In French Debate, Liberal Leadership Contenders Attack Trump, Poilievre Rather Than Each Other

Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidates Mark Carney, left to right, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Frank Baylis take part in the French-language Liberal Leadership debate in Montreal on Feb. 24, 2025. The Federal Liberals will pick a new leader on March 9. Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press

MONTREAL—Candidates seeking to lead the Liberal Party and the country met in Montreal for the French debate, where they expressed little disagreement over each other’s policy proposals and instead criticized U.S. President Donald Trump and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre.

“We agree on a lot and it’s a really good thing,” Liberal MP and former cabinet member Chrystia Freeland said in her closing remarks.

Freeland tried to position herself as the best candidate to deal with Trump, given her past experience in negotiating the CUSMA free trade deal during the president’s first term.

Freeland said Trump poses the greatest threat to Canada since World War II. “He wants to make Canada the 51st [U.S.] state. It’s not a joke,” Freeland said. “This is why he supports the criminal efforts of Vladimir Putin to redraw Ukraine’s borders, because Trump also wants to redraw our borders.”

Mark Carney echoed Freeland by saying that Canada faces the “greatest crisis” in its existence. Carney, who was governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis, said he knows how to navigate a crisis and how to build a strong economy.

In a sign of solidarity, Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Karina Gould congratulated Freeland for her “excellent” work on renegotiating the free trade deal with the United States. Gould added, however, that Canada cannot respond in the same way this time and that what Trump respects is “strength.”

Former Liberal MP and businessman Frank Baylis said he knows how to deal with Trump because he has the ability to “predict what he’s going to do.” Baylis said he had correctly predicted Trump would impose tariffs on steel.

Trump announced a number of tariff actions since taking office. One set of tariffs related to border security was imposed on Feb. 3 and later that day put on pause for 30 days to assess measures taken by Canada and Mexico to deal with drug trafficking and illegal immigration through their borders into the United States.

Another set of tariffs pertains to all imports of steel and aluminum in the United States, set to kick in March 12. Trump has also announced reciprocal tariffs to match what other countries impose on his country, set for April.

The Economy

Liberal contenders were asked how they would diversify the Canadian economy as it stares down multiple tariff threats.

Freeland said Canada must work with its allies around the economy and national security. Baylis suggested creating a new trade bloc with the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, three Commonwealth countries already part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

Gould said she would help Canadian businesses enter new markets, and Carney said he would build relations with countries that share “our values.” He also said he would transform Canada into a “clean energy superpower.”

The Trump administration has signalled multiple times that using tariffs is a pressure tactic to obtain concessions. It has also said it intends to renegotiate CUSMA.

“Trump leveraged tariffs to force Canada and Mexico to make long-overdue changes at our northern and southern borders,” the White House said in a Feb. 13 fact sheet on tariffs.

In future renegotiations of the free trade deal, Carney said a number of items should “never be on the table,” including culture, resources like water, and supply management. “And we should start and finish with sovereignty,” Freeland said, cutting off Carney.

Gould doubled down by saying the first thing she would do in her Speech from the Throne if she becomes prime minister is to declare the protection of supply management. This quota system to manage products like dairy and eggs has been a longtime bipartisan trade irritant for the United States.

Candidates were also asked if they plan to balance the budget.

Freeland, who was previously finance minister, did not answer directly and said that Canada’s economy is strong. She resigned from cabinet on the day she was set to deliver the Fall Economic Statement, which blew past the government’s fiscal guardrails regarding the size of the deficit. In her resignation letter from cabinet issued on Dec. 16, she said the country needs to keep its “fiscal powder dry” and avoid “costly political gimmicks.” She said during the debate fiscal responsibility is important but cuts are not in order.

Carney said he has a plan to balance the “operational budget” within three years and that he would cap the public service. This proposal has been criticized as an “accounting trick” by the Tories.

Baylis did not mention cutting spending and instead said Canada should focus on boosting its productivity.

Gould said she didn’t want to talk about budget cuts in the current climate and has pledged to open the way for a universal basic income.

Carbon Tax

Along with a focus on how to deal with Trump, candidates targeted Poilievre by accusing him of being similar to the U.S. president.

“The most important thing to remember is that Pierre Poileivre will cut, cut, cut,” said Freeland. “It’s only the Liberal Party which can grow the economy and support people at the same time.”

Even though criticism has been directed at Poilievre, Liberal contenders like Freeland and Gould have tried to create some distance with the government they’ve been part of in the last number of years.

Many of the policies being proposed by the Liberal leadership candidates are similar to what Conservatives have been advocating for, whether around taxation, housing, and immigration.

Even though they have previously been strong proponents of the carbon tax, most of the leadership candidates have proposed some tweak to the policy. Carney said he would remove the consumer-facing tax and instead make industry pay, a move likely leading to a trickle down effect for consumers, which he argues would be marginal.

Freeland said she would remove the consumer-facing carbon tax to replace it with “alternatives” and lead public consultations on the matter. She said people should have say while noting the need to continue the “green” industrial transition.

Gould said she would cancel the coming April 1 hike of the tax, which will go from over 17 cents to nearly 21 cents on a litre of gasoline in the impacted provinces. She remains favourable to the carbon tax and said during the debate this is because as a mother of two she “cannot let the planet burn.”

Baylis said polluters should pay and that everyone from individuals to businesses must do their part on climate change. He suggested using the revenue from the carbon tax to reinvest in Canadian businesses.

On the issue of housing, Freeland said she would tie the number of new immigrants to housing availability. Freeland also pledged to eliminate the GST on new homes worth up to $1.5 million for first-time buyers.

Carney made a similar pledge for houses worth up to $1 million and said he would cap immigration until it returns to a “sustainable trend.”

Poilievre was the first to discuss tying immigration levels to housing and services, and to propose a GST tax break on new homes.

The debate, held in Montreal, did not feature any candidate with French as a mother tongue. The Liberal Party has a strong base in Quebec and the province will play a key part in deciding its fate at the next general election.

Baylis is the only candidate from Quebec province, but with parents from England and Barbados. His French is fluent but non-native. Baylis and Gould had a better mastery of French compared to Carney and Freeland, with the latter supporting her longtime friend Carney on one key occasion.

“We agree with Hamas, we agree with two states...” Carney said before being corrected by Freeland, who said, “We do not agree with Hamas, but regarding Hamas,” to which Carney concurred.

The response came after candidates were asked about their position on the Israel–Palestine conflict. They agreed Hamas, a listed terrorist entity in Canada, should not have a say in political developments in Gaza.

Carney Leading Fundraising

Carney has dominated other candidates in fundraising, according to financial data released by Elections Canada. Carney has raised $1.9 million compared to $236,000 for Gould, $227,000 for Baylis, and $227,000 for Freeland.

Carney also has the lead in voting intentions, and the Liberal Party would gain ground on the Conservatives if he becomes leader.

The contest has not been without controversy, with former Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla being disqualified from the race last week. The party said it conducted a “thorough investigation” and found she broke 10 contest rules.

Dhalla said the allegations are false and that she was removed because the “establishment felt threatened.” She said she has filed an appeal with the party, which later confirmed her disqualification.

The party also rejected the candidacy of Liberal MP Chandra Arya after he submitted his paperwork and $50,000 deposit to enter the race.

Voting for Liberal Party members will begin on Feb. 26 and the new leader will be announced on March 9.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in early January he would resign once his party chooses a new leader.

Early election is a possibility shortly after the prime minister’s replacement is announced, whether the new leader decides to dissolve Parliament or the government is toppled by a motion of non-confidence. All opposition parties have pledged to take down the government, including the NDP, which has begun running campaign ads.

Parliament is set to come back from prorogation on March 24.

The English leadership debate will again take place in Montreal on Feb. 25.