Good afternoon, Chair and honourable members.
Thank you for the opportunity and the invitation to be here. My name is Marc Lecours. I'm the owner of Preferred CNC and Michmar Engineering. I was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario. I've spent 42 years in the mould-making industry. I founded both of my companies, which together employ 20 skilled individuals here in our community.
Preferred CNC is a specialized CNC machining company that supports mould-makers locally in Windsor, as well as customers across the border in Michigan. We focus on precision machining for plastic injection moulds, automation, assemblies, fixtures and dies. Our capabilities include five-axis and three-axis machining, CNC turning and metal additive manufacturing.
Michmar Engineering is now in its 20th year. It specializes in plastic, injection-mould design and continues to support a wide range of customers across North America.
Together, our companies have also driven innovation. We developed patented products called the EZ Slider, which replaces traditional slides within moulds, lifters and hydraulic systems with a more cost-effective, efficient solution for mould-makers. It is patented in the United States with additional filings in Canada and China. We are also developing a plastic, injection-moulded toilet, which is designed to replicate traditional porcelain ones. We aim to bring them to market within the next year. This product was designed by Michmar and was built in Windsor at Preferred CNC.
I share this not to promote my business but to demonstrate the level of innovation, the capabilities and the talent that exist in the Windsor mould-making sector.
However, the entire ecosystem is now under serious threat. The U.S. tariffs, ranging from 10% to as high as 50%, are not just challenging. They are potentially crippling to our industry. Windsor mould-makers operate in a deeply integrated cross-border market. These tariffs disrupt long-standing relationships, increase costs and make it extremely difficult for us to remain competitive.
I am nearing the end of my career, so I'm not here for myself. I'm here for the next generation, for our children and for the future of the skilled trades in Canada. Over the past five years, our industry has endured significant challenges.
First, COVID-19 created unprecedented uncertainties. While we were fortunate enough to be deemed essential, many shops struggled. I'm proud to say that we contributed by producing moulds for PPE in record time, completing in two weeks what would normally take eight weeks. Much of that production supported needs in the United States, demonstrating how interconnected and mutually supportive our industries truly are.
Second, uncertainties around the electric vehicle program have caused projects to stop, start and stall without clear direction, leaving many shops exposed.
Third, early tariffs on steel and aluminum forced us to adapt quickly, often sourcing more expensive materials in order to stay compliant. Now, with additional tariffs reaching up to 50%, we're facing a breaking point. These measures will lead to more shop closures, job losses and the erosion of a highly specialized industry that cannot easily be rebuilt once it's gone. My shop will not survive these tariffs.
Windsor is globally recognized for its mould-making expertise. If we lose that position, we will not get it back.
My message today is simple: We need immediate action. We must engage with the United States now, urgently and decisively, to reach a fair and responsible agreement that supports both countries. Our industries are strong when we work together, not against each other. If we wait, it might be too late.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I'm truly grateful.