Ottawa : Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre ignited excitement in Ontario’s auto heartland on April 3, 2025, with a pledge to scrap the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Canadian-made vehicles if elected. Speaking at a rally in Kingston, Poilievre framed the policy as a direct counterpunch to Trump’s tariffs, which threaten to disrupt Canada’s $50-billion auto industry. By removing the 5% federal tax, Poilievre aims to boost demand for domestically produced cars, potentially saving buyers thousands and keeping assembly lines humming in cities like Windsor and Oshawa. The proposal, first floated by the NDP a week earlier, has drawn mixed reactions: auto workers and manufacturers applaud the lifeline, but some economists question its fiscal feasibility amid a looming trade war. Poilievre’s pitch comes as his Conservatives trail Carney’s Liberals in the election race, with the tariff crisis reshaping campaign narratives and forcing all parties to address economic stability head-on.
Poilievre Promises GST Break on Canadian Cars to Rev Up Auto Industry and Counter US Tariffs
