In the wake of the U.S. tariffs on Canada’s auto industry, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is being accused of copying the NDP’s idea for boosting domestic vehicle manufacturing.Â
Poilievre announced Thursday that a government led by him will take the GST off the sale of new Canadian-made vehicles in reaction to the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump has put on Canada’s auto sector.Â
“In addition to unfair and counterproductive tariffs on our aluminum and steel, President Trump is now going after our auto workers,” Poilievre said in a statement Thursday.Â
“I will stand up for Canada and protect our autoworkers by axing the GST on cars we make here at home.”
The move comes just days after the NDP announced its own GST break on Canadian-made vehicles.
“Earlier today Pierre Poilievre announced something [NDP Leader] Jagmeet Singh did a week ago — removing GST from Canadian-made cars,” the party said in a statement.Â
The NDP also wants U.S. automobile companies to manufacture their cars in Canada or use Canadian-made parts if they want to sell into the Canadian market.
WATCH:Â Poilievre promises to remove federal sales tax on Canadian-made autos
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking from Kingston, Ont., on Day 12 of the election campaign, said if he is elected prime minister a Conservative government will remove the GST from Canadian-made autos, an idea first put forward by the NDP.
Made-in-Canada vehicles
According to the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA), Canada produced about 1.3 million vehicles last year.
For a vehicle to be considered “Canadian-made” the finished car or truck has to roll off an assembly line in Canada. It will still contain parts from other countries, but if it comes out of a Canadian plant, it’s considered Canadian-made.Â
Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Honda and Toyota are the vehicle manufacturers producing Canadian-made cars from plants based in Canada.Â
The CVMA says about 10Â per cent of the cars on Canadian roads were made here.
