Chrystia Freeland Announces Bid for Liberal Party Leadership

January 17, 2025 TruthUSA

Chrystia Freeland, a former cabinet minister, announced her candidacy for the Liberal Party leadership with an official campaign launch scheduled for Jan. 19.

Freeland revealed her intentions in a brief statement issued on Jan. 17, stating: “I’m running to fight for Canada.”

Her decision to run was highly anticipated, and her announcement came a day after Mark Carney, another top contender, launched his campaign on Jan. 16 in Edmonton.

Last year, Freeland mentioned her longstanding friendship with Carney, the former head of the central banks of Canada and the U.K., and how she sought his advice while serving as a minister.

When questioned by reporters after his campaign launch about his interaction with Freeland and why party members should choose him over her, Carney did not provide a comprehensive answer, stating, “I’m going to make a positive case to choose me” and emphasizing the value of his experience.

A recent poll by Léger indicates that Carney is the preferred choice for Liberal Party members over Freeland.

The Liberal Party leadership race was sparked in part by Freeland’s resignation from cabinet on Dec. 16, just before she was set to deliver the Fall Economic Statement.

In her public resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Freeland cited disagreements with Trudeau over the country’s financial management in the preceding weeks.

She also criticized Trudeau for employing “costly political gimmicks” when the country should have been preparing for a potential trade war with the U.S., referencing the Liberal government’s GST holiday bill that was recently passed.

Freeland’s resignation as deputy prime minister and finance minister created shockwaves within the Liberal caucus, leading to increasing public criticism of Trudeau from MPs and regional caucuses demanding his resignation.

Trudeau announced on Jan. 6 that he would step down as party leader and prime minister once a new leader is selected by the Liberal Party. He also requested the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

The Liberal Party has scheduled the selection of a new leader for March 9, providing Trudeau’s successor a two-week transition period before the new session of Parliament opens with a Speech from the Throne outlining the government’s agenda.

The new Liberal prime minister’s tenure could be short-lived, as all opposition parties have expressed their intent to vote non-confidence in the government.

Besides Freeland and Carney, other confirmed candidates in the leadership race include Liberal MPs Chandra Arya, Jaime Battiste, and former MP Frank Baylis. Government House Leader Karina Gould is also expected to join the race.

Several potential contenders have already declined to run, including Ministers Dominic LeBlanc, Mélanie Joly, François-Philippe Champagne, and Anita Anand, citing their focus on dealing with potential tariffs from the incoming U.S. administration.

Freeland, who served as foreign affairs minister during Donald Trump’s presidency, negotiated NAFTA’s renegotiation and retaliatory trade measures against the U.S. for imposing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

Her experience in dealing with the U.S. president has been both an asset and a liability.

Following Freeland’s resignation in December, Trump criticized her behavior, stating it was “totally toxic” and not conducive to making deals for Canadian citizens.

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