Poilievre highlights Carney’s ‘defeats’ ahead of PM’s visit to Washington

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre visited Stoney Creek Friday, blaming high housing taxes on the Prime Minister Mark Carney, ahead of his trip to Washington next week.

He’ll be sitting down with President Donald Trump Tuesday as he tries to get Trump to back away from tariffs damaging the Canadian economy.

Carney’s office made the announcement Friday morning.

He’ll head to Washington Monday, then sit down on Tuesday with Trump, with all the risks that entails as Ukraine’s president found out at a cringeworthy White House meeting.

“You’re gambling with World War Three and what you’re doing is disrespectful to the country, this country,” said Trump.

Unlike that meeting, Carney’s talks with Trump have remained calm so far.

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They seemed to get along well in their first White House meeting earlier this year.

This time, Carney says the meeting will focus on “shared priorities in a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S.”

McMaster University Economist Colin Mang says the meeting could be incredibly important, with U.S. steel tariffs still hanging over cities like Hamilton, and the U.S. now threatening tariffs on wood products.

“I think Prime Minister Carney is under a lot of pressure to deliver something big from this meeting,” said Mang. “Basically, all he’s been able to accomplish over the summer is to keep the Americans talking. We’ve made a number of changes to our domestic policies in response to requests from the Americans, but they’ve not really changed their policies towards us. They’re still putting tariffs on steel, tariffs on aluminum, [and] now they’re threatening tariffs on lumber.”

Pierre Poilievre visits Hamilton

Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre spoke in Hamilton on Friday.

“As you know, Mr. Carney has failed to negotiate his promise to deal with President Trump and Canada is unfortunately still suffering,” said Poilievre.

He was at Turkstra Lumber in Stoney Creek, focusing on the high cost of housing, while also blaming taxes for the price of houses made with Canadian lumber.

He said Carney has to keep his promise to get a deal with Trump.

“We’re saddened that despite Mr. Carney’s big promises, it’s been nothing but defeat after defeat after defeat for him,” said Poilievre. “He backed down to the president on counter tariffs, backed down on the digital services tax, backed down on military spending and got absolutely nothing.”

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