Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre vows to “fight fire with fire” and address US President-elect Donald Trump’s economic protectionism with policies aimed at attracting investment and higher wages to Canada.
Poilievre told Jas Johal on Corus CKNW radio station in Vancouver on Friday that he also supports increased security at the US-Canada border, but downplayed fears that Trump’s promised mass deportations would lead to an influx of migrants. seeking to enter Canada.
Corus Entertainment is the parent company of Global News.
Johal asked how Poilievre would plan to deal with Trump if he were to impose tariffs on Canada, as he has promised a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all foreign imports to the US.
“First of all, we should be exempt from all these tariffs. I can’t believe (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau signed a trade deal with Trump that leaves open the possibility of a 10 percent tariff. “I would never have accepted that,” Poilievre said.
He added that he would work to end tariffs on softwood lumber and secure an exemption to “buy American” policies.
“But the most important thing is that I will fight fire with fire,” he said, noting that Canada has seen large levels of investment fall and move to the United States in recent years. “I want our money back.”
The Conservative leader said his long-standing plan to eliminate the consumer price of carbon, as well as cuts to income tax and foreign investment, will end the flow of investment and industry from Canada to the United States.
“Trump wants our jobs, Trudeau wants to help them get them,” he said. “When I am prime minister, that will end.”
Trump has also promised tax cuts and regulations to boost investment in the United States to counter China, who he said will face 60 percent tariffs on imported goods.
The Liberal government has expressed confidence that the first Trump administration, which imposed reciprocal tariffs on steel and aluminum, demonstrated that Canada should be exempt from such tariffs. He has also said Canada’s alignment with the United States on tariffs on the Chinese auto industry puts Ottawa on “firm” ground for free trade talks scheduled for 2026.
Get daily national news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
But Poilievre said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government should have gotten an exemption from U.S. tariffs in the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement that replaced NAFTA during Trump’s first term, including on softwood lumber.
This year, the Biden administration significantly increased tariffs on softwood lumber from Canada, from 8.05 percent to 14.54 percent.
The increase has received backlash from government and industry in British Columbia, where the forestry sector has struggled for years due to high export costs.
Poilievre said he would end those roles, but did not say how.
“Trump wants the best for American workers, I want the best for Canadian workers,” he said.
“We’re not going to be stupid anymore…Trump would like nothing more than to keep Trudeau in power because he can walk all over him and take his money.”
He added that Trump will likely take advantage of the planned consumer carbon price increase next April to attract more businesses and workers to the United States.
Few details on border security
The government has come under pressure from opposition parties and provinces over its plan for border security and screening of people seeking to enter Canada irregularly from the United States amid a Trump-led immigration crackdown, which includes deportations.
The Liberals say agencies have been preparing for such a scenario for months and the government is prepared to provide additional resources if necessary.
Poilievre said he wants to see more front-line agents at the Canadian border, as well as legislative changes “if necessary to prevent people from abusing our system.”
But he pointed the finger squarely at Trudeau, rather than Trump, for the problems at the border.
“Let’s not get distracted,” Poilievre said. “The problems we have regarding immigration occurred during Justin Trudeau’s government before this election. “I mean, President Trump hasn’t even taken office yet.”
Trudeau announced last month that Canada would reduce the number of permanent residents accepted each year in a bid to curb population growth and address shortages of housing and social services that have been blamed on immigration.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Union told Global News in an emailed statement that staffing shortages at the Canada Border Services Agency have been “a long-standing problem” and estimates the agency would need between 2,000 and 3,000 officers. just to meet your current operational needs. .
When pressed by Johal on the need to address the expected surge of immigrants fleeing Trump’s deportation plan, Poilievre dismissed the idea that this would overwhelm the refugee system.
“It’s not possible to be a refugee from the United States,” he said. “We spent the holidays there. It is not a dictatorship. It is not a dangerous country that you should flee from.”
Trump’s newly appointed “border czar,” Tom Homan, said this week that the Canada-U.S. border represented “an extreme national security vulnerability” and promised to address it when he is in the White House.
Republican Rep. Mike Walz, whom Trump chose as his national security adviser, has encouraged Poilievre to win the next election against Trudeau, which is currently scheduled for next October at the latest.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
