Toronto, ON – Today, the Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada, delivered his plan to make Canada stronger at home so we can have unbreakable leverage abroad. Canada cannot control what Donald Trump does, but we can control what we do. This plan would build up Canada‘s leverage in order to achieve tariff-free trade with the US.

As part of that plan, Poilievre unveiled new proposals to increase Canada’s economic and strategic resilience, including:

Strategic Energy and Mineral Reserve

Poilievre proposed establishing a Canadian-controlled Strategic Energy and Mineral Reserve stored domestically and available to secure Canada and its allies during war, crisis or supply disruption. This will make Canada more resilient and increase our negotiating leverage while remaining a fully sovereign Canadian asset.

Keep Canadian Technology in Canadian Hands

Canada must overhaul subsidies, tax policy, IP frameworks and investment review laws with a goal of increasing the commercialization of Canadian-developed technologies by 50 per cent over the next decade, ensuring that Canadian technology remains in Canadian hands, on Canadian soil and under Canadian control.

Poilievre proposed new rules that would prevent taxpayer-subsidized Canadian intellectual property from being offshored without repaying the public contribution. 

Conservatives would also allow venture capitalists to rollover their gains tax-free into developing, commercializing and deploying this technology in Canada, while banning foreign takeovers of sensitive intellectual property, data, weapons systems, cryptography and other vital defence tools to combat modern threats.

Securing a New Tariff-Free Auto Pact

Poilievre called for Canada to use access to our internal market for foreign car imports as leverage towards securing a new Auto Pact with the Americans. In return for allowing tariff-free access to the US market for Canadian-made automobiles, Canada would work together to protect the North American market and production from being undercut by Chinese auto imports.

Canada seeks no fight with China or its people, who make up a brilliant and extraordinary civilization. But its government and its proxies have kidnapped our citizens, stolen our technology, interfered in our elections and pushed fentanyl onto our streets. We sell 20 times more to the US than to China. Canada should talk and trade where prudent–but never mistake engagement for dependence. China is not a substitute for the United States.

That is why we should not declare a permanent rupture from our biggest customer and closest neighbour in favour of a strategic partnership for a new world order with Beijing–a regime the Prime Minister said a year ago was the biggest threat to Canada.

No matter what the Americans decide, Poilievre reiterated his support for a strong domestic auto sector. That builds on previous Conservative calls to cancel the Liberal government’s EV rebate program that subsidizes foreign-made automobiles, along with a plan to take the sales tax off vehicles made in Canada.

All-party CUSMA working group

Poilievre proposed an all-party working group of parliamentarians to help secure the best possible outcome for Canada in the coming CUSMA review. All Canadians share the same interest in ensuring a successful result for negotiations and, by working collaboratively, Parliament can present a united front in getting the best deal for our country.

In addition to these new policies, Poilievre reiterated longstanding Conservative positions to strengthen Canada and its leverage abroad. He laid out a clear policy to take back control of our North and ensure that no foreign power threatens our territory, proposing:

  • New bases in Iqaluit, Churchill and Inuvik; 
  • Four new icebreakers, rather than two;
  • Accelerated procurement of submarines, tactical helicopters, satellite ground stations and over-the-top radar;
  • Rapid deployment of drone capabilities that cover vast territory at a lower cost and reduced risk to Canadian lives; and
  • Expanded military recruitment and a renewed emphasis on merit, performance and operational excellence.

Poilievre added that Canada will be strongest in negotiations when it removes its own internal barriers to growth and production. The speech outlined the Conservatives’ broader agenda to eliminate all carbon taxes to secure affordable energy and permit oil, gas and electricity projects that would boost the Canadian dollar and purchasing power. This builds on a pro-development plan that would fast-track major projects, repeal anti-development laws, adopt six-month approval timelines and implement a one-project, one-approval rule. 

In addition, Poilievre outlined reforms that will boost Canadian business and investment at home, including measures to strengthen Canada’s digital sovereignty. Pointing to homebuilding as a tariff-proof sector, he called for Canada to cut red tape and taxes to urgently unlock new housing construction.

Poilievre concluded by returning to the central theme of his speech: that Canada’s sovereignty will be secured not by slogans, but by action. Canada cannot control global volatility or the actions of foreign leaders, but it can control its own economy, institutions and security. That’s why Conservatives are focused on building sovereignty with economic strength, energy security and self-reliance to make Canada stronger at home, for unbreakable leverage abroad.