Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland laid out her case Sunday to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and take on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, positioning herself as “a battle-tested leader with the scars to prove it.”
But her message was repeatedly drowned out by pro-Palestinian protesters in the crowd who shouted down Freeland with calls of “genocide supporter” and loud banging.
At least a dozen hecklers were escorted out, according to reporters in the room, delaying her speech multiple times.
Once she got back on track, Freeland pitched herself as a veteran negotiator and leader with eyes on the Canadian economy.
During a news conference in Toronto on Sunday, as former deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland launched her bid to become the next Liberal Party leader of Canada several protesters interrupted her speech and were removed from the event.
Freeland’s official campaign launch comes nearly a month after she resigned from Trudeau’s cabinet and one day before Trump takes office, two factors she leaned on in her campaign launch speech.
“I have always fought for the things I believe in, and for the people I care about,” she said at the St. Alban’s boys and girls club in Toronto. “And yes, as deputy prime minister, I fought back against the prime minister when I knew the time had come to put country first.”
The former deputy prime minister resigned from cabinet in mid-December, which sent shock waves through Ottawa and galvanized caucus to push Trudeau out.
In a letter to the prime minister that was subsequently posted to social media, Freeland said she had no choice but to resign after Trudeau approached her about moving to another cabinet role.
Her searing resignation letter, sent the same day she was originally set to deliver the Liberals’ fall economic statement, took aim at Trudeau’s handling of the economy and his approach to Trump, and denounced what she called the government’s “costly political gimmicks.”
Speaking Sunday, Freeland said she would be focused on financial responsibility as leader.
“Canadians want good jobs, homes they can afford, and great care for their kids,” she said Sunday.
“And they want a government that is as careful with Canada’s money as Canadians are with their own.”
Canada will ‘inflict the biggest trade blow’ U.S. has seen: Freeland
Freeland, who walked on stage to the song Maneater, launched her campaign just hours before Trump takes office. The incoming administration has committed to imposing punishing 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports.
Freeland, who led Canada’s negotiating team during Trump’s first term in office, when the North American Free Trade Agreement was in jeopardy, promised to “lead a true Canadian response to the threat we now face.”
That would include, she said, dollar-for-dollar retaliation.
“If you hit us, we’ll hit back,” she said. “If you force our hand, we’ll inflict the biggest trade blow that the United States has ever endured.”
During a press conference in Toronto on Sunday, former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland says she is running to become the next leader of the Liberal Party.
Freeland led Canada’s negotiating team during Trump’s first term in office, when the North American Free Trade Agreement was in jeopardy.
After her resignation, Trump took to social media to call Freeland “toxic.”
She also took aim at another opponent — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who continues to lead public polling by a wide margin.
“The real problem with Pierre Poilievre? He is weak,” she said
“He will bow down and he will sell us out.… He will never stand up to Donald Trump. He can’t even stand up to Danielle Smith.”
Race to replace PM firms up
Freeland will face off against central banker Mark Carney, who is pitching himself as someone who can lead Canada through economic uncertainty.
“I’m not the usual suspect when it comes to politics but this is no time for politics as usual,” he said at his Thursday launch in Edmonton.
Government House leader Karina Gould confirmed Saturday she is running as well, making her the youngest candidate so far to throw their hat into the ring to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
MP Chandra Arya, who represents the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean; former Montreal MP and businessman Frank Baylis; and MP Jaime Battiste, who represents the Nova Scotia riding of Sydney—Victoria, have all declared they’re running for the leadership.
Candidates only have until Jan. 23 to declare they are running and begin a series of entry fee payments to the party so they can join the race.The party will choose their next leader, who will serve as the next prime minister, March 9.