In a campaign stop in Windsor on Wednesday evening, Maxime Bernier, the People’s Party of Canada leader, pitched himself as the only “different” party in the federal election.
A short drive from Canada’s busiest land border crossing, Bernier urged a group of about 50 supporters at The Windsor Club that he is the best option to address U.S. tariffs.
Moments prior, in a scrum with journalists, Bernier noted while he doesn’t agree with the levies placed on Canada, he understands their intention.
“The solution for Trump to repatriate the manufacturing sector - tariffs won’t do the job,” Bernier told the media.
“What he’s telling people right now; he wants everybody to come at his table and to negotiate.”
Bernier has been the sole leader of a major Canadian party to openly voice his objection to retaliatory tariffs established in response to the U.S. trade war.
He believes the solution to tariffs is through a re-negotiated Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
In Windsor, Canada’s Automotive Capital, more than 3,000 auto workers at the Windsor Assembly Plant are off the job until April 21 at the earliest due to tariffs levied on the sector.
When asked about how he would support workers, Bernier said he would look to end the tariffs and countermeasures, but support wouldn’t be given to manufacturers.
“What [Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s] telling us in fact, ‘I will tax the poor consumers. I will take from them $8 billion, and I will give that to Rich Corporation, taxing the poor, giving that to the rich,’ we must not do that,” Bernier said of the current federal government’s approach.
In response to U.S. trade measures, Canada implemented a 25 per cent tariff on some U.S.-made vehicles on Wednesday.
Instead, Bernier said his party would look to create a better environment for businesses through less taxes. He also promised to address supply management of dairy products, which has caught the ire of Trump.
Joined by candidates from Windsor’s local ridings, Bernier said they will emerge as the “surprise” party when the ballots are tallied.
Billing itself as a party using populism, classical conservatism and libertarianism solutions, the PPC is looking to win their first seat in the House of Commons on April 28.
