Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre touted the importance of “free trade” between “free nations” in a speech that referenced the likes of Adam Smith, Winston Churchill and even the mythic Robin Hood.
Poilievre is on his first foreign trip as Opposition leader and delivered the Margaret Thatcher lecture at the Centre for Policy Studies in London on Tuesday.
“Canada must become stronger at home so that we have unbreakable leverage abroad. Opening trade with like-minded, free nations will do that,” Poilievre said.
“Otherwise put: we need free trade with other free nations.”
Poilievre sprinkled in some of his familiar talking points about inflation and balanced budgets. But Tuesday’s speech is another marker in the Conservative leader’s shifting focus on global trade pressures — including U.S. President Donald Trump.
WATCH | Poilievre’s speech in London:
Poilievre delivers speech in London calling for more integration with Australia, New Zealand and U.K.
On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre delivered the Margaret Thatcher lecture at the Centre for Policy Studies in London. Poilievre called for a CANZUK agreement — a proposed pact to further integrate trade and labour between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Last week, Poilievre delivered another speech at the Economic Club of Canada where he laid out how the country should respond to the Trump administration and its insistence on levying tariffs on global imports.
Unlike that speech, Poilievre didn’t directly mention the U.S. president on Tuesday — but he generally called out the fragmentation of global trade agreements.
“Supply chains right now that we took for granted are being interrupted, and when democratic alliances fragment, others fill the vacuum. If trusted allies do not tighten their economic and security ties, less trusted powers will shape the rules, control the supply chains and set the terms,” he said.
“When the treaties and agreements that allow us to trade freely face upheaval, we need to double down and deepen our ties with our oldest and most trusted friends.”
Proposed deal with Commonwealth countries
Poilievre pitched a strengthened trading relationship between Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
He suggested removing regulatory barriers to allow professionals — like doctors and nurses — to work in any country. He also called for products approved safe for consumption in one country to be automatically approved in the other three.
In addition, Poilievre said the four countries should work together on defence procurement, energy and critical mineral extraction.
The crowd — which included former U.K. prime minister Liz Truss, the shortest-serving prime minister in British history — gave Poilievre a standing ovation at the end of his speech.
“I thought it was absolutely incredible,” said U.K. Conservative MP Andrew Bowie.
“I thought he gave such a passionate defence of the capitalist system and a real sign of optimism for those of us who believe that the centre-right offers the solutions to issues that we face not just as a country but actually across the West.”
Poilievre’s pitch comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Australia to strengthen ties between the two countries. Carney was in India on a trade mission over the weekend, and will also stop in Japan before returning to Canada.
Carney will deliver a keynote speech to Australia’s Parliament in Canberra during the three-day visit, which will also feature a flurry of business meetings in Sydney. All of it is designed to signal that Canada wants to breathe new life into the relationship, the official said.
Poilievre is set to continue his own foreign trip on Wednesday when he departs for Germany to meet with business leaders in that European country.
WATCH | Poilievre says he’s ‘deepening old friendships’ in London:
Poilievre says he’s ‘deepening old friendships’ in London on first trip as Opposition leader
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke to the media in London on Tuesday during his first foreign trip as Opposition leader. When asked about the political purpose of the trip, Poilievre said, ‘we need to be stronger at home so that we can have unbreakable leverage abroad, and one of the ways you do that is having more options and deepening old friendships.’
Andrew MacDougall, who served as communications director to former prime minister Stephen Harper and now works in public relations in London, said Poilievre’s speech and his trip are an attempt to strengthen his credibility in an area where Carney has an advantage.
“[Canadians] chose a leader in Mr. Carney who was unknown, but what he was known for was his presence on the world stage. His experience as the Bank of Canada governor and the Bank of England governor,” Macdougall said. “I think they voted for that experience.”
He said despite Poilievre’s long career in politics, he has not had that kind of experience, “whether that’s in finance or foreign affairs.”
