COLUMN: On Parliament Hill – How tariffs became Canada’s new reality

Over the past week, more Canadian industries, including the electronics, furniture and honey sectors, have expressed concern over the recent 50 percent U.S. import duties scheduled to take effect on Aug. 19. Tariffs have become an unfortunate word that has sadly entered our daily conversations. They should not be part of our daily reality.

After his election, Prime Minister Mark Carney assured Canadians that he would sit with President Donald Trump immediately and “find common ground.” He promised to “begin comprehensive negotiations about a new economic and security relationship immediately following the election.”

Canadians were also promised a series of deadlines for a Canada/U.S. agreement, but instead they have watched deadlines come and go without little explanation by our prime minister. We were told that our relationship with the U.S. was experiencing a rupture, not a transition. We were told that our long-standing close ties with America had now become our weakness. Mr. Carney even suggested our mutual benefit of integration had become the source of our subordination – only to announce Canada remained open to deeper integration.

Last week, I wrote how Canadians first learned through President Trump’s social media that the original 2012 Gordie Howe International Bridge agreement had been scrapped in favour of the United States sharing revenue from the first toll onward. This occurred, after Mr. Carney assured Canadians that paying the debt of the bridge would happen before splitting the tolls with the Americans. It is not the first time Mr. Carney’s statements have been in contradiction with reality. While in the House of Commons, PM Carney promised Canadians he could “handle” Mr. Trump claiming, “he would get an even better deal.” However, he later retracted and suggested it was only his “desired” outcome. Desired outcomes, however, require negotiations—negotiations require getting to the table. Carney’s continued insults and disrespect to our American friends have not achieved any appreciable results. Time to change course.

There is an old saying: if we keep doing the same thing we’ll keep getting the same results. That certainly seems applicable here. Securing a deal with the U.S. requires Canada to sit down at the table, stop missing self-imposed deadlines and replace promises with results. As the premiers emphasized last week regarding the escalating trade war, the prime minister must present a comprehensive plan addressing affected industries.

Posting on social media last week, Conservative Shadow Minister for Canada-United States Relations, MP Shuvaloy Majumdar wrote a letter to Prime Minister Carney asking about his plan. As MP Majumdar wrote, “Canadians have given you (Mr. Carney) unprecedented leeway to confront U.S. tariffs. Premiers, business, and union leaders, and even the opposition… have taken a Team Canada approach and offered help… to secure a deal in any way we can.” The letter also called on the Liberal government for an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on International Trade.

Canadians were assured progress and a plan, but conditions have deteriorated under Prime Minister Carney. Since becoming prime minister, U.S. tariffs on our steel and aluminum have doubled and expanded to include products containing steel. Softwood tariffs and duties have tripled and consequently, lumber mills have shut down. A total of 37,800 manufacturing jobs have been lost this year, and auto workers have reduced shifts. Canada/U.S. trade impacts 2.6 million Canadians directly. Over the last week, many other industries have expressed concern. Additional tariffs will hurt Canada and our economy. Bloomberg News recently reported that the loonie’s underperformance to its peers is due to “softness in the Canadian economy.”

As MP Majumdar observed, Mr. Carney has “told Canadians nothing for over a year about negotiations.” Late last year, a reporter asked PM Carney about when he intended to next meet with President Trump, his response was, “Who cares?”

Canadians have given the prime minister the benefit of the doubt, believing negotiations were underway and a stronger agreement would be secured. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Carney’s actions dictate otherwise.

Mr. Carney once said, “if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” Today, many Canadians are questioning whether that is exactly where Canada has ended up.

Canada has the capacity, talent, and a wealth of resources to change the trajectory.

Conservatives have proposed a different approach.

It requires immediate efforts to unblock pipelines, LNG plants, port expansions and other privately funded infrastructure to reach world markets; unblocking our resources; commit to a Strategic Energy and Mineral Reserve available to tariff-free allies; and secure a tariff-free auto pack that guarantees automakers produce a vehicle in Canada for everyone sold in Canada.

The Conservative plan is clear: build, invest and compete.

PM Carney must change his course with meaningful dialog, action, and a focus on growth, allowing Canada to shine as the best country in the world.