Regardless how you feel about the political goings-on in America these days, and no matter what you think about Donald Trump as a leader, he has already done a few things in office that can potentially give those of us in the trades some hope.

First, he approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. The Keystone XL pipeline will help Alberta get more of our product to market and provide many construction jobs while the pipeline, which starts in Hardisty, Alberta is being built.

Second, he pulled America out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The agreement took seven years to negotiate, and with America leaving the agreement, the TPP cannot be ratified. The agreement was slated to be the largest free-trade agreement in history, reducing or eliminating many tariffs and other barriers to trade. However, it also threatened the Canadian skilled labour force as it would allow foreign companies working in Canada to bring in workers from their country and would not require them to ensure that Canadian workers with the same qualifications be given the first opportunity for employment.

Finally, Trump met with North America Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey and other union leaders to hear their thoughts on what needs to be done to “create jobs, re-build America’s infrastructure, further develop and harness America’s abundant energy resources, raise the wages of working-class Americans, and move people off of public assistance and into the American middle class”.

All three of these actions have the potential to benefit skilled trades workers, not just in America but here at home, as well.

What do you think? Could President Donald Trump be good for the unionized trades? Let us know at info@bta.ca.