Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the federal government to take immediate action against U.S. tariffs and economic stagnation, unveiling what he calls the Canadian Sovereignty Act — a plan he says will get Canadians building again and restore national self-reliance.Speaking from Calgary on Thursday, Poilievre said Canada is facing an urgent moment, as a new wave of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump continues to hurt Canadian workers and businesses. He criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney for failing to reach any deal to resolve the trade dispute, despite promising one by several dates throughout the summer.“President Trump is the one putting these tariffs on Canadians, but Mark Carney is the one who promised Canadians he could ‘handle him’ and ‘win,’” said Poilievre. “It’s time for the Liberal government to stop talking and start acting.”.Poilievre’s proposed Canadian Sovereignty Act outlines several key measures: the repeal of Liberal legislation he says blocks growth, including Bills C-69 and C-48, the industrial carbon tax, the EV sales mandate, and the plastics ban. It also proposes eliminating capital gains taxes on reinvestments made in Canada and offering free trade bonuses to provinces that open up their internal markets.The act would also require the Minister of Industry to develop a strategy to prevent Canadian inventions and intellectual property from being sold off to foreign entities, which Poilievre says is essential to preserving economic sovereignty..Poilievre laid out a list of major infrastructure targets he wants shovels in the ground for by March 14, 2026 — the one-year anniversary of Carney taking office — including two major pipelines, a road to the Ring of Fire, and a new greenfield LNG project. He emphasized that such developments must proceed in accordance with section 35 of the Constitution Act to respect indigenous rights.In addition to the legislation, Poilievre reiterated his offer to work with the Liberal government to remove American tariffs and secure the best possible trade terms for Canada. That offer, he said, still stands.“This is a test of leadership,” said Poilievre. “I am calling on Prime Minister Carney to do what he promised — build at a scale we haven’t seen in generations and work with Conservatives to restore Canada’s sovereignty in the face of American threats.”
