Poilievre lays out his plan to deal with Trump and help Canada weather the tariff storm

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has unveiled his plan to tackle the economic threats posed by the United States, as President Donald Trump prepares to impose new tariffs on Canada that could have a significant impact on cross-border trade. Poilievre emphasized the need for Canada to take a strong stance against the unjustified American economic threat, outlining his strategy to neutralize the impact of the tariffs.

While Poilievre has not directly engaged with the U.S. executive branch since the trade war began, he has been diligently working on his plan to protect Canada’s interests. His approach includes advocating for the renegotiation of the trade deal with the U.S., reducing income taxes, cutting the capital gains tax burden, and implementing a business liquidity support program to provide companies with access to cash during challenging economic times.

In his efforts to combat Trump’s trade agenda, Poilievre aims to create an “economic fortress” by boosting oil and gas development, expanding pipeline construction, and diversifying Canada’s export markets to reduce dependency on the U.S. market. He supports targeted, reciprocal tariffs on American goods but is focused on minimizing the impact on the Canadian economy.

As part of his proposed negotiations with Trump, Poilievre intends to maintain Canada’s sovereignty by protecting key industries such as automotive and supply-managed farm sectors, as well as safeguarding the country’s border, fresh water, and cultural heritage. He also emphasized the importance of meeting the NATO benchmark for defense spending to strengthen Canada’s security.

While Poilievre acknowledged the need to address the American threat, he emphasized that his election campaign would also address other pressing issues such as the housing crisis, inflation, and crime. He highlighted the importance of building more homes, supporting addiction recovery, balancing the budget, and controlling inflation as key priorities for his government.

In contrast to the approach taken by Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Poilievre criticized the Liberals for weakening Canada through restrictions on natural resources development and lackluster economic growth. He expressed concerns about Carney’s commitment to maintaining Bill C-69, an environmental regulatory framework that industry stakeholders have criticized as overly restrictive.

Poilievre asserted that a Conservative government led by him would prioritize Canada’s interests and protect the country from vulnerability to American influence. He accused Trump of favoring the Liberals and expressed the need for a change in government to ensure Canada’s prosperity and sovereignty.

Overall, Poilievre’s plan to confront the American economic threat focuses on strengthening Canada’s economy, protecting key industries, and safeguarding the country’s interests in negotiations with the U.S. His vision for a Conservative government prioritizes Canada’s sovereignty and economic resilience in the face of external challenges.