Freeland, Gould launch leadership bids for Liberal Party

Former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Ontario MP Karina Gould have declared their candidacies for the leadership of Canada's Liberal Party, aiming to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced he would step down. Freeland, who resigned in December after a fallout with Trudeau, emphasized economic issues in her campaign, stating that Canadians want good jobs and affordable homes. Gould proposed to cancel the planned carbon tax increase and focus on innovative climate solutions, highlighting her support for electric vehicles and energy efficiency. The Liberal Party will select its new leader on March 9, with candidates needing to declare by January 23. Freeland's main rival is former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, who positions himself as an outsider from Trudeau's administration. The new leader will also lead the party into the upcoming 2025 general election, where they face a significant challenge from the Conservative Party.