Chrystia Freeland, Canada's former deputy prime minister, whose sudden resignation in December helped set the stage for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation, said Friday. rushes to replace him.
He posted his ad in X with a six-word sentence: “I'm running to fight for Canada.”
Ms. Freeland, 56, a close ally of Mr. Trudeau, once often called the “minister of everything,” has served as deputy prime minister since 2019 and has long been seen as a possible successor.
But the two fell out sharply when Mr. Trudeau moved to oust her during a Zoom call in December, offering her the role of minister without portfolio. Instead, he made a choice resign and slammed Mr. Trudeau's leadership as Canada prepares to deal with President-elect Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States.
His tragic departure shattered Mr. Trudeau's shaky grip on power. Three weeks later, on January 6, he announced that he would step down As leader of the Liberal Party and as prime minister once a new leader is in place.
The leadership candidates will be campaigning ahead of the general vote among party members in March. The new leader of the Liberal Party will also become Canada's Prime Minister and lead the party into a general election expected to take place this spring.
Ms Freeland said she would launch her campaign in person on Sunday, which could take place in her parliamentary constituency of Toronto. He will face a tough challenge convincing Canadians that he is the best candidate to take on the Conservative Party and its leader, Pierre Poilievre.
The Conservatives, who have a 25 per cent lead over the Liberals in the polls, have sought to portray Ms Freeland as part of the problem since 2015, given her once close relationship with Mr Trudeau and her central role in their government. first he became the prime minister.
Mr. Trudeau's popularity has fallen in recent years as Canadians grow increasingly frustrated with the persistently high cost of living in everything from housing to grocery bills.
Many Canadians have also begun to oppose the government's immigration policy, which has seen 2.3 million people come to the country in the past two years. While the government says the migrants are needed to help fill gaps in low-skilled jobs, many Canadians say the new arrivals are driving up housing costs and straining the public health system.
Ms. Freeland accused Mr. Trudeau of engaging in a political stunt after the ministry sparred with her office over a temporary sales tax break during the year-end holidays.
The government guessed it tax reliefRestaurant bills would cost C$1.6 billion, or $1.1 billion, which includes items such as some toys and clothing, which Ms. Freeland said Canada “cannot afford” at a time when Mr. Trump has raised the specter of tariffs. .
“We must take this threat extremely seriously,” Ms. Freeland said in her resignation letter letter. “That means keeping our financial powder dry today, so we have the reserves we might need for the coming tariff war.”
Ms. Freeland was born and raised in Alberta and is of Ukrainian descent. He was a staunch supporter of Ukraine on the global stage, condemning the Russian invasion.
He studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and worked as a journalist and head of news at a number of news organisations, including the Financial Times and Reuters, before joining the Liberal Party in 2013. The New York Times and has three children.
During Mr. Trump's first term, Ms. Freeland led Canada's renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico, portraying an unusually buoyant confidence during tense negotiations. (Ms. Freeland was photographed wearing pants during her visit to Washington in 2018 white shirt “Keep calm and negotiate NAFTA.”)
But he also angered Mr. Trump during the talks, and his animosity appears to have not subsided.
When Ms. Freeland resigned in December, Mr. Trump triumphantly wrote: “Her behavior was completely toxic and not at all conducive to a good deal for the very unfortunate citizens of Canada. He will not be missed!!!”
Mrs. Freeland, one opinion piece Published on Friday, it indicated that Canada would respond with “the biggest trade blow the US economy has ever endured”.
As finance minister, he led popular government programs for austerity cost of day care for parents and the fight against childhood poverty.
His announcement on Friday marks the second entry of a top contender in the Liberal Party leadership race. He will He will face Mark CarneyThe former head of the central banks of Canada and England announced his candidacy on Thursday.
Mr Carney is close friends with Ms Freeland and is godfather to one of her three children. She was tapped by Mr. Trudeau's team to replace Ms. Freeland in government in December, but turned down the job.