Trump dominates Liberal leadership debate in Canada

On Monday, a significant debate took place in Canada for those aspiring to lead the Liberal Party. This event is crucial because the leader of the Liberal Party has a strong chance of becoming the next Prime Minister of Canada. The debate featured four candidates: Mark Carney, a former governor of the banks of Canada and England; Chrystia Freeland, the former Finance Minister; Karina Gould, the current House leader for the Liberal government; and Frank Baylis, a businessman and former Member of Parliament. This was the first time these candidates faced off against each other, and the debate was conducted in French. A major topic of discussion was the influence of Donald Trump, the President of the United States, who has made threats to impose tariffs on Canadian goods and has jokingly referred to Canada as the '51st state' of the USA. This issue dominated the early part of the debate, as the candidates expressed their concerns about Trump's potential impact on Canada. Freeland, in particular, emphasized that Trump represents 'the greatest threat to Canada since World War Two. ' She drew on her past experiences in government, highlighting her role in renegotiating trade agreements during Trump's first term. Freeland cautioned that a second term for Trump could be even more detrimental to Canada, stating, 'He wants to turn Canada into the 51st state, and it's no joke. ' This statement underscores the seriousness of her concerns regarding Trump's intentions. The candidates also addressed various domestic issues, including immigration, healthcare, and the rising cost of living. To counter the perceived threats from Trump, Freeland and her fellow candidates proposed strengthening trade relationships with the European Union and the United Kingdom. Baylis suggested forming a 'new economic bloc' that would include Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, emphasizing that these nations share similar values, cultures, and governance systems. Carney, who is currently leading in the polls, focused on the importance of economic prosperity for Canada. He proposed leveraging the country's natural resources, including critical minerals and metals, and aimed to position Canada as a 'superpower of clean energy. ' Carney also agreed with Freeland that Trump's second term would be markedly different from the first, stating, 'He is more isolationist. He is more aggressive. ' He expressed his support for imposing dollar-for-dollar tariffs on the US if Trump follows through with his threats to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian goods starting on March 4. Both Freeland and Carney warned that Trump's second term poses a greater threat to Canada than his first. Gould, the youngest candidate on stage, presented herself as the candidate 'for today and the future,' focusing on how a Liberal Party under her leadership would work to make life more affordable for Canadians. The candidates also discussed the shifting US policy regarding Ukraine. While they debated, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Kyiv, marking three years since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war. All four candidates agreed that Canada should continue its support for Ukraine. Freeland proposed that funds seized from Russia through sanctions be redirected to assist Ukraine's war efforts, while Carney emphasized that any discussions about Ukraine's future must include the Ukrainians themselves. Freeland also suggested that Canada should strengthen its ties with Denmark, which is also facing threats from Trump, who has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a territory of Denmark. In the latter half of the debate, candidates shared their ideas on how to reduce Canada's federal budget deficit, address crime, and increase military spending. They were also questioned about climate change, with both Freeland and Carney stating that they no longer support a carbon tax on consumers, a key climate policy of the Trudeau government that has become unpopular among Canadians. At various points, the candidates criticized Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, arguing that he would be unfit to defend Canada against Trump. Poilievre is currently leading in national polls, but the gap between him and the Liberal Party has narrowed since Trudeau's resignation. The debate on Monday was the first of two, with a second, English-language debate scheduled for Tuesday. Liberal Party members will cast their votes for the next leader on March 9, after which Trudeau is expected to step down. The French-language debate holds particular significance for Francophone Canadians in Quebec, whose votes are influential in determining which party will form Canada's next government. The candidate elected as leader will become Canada's next Prime Minister until the next general election, which must occur on or before October 20.