Former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland is getting into the Liberal management race.
In a sparsely worded submit on the social media platform X on Friday morning, the previous cupboard minister mentioned merely that she’s “operating to battle for Canada.”
Her official marketing campaign launch shall be on Sunday, however the submit offered no particulars of when or the place it should happen.
Freeland’s announcement comes a day after former Financial institution of Canada and Financial institution of England governor Mark Carney introduced his bid for the celebration management at an occasion in Edmonton.
To date, two cupboard ministers have publicly thrown their assist behind Freeland: Well being Minister Mark Holland, who represents the Ontario using of Ajax, and Diane Lebouthillier, the minister of fisheries and oceans and MP for Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec.
A majority of ministers, nonetheless, haven’t weighed in on who they could assist in a management bid.
Freeland’s different public supporters embody Rob Oliphant, James Maloney, Leah Taylor Roy, Julie Dabrusin and Lloyd Longfield from Ontario; Alexandra Mendès and Anthony Housefather from Quebec; Ken McDonald from Newfoundland and Labrador; Lena Diab from Nova Scotia; Ken Hardie from B.C.; Ben Carr from Manitoba and former tourism minister Randy Boissonnault from Alberta, who left his cupboard submit amid controversy surrounding questions on false claims of Métis heritage.
The celebration’s Ontario Liberal caucus chair, Michael Coteau, joined that listing Friday morning, posting on X that he’s proud to assist the previous cupboard minister.
“Having labored together with her, I’ve seen first-hand her dedication, compassion and talent to deal with powerful challenges,” Coteau mentioned.
“Chrystia has the talents, expertise and coronary heart wanted to information Canada by way of these troublesome occasions,” he added.
Allan Rock, a former Liberal cupboard minister beneath Jean Chrétien, additionally threw his assist behind Freeland on Friday.
“All through her exceptional profession and particularly throughout her 10 years in probably the most senior cupboard portfolios, she has proven competence, braveness and character,” he mentioned in a submit on Fb.
“She has stood up for Canada and Canadians at each flip, and I’m proud to face together with her now,” he added.
Writing in Friday’s Ontario Chronicle newspaper, Freeland was fast to outline her strategy to president-elect Donald Trump’s risk to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he assumes workplace.
“President Donald Trump thinks tariff is probably the most lovely phrase within the dictionary. He has spoken about redrawing borders — and has threatened financial coercion to take action,” she mentioned.
“Whereas it could be tempting to show the opposite cheek, we should take President Trump at his phrase. Hope will not be a technique and capitulation will not be an possibility,” Freeland added.
She warned the US that “In case you hit us, we are going to hit again. We won’t escalate, however we are going to by no means again down.”
Wilkinson bows out
In the meantime, Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister of power and pure sources who was contemplating a management bid himself, introduced that he won’t be operating.
Whereas acknowledging that the timeline to mount a profitable marketing campaign is brief, Wilkinson mentioned he was assured he might stage a profitable marketing campaign — however that now was not the time to go away cupboard.
“My position as minister of power and pure sources provides me duty for lots of the instruments that may allow Canada to face as much as and successfully negotiate with president-elect Trump.” Wilkinson mentioned in a press release.
“As a Canadian, it is a duty I take very critically. Stepping other than my place in cupboard at this vital time wouldn’t, in my opinion, greatest serve Canadians and the nation I like so very a lot.”
