Kingston Labour Day 2026: tariff and school funding fears

Tariff job losses and Ontario school funding dominated Kingston’s Labour Day parade and picnic at McBurney Park on Sept. 7, 2026, where MPP Ted Hsu and union leaders pressed the province to do more for workers. Less than two weeks later, Novelis cut about 80 jobs at its Kingston aluminum plant, citing U.S. tariffs.

The Kingston and District Labour Council organizes the event every year. Its 2026 program started with a 10 a.m. parade from McBurney Park, known locally as Skeleton Park, to City Hall and back, followed by speeches, a community market, information booths and children’s games.

Hundreds of people came out, YGK News reported. Hsu, who represents Kingston and the Islands at Queen’s Park, told the crowd that people in the region were already losing work because of the trade war with the United States and that the provincial government had a duty to help prevent more layoffs.

He framed it as a shared burden. Workers who have not been hit by tariffs, he said, need to stand with those who have.

His warning landed quickly. On Sept. 18, Novelis said it would temporarily lay off about 70 hourly workers and eliminate 10 salaried jobs at its Kingston plant, roughly one-third of the site’s workforce, CTV News reported. The company pointed to U.S. duties on Canadian aluminum and said laid-off staff could be recalled if production picks up.

Ottawa and Queen’s Park have since announced an $8.7-billion plan aimed at steel, autos and mining, sectors hit by U.S. tariffs. Our report on the Carney and Ford plan covers what is in it.

Education was the other main theme at the picnic. Lisa Lacaria, provincial first vice-president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, said teachers’ dedication cannot make up for years of cuts by Premier Doug Ford’s government. She put the cumulative shortfall in Ontario schools at $6.5 billion since 2018.

Her union is still bargaining. As the school year opened, Ontario’s teachers and education workers were working without new contracts, and OECTA was the only union still at the table with the province after talks with the others stalled over which issues are bargained centrally, CP24 reported in August.

John DiPaolo, president of United Way Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, used his time at the microphone to preview a bigger fundraising ask. Three days after Labour Day, on Sept. 10, the charity announced a goal of $4.25 million for its 86th annual campaign, up $165,000 from 2025.

The United Way said local agencies are facing more demand while dealing with rising costs. The campaign, which relies heavily on workplace giving from more than 130 employers, runs until Nov. 26, 2026. Matching grants are on offer for first-time leadership donors who give $1,200 or more and for first-time donors at the $500 to $1,199 level.

Janet Haymen, president of the labour council, said that while workers still need improvements, she was pleased with the turnout and glad people took the day to celebrate.

For residents, the next markers are the United Way’s year-end total, any recall at Novelis and the outcome of the teacher talks. Workers who lose their jobs to tariffs can check how much EI pays in 2026 and how to apply, and our look at Ontario’s latest EI numbers shows how the province is faring.

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