Liberal leader Mark Carney is wrapping up the final days of his 2025 election campaign by focusing on President Donald Trump’s tariff war, which he calls an “existential threat.”
Carney has repeatedly said tensions with the United States are “the greatest crisis of our lifetime.”
Speaking at a press conference in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Carney accused the American president of “disrupting global markets and fundamentally reshaping the international trading system” through the reciprocal tariffs he has imposed on nearly every country in the world.
“America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country, and we will fight, because we know that in a crisis, you have to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best,” Carney told reporters.
“With Canada, he has been even more direct and aggressive: he wants to break us so America can own us. That will never happen.”
Carney promised a Liberal government would “stand up for Ontario’s workers and build Canada strong” by creating a $2 billion Strategic Response Fund to maintain Canada’s auto sector in the wake of tariffs. The fund will “protect manufacturing jobs, support workers to upskill their expertise in the industry, and build a fortified Canadian supply chain.”
The Liberals also plan to “maximize Canada’s steel, aluminum, and critical minerals,” including exploration and battery production, and in doing so, promise to “create higher-paying jobs and build the strongest economy in the G7.”
The overarching plan is to build an “all-in-Canada auto manufacturing network” that will minimize reliance on foreign imports, including from places like China.
The plan includes federal procurement of Canadian-built vehicles and prioritizing Canadian contractors in defense procurement.
“President Trump’s tariffs are a direct attack on Ontario workers and businesses,” said Carney.
“Throughout this campaign, Pierre Poilievre has proved that he has no plan to meet this consequential moment, stand up to President Trump, or build Canada’s economy.”
“My new government will stand strong against President Trump’s tariffs, create higher-paying jobs and lifelong careers, cut taxes for the middle class, and build the fastest-growing economy in the G7.”
Carney was asked about a March 28 phone call with Trump, after which he claimed the president did not raise the issue of Canada becoming the 51st state.
However, it was revealed on Thursday that Trump did indeed broach the subject again — and early on in the conversation.
“What’s most important in a discussion is the conclusions of the meeting,” replied Carney.
“The conclusions of this discussion with the president were clear: he respected Canada as a sovereign country.”
“The prime minister and the president, after Monday’s election, will have to have comprehensive discussions about the economic and security partnership.”
“I advised him that we would be retaliating against any auto tariffs, which we did. And I also advised him that I would be working hard to gain Canadians’ trust.”
“This election is crucial because Canadians are deciding on Monday … who is going to be prime minister, who will be facing the president in those negotiations, which will start in a very short time, which will have huge ramifications for this industry, for the steel industry that we're in, and Canadians across this country.”
“I’m working hard to earn their trust.”