How Canada should stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s many threats against the economy and sovereignty of its northern neighbour was a running theme of Monday night’s French-language Liberal leadership debate.
Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canada – which he says are starting next month – as well as his insistence that Canada should become the 51st American state came up dozens of times in questions and answers at the debate in Montreal.
Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Frank Baylis squared off in the first of two back-to-back debates. An English-language debate is scheduled for Tuesday.
The winner of the Liberal leadership race, to be announced March 9, will replace Justin Trudeau as both party leader and prime minister.
Carney, the presumed front-runner, says Canada must leverage its resources, strengthen its own economy and increase ties with the European Union and other friendly nations to cut ties and reduce dependence on the U.S.
“We can be masters of our own domain,” Carney said.
Carney says Canada’s premiers need to be convened to work on eliminating interprovincial trade barriers to ensure Canada’s provincial, territorial and federal governments work together against Trump’s threats.
Former finance minister Freeland’s position was more combative. Calling Trump the biggest threat against Canada since World War II, Freeland says Canada must impose counter-tariffs on the U.S. – such as a 100 per cent tariff on Tesla vehicles – and create internal pressure there.
“We can stand up to him and we can win,” said Freeland, who touted her own NAFTA negotiations with Trump during his first presidency.
Former House leader Gould says Canada needs a calm leader to counter Trump’s desire to “create chaos.” She says the U.S. president respects force and that she knows how to engage with such people.
She says the federal government must help Canadian businesses enter other markets, and added she is proud of how Canadians have reacted in unison to Trump’s threats.
Former MP and Montreal businessman Baylis called Trump an intimidator and said he met many businesspeople like the U.S. president over the years.
“I can predict what Trump will do,” Baylis said, adding as prime minister he would not visit Trump in the White House but would send delegates instead.
Baylis is advocating for a trade group involving Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
The candidates also took aim at Pierre Poilievre’s relations with Trump. Carney said the Conservate leader venerated Trump too much to oppose him; Gould said Poilievre would do whatever the U.S. president wants.
More coming.
