CTMA president Louis Jahn, recently met with Minister Evan Solomon, to raise several pressing issues affecting the industry. CTMA photo
CTMA president, Louis Jahn of Jahn Engineering, recently met with Evan Solomon, Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) in Windsor, where the Minister was announcing Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) funding for local companies. Several CTMA member companies have benefited from the program.
Prior to the official announcement, Minister Solomon held a private meeting with a small group that included Louis Jahn, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, representatives from the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, and others.
During the discussion, Minister Solomon noted that he speaks with Prime Minister Mark Carney almost daily, underscoring the importance of ensuring that the concerns of Canada’s manufacturing sector are communicated directly to federal decision-makers.
Representing the interests of CTMA members, Jahn raised several pressing issues affecting the industry, including the impact of U.S. tariffs, concerns surrounding Canada’s reciprocal tariff measures, and the Association’s position on Chinese vehicle imports. He emphasized that increasing imports from China threaten to displace Canadian jobs rather than create them.
Jahn also highlighted a significant concern for the tooling sector: while Canadian manufacturers face increasing competitive pressures, there are currently no tariffs on tooling and equipment entering Canada from China. He stressed that this imbalance creates an uneven playing field for domestic manufacturers and poses a growing challenge for the industry’s long-term competitiveness.
While there was some discussion regarding the issue of Chinese vehicle imports, Jahn reiterated that allowing these vehicles greater access to the Canadian market represents a “toe in the door” that could have lasting consequences for Canada’s manufacturing base.
Minister Solomon was receptive to the concerns raised and took detailed notes throughout the meeting. The discussion provided an important opportunity for CTMA to ensure that the voice of Canada’s tooling and precision metalworking industry is being heard at the highest levels of government.
CTMA remains committed to advocating on behalf of its members and working with governments to support policies that strengthen Canada’s manufacturing sector and protect the competitiveness of domestic tooling and precision metalworking companies.