Carney says U.S. auto tariffs are ‘misguided,’ as report suggests Honda may move some production
Mark Carney said Tuesday he’s worried about the impact of U.S. tariffs on investor confidence in Quebec and across Canada. The Liberal Leader, who took questions on the issue in both English in French during an event in Saint-Eustache, Que., said an unconfirmed report that Honda may be moving some auto production from Canada to the U.S. is another example of the short-term effects of Trump’s tariffs.
The Latest
Industry Minister Anita Anand says a media report that Honda is mulling shifting some Canadian and Mexican operations to the U.S. is unfounded.In a statement, Anand said she spoke with representatives from Honda and that no such move is under consideration by the Japanese auto giant.Honda has not released a statement of its own.The report featured heavily on the campaign trail this morning as Canada’s auto sector continues to deal with the fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.The Conservative, Liberal and NDP campaigns were all in the Montreal area this morning ahead of the leaders’ debates tomorrow and Thursday.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre detailed a plan to protect seniors from digital scams.Liberal Leader Mark Carney announced a benefit to help retrain workers in light of global economic turbulence.NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh blasted the Liberals for backtracking on a hike to the capital gains tax.Updates
April 15
29 minutes ago
Hockey and politics collide for French debate
Michael Woods
Montreal Canadiens fans sit in the stands. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)The French-language leaders’ debate is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET tomorrow, but the Montreal Canadiens’ playoff hopes could be on the line at the same time.
Back in 2011, the French-language debate was rescheduled to avoid a Canadiens-Bruins playoff game. Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Québécois at the time, led the charge.
Current Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet was asked about this today and he was surprised that Duceppe’s request in 2011 was successful.
“I didn’t know that,” Blanchet said. “I’ll reflect on that, and we’ll call the [Leaders’ Debates Commission] and see what they think of that idea.”
A couple of things to note: Duceppe’s request happened several days in advance, and he had the support of other parties in his efforts. That’s not the case this time.
The game also might not matter. If the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are chasing the Habs for that playoff spot, lose tonight against Philadelphia, the Habs clinch a playoff spot. Then tomorrow’s game becomes far less important.
Lastly, I have to add: my beloved Ottawa Senators have a game Thursday night, in conflict with the English-language debate. But they clinched a playoff spot last week so I don’t have to deal with any of that stress (sorry Habs fans).
1 hour ago
Ottawa says it will help businesses hurt by tariffs
The Canadian Press
Federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has announced help for Canadian businesses affected by the trade dispute with the U.S., giving them time to adjust their supply chains.
The minister says the government intends to provide temporary six-month tariff relief for goods imported from the U.S. that are used in Canadian manufacturing, processing, and food and beverage packaging.
The temporary exemption will also apply on goods used to support public health, health care, public safety and national security objectives.
Under the plan, automakers that continue to manufacture vehicles in Canada will also be allowed to import a certain number of U.S.-assembled, CUSMA-compliant vehicles into Canada, free of the countermeasure tariffs that Canada has imposed (CUSMA is the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade).
The number of tariff-free vehicles a company is permitted to import will be reduced if there are reductions in Canadian production or investment.
1 hour ago
Poilievre still vowing to defund CBC
Catharine Tunney
Poilievre is asked if he will defund the CBC within 100 days of forming government
Pierre Poilievre, speaking from Montreal on Day 24 of the election campaign, says he does not have a time frame for when he would defund the CBC. Poilievre added he would continue funding Radio-Canada for the francophone community.
I’m Cat Tunney, following the Conservatives this week. One of Poilievre’s cornerstone policies leading up the election has been to gut CBC, the English-language public broadcaster. It’s a promise that often elicits cheers from his supporters at rallies and amongst Conservatives whenever they gather at conventions.
In a campaign dominated by renewed Canadian patriotism, however, the bombastic leader appeared to have taken his foot off the pedal on the policy, rarely mentioning CBC in his stump speeches.
During this morning’s announcement in a Montreal hotel conference room, a reporter asked Poilievre a simple yes or no question: will you defund the CBC within 100 days of forming government?
The short answer: yes, a Poilievre government would defund the CBC (although he didn’t commit to a timeline). In the same breath, he suggested that he sees a way for the CBC to survive, but without government funding.
“We’re going to defund the CBC and let Canadians enjoy it as a non-profit, self-funded organization,” Poilievre said.
And a small note: CBC has shown up to every news conference he has had this week but has been shut out of asking one of the limited four questions.
1 hour ago
Honda not moving Canadian production to U.S., industry minister says
Lucas Powers
Vehicle assembly underway at Honda’s sprawling plant in Alliston, Ont. The plant employs some 4,200 people. (Peter Power/AFP/Getty Images)Industry Minister Anita Anand said this morning that she has been in contact with representatives from Honda and that the company is not currently considering moving any Canadian production to the U.S.
“We are aware of the unconfirmed reports of future changes to Honda’s production plans for Canada. I am in close contact with the company, and Honda has communicated that no such production decisions affecting Canadian operations have been made, and are not being considered at this time,” Anand said in a post on X.
A Japanese newspaper reported today that the auto giant was considering shifting some of its Canadian and Mexican operations to the U.S. in response to Trump’s tariffs.
Anand said she’ll be meeting with the CEO of Honda Canada later today.
1 hour ago
If you sell cars here, you have to build here, says Singh
Jenna Benchetrit
Singh says report that Honda could move some production out of Canada is ‘deeply concerning’
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, speaking from Montreal on Day 24 of the election campaign, says a report that Honda is considering moving some Canadian car production to the U.S. could “have a devastating impact on the automobile sector for the long term.”
The NDP leader was asked what his party would propose to prevent companies from moving production out of Canada.
Singh, noting that Canada has made big investments in the auto sector and related infrastructure, said companies “shouldn’t think that they can take those investments out of our country.”
Canada has a large and growing market of consumers, making it a desirable one for auto companies, and it “could be” required for companies to build here if they want to sell to Canadians, he said.
“If you’re going to sell a car in Canada, you have to have a footprint in Canada, and you have to make cars or you have to have jobs here,” said Singh.
2 hours ago
Singh doesn’t say when NDP will release costed platform
Jenna Benchetrit
Speaking today in downtown Montreal, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh didn’t offer a specific date for when the NDP will release its fully costed platform.
Asked if there is any part of the government that he would cut to reduce the deficit, Singh said, “absolutely.” He said the distinction he makes is that he would never cut services that people need.
“In an economic downturn, you don’t cut your way out of a recession. You make investments,” he said.
Instead, Singh said he would end fossil fuel subsidies, “a wasteful expenditure,” and criticized Carney for cancelling the Trudeau government’s planned hike to the capital gains tax, saying the NDP wouldn’t support a tax break for the wealthy.
2 hours ago
The latest Poll Tracker update
Lucas Powers
Seat projections as of April 15, 2025, from the CBC Poll Tracker. (CBC)Here are the latest public polling developments as summed up by Éric Grenier of TheWrit.ca. He is managing the CBC Poll Tracker throughout the campaign.
“The Liberals would be highly likely to win the most seats, and very likely a majority government, if an election were held today,” Grenier wrote.
“The Conservatives would form a sizable opposition with roughly as many seats as they won in the last election, while the Bloc and NDP would see their seat holdings significantly reduced.”
2 hours ago
Poilievre condemns Trump, then pivots to Liberals
Jenna Benchetrit
Poilievre speaks during a campaign stop in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)“President Trump deserves nothing but condemnation for the unfair targeting of Canada,” said Poilievre, following a report out of Japan that Honda is considering moving some production out of Canada and Mexico to the U.S. in response to Trump’s auto tariffs.
Poilievre reiterated a recent talking point that “nobody can control” Trump, and that Canada should focus on what it can control — including reversing Liberal policies that the Conservatives say have harmed the country.
“When he gets asked about tariffs and how to respond to the Trump administration, he pivots very quickly to talk about what he says are the disastrous policies of the Liberal government,” observed CBC’s Janyce McGregor after watching Poilievre’s press conference.
Poilievre tends to pivot “rather than meeting head-on the question of how you deal with a negotiation when there is so much chaos on the other side,” McGregor said, adding that it will be interesting to see if there’s a question during the debates about how each candidate would approach the negotiating table with Trump.
2 hours ago
‘I know how to count’
Jenna Benchetrit
Carney on the campaign trail in Quebec. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)A Canadian Press reporter pressed Carney on two-fold criticism of his plan to protect workers impacted by tariffs — some of it from labour leaders who say he hasn’t offered enough, and the rest from financial experts who say the plan will worsen Canada’s deficit.
The reporter asked how Carney plans to support Canadian workers without blowing the budget. Carney reiterated his plans to facilitate access to employment insurance, offer financial support to vulnerable industries and support workers with the up-skilling benefit he announced today.
Carney tried to draw a distinction between his approach to economic changes versus Poilievre’s approach, saying that the Conservatives will pay for tax cuts by cutting services, while a Liberal government would “renew the economy” and focus on investment and skill-building for workers.
Carney didn’t share details on how he would execute his plan without blowing the budget, instead saying that he has been through the Liberals’ costed platform and could vouch for the numbers.
“I know how to count,” he said.
2 hours ago
Liberals releasing full platform by Monday
Jenna Benchetrit
Carney says fully costed Liberal platform will be released by April 21
Asked when his party’s fully costed platform will be available for voters to see, Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised to unveil it ‘before the advance polls close’ at 9 p.m. on April 21.
Carney confirmed to CBC’s Karina Roman that the Liberals will release a “full-costed platform in great detail,” and that it will come out before advance polls close on Monday.
