Michael Taube: Poilievre needs to think big when it comes to Trump

Poilievre’s key to success will be being proactive rather than reactive in dealing with Trump

Published Jan 09, 2025  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. Photo by Evan Vucci/AP Photo

Donald Trump will become U.S. President on Jan. 20. He’s already given some indication of what he’s thinking of doing when he returns to the White House. It may be bluster, and it may never materialize, but the next Liberal Prime Minister — and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who seems destined to become PM — must be prepared to deal with it.

The President-elect went on a tear at a press conference yesterday. He mused about changing the Gulf of Mexico’s name to Gulf of America, which he suggested had a “beautiful ring” to it. He didn’t discount military action to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, believing the U.S. needs them “for economic security.”

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Trump’s belief that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state was also addressed. Even though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is finally on his way out, and the endless jokes about him becoming “governor” are nearly done, Trump’s position seems to be the same.

Trump was asked about Poilievre’s post on X, in which he called the U.S. our country’s “best friend” but noted “Canada will never be the 51st state. Period.” He scoffed at this and said, “That’s all right. Maybe he won’t win, but maybe he will. I don’t care.” When asked if he was going to use military force to annex Canada, he replied, “No, economic force. Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security. Again, we basically protect Canada.”

Trudeau, a lame duck Prime Minister, remains at the helm. He’s already pushed back, but it’s completely meaningless. Trump has no time, interest or respect for Trudeau. The next Liberal PM will be in the same boat, tainted by the foul stench of Trudeau’s feeble leadership. He or she will try to put a fresh coat of paint on the weathered Liberal government, but it’s going to quickly peel away.

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Poilievre needs to focus squarely on both points. Unlike Trudeau, who didn’t have the ability to deal with Trump, the Conservative leader is a far superior politician with exceptional communications skills. He has a strong personality, intelligent ideas, and clear direction for Canada in the present and future.

What about Trump’s dismissive attitude? It’s just political trash-talking. He privately knows, or has been advised, that Poilievre has been way ahead in the polls for years. In spite of what he said, he’s aware that Poilievre is a different political animal who’s likely going to win, and he’ll have to work around him.

What does Poilievre have to do to successfully work with an unconventional leader like Trump?

To negotiate with Trump, you have to negotiate like Trump. The President-elect will reportedly implement the 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian products after he’s been inaugurated. Hence, Poilievre needs to craft a similar formula about business deals and strategies that Trump and Tony Schwartz posited in The Art of the Deal. “I like thinking big. I always have,” Trump wrote in one chapter. “To me it’s very simple: If you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”

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Here’s how Poilievre can think big.

He needs to keep defending and protecting Canadian sovereignty and independence, but work with Trump to improve border security and safety. That’s always been Trump’s main beef with Canada and Mexico. “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!,” he wrote on Truth Social on Nov. 25, 2024. Poilievre, like Trump, also believes in stronger border safety and security. That’s a way to find common ground without him giving up an inch of political ground.

Poilievre shouldn’t get too worked up about the Canada-51st U.S. state taunt. It’s a tactic to get under people’s skin, and Trump is a master of it. Instead, propose sensible ways to improve economic relations between our two countries and suggest appealing free market-oriented ideas. Some possibilities include eliminating supply management in the dairy industry, reducing foreign ownership restrictions and working towards a strong economic union.

He also needs to show good faith and a willingness to work hand-in-hand with Trump. Not by giving in to every demand, but recognizing there are gaps that need to be addressed with a common sense approach. This will hopefully lead to either a gradual reduction or complete elimination of the tariff rate for agreeing to move forward and much further than Trudeau ever proposed.

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Above all, Poilievre can’t lose patience with Trump. Some Canadian pundits and commentators believe we should tell Trump to take a hike. That’s the worst tactic he can take. Poilievre is a passionate and determined individual, which are good personality traits, but he must stay focused on the task at hand. Trump will keep pushing his buttons to find a breaking point like he did with Trudeau. Poilievre can’t ever give him the opportunity to believe he’s achieved this. Otherwise, it could lead to a years-long trade war that could wreck the Canadian economy.

Poilievre’s key to success will be being proactive rather than reactive in dealing with Trump. If he becomes Prime Minister, I strongly believe he can achieve this.

National Post

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