Thriving Through Uncertainty: Securing Canada’s Future with Collaboration and Innovation
The “trade war” talks and tariff threats of the past few weeks have made a few things clear for Canadians. First, we are in the midst of a changing global order in which uncertainty is the norm. Second, Canada’s economy is vulnerable to the sudden shifts and whims that have characterized the Trump administration. For businesses, that vulnerability can manifest in higher costs, supply chain disruptions, and reduced competitiveness in international markets. When our key industries are compromised, these devastating impacts will potentially be felt by workers too.
The looming tariff threat, then, should also be taken as a call to action: Canada needs to be proactive and take bold action to build a stronger, more connected domestic market. Through greater collaboration among government and businesses—while also considering the role of technology—Canada can adapt to these new pressures by reducing interprovincial trade barriers and building a more agile workforce.
We’ve been here before
It’s understandable that Candians might be anxious or daunted in the face of threats from the world’s largest economy and our most long-standing ally, but this is not the first time that Canada’s economy has faced major disruption.
As an organization that works closely with stakeholders across the country to deliver solutions to workforce challenges, Magnet has seen time and time again that we have the capacity to work together, share knowledge, streamline our resources, and build new tools to deliver innovative solutions that benefit Canadian workers and businesses.
For example, in March 2020, businesses were forced to pivot overnight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For many small and medium-sized enterprises, the pandemic represented an existential threat.
As one of the pan-Canadian delivery partners of the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), we are part of a national network of industry associations, sector councils, post-secondary institutions, and government ministries that provided businesses with streamlined access to student talent from across Canada along with funding to offset the costs of hiring and training.
Together, with our partners, we’ve built a technology infrastructure that allows employers to hire students from more than 125 post-secondary institutions and access government funding through subsidized programs. For program administrators, this same platform collected all relevant reporting and provided insights to inform program improvements.
Through connectivity, we reduced the gap between businesses and students. By hiring new talent, businesses could maintain productivity and build new talent pipelines while students gained valuable work experience. SWPP was truly national in its reach, providing opportunities for students from more than 100 post-secondary institutions across all provinces and territories.
The lesson from SWPP, and from the dozens of projects Magnet has partnered on, is that stakeholders across Canada’s labour market have the willingness and ability to come together to solve big challenges. Whether it’s helping employers access skilled talent, supporting workforce development programs, or facilitating industry collaboration, we can break down silos and build partnerships that drive economic resilience.
Rising to the challenge
While we’re encouraged to see our government taking steps to address the immediate tariff threats, Canada’s economic security is tied to many additional challenges.
Interprovincial trade barriers continue to make it hard for businesses to expand across provinces while driving up costs and limiting the mobility of skilled workers. Beyond trade regulations, a broader lack of coordination across economic development, workforce planning, and industry collaboration weakens our ability to respond to external shocks.
Employers struggle to find the talent they need, workers face barriers to reskilling and planning for the jobs of the future, and businesses lack the connections to pivot and grow in uncertain conditions. Strengthening Canada’s internal economy requires more than regulatory fixes; it demands a shift to deeper collaboration, more agile workforce strategies, and stronger partnerships across sectors.
From our experience as a convenor of businesses, educators, workforce development organizations, and policymakers, Magnet is confident that Canada is up to the challenge, especially when we work together. Now, we need to apply that same energy and potential to strengthening Canada’s internal economic ties.
Canada can’t afford to be reactive in the face of this crisis. Proactive coordination within our borders will help businesses and workers navigate the immediate challenges while positioning our economy for long-term strength. This is the time to invest in connection, reduce barriers, and build a more integrated, responsive, and resilient Canadian economy.
