Statement by Chrystia Freeland
This week, Donald Trump declared a trade war on Canada. While Canada has secured a win with a 30-day pause on tariffs, in the face of Donald Trump’s economic nationalism, we must take bold action to make Canada’s economy stronger and more resilient.
We must cut red tape, attract investment, and seize Canada’s advantages to secure prosperity for Canadian workers today and tomorrow. If I become Prime Minister, I will immediately:
Eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by convening a First Ministers’ Meeting on March 10 and leveraging major federal transfers. We need to act now. Within 30 days, all provinces must drop trade barriers in agriculture, transportation, and alcohol.
Streamline foreign credential recognition in skilled trades and health care, or federal transfers to provinces may be clawed back. To entice provinces to make serious progress, my government will enter negotiations to fund major infrastructure projects.
Make Canada’s tax environment more appealing to attract more investment and create more jobs. I will counter the impact of Donald Trump’s economic nationalism and boost Canadian productivity by fully reinstating the Accelerated Investment Incentive and removing the 30 per cent rule for pension fund investments in Canadian entities.
Cut red tape and fast track at least 10 major job-creating projects each year. At least three of these projects must be critical minerals. My government will end costly timeline delays and reduce the number of projects that will require a federal assessment, while maintaining Canada’s robust environmental protections and engagement and participation from Indigenous communities.
Bolster Canada’s world-leading critical minerals sector. By reducing regulatory timelines, creating an appealing business tax environment, and enhancing incentives through the Investment Tax Credits and the Canada Growth Fund, my government will accelerate mineral exploration and open more mines and processing facilities, faster.
Seize the opportunity to make Canada an energy superpower, from powering our grids with hydro to exporting liquified natural gas to our allies. My government will unlock opportunity by breaking down regulatory barriers, building infrastructure, and making more clean, reliable electricity.
Build the housing and infrastructure we need by prioritizing our skilled trades workforce. My government will do this by making trade schools free, raising skilled trades wages, and ensuring our immigration systems favour skilled trades workers.
Help businesses enter new non-U.S. markets with a new Trade Diversification Fund at Export Development Canada, which would offer low-cost loans to Canadian businesses expanding to new markets. Businesses expanding to other provinces and countries beyond the U.S would be eligible.
Buy Canadian and restrict American companies from federal procurement and government funded programs. My government will prioritize Canadian companies and workers in all government procurement, like Telesat over Starlink, D2L over Google, and Bombardier over Boeing.
Build up Made-in-Canada defence supply chains, to reduce the Canadian Armed Forces’ reliance on U.S. defence companies and accelerate procurement. My government will spur the manufacturing of the technologies and tools the CAF needs here at home, including a focus on Canadian AI and quantum computing, Canadian rare earth minerals, Canadian drones, Canadian icebreakers, and Canadian ships.
We must seize the opportunities to bolster our sovereignty by investing in Canadian manufacturing, Canadian businesses, and Canadian jobs. These 10 measures are just the first steps my government will take to diversify our economy and put Canadian workers first.
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