Bank of Canada governors tariff warning: There wont be a bounceback – National [Video]

If Canada is hit by sweeping, broad-based tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump, the hit to the Canadian economy could be permanent, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem is warning.

Speaking to the members of the Mississauga Board of Trade and the Oakville Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Macklem said the shock from the tariffs would be very different from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the pandemic, we had a steep recession followed by a rapid recovery as the economy reopened,” Macklem said. “This time, if tariffs are long-lasting and broad-based, there won’t be a bounceback.”

Macklem said while Canada could recover part of the growth, the damage would be long-lasting.

“We may eventually regain our current rate of growth, but the level of output would be permanently lower. It’s more than a shock — it’s a structural change,” he said.

Macklem said the first sector to …