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.
He91裸聊视频檚 leading in endorsements, polling, fundraising 91裸聊视频� and he91裸聊视频檚 the main target of attacks by the Conservative party.
But the point-based voting system doesn91裸聊视频檛 guarantee he91裸聊视频檒l walk away with it when Liberals select Prime Minister Justin Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 successor on March 9.
The state of the Canadian economy and U.S. President Donald Trump91裸聊视频檚 trade threats topped the agenda for Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 debate, the second in as many days and the last of the campaign.
Carney and Freeland clashed over the Liberal government91裸聊视频檚 record of economic management.
91裸聊视频淥ur economy was weak before we got to the point of these threats from President Trump,91裸聊视频� Carney said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 why we need big changes to how we91裸聊视频檙e managing this economy.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频渟trong fiscal position91裸聊视频� and that Liberals should deliver solid economic and social policy at the same time.
91裸聊视频淲e need to be really careful not to repeat Conservative talking points,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淐anada most definitely is not broken. We are a strong, resilient country.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频� including supply management.
The candidates drew sharper contrasts with each other than they did in Monday91裸聊视频檚 French debate, though they stopped short of launching outright attacks.
Baylis positioned himself as the only candidate who understands business and politics, saying he91裸聊视频檒l bring 91裸聊视频渇iscal discipline to Ottawa91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渓ike the federal government was during the pandemic.91裸聊视频�
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 Trump91裸聊视频檚 policies and that Canada 91裸聊视频渨ill amplify that.91裸聊视频�
Freeland said she would immediately take aim at Trump91裸聊视频檚 best friends and hit them with a wave of targeted counter-tariffs that would cause an immediate stock market reaction.
91裸聊视频淥ur retaliation will be a lot smarter than their dumb tariffs,91裸聊视频� she said, alluding to a Wall Street Journal editorial that called Trump91裸聊视频檚 tariff strategy 91裸聊视频淭he Dumbest Trade War in History.91裸聊视频�
She said lobby groups such as the American Farm Bureau would quickly complain to Trump about the Canadian products they need becoming too expensive.
91裸聊视频淭hat reaction, that pain, will cause Trump, ultimately, to back down 91裸聊视频� just like he did last time,91裸聊视频� Freeland said, citing her past involvement in dealing with the first Trump White House91裸聊视频檚 tariffs.
Baylis said Canada should 91裸聊视频渃ompletely91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 not going to stop until he gets the lesson that he can91裸聊视频檛 get away with this,91裸聊视频� Baylis said.
Gould pledged transparency in her approach, vowing to call together the premiers and share her plan with the entire country 91裸聊视频渂ecause Canadians deserve to know.91裸聊视频�
