Chrystia Freeland will run to be next Liberal leader

Freeland was a key player in responding to Trump tariffs during his first term in the White House. As the minister of foreign affairs she oversaw a dollar-for-dollar tariff response to Trump’s imposition of import taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum in 2018.

The former finance minister is also expected to come out against consumer carbon pricing — a key policy of her own Liberal government.

Freeland’s announcement comes after former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney officially launched his campaign to become the next Liberal leader in Edmonton on Thursday.

Former cabinet minister Marie-Claude Bibeau posted her support for Freeland on social media, saying: “She has proven her ability to stand up to President Trump and defend the interests of Quebec’s regions. Chrystia is the leader we need!”

She resigned from cabinet Dec. 16 after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told her he was replacing her as finance minister, with Carney. The move and resulting criticism led Trudeau to announce he would step down as soon as a new leader is chosen.

So far Freeland and Carney are the highest-profile candidates in the race, which is expected to get more crowded soon. Government House leader Karina Gould is expected to launch her campaign in the coming days and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has also indicated he will soon announce his final decision on whether he’ll run.

Potential candidates have less than a week left to decide if they will enter the race, which will conclude March 9.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2025.

by Canadian Press

Chrystia Freeland will run to be next Liberal leader

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