Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre pledged to make Canada a proud nation with a strong economy and muscular military during a “Canada First” rally Saturday in Ottawa.
Poilievre aimed his live-streamed speech at both Canadians and Americans, promising to unleash Canadian free enterprise and rebuild the country’s borders.
“In the words of our first prime minister, Conservatives will fight to ‘give us a great, a united, a rich, an improving, a developing Canada, instead of making us a tributary to American laws, to American railways, to American bondage, to American tolls.’ That is the Conservative legacy for Canada,” Poilievre said.
According to Conservative party sources, the rally – staged on the 60th birthday of the Maple Leaf flag – was well attended both at the venue and online. More than 133,000 people watch the live stream on X, with a further 10,000 on YouTube.
Poilievre said U.S. President Donald Trump’s continued “unjustified” tariff threats and talks of annexation are a “wake-up call’ and a reminder of “what we have and what we can become” as a nation.
“Let me be clear: We will never be the 51st state. We will bear any burden and pay any price to protect our sovereignty and independence,” Poilievre pledged, echoing John F. Kennedy’s line from his 1961 inaugural speech. “Which option Americans choose will be up to them. But we must be prepared for the worst. Simply put, we cannot no longer depend on the Americans alone for trade and defence.”
He said Canada must respond to the threats with strength and use targeted “dollar for dollar” retaliatory tariffs on American goods “we don’t need, can produce ourselves, or buy from others” in a bid to maximize impact on the U.S. while minimizing damage to Canada.
Notably, Trump has vowed to slap reciprocal tariffs on any nation which places its own tariffs on the U.S.
Poilievre vowed not to let tariffs against the U.S. become a “tax grab,” pledging to use the proceeds of the counter-tariffs solely to “reimburse” businesses and workers directly impacted by the tariff war.
He spoke to Americans directly, saying the refinery workers, homebuilders, automakers, and others in the U.S. “need to know” how much their jobs depend on buying Canadian goods and how Trump’s tariffs will lower their wages.
He added America needs Canada’s surplus nuclear, natural gas and hydro energy as well as military assets like “our radar, surveillance and ongoing cooperation to keep us both safe against intercontinental missiles and other threats,” he said. “They need our minerals, uranium, oil and gas.”
Poilievre said the current path chosen by the U.S. won’t end well for either country.
“You carry out an unprovoked attack on our economy. Your consumers pay more, and your workers make less. Gas prices skyrocket,” he said. “You turn a loyal friend into a resentful neighbour forced to match tariff with tariff and to seek friends everywhere else.”
He said this scenario will weaken both countries’ economies, leaving less money for defence and security and opening the door for the enemies of Canada and the U.S.
Poilievre offered a different path for the Americans to choose: increased trade where both countries’ workers make more and consumers pay less.
“The resulting GDP boost allows Canada to further strengthen the border and up our military spending to two per cent of GDP; we stop fentanyl, terrorists, supersonic missiles and other threats,” Poilievre said. “We team up against the unfair trading practices of other countries. Both our countries end up safer, stronger, richer.”
He also reminded Americans of our long history fighting together for noble causes.
“We paid with Canadian lives and treasure to fight for America, avenging the 9/11 attacks. You have your grievances, and we have ours. But what other country would you rather have as your neighbour? If Canada is not your friend, who is?” he said, noting Canada’s history of “crushing” fascists, communists, and Al-Qaeda.”