If there was one word to describe 2025, it is relentless. As we prepare to turn the page to 2026, it is impossible not to look back at the last twelve months and marvel at the sheer scale of the challenges we have faced. From the geopolitical earthquakes south of the border to the legislative attacks right here at home, this year has tested the resilience of Canadian unions like never before. But if 2025 has taught us anything, it is that when Teamsters stand together, we are an unbreakable force.
The chaos of the first few months of 2026 set the tone for a year of economic uncertainty. The sweeping tariffs introduced by the American administration had a direct impact on the livelihoods of Canadian workers. We saw supply chains strained, and anxieties rise in the transportation and manufacturing sectors, which are the very heart of our Teamsters membership.
At home, the political landscape also shifted more than we thought it would. We witnessed the arrival of a new Liberal government in Ottawa. The election is behind us, but the real work is just beginning. Will this government truly be a partner to labour, or will we see more of the status quo? We expect them to protect our jobs, bargaining rights and our social safety net in these turbulent times. We are watching closely, and we will not hesitate to hold them accountable.
However, the most direct threat to our rights this year came from Quebec. The Coalition Avenir Québec and its introduction of Bill 3 was nothing short of a declaration of war on organized labour. the CAQ and Minister Jean Boulet have attempted to strangle unions with red tape and divide our membership by taking a page out of the Harper government’s playbook, which ultimately brought that Conservative government down. By proposing to split union dues into mandatory and optional categories, they are trying to silence our voice in the public sphere and weaken our ability to advocate for our members and their families.
Make no mistake about their intentions. They are attacking us because we are effective.
They want to weaken us because we are the only ones standing between corporate greed and the workers they wish to exploit.
Yet despite the tariffs, the political uncertainty and the legislation hostile to unions, I end this year with hope. I look at our members, including truckers and warehouse workers, package handlers and tradespeople, healthcare workers and our members on film sets, and I see resolve. This isn’t the first time we have navigated political and economic storms. Our solidarity has always been our strength.
As we head into 2026, let the message be clear. We are still here. We are still fighting. We are not going anywhere. United, there is no force strong enough to stop us because we are Teamsters!
I wish you and your families a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year.
In Solidarity,
François Laporte
President of Teamsters Canada
Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
