The unpredictable, ever-changing, tariff-led economic approach of the Trump administration has left Canadians wondering what the next two weeks may look like for their wallets. With its steel industry employing thousands of workers, Hamilton is particularly vulnerable to these measures — but, the city also has strengths it can build on to weather the storm and thrive.

In this episode of Vital Signs, Rudi Wallace hosts Greg Dunnett, President and CEO, of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, to talk about the impact of tariffs on our city but also how our geography and other economic assets provide Hamiltonians with advantages enabling us re-imagine how we can prosper despite uncertainty about the future.

Key quotes

“Hamilton is the steel capital of Canada. When you look at manufacturing industry, directly or indirectly, you’re looking at about 30,000 jobs.” – on tariffs’ impact on Hamilton

“The message I got [from people we spoke to] was ‘We’re on your side but not willing to voice your concerns’.” – on Hamilton Chamber of Commerce delegation to Washington

“What we heard was, that’s just him joking around and getting mileage out of a talking point. But that’s not ok. Anyone with a history degree knows these are warning signs. This is about more than trade.” – on threats to Canada’s sovereignty and Trump’s trade war

“In a lot of ways we are well-positioned up to be a centralized hub for trade [within Canada]. We are a multi-modal hub — we’ve got the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority, the John C. Munro Airport, and we’re placed near the major highways.” – On Hamilton’s potential to thrive as an inter-Canadian trade hub