With the debates now done, Liberal party members can start casting advance ballots today to select their next leader a little under two weeks from now.
They can cast their ranked ballot choices by mail or in some instances by phone, and each electoral district counts for 100 points in the race.
Former central bank governor Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former government House leader Karina Gould and Montreal businessman Frank Baylis all made their pitches to Liberal voters in the only two debates of the race on Monday and Tuesday.
Carney is widely perceived to be the front-runner in the race by far.
He香蕉视频直播檚 leading in endorsements, polling, fundraising 香蕉视频直播� and he香蕉视频直播檚 the main target of attacks by the Conservative party.
But the point-based voting system doesn香蕉视频直播檛 guarantee he香蕉视频直播檒l walk away with it when Liberals select Prime Minister Justin Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 successor on March 9.
The state of the Canadian economy and U.S. President Donald Trump香蕉视频直播檚 trade threats topped the agenda for Tuesday香蕉视频直播檚 debate, the second in as many days and the last of the campaign.
Carney and Freeland clashed over the Liberal government香蕉视频直播檚 record of economic management.
香蕉视频直播淥ur economy was weak before we got to the point of these threats from President Trump,香蕉视频直播� Carney said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 why we need big changes to how we香蕉视频直播檙e managing this economy.香蕉视频直播�
He said the economy has relied in recent years on a big boost to the labour force caused by a surge in immigration, along with government spending that grew at a rapid clip.
Freeland argued that Canada is in a 香蕉视频直播渟trong fiscal position香蕉视频直播� and that Liberals should deliver solid economic and social policy at the same time.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to be really careful not to repeat Conservative talking points,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淐anada most definitely is not broken. We are a strong, resilient country.香蕉视频直播�
Freeland said she would improve productivity by improving interprovincial trade, recognizing the foreign credentials of professionals who are already here, cutting red tape to get large projects built, and protecting rural farmers 香蕉视频直播� including supply management.
The candidates drew sharper contrasts with each other than they did in Monday香蕉视频直播檚 French debate, though they stopped short of launching outright attacks.
Baylis positioned himself as the only candidate who understands business and politics, saying he香蕉视频直播檒l bring 香蕉视频直播渇iscal discipline to Ottawa香蕉视频直播� by increasing productivity.
Gould said increasing productivity over a short period would not help balance the books.
She said that as the country faces a time of great economic stress, Ottawa should be there to support Canadians, just 香蕉视频直播渓ike the federal government was during the pandemic.香蕉视频直播�
The candidates were each pressed to explain how they would react if Trump moves ahead with sweeping tariffs against Canada next week.
Carney said he would quickly gather the premiers together and hit back with dollar-for-dollar tariffs designed to have minimal impacts in Canada.
He said the United States is already showing signs of feeling the economic pain of Trump香蕉视频直播檚 policies and that Canada 香蕉视频直播渨ill amplify that.香蕉视频直播�
Freeland said she would immediately take aim at Trump香蕉视频直播檚 best friends and hit them with a wave of targeted counter-tariffs that would cause an immediate stock market reaction.
香蕉视频直播淥ur retaliation will be a lot smarter than their dumb tariffs,香蕉视频直播� she said, alluding to a Wall Street Journal editorial that called Trump香蕉视频直播檚 tariff strategy 香蕉视频直播淭he Dumbest Trade War in History.香蕉视频直播�
She said lobby groups such as the American Farm Bureau would quickly complain to Trump about the Canadian products they need becoming too expensive.
香蕉视频直播淭hat reaction, that pain, will cause Trump, ultimately, to back down 香蕉视频直播� just like he did last time,香蕉视频直播� Freeland said, citing her past involvement in dealing with the first Trump White House香蕉视频直播檚 tariffs.
Baylis said Canada should 香蕉视频直播渃ompletely香蕉视频直播� support the industries Trump targets and not let him take Canadian jobs away. He said he would quickly meet with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to rally a co-ordinated response to Trump.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 not going to stop until he gets the lesson that he can香蕉视频直播檛 get away with this,香蕉视频直播� Baylis said.
Gould pledged transparency in her approach, vowing to call together the premiers and share her plan with the entire country 香蕉视频直播渂ecause Canadians deserve to know.香蕉视频直播�
