Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre directly denounced U.S. President Donald Trump's rhetoric about Canada, emphasizing the need for a stable relationship with the United States. Speaking at the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto, Poilievre called for an all-party working group on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) trade deal. He stressed focusing on what is within Canada's power to control amidst economic uncertainty. "What President Trump says about Canada is wrong," Poilievre stated, a departure from previous addresses where the U.S. president was not named. He argued for building domestic resilience and strength, advocating for tariff-free trade with the U.S. and proposing a North American auto pact that would exclude Chinese vehicles. Poilievre also criticized the Liberal government's approach to China and recent diplomatic efforts.
Poilievre proposed leveraging Canada's friendship with the U.S. as an asset in the CUSMA review. He suggested tying purchases of American military equipment to free trade and creating a strategic energy and mineral reserve. The Conservative leader also called for unblocking resource development and growth to enhance Canada's autonomy and leverage. He contrasted his approach with that of Prime Minister Mark Carney, suggesting that while Carney acknowledges the inability to control U.S. actions, he is not achieving tangible results on trade.