Singh says Poilievre doesn’t want to upset Elon Musk with tariff response

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has accused Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of taking a soft stance on Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian goods. Singh suggested that Poilievre’s approach may be influenced by his endorsement from Elon Musk.

Singh criticized Poilievre’s plan as “literally to do nothing… until an election,” just a week before Trump’s presidential inauguration. Poilievre had outlined his strategy to address Trump’s tariff threat, which includes offering more energy to fuel the American tech industry, lowering taxes to encourage investment in Canada, and making the Canadian economy more independent and less vulnerable to foreign threats.

When questioned about his lack of a more forceful response against tariffs, Poilievre stated that he needs the mandate from voters in an election to prioritize putting Canada first. He has promised to advocate against tariffs directly to American union workers and business leaders if he becomes prime minister and has expressed willingness to retaliate against Trump’s protectionist trade measures if necessary.

Singh and the NDP are using Trump’s impending presidency as a political tool to differentiate themselves from the Conservatives in the lead-up to the spring election. Singh accused Poilievre of lacking a plan to address Trump’s threats and highlighted the support Poilievre has received from Elon Musk.

Musk, a prominent figure in the tech industry and a close associate of Trump, endorsed Poilievre and praised his speeches and interactions on social media. Singh criticized Poilievre for being more interested in pleasing billionaires like Musk than in defending Canadian jobs.

In response to Musk’s endorsement, Poilievre mentioned the possibility of convincing Musk to open factories in Canada to create high-paying jobs for Canadians. Conservative Party deputy leader Melissa Lantsman defended Poilievre’s plan to prioritize Canadian interests and criticized Singh’s news conference as “incoherent.”

Singh also called for restrictions on Canada’s supply of critical minerals to the U.S. as a means of pressuring Trump to back away from tariffs. Critical minerals are essential for various industries, including technology, defense, and transportation. Canada is a significant producer of critical minerals like cobalt, graphite, nickel, zinc, and potash, which are crucial for the American economy.

According to a spokesperson for the minister of natural resources, Canada exported $84 billion worth of minerals to the U.S. in 2023. Singh emphasized the importance of showing force against Trump’s threats and suggested that oil and gas exports could also be leveraged in negotiations.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford outlined his province’s plan to accelerate resource development, including mining for critical minerals. While Ford expressed a desire to avoid cutting off critical minerals to the U.S., he emphasized that he would not hesitate to take action if necessary to protect Canadian interests.

Overall, the political landscape is heating up as parties position themselves on how to handle Trump’s tariff threats, with the NDP advocating for a more aggressive approach and the Conservatives emphasizing the need to prioritize Canadian interests in negotiations with the U.S.