After U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for tariffs on Canadian goods, it’s been top of mind for many in the country.
Federal candidates across the North Shore's ridings are making promises on how to combat tariffs and find ways to help boost the local and national economies.
Here is a breakdown of what the five political parties had to say.
Liberal Party of Canada
For Liberal candidate and incumbent North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson, tariffs are not just a post-election issue but a current one.
The Liberals have already done some work to respond to tariffs, Wilkinson said, including putting counter-tariffs on U.S. products that come in high quantities to Canada but have alternative sources available, temporarily waiving the one-week waiting period for EI applications and making EI easier to access. The party has also put in special measures to the Work-Sharing Program to mitigate impacts on employees facing temporary layoffs or reduced hours.
“We need to become more resilient, and that means the work that is being done right now and will continue to be done post-election,” Wilkinson said.
If re-elected, he said the Liberal Party plans to diversify the Canadian economy by deepening trade relationships with global partners, enhancing transportation to get goods to market more effectively and removing inter-provincial trade barriers.
“I think we’ve been very clear that we are not looking to escalate this, but by the same token, we need to ensure that we stand up for Canada and that the Government of Canada will need to reflect and determine how best to respond with tariffs of our own,” Wilkinson said.
Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party candidate for North Vancouver-Capilano Stephen Curran did not make himself available for an interview, but did provide a written statement laying out his party's trade policies intended to protect Canadian industries and jobs.
“My focus will be on reducing unfair tariffs, promoting free and open trade, particularly among our Canadian provinces, and ensuring Canadian businesses stay competitive globally,” Curran said in the written statement.
The Conservatives Party's plan is divided into three parts – an immediate response, finding a solution to tariffs to protect Canada’s best interests and a long-term plan to build a strong economy in the country, he said.
An immediate response would place reciprocal tariffs to stand up directly to Trump and keep the temporary loan program Canadians Working Fund to help businesses directly hit.
If elected, Curran said Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre will propose accelerating renegotiations with Trump to replace the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Long-term plans include approving grant decisions on major projects within six months, removing the cap on Canadian oil and gas emissions and cutting income tax by 15 per cent.
“The most important issue for me is to do everything in my power to build a strong, resilient Canadian economy,” Curran said.
New Democratic Party
Tammy Bentz, NDP candidate for North Vancouver-Capilano, said tariffs are the biggest question on everyone’s mind right now.
The NDP’s platform seeks to place retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. and cut critical mineral exports down south, but also invest in public infrastructure in Canada to rely less on the U.S.
Bentz said there needs to be a “build-Canadian, buy-Canadian strategy.” Investing in Canadian infrastructure like housing, hospitals and diversifying global trade relationships can help support manufacturing in Canada, she said.
The NDP also proposes investing in workers by eliminating waiting periods for EI and increasing the minimum weekly benefit from 45 to 50 weeks to help people affected by tariffs, she added.
“We really are looking out for the people who are going to be most challenged by these tariffs,” Bentz said.
Bentz said she is concerned for small businesses in particular, saying tariffs will impact them and their everyday purchases from small parcel deliveries to exported products.
“Tariffs are adding a lot of fear and uncertainty to Canadians and to North Vancouver-Capilano lives. At the end of the day, giving into that fear means that they win. We have to have a vision of hope,” she said.
Green Party of Canada
Green Party candidate for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Lauren Greenlaw said tariffs are an opportunity to start focusing on bolstering local and federal economies.
On a local scale, her team is creating an online interface for businesses throughout the riding to encourage local spending.
“I think in this way, when we really start focusing on supporting our small businesses and uplifting our small businesses, and just strengthening that local economy, I think that is the best way to confront any of this volatility that’s coming from down south,” Greenlaw said.
Tariff threats are also an opportunity to boost current industries to take advantage of the resources Canada already has, Greenlaw said.
Another priority for Greenlaw is removing inter-provincial trade barriers to help with Canadian resiliency in the economy.
“I know right now people are concerned about tariffs, but if your environment is not stable and sustainable, then your economy cannot be stable and sustainable,” Greenlaw said. “It’s just an underpinning piece that we need to constantly have at the forefront of our mind, that environment is not separate from economy.”
People’s Party of Canada
Jesse Fulton, People’s Party of Canada candidate for Burnaby North-Seymour, said his party is the only one advocating for the complete elimination of tariffs.
The PPC’s plan is to abolish tariffs and renegotiate the United States-Mexico Canada Agreement if elected, Fulton said. Their goal is to remove trade barriers and foster a “win-win” economic relationship with the U.S. to unleash a boom in prosperity for Canadians and Americans.
“If we slap on tariffs, then we are paying more for everything coming in from the States. This isn’t helping Canadians at all … it’s kind of choking us off right now,” Fulton said. “If we keep slapping tariffs, businesses are going to shut down, people are going to lose their jobs.”
Free trade without tariffs would lower costs for consumers, boost border commerce and spark an economic boom on both sides of the border, Fulton said.
“The USMCA already maintained zero tariffs on most goods from [the North American Free Trade Agreement], but exceptions and new barriers like these 25-per cent tariffs undermined that progress,” he said. “We want to go further and make a tariff-free trade the rule, not an exception.”
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
https://bsky.app/profile/abbyluciano.bsky.social
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