Liberal leader Mark Carney made his first Manitoba campaign stop by vowing to respond deliberately against the United States’ tariff threats a day before President Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day.”
“We will respond with retaliatory measures if there are additional measures against Canada tomorrow,” he told reporters Tuesday while visiting Winnipeg’s New Flyer Industries (NFI) Transcona-area plant.
Earlier this year, Trump hit Canada and Mexico with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs and a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy. He later partially paused the tariffs until April 2.
Carney said he has not had any further communication with the Trump government in the lead-up to the tariff deadline, but classified his call with the president last week as productive.
Still, the Liberal leader promised any retaliatory measures Canada takes would be strategic, saying companies like New Flyer should not be made to suffer amid the response.
“We are going to be very deliberate in terms of the measures we take to fight for Canada, fight against these unjustified measures by the U.S. administration, but also to protect, to have that minimal impact in Canada,” he said.
NFI, the Winnipeg-based bus manufacturer, is expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Winnipeg, while still running operations in the States.
President and CEO Paul Soubry said they are continuing to assess in order to optimize business on both sides of the border.
Still, two-thirds of NFI’s transit buses are made in the U.S., while the shells are made in Canada and shipped across the border.
“I don’t see a scenario where we’re shutting down Winnipeg and moving it all to the United States. Are we going to have to adjust some of the capacity, some of the production lines and so forth? We’ll see how that comes out,” he said.
While Soubry gave Carney a tour of NFI’s Transcona plant, the prime minister hopeful asked what could be done so his business won’t be harmed in any retaliation.
Soubry said the feds should help Canadian businesses to operate within their borders and to be aware of where they source their inputs from.
“As you know, President Trump has said no waivers, no remissions, no nothing. The Canadian government has said they will manage it on a case-by-case basis,” he said.
During his stop at the plant, Carney promised to make life more affordable for Canadians, touting the Liberals’ plan for a middle-class tax cut, eliminating the GST for first-time home-buyers on homes up to $1 million, and expanding dental coverage access.
“This will go a long way to help Canadians weather the storm intensified by Trump’s tariffs, and this is all before we take the measures that will create higher-paying jobs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Carney is set to spend the rest of the day in Winnipeg, sitting down with Premier Wab Kinew, holding a rally with Manitoba Liberal candidates, and meeting with members of the province’s Filipino community.
- With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele
