Days following the breakdown of trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S., and with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening renewed tariffs, Quebec’s provincial party leaders are laying out their strategies to address the ongoing economic challenges ahead of the upcoming provincial election later this year.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the U.S. had imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $28 billion worth of Canadian goods. In response to this, Carney stated that retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. will commence on September 8 after he deemed the trade deal unfavorable and walked away from the negotiations.
Premier Christine Fréchette of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) expressed support for Carney’s decision to halt the talks. Her government introduced two new programs aimed at aiding businesses in Quebec’s manufacturing and primary sectors affected by the escalating trade tensions. One program targets businesses with annual revenues exceeding $2 million that have suffered significant revenue declines due to the U.S. tariffs, while the other provides financial assistance, including loans of up to $150,000 with a 12-month moratorium, to businesses earning between $1 million and $2 million annually facing financial hardships due to the tariffs.
During a joint appearance with Carney in Lévis, Que., Fréchette emphasized the importance of building and developing Quebec’s industrial capacity in an increasingly unstable global environment, stressing that her government will not yield to threats.
At a Québec Solidaire (QS) news conference, party leader Ruba Ghazal outlined a comprehensive plan to address the crisis, including the creation of a fund called the “Trump Provision” to safeguard jobs in affected companies and prepare for future challenges. QS also proposed retaliating by raising Hydro-Québec tariffs as a leverage tool against the U.S. and introducing a new economic agreement named the Nouveau Pacte Économique pour le Québec.
Charles Milliard, leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), highlighted the need to strengthen economic and political alliances with Canadian partners and neighboring provinces. Milliard emphasized the importance of energy in the tariff discussions, pointing to Hydro-Québec as a valuable asset that can be leveraged for Quebec’s benefit.
Éric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), presented an anti-tariff plan focused on maximizing natural resource utilization, particularly natural gas, to enhance Quebec’s energy self-sufficiency. He advocated for reducing interprovincial trade barriers, citing the need for a more harmonized trade approach among provinces.
As for the Parti Québécois (PQ), leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon did not hold a news conference, and his representatives did not respond to CBC’s request for comment. Despite leading in the polls, the PQ’s promise of a referendum during its first term faces skepticism from Quebecers, with St-Pierre Plamondon indicating that any independence consultation would only occur after Trump’s presidential term ends in 2029.
The ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. continue to impact Quebec’s aluminum, dairy, and lumber industries, prompting provincial leaders to devise strategies to navigate the challenges posed by the escalating tariffs ahead of the upcoming election.