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Auto Lobby Backs Poilievre’s U.S.-Focused Auto Pact as Unifor Flags Plant Risks

The pitch seeks to revive output by linking market access to Canadian manufacturing to win relief from U.S. auto tariffs.

Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at Parliament with MP for Nunavut Lori Idlout, who crossed the floor from the NDP to the Liberals, in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
New imported vehicles and the CMA CGM Silverstone car carrier vessel are seen in an aerial view at the Port of Vancouver's Annacis Auto Terminal, in Delta, B.C., on Friday, July 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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‘Should have been more substantial.’ Unifor Local 200 president John D’Agnolo, shown at the Turner Road union hall in Windsor on Sept. 6, 2022, is critical of the federal Tories new auto policy unveiled in Windsor over the weekend.

Overview

  • Brian Kingston of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association endorsed the Conservative plan, saying North American integration is the foundation of Canada’s auto industry.
  • Unifor said it was not consulted and warned the proposed dollar‑for‑dollar production‑to‑sales rule could put plants like Stellantis Brampton and GM CAMI Ingersoll at risk.
  • Poilievre’s proposal includes a one‑for‑one import allowance tied to Canadian output, removal of the 5% GST on Canadian‑made vehicles, ending the federal EV rebate and mandate, aligning China tariffs with the U.S., and banning Chinese‑ or Russian‑linked vehicle software.
  • The plan targets a return to two million vehicles a year after output fell to about 1.2 million in 2025, a decline that coincided with 25% duties on non‑U.S. content that have driven layoffs at facilities including Stellantis Brampton and GM Oshawa.
  • The Carney government’s January deal permits up to 49,000 China‑built EVs annually at a 6.1% tariff, while Ottawa is consulting on tradable import‑credit and remission options through April 13 as formal talks with Washington resume ahead of the USMCA review.