QUEBEC — Quebec Premier François Legault addressed the Canadian National Assembly on Feb. 4, highlighting the severe economic impact of the U.S. tariffs on Quebec. 

“The world, our world, is changing,” Legault said, as reported by the National Post. “We have to roll up our sleeves. We have to fight and we have to do it together, intelligently, in the Quebec way.” The news outlet reported that he chanted “Vive le Quebec” to a standing ovation from a vast majority of Member of the National Assembly (MNAs).

Despite a 30-day delay by President Trump, Legault emphasized the urgency to reshape Quebec's economy, noting its over-reliance on the U.S. He warned of the economic poisoning caused by the tariff uncertainty and criticized the U.S. president's actions. 

The National Post reported that opposition parties concurred on the need for economic diversification but pointed out Quebec's vulnerability due to its high deficit. The government plans to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and ensure retaliatory measures don't harm local businesses. Legault also called for immediate renegotiation of the Free Trade Agreement, with a visit to Washington scheduled.

According to Statista, an consulting and analysis company, reported in October 2024 that Quebec is a major hub for furniture manufacturing. Number of furniture and related product manufacturing establishments in Quebec was 1,316 facilities, second only to the province of Ontario.

The threat of tariffs has already caused ripples and economic hardship. The Global News reported that South Shore Furniture, a Quebec furniture manufacturer, felt the need to lay off 115 people because of the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.

South Shore Furniture says it’s laying off 97 people at its headquarters and factory in Ste-Croix, Que., southwest of Quebec City, and another 18 people at its operations in the Eastern Townships, a historical administrative region in southeastern Quebec

The Wood Manufacturing Council, a non-profit, Canadian corporation that works to bring together stakeholders in advanced wood processing, are steadfast in its plan to develop and implement human resources strategies to support the long-term growth and competitiveness of Canada’s advanced wood products manufacturing industry. 

 “It’s still too early to tell how the current tariffs will affect Canadian suppliers and its U.S. customers in the long-run, and job losses across many industries may start to occur. The Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC) is steadfast in it’s mandate to plan for and develop human resources strategies that will address our industry’s current and changing needs.”