By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) – As the competition intensifies among the top contenders aspiring to take over the reins from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a televised debate on Monday witnessed a significant amount of time being dedicated to deliberating on the imperative need to stand firm against U.S. President Donald Trump. With the upcoming election mandated to take place no later than October 20 this year, the official opposition Conservatives appeared to be on track for a straightforward victory after over nine years of Liberal governance. However, the electoral race has now tightened considerably, largely due to Trump’s recent pronouncements threatening to levy tariffs on all Canadian imports.
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, a key figure in negotiating the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement during the initial Trump administration, asserted during a two-hour French-language debate involving the four candidates that “Trump embodies the most significant threat to Canada since the Second World War.” She highlighted that during the previous administration, the President had explicitly articulated his intentions to initiate an economic battle against Canada. “But this time around, Trump’s ultimatums are more severe – he envisions incorporating Canada as the 51st state,” she emphasized. Given that Canada dispatches 75% of its export commodities and services to the United States, the nation would face the risk of sliding into a recession if the tariffs were to persist.
Mark Carney, a former central banker who current polls suggest is leading the pack, expressed confidence that Trump’s endeavor to integrate Canada into the United States would not come to fruition. “At this juncture, Canada is grappling with one of the most formidable crises in our history…I am well-versed in navigating through crises,” he remarked. Carney, who steered the Bank of Canada through the financial upheaval of 2008-2009 and subsequently oversaw the Bank of England during the Brexit referendum, concurred with Freeland in underscoring the necessity for Canada to retaliate resolutely to any potential tariffs imposed by Trump.
Freeland’s departure from her ministerial post in December after a nine-year tenure triggered a chain of events that culminated in Trudeau’s announcement last month about his forthcoming resignation. The successor to Trudeau will be revealed on March 9. The Conservatives, staunch in their assertion that there exists no disparity between Trudeau and the two principal contenders for leadership, circulated a press release earlier in the day titled “Sneaky Carney Must Come Clean With Canadians.”
The remaining two candidates, former cabinet minister Karina Gould and retired Liberal lawmaker Frank Baylis, will engage in an English-language debate, the other official language of Canada, on Tuesday.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Michael Perry)
