The leading candidates vying to replace Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clashed over how to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade threats in a televised debate Monday, as the race tightens ahead of the October 20 election.
Once seen as an easy win for the opposition Conservatives, the contest to lead Canada has become more competitive following Trump’s pledge to impose tariffs on all Canadian imports, a move that could trigger economic turmoil.
"Trump represents the biggest threat to Canada since World War Two," former finance minister Chrystia Freeland said during the French-language debate between the four Liberal candidates.
Freeland, who helped negotiate the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement under Trump’s first administration, warned that the president previously sought to wage economic war against Canada but that his current threats were even more severe.
"This time, Trump’s threats are worse—he wants to make Canada the 51st state," she said. Canada sends 75% of its exports to the U.S. and could fall into a recession if trade barriers are enforced.
Mark Carney, a former central banker and the current front-runner, dismissed the idea that Trump could succeed in pressuring Canada.
"At this moment, Canada is facing the worst crisis of our lives... I know how to handle crises," he said, pointing to his experience leading the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis and later the Bank of England during Brexit.
Both Carney and Freeland said Canada must respond forcefully if Trump follows through on his tariff threats.
Freeland’s resignation in December after nine years in cabinet triggered a political crisis that ultimately led to Trudeau announcing his resignation last month. The new Liberal leader will be chosen on March 9.
The Conservatives, seeking to capitalize on Trudeau’s unpopularity, dismissed the debate as a contest between interchangeable candidates. In a statement titled "Sneaky Carney Must Come Clean With Canadians," they claimed there was no difference between Trudeau and the leading contenders.
The remaining candidates, former cabinet minister Karina Gould and retired legislator Frank Baylis, will join Carney and Freeland for an English-language debate on Tuesday, as the campaign battle intensifies.
San Francisco/New York, February 24, 2025 – In a significant milestone for the creator economy, TikTok - together with its Chinese counterpart Douyin - generated $6 billion in in-app purchase (IAP) revenue in 2024, making it the first non-game app to achieve this feat in a single year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed joint exploration of rare earth metals and aluminum supplies to the U.S.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that weapons alone do not define military power, stressing that ideology and loyalty are key to strengthening the country’s armed forces, state media reported on Tuesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron told U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday that Europe is ready to increase defence spending but stressed the need for strong U.S. involvement in securing a Ukraine peace deal.
The Trump administration has revoked a Biden-era policy requiring the U.S. government to report potential violations of international law involving U.S.-supplied weapons, officials confirmed on Monday.
San Francisco/New York, February 24, 2025 – In a significant milestone for the creator economy, TikTok - together with its Chinese counterpart Douyin - generated $6 billion in in-app purchase (IAP) revenue in 2024, making it the first non-game app to achieve this feat in a single year.
At least two people were killed and five injured after a highway bridge collapsed at a construction site in Cheonan, South Korea, on Tuesday. Authorities are searching for three more people believed to be trapped under the rubble, while emergency crews work to prevent further casualties.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will give a closing statement on Tuesday in a Constitutional Court trial reviewing his impeachment for declaring martial law. If upheld, he could be removed from office less than three years into his term, with a new election required within 60 days.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed joint exploration of rare earth metals and aluminum supplies to the U.S.
Hawthorne, CA, February 24, 2025 – SpaceX announced Monday that last month’s catastrophic Starship explosion was the result of a cascading series of events triggered by propellant leaks.
A recent discovery has revealed that ancient artifacts from the Treasure of Villena were crafted using metal from meteorites, offering new insights into early metalworking techniques in the Iberian Peninsula.
Polish startup Clone Robotics has unveiled Protoclone, the world’s first anatomically accurate humanoid robot, featuring artificial muscles, bones, and joints that enable lifelike movements.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
A dialogue between US and Russian delegations has begun in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the development in an official statement.
At least two people were killed and five injured after a highway bridge collapsed at a construction site in Cheonan, South Korea, on Tuesday. Authorities are searching for three more people believed to be trapped under the rubble, while emergency crews work to prevent further casualties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed joint exploration of rare earth metals and aluminum supplies to the U.S.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that weapons alone do not define military power, stressing that ideology and loyalty are key to strengthening the country’s armed forces, state media reported on Tuesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron told U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday that Europe is ready to increase defence spending but stressed the need for strong U.S. involvement in securing a Ukraine peace deal.
The Trump administration has revoked a Biden-era policy requiring the U.S. government to report potential violations of international law involving U.S.-supplied weapons, officials confirmed on Monday.
San Francisco/New York, February 24, 2025 – In a significant milestone for the creator economy, TikTok - together with its Chinese counterpart Douyin - generated $6 billion in in-app purchase (IAP) revenue in 2024, making it the first non-game app to achieve this feat in a single year.
At least two people were killed and five injured after a highway bridge collapsed at a construction site in Cheonan, South Korea, on Tuesday. Authorities are searching for three more people believed to be trapped under the rubble, while emergency crews work to prevent further casualties.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will give a closing statement on Tuesday in a Constitutional Court trial reviewing his impeachment for declaring martial law. If upheld, he could be removed from office less than three years into his term, with a new election required within 60 days.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed joint exploration of rare earth metals and aluminum supplies to the U.S.
Hawthorne, CA, February 24, 2025 – SpaceX announced Monday that last month’s catastrophic Starship explosion was the result of a cascading series of events triggered by propellant leaks.
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