The federal minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) was in Brantford on Monday, pitching government support for an industry facing new 50 per cent tariffs from the United States. Minister Evan Solomon toured Canada’s last commercial hockey stick factory, Roustan Hockey Limited, and got his hands on some of the iconic sticks with “Made in Canada” plastered on them. He highlighted Ottawa’s expanded relief funding aimed at helping regional manufacturers weather cross-border trade friction. “And what we are doing here, with $7.5 billion that we’ve added to the regional tariff relief initiative on top of 25 billion — what we are doing to support our industries, what we are doing to invest in our national defense, to invest in our affordable homes, to invest in our businesses and our entrepreneurs,” Solomon said. The visit comes as domestic manufacturers brace for the operational impact of recent tariffs. At Roustan, owner Graeme Roustan said the factory has spent the past year managing ongoing trade uncertainty. He compared the recurring tariff threats to “Groundhog Day.” “Last year it was just about a 10, 12 per cent decrease [in sales],” Roustan said. “Last year, we made that up later in the year because consumers did come back.” However, with the newly introduced 50 per cent tariff, Roustan said long-term order volume remains unpredictable. “We don’t know what we don’t know,” Roustan said. “We don’t know about that customer that was going to place an order, but maybe he’s going to hold off now.” “A bad deal is worse” Addressing concerns about ongoing trade negotiations, Solomon insisted the federal government will hold out for terms that safeguard Canadian businesses rather than rush into a quick compromise. “Uncertainty freezes capital, but a bad deal is worse,” Solomon said. “We’re just going to not make a bad deal for Canada. Straight up.” “We will go back,” he added. “We will do exactly what we do in a hockey game. We’re going to skate hard and fight hard for ourselves, and then when this is resolved, we’ll line up and shake hands.” Despite the immediate market pressures, Roustan pointed to the facility’s nearly 180-year operating history as proof of its long-term resilience. “Through a couple of world wars, a couple of pandemics, a dozen financial crises and stock market collapses — so, yeah, this company is resilient,” he said. Roustan Hockey produces approximately 400,000 sticks annually at its Brantford plant. While about 25 per cent of its product historically exports to the U.S., the company also fills orders for ice rinks globally.
