What’s on My Mind? With Pari Johnston.
This week, I’m in Washington, D.C., joining a Canadian Chamber of Commerce mission focused on one of the most pressing issues for both Canada and the U.S.: the future of our advanced manufacturing and supply chains.
With new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods adding further strain to supply chains—on top of ongoing workforce challenges and rising economic uncertainty—this mission brings together key American and Canadian stakeholders, including current and former government officials, industry leaders, and political influencers to discuss what’s needed to safeguard supply chains, protect jobs, and drive innovation in these critical industries.
What’s being discussed?
- Enhancing Supply Chain Stability: We need stronger, more resilient trade partnerships to ensure businesses on both sides of the border can continue to operate efficiently, even during times of economic uncertainty.
- Addressing Tariffs and Trade Barriers: President Trump’s proposed tariffs threaten to disrupt Canada-U.S. trade. We need to advocate for fair trade policies that protect Canadian businesses and workers under The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
- Strengthening Canada-U.S. Trade Relations: Open, collaborative dialogue is critical to keeping markets accessible and ensuring that Canadian products and expertise remain competitive.
- Boosting Innovation in Manufacturing: The integration of cutting-edge technologies in manufacturing is key to staying ahead in an evolving global economy.
But these discussions aren’t just about protecting and strengthening trade relations; they’re about reinforcing Canada’s economic resilience.
That’s where we come in.
To strengthen supply chain stability and resilience, businesses on both sides of the border need workers with expertise in everything from advanced manufacturing to logistics. Public colleges and institutes deliver that skilled and relevant workforce.
With over 1,500 manufacturing-related programs, including supply chain management, colleges and institutes train the skilled workers—technicians, engineers, and specialists—who design, build, and maintain the systems that manufacture and move the goods that Canadians rely on every day. From aerospace and automotive manufacturing to rail and trucking logistics, our job-ready graduates are essential to keeping supply chains efficient, smart, and resilient.
Plus, with nearly 700 research labs across Canada, colleges are partnering with Canadian industries (especially SMEs) to develop innovative, made-in-Canada solutions that boost productivity, enhance automation, and help businesses navigate market shifts, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes. These collaborations – with a focus on derisking new product, process and prototype development – give Canadian manufacturers a competitive edge. In just one year, almost 3,000 college applied research projects have powered Canadian manufacturers and producers to improve how we make and market things right here at home.
Securing Our Role in Shaping the Future
When we say public colleges train the builders, makers, and doers Canada needs more than ever, this is what we mean. As cross-border supply chains face disruptions, political tensions mount, and global trade transforms, our 135 members stand united – ready to serve Team Canada.
I’ll be your voice in D.C. to ensure Canada’s public colleges and institutes remain at the forefront of policy discussions on continental supply chain stability, workforce development, and innovation. While there, I look also forward to engaging with my counterparts at the Amercian Community College Association, the Amercian Council on Education, and our talented trade commissioners at the Canadian Embassy. Look for my LinkedIn posts from the road on what I am seeing and hearing.
Public colleges and institutes are essential partners to building a strong and resilient Canada, today, tomorrow and in the months and years to come.