Photo credit: CBC
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is betting big and he doubled down on his “Canada First” message in a fiery speech at a rally in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon where he promised, if elected prime minister, to deliver a forceful response to Donald Trump’s tariffs and to build a self-sufficient Canada.
The Hill Times reports that in his hour-and-a-half-long speech at the Rogers Centre, Poilievre painted himself as the most capable Canadian politician to stand up against what he called “unjustified” threats of tariffs and annexation from the United States, and he pledged to take a strong stand.
“We must respond with strength, … We have leverage. I will use that leverage. Retaliation is only the beginning,” he said adding that countermeasures would include “careful targeting” American goods on a dollar-for-dollar basis while maximizing production in Canada.
In his message to Washington, D.C., he said: “Option one, you can carry out an unprovoked attack on our economy. your consumers will pay more, and your workers will make less. Gas prices will skyrocket. You will turn a loyal friend into a resentful neighbour, forced to match tariff with tariff, and seek friends elsewhere.”
Poilievre, however, signalled a willingness to embrace a diplomatic resolution to foster stronger trade and security partnership with the US. “Option two, we trade even more, and both our workers make more, and our consumers pay less. If Canada is not your friend, who is?” he asked.
The rally was held on the 60th anniversary of Canada’s red-and-white Maple Leaf flag.
