Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has suggested that Canada does not need a new federal election to determine public support for competing economic visions between his party and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Instead, he believes political parties should work together to defend Canada’s interests, particularly in upcoming trade negotiations with the United States.
Poilievre made the remarks during an interview with veteran Canadian journalist Peter Mansbridge following a speech he delivered on Feb. 26 at the Economic Club of Canada.
During the interview, Mansbridge noted that Poilievre’s speech outlined a different strategy for Canada’s future negotiations with the United States compared to the approach described by Carney. With a scheduled review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) approaching, Mansbridge asked whether Canadians should vote in a new election to decide which vision they support.
Poilievre responded that an election is not necessary at this stage. Instead, he proposed creating an all-party committee to coordinate Canada’s approach in international trade negotiations.
According to Poilievre, such cooperation would allow Canada to present a unified position when dealing with the United States and other global markets. While acknowledging that political parties often disagree, he said there is broad consensus on key national interests, including maintaining tariff-free access to U.S. markets and protecting Canadian sovereignty.
“Being united will be a real force going forward,” Poilievre said, emphasizing that collaboration could strengthen Canada’s negotiating position.
The Conservatives have trailed the Liberals in opinion polls since the 2025 federal election, with the gap widening in recent weeks. However, the party has recently signaled a willingness to cooperate with the Liberal government on issues such as affordability and public safety.
Poilievre pointed to several examples of cooperation in Parliament. The Conservatives worked with the Liberals to speed up the passage of Bill C-5 related to major projects and also supported the government’s budget legislation after the Liberals accepted several Conservative amendments.
Despite this collaboration, Poilievre said his party would continue to support policies that benefit the country while opposing those it believes are harmful.
Poilievre argues that Canada’s best negotiating strategy with Washington is to strengthen its domestic economy and resource sector. He believes Canada can leverage its economic importance to the United States during trade talks.
Canada is one of the United States’ largest trading partners and a major supplier of energy and strategic resources. Poilievre highlighted the country’s vast natural resources, including critical minerals needed for advanced technologies and defence systems.
He proposed repealing what he described as “anti-development laws” and creating strategic reserves of minerals and energy resources that could be shared with the United States if tariff-free trade access is maintained.
The Conservative leader also suggested Canada could use its long-term military procurement plans as leverage. With billions of dollars expected to be spent on defence equipment in the coming decades, he said Canadian purchases from U.S. suppliers could be linked to favourable trade conditions.
Another key part of his strategy would involve expanding exports of oil, gas, and other resources to overseas markets. By diversifying its export destinations, Poilievre argued, Canada would reduce dependence on the United States and gain more negotiating power.
The Liberal government has taken a somewhat different approach. Prime Minister Carney has emphasized strengthening Canada’s domestic economy while expanding trade relationships beyond the United States.
The government has set a goal of doubling Canada’s exports to non-U.S. markets over the next decade. According to the prime minister’s office, the strategy focuses on diversifying partnerships and building economic resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Poilievre also expressed concern about Canada’s evolving relationship with China. While he said diplomatic dialogue and trade discussions with Beijing are acceptable, he warned against weakening ties with the United States in favour of closer alignment with China.
He argued that Canada’s economic relationship with the United States is far more significant, noting that Canadian exports to the U.S. vastly exceed those to China.
The comments follow Carney’s visit to China in January, where Canada and China announced several agreements covering sectors such as electric vehicles, energy cooperation, finance, and law enforcement.
During the visit, Carney described the relationship as entering “a new era” and referred to the partnership as strategic, suggesting it could play a role in shaping a changing global order.
Poilievre, however, remains skeptical about relying too heavily on Beijing, stressing that Canada’s long-standing economic ties with the United States should remain the country’s priority.
As Canada prepares for the upcoming USMCA review later this year, the debate between the government and the opposition highlights differing visions on how the country should navigate global trade, strengthen its economy, and balance relationships with major powers.
