Carney Vies for Quebecers’ Support, Vowing to Protect Culture, Economy Amid US Tariff Threats

Liberal Leader Mark Carney speaks at a press conference at the Port of Montreal in Montreal on March 28, 2025. Andrej Ivanov/AFP via Getty Images

Liberal Leader Mark Carney appealed for support in Quebec during a campaign stop in the province on April 22, arguing a Liberal government would be best positioned to protect Quebec’s economy and identity amid U.S. tariff threats by supporting key industries and promoting Quebec culture through various measures.

Quebec has the second-largest number of seats in the House of Commons after Ontario, making it a crucial area to attract support as polls suggest a close race between the Liberals and Conservatives.

Carney made the announcement during a campaign stop in Trois-Rivières, Que., on April 22, reiterating his previous remarks that the federal election, scheduled for April 28, comes “at a time of crisis,” citing U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats to absorb Canada into the United States.

“In this time of crisis, protecting Québec and Canada’s identity, including the protection of the French language, is an essential part of securing Canada, and this will never be on the negotiating table,” he said.

He also said a Liberal government would respond by bolstering Canada’s economy, including Quebec’s, through job creation and tax cuts for the middle class.

The U.S. administration last month identified Quebec’s latest language law as a trade irritant. Quebec’s Bill 96 became law in 2022, toughening the previous language law to protect French in the province.

In its April 22 announcement, the Liberal Party reaffirmed its pledge to increase CBC/Radio-Canada’s funding “to protect Québec voices and voices across Canada” by introducing legislation for permanent, statutory financial support with an initial boost in annual funding of $150 million.

The party said it would equip the broadcaster “to promote Québec and Canada’s culture,” and support the local news “that so many Quebecers rely on.”

Carney previously said he would equip CBC/Radio-Canada to “combat disinformation, so that Canadians have a news source they know they can trust.” He also said the revamp would help the public broadcaster share Canadian content that “might otherwise get buried by the avalanche of American content on social media.”

Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently reaffirmed his pledge to “defund the CBC,” though without providing a specific timeline. He has accused the public broadcaster of pro-Liberal Party bias, and criticized it for competing with other Canadian outlets for advertising dollars despite receiving federal funding.

The Tory leader has said he would preserve Radio-Canada’s French-language services, which offer information to francophones across the country. “A conservative government will maintain funding for Francophone and Quebec culture,” reads a French version of Poilievre’s platform.

To promote Quebec’s culture, Carney said he would also support artists and creators in the province and across Canada by increasing funding for the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm, the Canada Media Fund, and the National Film Board, “because the more of our perspectives we bring to life, the better we appreciate our culture, the stronger we are as a nation,” the party said.

Plan to Boost Quebec’s Economy

The Liberal Party said it would “protect” Canada’s supply management system by ensuring it is always off the table during trade talks. Canada’s supply management system regulates production and demand in dairy and poultry products while controlling imports to set stable prices for farmers and consumers.

Quebec strongly supports the supply management system because it sees it as essential for ensuring a reliable and stable food supply.

The Bloc Québécois introduced legislation in Parliament in 2022 to protect Canada’s supply management system in future international trade negotiations, but the legislation died when Parliament was prorogued on Jan. 6.

In an April 22 press release, the Liberals mentioned a range of plans, many of them previously announced, to support Quebec’s economy.

They said a Liberal government would establish “Canadian-made” standards for federal infrastructure funding that would encourage the use of Canadian and Quebec steel, aluminum, and forestry products. Carney last week announced a similar “made-in-Canada” approach for defence procurement.

The party also noted that Carney’s plan to invest in critical minerals for clean energy would “support thousands of jobs in Quebec,” highlighting the province’s substantial mineral reserves.

It added that support for clean energy and technology, including through six major investment tax credits, would benefit Quebec, which the party called “a national leader in clean innovation.”

Noé Chartier and Matthew Harwood contributed to this report.