LILLEY: Here's how Canada can thrive going forward against Trump

Article content

What do we do next to unleash the Canadian economy? Even if the Trump tariffs are lifted tomorrow, that is the number one question that every Canadian should be asking while demanding answers from Canadian politicians.

Canada is simply too reliant on exports to the American marketplace.

While it would be foolish to think that we will completely decouple from the American economy — they will likely always be our largest trading partner — it would be foolish not to do all that we can to build ourselves up. We need to take advantage of existing trade deals with Europe, Asia, Latin America and elsewhere while ending the restrictions we have put on our own economy, specifically our vast natural resources.

Sadly, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about standing up for Canada and offering financial supports for Canadians hit by the tariffs, Trudeau wasn’t talking about what we should do next as a country. Perhaps that’s because he’s leaving soon, perhaps it’s because neither he nor his party have a solid plan.

Trudeau’s likely successor, Mark Carney, says he wants to build but also says he wants to “make the big polluters pay.” His main example of big polluters are steel companies, the same companies Canadians want to protect from Trump’s steel tariffs but that Carney wants to hit with higher taxes.

Faced with Carney’s plan, the future of Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie would be in doubt, and ArcelorMittal’s production at their Dofasco plant in Hamilton would likely be shifted to the United States. Carney is offering up old ideas for an economic order that no longer exists.

Thankfully, some politicians have ideas that will help the country move forward.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe are all putting forward plans that would boost Canada’s economy.

Speaking in Ottawa on Tuesday in response to the Trump tariffs, Poilievre said that yes, Canada must retaliate on the Americans, but also that we must do much more. He spoke of cutting taxes to make life easier and more affordable for Canadians, he spoke of repealing laws like Bill C-69 the no more pipelines law passed by the Trudeau Liberals and supported by Carney and he spoke of quickly approving permits for mines, refineries and liquified natural gas exports.

With an election on the horizon, Poilievre said he’s willing to be bold to ensure Canada flourishes.

“Canada will be self-reliant, sovereign and stand on its own two feet. We will reward work, unleash entrepreneurs, harvest our resources, make our own goods, trade with each other, build homes for our youth, rebuild our borders and military, honour our history and raise our flag,” he said.

On the issue of eliminating the trade barriers within our own country — barriers that make it easier to sell to the Americans than ourselves — Poilievre said he’s willing to act. On that front he has provincial allies.

Nova Scotia Premier Houston has said that he is willing to recognize any provincial regulation or certification as valid in his province, as long as the other province will do the same for Nova Scotia. This kind of measure has incredible benefits in trucking, in manufacturing, in the skilled trades and moving workers between provinces when needed.

Ontario Premier Ford has pledged to follow Houston’s lead on this, saying removing inter-provincial barriers is a priority. Ford also called for the federal government to stop getting in the way of mining projects, including the critical minerals project in Ontario’s north known as the Ring of Fire.

“Please get out of our way. We need to get shovels in the ground. We need to get these minerals back up and shipped out right across the world and across Ontario,” Ford said Tuesday.

The push for critical minerals is a global one with the United States keenly interested in the Ring of Fire and Ford seeing it as a key leverage point for Canada.

The world as we knew it, the global trading relationships that existed before Nov. 5, are no more. If Canada is going to succeed and thrive in the years going forward, we need to shed what we have allowed to happen over the last 10 years and unleash the full power of the Canadian economy.

If we can do that, Canada will be unstoppable.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video