BREAKING: Poilievre warns counter-tariff revenue must not be used for more govt spending, lays out 7-point plan to fight Trump's tariffs

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre responded to President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s retaliatory measures by presenting a seven-point plan to guide Canada through the economic challenges ahead, if elected Prime Minister. 

“At 12:01, President Donald Trump stabbed America’s best friend in the back. My message to the president is this: Canada will fight back. We will defend our people and our economy, and we will put Canada first. There is no doubt that our economy will suffer, but so will yours, President Trump.

"In fact, you’re already paying the price with trillions erased in stock market value over the last month of these threats. Already, Americans are paying higher gas prices, as at midnight, a new American gas tax kicked in on US working-class taxpayers and motorists. Your workers will soon start losing jobs—jobs they had upgrading Canadian raw materials, which by the way, you were getting at an incredible and ridiculous bargain.

"Your businesses will be selling fewer products to your closest neighbor. That’s only the beginning. While Canadians are slow to anger and quick to forgive, once provoked, we fight back. We will fight back.”

Poilievre addressed Canadians who are concerned about the impact of the trade war. “Now, I’d like to speak to the millions of Canadians who were anxious today after learning that Trump attacked our economy. To our auto workers, forestry workers, the steel and aluminum workers, the mining, the energy workers, the truckers, the farmers—to all of you who get out of bed before the sun rises and do the labor of the nation—you are afraid right now, and I understand that. I will fight for you, for your job, and your family. I will fight for your chance at owning and paying off a home, and I will fight for your retirement.”

Poilievre outlined the hardships Canadians were already facing before the tariffs were implemented, stating: “Before these tariffs, you were already suffering. You wondered how you’d pay the rent or eventually dream of buying a home after housing costs had doubled over the last decade, rising faster than in any other G7 country. You’ve downgraded your diet, as food prices have risen 37 percent faster in Canada than in the United States over the last five years. You might be one of the two million people lined up at food banks, a number that has more than doubled since before these tariffs applied. You’ve likely noticed that your paycheck is not keeping up with record inflation, as Canada’s GDP has grown less and lower than any other G7 country over the last decade.”

Poilievre then introduced his seven-point plan:

1. Retaliate by targeting American goods in the following order: goods Canada can produce domestically, goods that are non-essential, and goods that can be sourced from other countries.

2. Ensure that counter-tariffs do not serve as a cash grab for the government. Nearly all revenue from tariffs should be allocated to tax cuts, with a portion set aside to support workers most affected by the trade war.

3. Implement a ‘Bring it Home’ tax cut on work, investment, energy, and homebuilding. This would include cutting the carbon tax, eliminating the sales tax on new homes, reversing the Liberal capital gains tax hike, and slashing income tax.

4. Repeal the Liberal ‘no new pipelines’ law, Bill C-69.

5. Remove taxes and red tape in the homebuilding sector to stimulate a housing construction boom.

6. Eliminate interprovincial trade barriers to reduce costs and increase wages.

7. Secure the border and rebuild the military to assert Canada’s sovereignty and strength on the global stage.

Poilievre criticized the Liberal government for suspending Parliament while sorting out its leadership situation, referencing Prime Minister Trudeau’s decision to prorogue Parliament in January for the Liberal Party’s leadership convention.

He continued with a call for national unity, invoking Canada’s historical legacy. “What binds us together is the Canadian promise—that anyone, anywhere can achieve anything.”

“I am not for MAGA, I’m for Canada,” Poilievre said in French. 

Following his response, Poilievre said in English: “I was asked in French about President Trump’s comments on me, the president says he doesn’t like me and doesn’t think I’m a MAGA guy. It is true that I am Canada First, I am only for Canada. I am fighting for the interests of this people and this country, and if that upsets foreign leaders, including the American president, I’m fine with that. I have one job to do and it’s to fight for this country. Let me be also clear, we will never be the 51st state, we will be self-reliant, sovereign, and stand on our own feet. We will be an independent and a sovereign country. I will always stand for our flag and our people," he concluded.