International Trade

In Question Period, members asked the government about trade negotiations with the United States. The Conservatives said the Prime Minister promised a big trade win but that American tariffs have since doubled and broadened, costing Canadian jobs in steel, aluminum, and other sectors, and they asked when a deal would be reached. The government said it is protecting Canadian workers and industries, working with the provinces, and negotiating with the Americans, but that it left the table rather than accept a bad deal and will keep working toward the right one.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

8 statements

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister promised a trade win with the United States, but we are losing. American tariffs doubled, and Canadians are losing their jobs. When will the Prime Minister set a deadline and make a deal that protects Canadian jobs?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. mid-terms, and that reminds us the Prime Minister promised in the election he was going to negotiate a victory for Canadians, a big win. Since that time, he has done nothing but lose, with American tariffs doubled and vastly broadened. While workers are losing their jobs and single mothers can no longer pay their bills, the Prime Minister said he could wait another two and a half years to get a deal, and then said that he would get a deal in the next few weeks. Enough with the headlines. We need deadlines. When is he going to negotiate the big win to protect Canadian jobs?

Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade, and One Canadian Economy

Liberal
“Our government is already protecting Canadian jobs and industries. We are negotiating with the United States to get a deal that is good for our economy and our country, and we will keep doing that work.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Leader of the Opposition may be frustrated, because that is precisely what our government is doing: protecting jobs in Canada, supporting Canadian industries and Canadian workers, and discussing and negotiating with our American counterparts to reach an agreement that will be in Canada’s economic interest and that will strengthen Canada’s sovereignty. These are things that the Leader of the Opposition would not acknowledge, but they are things that our government is doing and will continue to do.

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised a big trade win with the Americans. Instead, U.S. tariffs have doubled, businesses are leaving, and Canadians are losing jobs. He delayed for years, and now he claims he will fix it in weeks. I want him to get back to negotiating, fight these tariffs, and deliver the deal he promised.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I ask when. Today is the mid-terms, and that reminds us the Prime Minister promised in the election he was going to negotiate a victory for Canadians, a big win. Since that time, he has done nothing but lose, with American tariffs doubled and vastly broadened. While Canadians are lined up at food banks, businesses are leaving and Canadians are losing their jobs, the Prime Minister said he could wait another two and a half years to get a deal. Then suddenly, on Sunday, he put out a headline-grabbing tweet saying he would get a deal in the next few weeks. When will the theatrics be over? Will the Prime Minister get back to the table, fight the tariffs and negotiate the promised win?

Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade, and One Canadian Economy

Liberal
“We are supporting Canadian workers and businesses hurt by these unfair tariffs. We agree this is causing hardship, but we will not rush into a bad deal.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition would probably be the leading expert in the House of Commons in terms of theatrics. I think what is important for Canadians is to know that their government will always be there to support workers and industries that are facing the effects of these unjustified and illegal tariffs. One point where we perhaps agree with the Leader of the Opposition is that this is causing economic hardship for Canadians. That is why we are supporting Canadians and we are not going to rush into any old bad deal that the Leader of the Opposition would have accepted a year ago because he would not have had the guts to face— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is doing photo ops instead of negotiating a trade deal with the Americans. He is using theatrics to distract from his record at home, where food bank use in Toronto is up 333% since 2019. I want him to stop the theatrics and get a deal.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that is an easy one. If the member had the guts to face down the Americans, he would be at the negotiating table right now, but he is not. He is not, because the Prime Minister’s tweet on the weekend was not about getting back to the table. He is not at the table; he is doing photo ops. It was, once again, theatrics designed to distract from his disastrous record here at home. Just today, Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto is saying that demand is up 333% since 2019. When will the Prime Minister stop the theatrics and get a deal?

Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade, and One Canadian Economy

Liberal
“We left the trade talks to show the Americans we will not take a bad deal. The Leader of the Opposition would have taken a bad deal that hurts Canadian workers. We will keep talking with the Americans to get the right deal.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, again, the Leader of the Opposition is the expert in theatrics from trying to cover up a disastrous record. There is no better expert in the House than the Leader of the Opposition. He is right. We are not at the negotiating table right now. Do members know why? It is because we walked away when it was in Canada’s interest to show the Americans that we were not going to accept a bad deal. The Leader of the Opposition would never have walked away. He would have accepted a bad deal that would have undercut our sovereignty and hurt Canadian workers. That is not what we are going to do. We are going to continue to pursue those conversations with the Americans to get the right deal.

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The minister accepted a bad trade deal. It includes 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and mould makers. People have lost jobs, and many Canadians cannot afford food or their basic bills. When will the government get a good deal?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, he has accepted a bad deal. He has accepted 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum, mould makers and others. For the 100,000 people who lost their job in the last month, it is a bad deal. It is a bad deal right now for the one in three Canadians who is skipping meals because they cannot afford to eat, and for the 50% of Canadians who are plunging into their savings just to pay for the basic essentials of life. When will we get the good deal that Canadians demand so Canadians can afford to eat and to pay their bills?

Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade, and One Canadian Economy

Liberal
“We are working hard to get the best trade deal for Canadians. Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, we will support workers and businesses, work with the provinces, and help industries hurt by these illegal tariffs. We will keep doing this until we get a deal.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been very consistent from the beginning: We are going to do the difficult work Canadians expect of their government to get the deal that is in the best interest of Canadians. Meanwhile, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, we are not going to neglect to support Canadian workers and Canadian businesses, and to work with provincial governments to support those sectors of our economy that are facing these unjustified and illegal tariffs. We are going to do both, and we are going to stick with it for as long as it takes to get the job done.

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