Freeland calls Trump’s disdain for her an asset

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This article was published 21/01/2025 (229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chrystia Freeland says she is the only potential Liberal party leader who can stand up to President Donald Trump and his proposed tariffs on Canadian exports to the U.S.

“Donald Trump doesn’t like me… I consider that to be the highest accolade,” she told a room of about 75 people in Winnipeg Tuesday, who responded with cheers and applause.

Freeland, who is a top contender in the race to replace Justin Trudeau, along with former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, billed herself as the party’s best option to head off Trump’s threat of imposing 25 per cent tariffs, which he suggested after his swearing-in Monday would take effect Feb. 1.

The former finance minister and deputy prime minister pitched herself as the governing party’s best option, at an event at a south Winnipeg hotel Tuesday afternoon, where she met with supporters and members of the public.

Freeland entered the room to boisterous applause and greeted her supporters with hugs and handshakes. Attendees held small Canadian flags as she delivered her remarks. A red-and-white sign with the words “Free Land” were projected on the wall behind her.

Winnipeg Liberal MPs Ben Carr and Dan Vandal introduced Freeland to the gathering. Vandal praised her for the ability to go head-to-head with the new president, while Carr referred to her as a political leader with courage.

“What we need right now is someone who will not back down from a fight,” Carr said.

Carr, Vandal and Winnipeg MP Kevin Lamoureux have thrown their support behind Freeland. Manitoba’s only other Liberal MP, Terry Duguid, has not publicly endorsed a leadership candidate and was not at the rally.

“Donald Trump doesn’t like me… I consider that to be the highest accolade.”–Chrystia Freeland

Freeland officially launched her bid for leader in Toronto on Sunday where she warned about the “existential risk” Trump poses to Canada.

In Winnipeg, Freeland reiterated comments about the devastation the Trump government will wreak on Canada.

“It’s transformational for the United States. It’s transformational for the world,” she said. “What we need to do is have a plan to survive and thrive in this reality and we can do it.”

Freeland shared a story with the crowd about the president calling her a “killer” during NAFTA negotiations in 2020 and, while she didn’t appreciate the nickname, she accepts it when it comes to fighting for Canadians.

During her 10-minute speech, Freeland did not discuss policies she would implement to respond to Trump’s tariffs or anything else she would do if chosen to run the party and be prime minister until the next election, which must happen before Oct. 20.

Freeland spent the day touring The Forks and meeting with business owners and the public.

At the event, Freeland, who is from Alberta, said western Liberals are often forgotten about by the party at large and she promised to be their voice if she’s voted in as party leader.

Ian MacIntyre, who ran as a Liberal in Elmwood-Transcona in last fall’s byelection, attended the meet-and-greet to discuss the security of social programs should the Liberals lose the election.

“We need to look at seniors housing and how we can support the provinces to make sure that upgrades in seniors housing are being done, because I know that that’s not happening right now,” he said.

MacIntyre said he admires Freeland for being candid and willing to stand up against Trump.

“She inspires people to be strong with her,” he said.

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Freeland resigned as finance minister on Dec. 16, the same day she was to deliver an economic statement. On Jan. 6, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to step down as party leader and prime minister once a replacement is voted in.

Freeland, who has represented Ontario’s University—Rosedale riding since 2015, is also running against House leader Karina Gould, Ottawa MP Chandra Arya, former Quebec MP Frank Baylis and Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste. Candidates have until Thursday to enter the contest.

Lamoureux closed the event with his own words of support for Freeland and encouraged attendees to recruit people they know to sign up for Liberal party memberships and vote for her to be leader on March 9.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca

Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer

Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom as a multimedia producer in 2023. Read more about Nicole.

Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.