Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Ottawa to offer Canadians tax relief amid the ongoing trade war with the United States, and reveal how much the proposed counter-tariffs will cost.
During a press conference in Windsor, Ont., on Aug. 25, Poilievre criticized the United States’ “unjustified tariffs” and said the Conservatives will submit an economic action plan when Parliament resumes to support Canadians.
The Opposition wants Ottawa to remove capital gains taxes on reinvestment in Canada, which Poilievre said would help recover more than $1 trillion that has fled the Canadian economy over the past decade. The party also wants the Liberal government to cancel gas and diesel taxes until Canada Day 2027 so families can save $1,000 and businesses can transport goods more affordably.
Other recommendations include scrapping the Impact Assessment Act, and approving projects that have been waiting for federal approval.
“Get the government out of the way, permit those projects, and get people building,” Poilievre said.
He also urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to scrap the industrial carbon tax on construction materials, oil and gas, and other essentials, and remove the GST from Canadian-built automobiles.
Poilievre also encouraged Canadians to buy products with as much Canadian content as possible.
The prime minister spoke with opposition party leaders on Aug. 25 about the state of trade talks with the United States, stressing the importance of a “united Team Canada approach.”
He also discussed new measures Canada is taking in the escalating trade war, including $7.5 billion in support package for affected Canadian businesses and workers. The package provides loan and finance programs for businesses, and offers more flexibility for workers to access employment insurances.
The Libera government says its newly announced counter-tariffs against the United States are strategic, meant to in part put political pressure from certain U.S. states on the White House to remove its tariffs.
“This morning, I spoke with opposition leaders about our response to the unjustified U.S. tariffs — including new measures to back Canadian workers, families, and businesses,” Carney said.
“We’re focused on what matters: protecting Canadian jobs, building a stronger economy, and making sure Canada is never dependent on any single country.”
The White House, meanwhile, is blaming the failure of the trade talks on Canada, saying Canada has been offered “the most preferential market access of any country,” but chose to abandon the talks, with new U.S. tariffs going into force in the aftermath.
Recall Parliament
Poilievre said he would ask Carney to recall Parliament and present “a real economic plan” to protect jobs and lower the cost of living. He said Conservatives are prepared to work with other parties “to lock arms and fight for affordability, for jobs, and for the country that we love.”
He also called on Carney to release the text of a trade deal Ottawa rejected, saying Canadians deserve to know what Ottawa was trying to achieve, what the United States demanded, and why Canada walked away.
“Transparency is essential,” Poilievre said.
Carney has said he rejected the deal because Washington did not include medium- and heavy-duty trucks among the products receiving tariff relief, wanted to restrict Canada’s ability to engage in other trade deals, and objected to Canada’s French-language protection requirements. Washington disputes this claim, saying Canada was the party that walked back its commitments at the last minute.
BQ Wants Supply Management to Remain Intact
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet wrote on social media that he spoke with Carney, who he said was focused on helping Quebec’s economy adapt to the trade conflict while “improving the balance of power” with the Trump administration.
Blanchet said Carney was no longer interested in discussing compromises involving supply management, while the two sides remained committed to discussions about sustainable funding for Quebec and Canadian television, radio, and cinema.
He said Ottawa, the provinces, and all parties in the House of Commons need to reach a consensus on the trade conflict.
NDP Wants Fundamental Change
NDP Leader Avi Lewis said on social media that the trade war should “jolt” Canada away from its reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to “clean, secure and reliable energy.”
“This is a look-in-the-mirror moment for Canada. Let’s make our country stronger, safer and more affordable for the 99%,” he said.
