Wednesday January 22, 2025 | OTTAWA, ON [Posted at 11:30 am | Updated 12:30 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
“Do not take our kindness for weakness,” says NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh about the new US President’s approach to Canada and tariffs.
He was addressing media in Ottawa today following his NDP caucus strategy planning session.
“Trump only understands strength, we need to show strength, I’m ready to fight back,” said Singh today.
He says the NDP will propose to government that every dollar of (collected counter-tariffs) be used as revenue is used to support workers that are impacted by the imposition of US tariffs on goods and services that are imported from Canada to the US.
Cross-border talks:
As a way to “ensure we’re working with progressive friends”, on Monday, four NDP MPs meet with Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib whose constituency shares the Canada-US border with the city of Windsor, Ontario.
The four MPs who led the January 20 meeting were NDP critic for Canada-US Border Relations Brian Masse (Windsor West), Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona), NDP critic for Foreign Affairs, NDP House Leader and Health critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster), and NDP critic for National Defence Lindsay Mathyssen (London Fanshawe).
Potential immigration wave:
Singh says the third country agreement has been under review for a while, in response to a media question about the likelihood of more American residents/citizens seeking refuge in Canada in response to immigration and residency status of some US residentes.
Poilievre in the mix:
Recently, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has accepted endorsement from Space X billionaire Elon Musk (who now has an office in the US White House in an advisory capacity role).
Singh says Poilievre’s approach — if the Conservatives were to win a minority or majority government in the upcoming Canadian federal election — would see cuts that would impact the middle class and hurt the working class.
Poilievre is “out of touch with where people are at”, said Singh today. “With the threat of tariffs, workers are worried about losing their jobs,” the NDP Leader said.
Upcoming federal election:
“Canadians want to know who’s going to fight for them. I know you feel let down by the Liberals Conservatives will align with the millionaire class,” said Singh today.
He says the NDP will “build homes you can afford and get you a family doctor”.
As for the carbon tax issue, the NDP approach will be to “take on the climate crisis, reduce emissions, and make big polluters pay”.
“The burden should not fall on working people,” says Singh. When we announce our plan it will have those elements.
“People have seen the Liberal and Conservative approach and didn’t like either. Working folks didn’t feel they were supported and big polluters got away with polluting,” said Jagmeet Singh today.
The next federal election is presently scheduled for October 20, 2025 but could come sooner if there is a successful non-confidence vote in the House of Commons after MPs get back to the House on March 24.
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