Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Brantford most vulnerable to tariffs

[danbrotherston]

I don’t agree on that one - growth is always possible. When the last “exploitable” labour pool is used up, everyone will have been chasing efficiency for decades… there’s a reason why we have more food than ever today and only 1% as many agricultural workers as we used to. The future doesn’t have to be zero-sum… the people who lost their job maintaining horse carriages could have had no idea the jobs that were to be created by the upcoming car, but to them the sky would have still been genuinely falling. Same with candlemakers and cobblers and those offices full of engineers with slide rules…

It isn't about people, or freedom or anything. It's about energy and material. Earth is finite, you cannot manufacture infinite consumer goods on infinite land in a finite system. And even if you perceive the future to be service based (which I think is becoming a more and more hollow idea), energy is still a constraining factor, and I'm not even talking about climate change. If we harnessed all the solar energy the planet receives and had no global warming, that would still put a hard upper limit on these things.

And on the consumer end, I think things are also unsustainable. It is getting harder and harder to convince people to want more things. People are more and more unhappy in our world, and this in spite of having more and more things.

[danbrotherston]

Admittedly, this is why we are entering end stage capitalism. There are more and more developed countries, and fewer developing countries, which means there are fewer places to offshore for cheap labour. The capitalists are getting antsy about that.

But again, the solution is not protectionism, the solution is a better economic system, along with an acceptance that a bigger SUV, or house, or whatever, beyond a certain point doesn't really make an improvement in quality of life, and that being happy with "enough" is probably a better long term strategy than infinite growth on a finite planet.

A better economic system? OK sure please do tell, but in no way or shape can it affect free market principles, individual liberties and freedom of choice and limited government intervention

I mean, you already called me a socialist so it should come as no surprise that I have a great deal of interest in the social democracy we see in Scandinavia and Western Europe. But even that has it's limits. But what is clear is that the current system is not working, and contrary to propaganda you are parroting here, more free markets is not the solution. Hell, as other's already pointed out, YOU have opposed free markets and free trade in this very thread, so even you don't believe the things you claim to.

[ijmorlan]

A better economic system? OK sure please do tell, but in no way or shape can it affect free market principles, individual liberties and freedom of choice and limited government intervention

I mean, you already called me a socialist so it should come as no surprise that I have a great deal of interest in the social democracy we see in Scandinavia and Western Europe. But even that has it's limits. But what is clear is that the current system is not working, and contrary to propaganda you are parroting here, more free markets is not the solution. Hell, as other's already pointed out, YOU have opposed free markets and free trade in this very thread, so even you don't believe the things you claim to.

You’re arguing with somebody who claims to believe that “it is refreshing to see a US president actually care for its own people”. I was going to say more but I’m not sure anything more needs to be said.

[Rainrider22]

You didn't say anything other than direct an insult towards someone because you have a differing opinion than they do...

[bravado]

Well, there's this

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-t...025-03-03/

Hey, I just wanted to let you know that Honda has denied any claim of building a new plant in Indiana and that Trump seemingly made it up.

"Honda has made no such announcement and will not comment on this report. The Honda Civic has been made in our Indiana Auto Plant since the facility opened in 2008 based on our longstanding approach to build products close to the customer. We have the flexibility to produce products in each region based on customer needs and market conditions," the company said.

Further elaborating on the situation, a Honda spokesperson acknowledged President Trump's recognition of Honda's commitment to American manufacturing. However, they also emphasized that the company did not announce any plans for a new plant in Indiana or elsewhere in the U.S. at this time.

"We thank President Trump for recognizing our commitment to manufacturing vehicles in America, and we look forward to working with the administration and Congress on pro-growth policies that support a robust U.S. auto industry. While Honda did not announce plans for a new plant in the U.S. at this time, we have invested over $3 billion in advanced vehicle manufacturing in America in just the past three years, with a cumulative total of more than $24.7 billion.

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/tru...nouncement

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-...rcna194819

As a general rule with media literacy, it's important to use trustworthy sources - and the President of the United States hasn't been one since January 20th, 2025.

[ijmorlan]

As a general rule with media literacy, it's important to use trustworthy sources - and the President of the United States hasn't been one since January 20th, 2025.

And the current occupant of that office hasn’t been one since June 14th, 1946.

[Momo26]

Tariffs have landed. Where do you see the biggest job losses in KW in the short run?

[bravado]

Tariffs have landed. Where do you see the biggest job losses in KW in the short run?

Autos are the most obvious. For every 1 Toyota worker, there's 7 workers spread across the whole continent supporting them with all sorts of supplies and materials. Most rural small towns in Ontario have a relatively unknown auto parts factory nearby that employs most of the county. It's a very diffuse supply chain around here.

After autos, freight is a big one. This region is full of warehouses and logistics providers who are very sensitive to any swing in demand. Those warehouses employ a LOT of people that just won't have any other low-skill options nearby when they get laid off.

Then you throw in the sea of automation, engineering, and planning shops that rely on autos to pay most of the bills - once their biggest cash cow is turned off, they won't be able to provide other services to domestic industry at the same price as before and suddenly your grocery bills start going up because the local bread factory has to pay 2x for maintenance. Oh, and all their cartons and corrugate costs have increased because the paper blanks come from the US but are manufactured locally.

[Momo26]

In other words, buckle up?

[bravado]

Yeah… I feel like this forum seems to skew towards university/tech employees that are a bit sheltered to some market forces so all I have to say is be prepared to pay more for everything, even things not specifically in any tariff news.

And then creeping layoffs as industrial investment dries up will cause government revenue issues across the whole spectrum…

[Kodra24]

In other words, buckle up?

Capital is fleeing Canada and has been for some time - most are aware that our projected GDP per capita growth is lowest among OECD nations

What's the plan? Spend more money of course

We have to hit rock bottom (think Argentina up until a few years ago) until we realize socialism is not the way - Mark Carney is the man to take us to the bottom, so definitely we gotta buckle up! Or move I guess...

[neonjoe]

This is more of an effect of the "Resource Curse" if Canada continues to grow its resource economy the GDP per capital may shrink further. Service industries of post industrial economies tend to have better GDP per capital growth.

[tomh009]

Capital is fleeing Canada and has been for some time - most are aware that our projected GDP per capita growth is lowest among OECD nations

So. If you compare GDP per capita (effectively average income) growth, Canada is well behind the US.

However, if you compare median income growth, Canada is actually doing significantly better than the US.

What does that tell you?

[Momo26]

They say median is a better measure in many respects but I need to take a closer look at all the data.

I think when people talk and seemingly everyone around them says they are feeling the pinch at the grocery, with the mortgage, and not saving nearly a much (or zero), it tells people all they need to hear.

I know now beyond a doubt that the educated class has a much higher earning potential in the US vs Canada. I have come to conclude that Canadian companies and by extension canadians, have a smaller appetite for risk and thusly are less innovative and have less growth mindset as compared to US counterparts. Are we living a 'better, slower paced and less-ambitious' life as a result? That's subjective. But the once comfortable middle-class is becoming far less comfortable and cushy now

[tomh009]

I know now beyond a doubt that the educated class has a much higher earning potential in the US vs Canada.

Educated? 57% of Canadian adults have a post-secondary degree or college diploma (38% in the US) so this is a majority of Canadians.

However, the earning potential for the top earners is much higher.

In the US: median $67K, top 1% $819K
In Canada: median $84K, top 1% $322K

So, yes, if you are 1% you can earn much more in the US. But $322K is not a terrible income level, either, but I suppose it depends on how much money one needs ...