When it comes to exposure to US exports, Island and Coast workers are in the lower numbers.
That comes from new dashboards made by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, which are used to track how dependent Canadian workforces are on US exports.
The dashboards come amid the ongoing trade war, with Policy Vice President of Research Rachel Samson saying our country’s reliance on the American market has left some communities vulnerable to changes like tariffs and protection measures.
“Our dashboards can help identify which communities could experience challenges if tariffs are applied to sectors they depend on, allowing governments to work with the community to plan effective responses,” said Samson.
The organization says for all of BC, exposure to these exports is commonly between two to four percent, with some regions as low as 1.6 percent and as high as 5.6 percent.
For the Comox Valley, it has the lowest exposure to US exports on the Island at 1.9 percent.
Strathcona’s exposure sits at 2.6 percent, with Mount Waddington having the highest at 3.7 percent.
Nanaimo currently is at 2 percent, Cowichan Valley is at 2.9 percent, Sunshine Coast at 2.2 percent, and Powell River is 2.9 percent.
The organization hopes with these findings, it can be used to inform programs that soften the blow of tariffs and lower communities’ exposure to US exports.
To see the dashboards, click here.
