Canadian Trade at a Crossroads: What This Means for Construction, Development & the Economy

This week, I attended the Trades at a Crossroads panel discussion hosted by the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. It left me with a lot to reflect on — not just as a business owner in construction and development, but as a Canadian who’s deeply invested in the future of our economy.

The message from the experts was clear: Canada’s overreliance on the U.S. market is a vulnerability, not a strength. And for industries like mine — construction, real estate, and manufacturing — the ripple effects of tariffs and trade instability are already showing up in very real ways.

GNCC Trades at a Crossroads panelists discuss current economic concerns.

79.9% of Canadian Exports Go South

One panelist, Matt Witt from Stanpac, shared that, for his company, its even more at 85% of his company’s revenue comes from the U.S. If tariffs rise to 25%, he estimates they’d only survive eight months. Think about that, an innovative, multi-national, 800-employee Canadian business hanging on by a thread due to a trade policy decision made outside our borders.

That’s not a niche problem. That’s a wake-up call.

Kelly Frechette discussing construction labour shortages and getting the next generation into the trades.

How Construction Is Feeling It?

In construction, we're already navigating:

• Increased material costs (thanks to tariffs on steel, aluminum, and lumber)

• Supply chain delays for critical components

• Budget uncertainty that affects developers, homeowners, and public infrastructure alike

The squeeze isn’t just on the jobsite, it’s in the spreadsheets, the bids, and the long-term planning.

The Frustration? We Have the Tools

Canada has 15 free trade agreements with 51 countries, covering 60% of the world’s GDP. We are the only G7 country with trade agreements in place with all other G7 nations. And yet… many of those agreements are, as one panelist put it, “collecting dust.”

We’re not leveraging what’s already in front of us.

Kelly Frechette at the GNCC Trades at a Crossroads Event

So What Do We Do?

Here’s where I think construction and development professionals need to lead:

1. Diversify supply chains: Source smarter, not just cheaper.

2. Engage trade professionals: There are customs brokers, law firms, and accounting firms that specialize in strategic trade.

3. Get political: Advocate for infrastructure spending, housing investment, and tariff relief. These policies aren’t just economic — they’re social.

Panelist discuss the trade and tarrif issues impacting the Canadian economy

Canada Has a Choice: React or Reposition

I don’t think it’s dramatic to say that Canada is standing at an economic crossroads. The old playbook — build cheap, sell south, scale up — doesn’t work in a fragmented, protectionist global economy.

We have the talent. We have the resources. We have the agreements.

Now we need the urgency and the vision to use them.

For the sake of our businesses, our communities, and our next generation of tradespeople, hope we do.