By Canadian Press

Poilievre pitches Tories as best choice to stand up to Trump as Singh heads to B.C.

Mar 30, 2025 | 11:04 AM

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brushed off suggestions of campaign turmoil Sunday as he pitched his party as the best choice to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump.

As the second week of the federal election campaign begins, another round of U.S. tariffs expected on Wednesday threatens to overtake the political conversation in Canada.

And Poilievre is still facing questions about growing concerns in Conservative circles over his messaging and polls that now show him trailing Mark Carney’s Liberals.

Poilievre visited a plastics factory in the Toronto suburb of North York Sunday, where he promised to allow investors to defer capital gains tax if they reinvest those earnings in Canada.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh planned to campaign in British Columbia on Sunday, while Carney had no public events scheduled.

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Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet had planned to spend much of the day in Victoriaville, Que., while Green co-leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault were scheduled to attend the Juno music awards in Vancouver.

Poilievre dismissed the suggestion that he should focus his campaign more squarely on the U.S. threat, saying the promised reinvestment tax cut would bring billions of dollars into the economy to help Canada fight Trump’s unfair tariffs “from a position of strength.”

“We will be a nation that rewards strivers, builders, entrepreneurs and workers — an economic fortress that will allow us to be stronger, self-reliant … stand on our own two feet and stand up to Donald Trump,” he said.

While Sunday’s announcement acknowledged the dangers posed by waves of U.S. tariffs, Poilievre’s campaign has largely focused on familiar Conservative themes of cutting taxes and fighting crime.

Polls indicate Trump’s threats of levies and annexation have become the key concern for Canadians, and more than one poll has put Carney, a former Bank of Canada governor, at a significant advantage among voters when it comes to handling Trump.

Carney’s campaign has focused heavily on responding to the U.S. tariffs.

Following his first phone call with Carney on Friday, Trump appeared to soften his tone toward Canada, agreeing that the two countries would begin negotiating a new economic and security plan after the election.

— With files from Dylan Robertson

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2025.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

<!– Photo: a59c44af9c1ddc16840094242f0e8843ce6fb7cc75cd4fb5cb2bcb2ed2b6af8e.jpg, Caption:

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference at Petro Plastics Corporation Ltd. in Toronto on Sunday, March 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor

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