Freeland started the campaign with words to Trump

Former Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland began her election campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Party with an appeal to future US President Donald Trump. This was written by CBC News and the Guardian on Sunday, January 19.

Freeland said there was an “existential risk” to Canada from Trump and presented himself as a “battle-tested leader with the scars to prove it.” According to him, “Trump doesn’t like him,” but “that’s good.”

“He prefers hustle and bustle. As prime minister, you need someone from the Liberal Party leadership who fears Donald Trump,” he said.

Commenting on Trump’s talk of imposing a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian imports, Freeland promised dollar-for-dollar retaliation to deal “the biggest trade blow the United States has ever experienced.”

“I have messages for Trump: we are your neighbor and most important trading partner. But if the fight comes to our door, just remember that we love our country as much as you love yours. Canada will not escale. But if I will I will be prime minister, Canada will never back down,” he stressed.

Freeland called his main opponent, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who has set his sights on winning the next general election and forming a Conservative government, “weak.”

“He will bend over and sell us out. He will never stand up to Donald Trump,” he said.

So far, six candidates are known to have expressed a desire to run.

In addition to Freeland, central banker Mark Carney, who is positioning himself as someone who can lead Canada out of economic uncertainty, has put forward his candidacy for Liberal leader.

Other candidates include Ontario MPs Karina Gould and Chandra Ariya, former Montreal MP and businessman Frank Bayliss; and Nova Scotia MP Jamie Battiste.

Candidates have until January 23 to declare their intention to run and make a series of donations to the party. The Liberal Party will elect its next leader, who will become prime minister, on March 9.

Earlier, Trudeau announced he would step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, as well as the post of prime minister – after the Liberals elect a successor. After Trudeau’s decision to resign, Republican Donald Trump reiterated that “a lot of people in Canada want to be the 51st state of the United States.”