The Conservative leader said he will work to bring foreign investment and industry back to Canada with policies similar to Trump’s vows to slash taxes and regulations.
In response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s economic protectionism, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to “fight fire with fire” and implement measures that would draw in foreign investment and raise salaries in Canada.
While downplaying concerns that Trump’s planned mass deportations will result in a flood of migrants trying to enter Canada, Poilievre told Jas Johal on Vancouver’s Corus Radio station CKNW on Friday that he also favors heightened security at the U.S.-Canada border.
Global News’ parent company is Corus Entertainment.
Given that Trump has pledged a general 10-percent tariff on all imports to the United States, Johal questioned how Poilievre would respond to him if he levied tariffs on Canada.
First and foremost, we ought to be free from all of these tariffs. The fact that (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau and Trump agreed to a trade agreement that might result in a 10-percent tax is unbelievable. Poilievre remarked, “I never would have agreed to that.”
He also promised to seek an exemption from “Buy American” laws and to remove tariffs on softwood lumber.
“But more importantly, I’ll fight fire with fire,” he remarked, pointing out that in recent years, a significant number of Canadian investments have left the country and moved to the United States. “I want our money returned.”
According to the Conservative leader, his long-standing pledge to remove the consumer carbon price, together with income tax and foreign investment tax cuts, will stop Canadian business and investment from moving to the United States.
“Trudeau wants to help them take our jobs, and Trump wants our jobs,” he stated. “That stops when I become prime minister.”
In addition, Trump has pledged tax and regulatory cuts to encourage foreign investment in the United States in response to China, which he claims will be subject to 60% import duties.
According to the Liberal government, the first Trump administration’s experience with tit-for-tat steel and aluminum tariffs showed that Canada should not be subject to them. Additionally, it has stated that Ottawa is in a “firm” position for the planned free trade negotiations in 2026 because of Canada’s alignment with the United States on tariffs imposed on the Chinese car sector.
However, Poilievre stated that during Trump’s first term, the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ought to have negotiated a softwood lumber exemption from U.S. tariffs in the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which took the role of NAFTA.
This year, the Biden administration raised taxes on Canadian softwood timber from 8.05 percent to 14.54 percent.
In British Columbia, where the timber sector has been struggling for years due to the high export costs, the government and businesses have reacted negatively to the hike.
Poilievre promised to terminate their responsibilities, but he did not specify how.
He declared, “I want what’s best for Canadian workers, and Trump wants what’s best for American workers.”
“We’re going to stop being fools. Nothing would please Trump more than to keep Trudeau in office so he can abuse him and embezzle his money.
According to him, Trump would probably capitalize on the anticipated rise in the consumer carbon price in April of next year by luring more companies and people to the United States.
A few border security specifics
In the midst of a Trump-led immigration crackdown that includes deportations, opposition parties, and provinces have questioned the government on its strategy for border security and enforcement of those attempting to enter Canada illegally from the United States.
According to the Liberals, the government is ready to supply more resources if needed, and agencies have been preparing for such a situation for months.
In addition to legal measures “if necessary to prevent people from abusing our system,” Poilievre stated that he hopes to see more front-line officials at the Canadian border.
However, he blamed Trudeau directly for border problems rather than Trump.
Poilievre stated, “Let’s not get sidetracked.” Prior to this election, Justin Trudeau was in charge of the immigration issues we currently face. President Trump hasn’t even been in office yet, after all.
In an effort to curb population growth and solve the housing and social service shortfalls that have been attributed to immigration, Trudeau declared last month that Canada will drastically reduce the annual number of permanent residents admitted.
Staffing shortages at the Canada Border Services Agency have been “a long-standing issue,” according to a statement sent to Global News via email by the Customs and Immigration Union. The union believes that the agency would require an extra 2,000 to 3,000 officers simply to satisfy its existing operating demands.
Poilievre denied that the refugee system would be overburdened by the anticipated influx of migrants escaping Trump’s deportation plan when Johal questioned him on the issue.
He asserted that it is impossible to be a refugee from the United States. “We go there for vacation. It’s not a totalitarian regime. You don’t need to leave the nation since it’s not hazardous.
This week, Tom Homan, Trump’s recently appointed “border czar,” declared that the Canada-U.S. border was “an extreme national security vulnerability” and promised to solve it while in the White House.
Trump’s national security advisor, Republican Rep. Mike Walz, has publicly urged Poilievre to defeat Trudeau in the upcoming election, which is scheduled for no later than October of next year.