Poilievre vows to build ‘economic fortress’ in face of U.S. tariffs
“Canada will never be the 51st state,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told Conservative supporters during a campaign stop in Toronto on April 2. “We will be a strong, self-reliant nation that takes care of its own and bows down before no country.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a strategy Wednesday to protect Canada’s economy from potential U.S. trade action, promising to build what he called an “economic fortress” in response to possible renewed tariffs under a second Donald Trump presidency.
“These tariffs are unjustified,” Poilievre said in a speech focused on economic independence and national resilience. “They will hurt people and businesses on both sides of the border.”
He announced a three-part plan involving short-term retaliation, renegotiation of the Canada-U.S. trade agreement, and long-term economic reform. The immediate response would include “reciprocal tariffs” and a “Keep Canadians Working Fund” to support impacted industries.
A central theme of his remarks was bolstering domestic production, particularly in the energy sector. “We will remove gatekeepers and green light Canadian energy,” he said, adding that his government would “approve and allow the rapid construction of new LNG export terminals and pipelines” and remove anti-energy laws.
"Expanding our energy production and exports is the single most powerful thing we can do to break our dependence on the Americans," he said.
In terms of the "long-term plan to build an economic fortress for Canada, so we are never vulnerable to these kinds of threats again," Poilievre said he would on Day One as prime minister propose acceleration of the renegotiation of CUSMA with the U.S.
"We should set a firm deadline to finalize a deal. And I will propose that both countries pause tariffs while we try to hammer out a deal. Keeping destructive tariffs kills jobs on both sides of the border and serves no purpose," he said.
"It does not make sense to continue killing jobs, disrupting markets, and weakening both of our economies with on-again-off-again tariffs for months on end. Canadian businesses and workers need certainty now. In the meantime, during renegotiations, the suspension of tariffs would have to go both ways."
The Conservative leader laid out a series of non-negotiable principles. “First, I will protect our border, our security, our resources, our farmers, including our supply-managed farmers, our fresh water, and our automotive workers,” he said. “Also off the table: our sovereignty, our laws, our currency, our land, our water, our skies, our culture, our official languages, our resources, and Indigenous rights will remain in our control for all time. These are non-negotiable. We will protect Canada’s sovereignty in negotiations.”
Poilievre said revenue from an expanded trade deal would be used to “build up our military, meet our NATO commitments, and be a reliable partner with our allies. Not because President Trump wants us to, but because it’s the right thing to do especially in light of American ambivalence about NATO and world peace.”
He also reiterated that Canada will "carry its own weight" and secure the North. "We will put more boots on the ground, planes in the air, and submarines and ice-breakers in the water,” he said.
On border security, Poilievre committed to “work with the Americans to stop illegal migration and drugs in both directions at our shared border,” while also demanding that the U.S. “do its part to stop illegal guns coming into our country that are killing our people.”
To ensure U.S. compliance with any new agreement, Poilievre said, “We must make clear that any commitments we make on defence, border cooperation, and market access can be withdrawn. We will hold up our end of the bargain—only as long as he holds up his. That is how we create the leverage to protect against a president who changes his mind and breaks his word.”
The Conservative leader also promised zero capital gains taxes on domestic reinvestment, aiming to “bring home production, manufacturing, and jobs,” and “end our dependency on overseas dictators.”
Poilievre criticized the Liberals’ handling of U.S. trade relations, warning that a lack of preparation could leave Canada vulnerable: “We need a credible plan to deal with Trump. We have none.” He argued that under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or a potential Liberal successor like Mark Carney, “Canada will be weaker and poorer.”
“Canada will never be the 51st state,” he said. “We will be a strong, self-reliant nation that takes care of its own and bows down before no country.”
He framed the moment as pivotal: “We are at a fork in the road.”
He added: “My message to President Trump is this: if you keep attacking our economy over the next four years, under my Conservative government, Canada will become completely rebuilt as an economy that no longer is reliant on the Americans for everything.”
