Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 25 August 2026:
In response to the collapse of the U.S.-Canada trade negotiations over the weekend, Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, issued the following statement:
“Walking away from a deal that went from bad to terrible was the right thing to do. But to truly bolster Canada’s sovereignty, we need to break our dependence on a volatile trade partner and on a volatile high-carbon status quo. Instead, we should go all-in on clean industries that contribute to our energy independence.
“As long as Canada continues to subsidize the oil and gas industry, largely U.S.-owned, we are risking our economy and energy security, responding to one trade shock after another, and failing to protect workers and communities across the country. These companies are profiting from burning our country down — both literally and figuratively — and they should be taxed. A tax on excess oil and gas profits could raise $40 billion within a single year and be reinvested to fund the support measures and public services Canadians need during this difficult period.
“Retaliation is necessary, but not enough. The rules of the game on international trade have long been unfair, putting corporations over communities and punishing countries for their sovereign choices in the interest of people and the environment. These tectonic geopolitical and economic shifts are an opportunity for Canada to not only diversify trade, but move away from the models that upheld the old partnerships and their modus operandi.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to protect workers and businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs. The costs of volatile trade partners shouldn’t fall on workers and communities. We now need to work towards building a more resilient economy, with good, high-quality jobs, strong domestic supply chains, and public investments in the clean industries we need for the economy of the future.”
In 2025, CAN-Rac and over 30 organizations published a call for a tariff response that puts people first and builds resilience.
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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of close to 200 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Audrey Robillard, Bilingual Communications Coordinator
audreyrobillard@climateactionnetwork.ca