Sir John A.'s National Policy protected central Canada's manufacturing at the expense of western farmers. History is repeating itself

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Current discussions about tariffs focus on their use by U.S. President Donald Trump to advance American interests. But tariffs have been used in Canada since 1879 when John A. Macdonald’s National Policy set out to promote immigration, build a railway to western Canada and put tariffs on imported manufactured goods to protect jobs in Ontario and Quebec. The Carney government is repeating the tariff part of this pattern by protecting manufactured products, including steel, aluminum and EV cars.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Protecting central Canada’s manufacturing in this way has fostered serious regional discontent as Canadians in other parts of the country lose access to cheaper manufactures from other countries. The roots of western Canadian alienation date back to farmers’ movements protesting 19th- and early 20th-century tariffs that forced farmers to pay higher prices for the equipment they used to produce crops that they then sold onto highly competitive international markets without benefit of similar protection.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue........

© Financial Post