Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is ramping up pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney as Canada’s trade war with the United States drags on. In a wide-ranging interview on CTV’s Question Period, Poilievre declared that Canada must not settle for sectoral tariffs in any deal with Washington, insisting instead on restoring full tariff-free access to the American market.
“We used to have that privileged access to the American economy,” Poilievre said, adding that Canada should leverage its role in continental security to push for a better deal. His comments come as President Donald Trump continues to overhaul America’s trade regime, stacking heavy tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos and copper — measures that have hit Canadian industries hard.
Carney’s government has been negotiating a new economic and security agreement with Washington for months. While Carney recently dropped many Canadian counter-tariffs by exempting CUSMA-compliant goods, he has faced criticism for offering too many concessions — including scrapping the controversial digital services tax. Poilievre accused Carney of negotiating “out of a position of weakness,” arguing that Liberal climate policies such as the oil and gas emissions cap, the carbon tax, and Bill C-69 have left Canada overly dependent on the U.S.
“If we were building pipelines and port expansions to reach global markets, we would have leverage,” Poilievre said, calling on Ottawa to repeal “growth-blocking” laws and reward businesses that reinvest in Canada by eliminating the capital gains tax on reinvested profits. He also promised major cuts to the federal bureaucracy, claiming “billions of dollars” could be saved.
When pressed on whether his plan simply mirrors the Liberals’ recently passed Building Canada Act, Poilievre insisted that “Liberal laws and Liberal bureaucracies” are the obstacle to development. He argued that Trump “smells weakness” because Canada has not shown enough resolve.
Poilievre’s comments set the stage for an intense fall political season, with his own leadership review looming and Carney under growing pressure to deliver a breakthrough deal before more industries feel the pain of Trump’s tariffs.