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Opposition leaders call for plan to deal with Trump tariff threats

Bridgewater, NS, Canada / Country 100.7
Evan Taylor
Dec 4, 2024 | 12:20 PM


Opposition leaders call for plan to deal with Trump tariff threats

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Photo: CPAC.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago has sparked sharp reactions from opposition leaders in Canada.
The discussion, which touched on border security and trade, included Trump’s proposal for a twenty-five percent tariff on Canadian goods—a threat that has raised serious concerns about its potential impact on the Canadian economy.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the meeting a failure, criticizing Trudeau for not securing a commitment to exempt Canada from the tariffs.

Speaking to reporters, Poilievre argued that the Prime Minister had mishandled the situation and failed to adequately advocate for Canadian industries. He warned that such tariffs would harm workers on both sides of the border and urged Trudeau to focus on showcasing Canada’s economic value to the U.S.

“The Prime Minister has broken our immigration system, broken our banks, and broken our border,” Poilievre said in Parliament. He added that avoiding tariffs should be a straightforward task if the Americans understand the economic damage they would inflict on their own businesses by targeting Canadian goods.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, proposed measures to address U.S. concerns about border security, suggesting the federal government hire 1,100 additional border officers. Singh stated that improving border enforcement could help mitigate Trump’s criticisms and provide a stronger basis for trade discussions.

Both opposition leaders emphasized the need to protect Canadian workers and industries, but their approaches differed sharply. While Poilievre criticized Trudeau’s lack of results, Singh supported enhancing border measures to address one of the issues Trump raised.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also expressed their opposition to the proposed tariffs, emphasizing the need to protect Canadian industries and maintain strong economic ties with the U.S.