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Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre used a Labour Day weekend stop in Regina to press Prime Minister Mark Carney for more information about the cost of Canada’s latest counter-tariffs against the United States.
Poilievre was surrounded by Saskatchewan Roughriders fans Sunday as he attended a tailgate outside Mosaic Stadium ahead of the Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
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Pierre Poilievre has arrived at the Riders’ Labour Day Classic tailgate party in Regina. 🏈💚#CFL #Riders #RiderNation #LabourDayClassic #Saskatchewan #Regina #Poilievre pic.twitter.com/UgQA9saTS2
— Jacob Bamhour (@Jbamhour96) September 6, 2026
While much of the atmosphere centred on football, Poilievre also faced questions about the escalating Canada-U.S. trade dispute.
“As you can see, everybody’s in good spirits. We’ve got a lot of Canadian patriots here, and we ultimately, we need to fight for tariff-free trade,” Poilievre said.
Canada’s latest counter-tariffs are scheduled to take effect tomorrow in response to new 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian products. Ottawa says its measures will match the U.S. tariffs dollar-for-dollar, targeting $27.6 billion worth of American goods.
The federal government’s list includes products in sectors such as steel and aluminum, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has acknowledged some of Canada’s retaliatory measures will increase costs and reduce choice for Canadians, but has argued retaliation is necessary after Canada rejected what he characterized as a bad trade deal with Washington.
Poilievre, who also repeated his message at a press conference on Monday, said he wants the government to provide Canadians with more information about those potential costs.
“I think it’s time that Mr. Carney tells Canadians what the counter-tariffs will cost them,” Poilievre said.
He pointed specifically to food, appliances and home construction as areas where he believes Canadians could face higher prices.
Poilievre called on the federal government to release documents showing its analysis of the counter-measures and their potential economic impact.
“We want the Prime Minister to publish all the documents that show the cost linked to these policies,” he said in French Sunday.
Poilievre said his preferred outcome remains the removal of tariffs on both sides of the border.
“We want that we fight, that we use our leverage to fight to put an end to tariffs on both sides of the border, to reduce the cost of living and protect Canadian jobs,” he said in French.
Trump has threatened the U.S. will retaliate against any Canadian counter-measures to his tariffs.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre took questions from reporters about the federal government’s counter-tariff plan at The Hotel Saskatchewan, in Regina on Sept. 7, 2026. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
At the Monday press conference, Poilievre said the focus should remain on getting a trade deal rather than payback.
“Our goal is to fight for tariff free trade,” he said. “We think that should be the mission here. Tariff-free trade is good for Americans and Canadians.”
The political discussion on Sunday came against a much different backdrop than Parliament Hill.
Rider fans Jaxon Runge, left, and Jackson Milton-Owens at a Labour Day Classic tailgate outside Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Sept. 6, 2026. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
Poilievre arrived at the Rider tailgate wearing green, where fans gathered around him for handshakes and pictures.
“It’s amazing to be here on the Prairies to support the Riders and be part of Rider Nation,” Poilievre said. “It’s a great Canadian tradition every Labour Day long weekend.”
Jackson Milton-Owens was among the fans at the tailgate and said he did not know beforehand that Poilievre would be there.
“We had no idea when we pulled up,” Milton-Owens said.
He said some local MPs told the group Poilievre was on his way, adding another level of excitement to the pre-game festivities.
Jaxon Runge also got a chance to meet the Conservative leader.
“It’s really super awesome that he’s here,” Runge said. “And I got to shake his hand, and I love it.”
Poilievre also pointed to his family’s Saskatchewan ties during the visit.
“My mother and my father are from Saskatchewan, so I always love to be it feels like I’m coming home in a certain sense, even though I’m from Calgary,” he said.
— with files from Gillian Massie, 980 CJME
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