The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, said he would fight Trump’s looming tariffs on Canadian goods “with fire.”
He vowed to “fight fire with fire” and respond to Trump’s economic protectionism with new policies that would secure higher wages and boost investment in Canada.
In an interview broadcast by Corus Radio Station CKNW in Vancouver on Friday, Poilievre said that he supports boosting security on the Canadian-US border.
He also downplayed concerns that Trump’s vow to deport undocumented migrants would lead to a rush of people trying to cross the Canada-US border.
Global News, a Canadian media company, quoted Poilievre when he was asked how he planned to address Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods:
“First of all, we should be exempt from all these tariffs. I can’t believe that (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau signed a trade deal with Trump that leaves open the possibility of a 10-per cent tariff. I never would have agreed to that. But more importantly, I’ll fight fire with fire!”
The flow of capital and industry to the United States from Canada would end if he reduced income tax and taxes on foreign investment and eliminated the consumer carbon price, he added.
“Trump wants Canada’s jobs. When I’m prime minister, that ends,” Poilievre vowed.
Trump and Immigration – Criminals Only?
During his election campaign, Donald Trump said he would conduct mass deportations if he became president. Now that he is the president-elect, many have started to wonder what exactly he meant by “mass deportations.”
According to a recent BBC report, Trump’s pledge is a topic of heated discussion in immigrant communities, social media, and WhatsApp groups.
The BBC quoted Gabriela, who said:
“I’m not scared at all, actually. That’s for criminals to worry about. I pay taxes, and I work. In any case, I’m undocumented. [So] how would they even know about me?”
Tom Homan, Trump’s newly appointed “border tsar,” explained that undocumented migrants who were deemed to be public safety or national security threats will be his priority. He suggested he may reintroduce workplace raids.
Trudeau & Trump – Second Time Round
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, is bracing for another Trump administration, Canada’s newspapers are currently reporting.
Trudeau had a rocky relationship with Trump during his last term. You would think that two neighboring countries that share the world’s longest undefended border would be best friends.
When Trudeau spoke to reporters one day after Trump’s victory, he did not sound totally at ease:
“We’re ready to tackle some of the new challenges that, no doubt, the new American administration will put on the table.”
KVNF Public Radio quoted Brian Crowley, Managing Director of Ottawa-based think tank the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, who said:
“Canada and the U.S. are each other’s largest trade partners, with nearly $3 billion of goods and services crossing the border each day. Yet Trump has threatened a 10% global tariff on most U.S. imports. Those would have a powerful impact on Canada’s economy.”
Conclusion
Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Canadian business leaders, employees, and many households across the country are currently concerned about what a second Trump presidency will mean for the economy, job prospects, inflation, immigration, and national security.
We will have to wait and see what the new US president does next year.
