Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is raising doubts about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ability to handle negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, especially since a trade agreement between the two countries has not yet been finalized, which would provide tariff relief to Canada.
In an interview with CBC’s Rosemary Barton Live, Poilievre expressed disappointment in Carney’s failure to fulfill his promises made during the spring election campaign. Specifically, Poilievre mentioned Carney’s commitment to securing a favorable deal by July 21 and negotiating successfully with President Trump.
Carney’s primary focus during the election campaign was on engaging with the U.S. administration. However, discussions on potential tariff agreements were abruptly halted by Trump following an Ontario government advertisement that used Ronald Reagan’s words to convey an anti-tariff message to American audiences.
Trump stated that Carney had apologized for the ad, which was eventually pulled off the air. Despite Trump’s comments, the Prime Minister’s Office has not confirmed whether Carney personally apologized for the advertisement.
Furthermore, Trump declared that there are no current plans to resume trade negotiations with Canada. Poilievre emphasized the importance of strengthening the economy to enhance Canada’s position of influence and highlighted his commitment to advancing major projects.
While Poilievre refrained from directly comparing his approach to Carney’s, he criticized the current prime minister for his perceived failures in international negotiations, which Poilievre believes are negatively impacting Canada domestically.
The full interview with Poilievre will be broadcast on Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.