Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is reiterating his call for a federal election and says Canada needs a prime minister that will fight Donald Trump’s looming tariff threat.
Poilievre held a press conference on Thursday calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an “axe the tax” election now. This was Poilievre’s first time speaking publicly since Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday.
“I’m calling on him to walk to Rideau Hall and announce that there will be an axe the tax election now so that Canadians can take back control of their lives and country,” Poilievre said.
If elected, Poilievre says the “common sense Conservatives” will axe the tax, build homes, stop crime and put Canada first, among other objectives.
His presser comes amid heightened tensions with the U.S. after president-elect Trump threatened to implement 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports until Canada addresses illegal drugs and migrants crossing through the Canada-U.S. border. Trump also continues to make remarks about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, which many Canadian politicians have condemned.
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When asked about Trump’s recent jabs at the country, Poilievre said the country needs a prime minister who can convince economic allies in the U.S. that tariffs will be harmful to American businesses.
“Look, I’m not prime minister. I respectfully ask the Canadian people to give me the chance to serve them in that role but that’s why we need an axe the tax election now. I need the mandate, the mandate to put our country first, to make the case to the Americans, to bring home production and pay cheques to this country, to take back control and end the NDP-liberal chaos.”
He also commented on Trump’s tariff threat saying retaliatory tariffs on American imports “wouldn’t do very much” because the U.S. buys more oil and gas from Canada.
“President Trump complains about the trade deficit with Canada. The concern he’s raising really is Canada is selling oil and gas at a massive price discount to American refineries and LNG plants that are able to massively profit at our expense. It is a rip off, we’re ripping ourselves off with this approach,” he said.
“The answer to that is to stop being stupid and start building LNG plants, pipelines, refineries, upgraders and other energy infrastructures that we can sell our energy to the world without going to the Americans, and that would allow us the independence and sovereignty we need to support our economy free from these threats,” he added.
Last month, the Canadian government unveiled a $1.3 billion plan to bolster border security and strengthen the country’s immigration system, in what appears to be a response to Trump’s tariff threat. However, the president-elect has not backed down. Trump is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20.
Poilievre has been leading in polls over Trudeau for the past year, amid declining support for the Liberal party.
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On Monday, Trudeau announced his intention to step down as party leader and that Parliament would be prorogued until Mar. 24. Shortly after, the Liberal party announced it would select a new party leader by Mar. 9.
The next federal election must be held by October, but it is likely to happen this spring as all opposition parties have said it would end the current minority government with a non-confidence vote once Parliament resumes, according to the Canadian Press.
