Liberal Leadership Debates Focus on Trump Tariffs

The Liberal Party of Canada's leadership candidates, including Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, and Frank Baylis, are participating in two debates in Montreal as they compete to replace Justin Trudeau as party leader and Prime Minister. The first debate, held in French, focused on candidates' strategies to tackle challenges from U.S. President Donald Trump, with Carney and Freeland advocating for retaliatory tariffs. The second debate will be conducted in English, covering Canada-U.S. relations, economic growth, public welfare, and climate action. Carney, considered the frontrunner, was criticized for his French proficiency but emphasized his economic management skills. Freeland underscored her experience negotiating the CUSMA deal, while Gould and Baylis focused on diplomacy and business growth. These debates are crucial as they are the only opportunities for Liberal members to evaluate candidates before voting begins on March 9.