal government to shield Ontario’s steel manufacturers from foreign competition. However, the measures have been criticized for imposing higher transportation costs – estimated at $150‑$200 per tonne for rail shipments to Vancouver – and for failing to make Canadian steel competitive despite a promised 50 % rail subsidy. As a result, delays and increased construction expenses have been projected for essential infrastructure projects across Western Canada.

Political fallout has been highlighted, with the policy described as “made in Ontario for Ontario,” leaving British Columbia and Alberta to absorb a disproportionate share of the costs. Regional tensions have been inflamed, and the broader implications for national unity have been questioned as the West bears the fiscal burden of protecting a comparatively small eastern steel sector.

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