Canada should treat the ongoing trade war with the United States as a “pandemic-level national crisis,” said Chrystia Freeland said at a talk Monday night to promote her new book.
The former finance minister and deputy prime minister urged the federal government to work to protect the economy as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic, by supporting small businesses and the residents most hard-hit by tariffs. (In August, the government announced $7.5 billion in tariff relief, including support for small businesses and money for workers laid off because of tariffs.)
“What I hope we do as a country, is treat this as a pandemic-level national crisis,” she said.
Freeland’s comments came during a wide-ranging conversation between Freeland and Star business columnist Adam Radwanski in front of a sold-out crowd at Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto. The two discussed her new book, “Unreliable Boyfriend: An Insider’s View of Dealing with a Chaotic Superpower, Plutocrats, and Other Complicated People.”
In the book, Freeland reflects on managing a difficult relationship with the U.S. during her tenure in government from 2015 to 2025, and how she believes Canada should focus on trading with countries that share its political values. And, she spills some political gossip about her tumultuous relationships with U.S. President Donald Trump and former prime minister Justin Trudeau.
On the trade conflict, Freeland said Canadians whose livelihoods have not been affected should be willing to support the country spending money “to keep everyone else going.”
Trump a ‘classic bully’
Freeland also defended Canada’s approach to dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump, whom she described as a “classic bully.”
“He pushes until he meets resistance,” she said.
Canada and other countries dealing with Trump should collaborate with the U.S. when they can and focus on winning over American leaders and residents rather than Trump himself, Freeland said.
“I don’t think they fully understand how betrayed we feel, how betrayed we have been.”
Freeland also maintained that trying to cosy up to Trump instead of pushing back is a “huge mistake.” Countries should never capitulate to his demands, she said.
“Do not escalate and do not back down.”
And the country should also be looking ahead to a post-Trump world, she said.
“If we don’t have a vision of something better than the world we’re in right now, that for sure is a guarantee that we can’t build it.”
Book not a ‘tell-all’ about Trudeau, Freeland says
Freeland touched on her relationship with former prime minister Justin Trudeau and her thoughts on how Prime Minister Mark Carney is navigating the trade war.
The title of Freeland’s new book has led some to believe the “unreliable boyfriend” in question is Trudeau. But at Monday’s event, Freeland insisted the book is not “a salacious tell-all or a hit job.”
She repeated her belief that history will look kindly on Trudeau, listing achievements ranging from the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement to the promise of $10-a-day child care.
As for her exit from his government, Freeland said it would be “impossible” to tell whether she would have left if Trudeau had not been seeking to replace her as finance minister.
“I do try not to indulge myself in little what-might’ve-been fantasies,” she said.
When asked to compare the leadership of Trudeau and Prime Minister Mark Carney, Freeland didn’t dive into details.
“Every single person here can imagine the difference, and everything you imagine will be exactly right,” she said, to laughter from the audience.
Freeland urges caution on putting aside values
The response to the trade war by Canadian residents and leaders alike is something to be proud of, Freeland said, noting she stands with Carney on how he is responding to the U.S.
“He deserves all of our support and he certainly has mine.”
But when asked about Canada’s shift to making deals with countries like China, India and Saudi Arabia, Freeland said she is concerned about Canada being too pragmatic and putting aside its political values.
She urged caution on the question of making trade deals with non-democratic countries, noting that China is a key backer of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Freeland also warned against becoming dependent on trade with China or any country that doesn’t share Canada’s political values.
“I think that it is not very realistic to believe that dictatorships are as trustworthy and as reliable as democracies.”
Alberta referendum
Freeland, who was born in Peace River, Alta. and described herself as a “daughter of Alberta,” said the rest of Canada needs to know that sometimes, Albertans need to hear that they are a valued part of the country.
Preliminary results show that about a quarter of Albertans voted in favour of a separation referendum, while three quarters voted to stay in Canada.
On Monday night, before the results rolled in, Freeland said Canadians can “breathe a sigh of relief” if 20 per cent or fewer of Albertans vote in favour of separation.
“If it is more than 30 [per cent] I would be really, really, very worried and upset.”
