Canada’s Liberals to announce Trudeau’s successor amid US trade war
Photo: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Getty Images)
The Liberal Party of Canada will announce the name of its new leader and successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today. This comes amid a trade war with the US that could harm Canada's economy, reports Reuters.
The agency notes that the incoming prime minister will have to negotiate with US President Donald Trump, who has threatened Canada with additional tariffs. The new leader will also likely face opposition from conservative forces in the upcoming general election.
In January, Trudeau announced that he would resign after more than nine years in power. His approval ratings have rarely dropped, which prompted the ruling Liberal Party to hold an urgent leadership contest.
Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney is the front-runner. He has garnered the most support from party members and raised the most money among the four Liberal Party candidates.
Notably, about two-thirds of Trudeau's cabinet publicly supports Carney. A Mainstreet poll conducted in late February showed that Carney has the backing of 43% of Liberals, compared to 31% for his main rival, former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Reuters reports that Freeland has boasted about her negotiation experience with Trump during his first term. However, she struggled to distinguish herself under Trudeau despite being one of his most loyal supporters for many years.
In December, Freeland left the government after Trudeau attempted to replace her. She also criticized the spending policies of his government.
Meanwhile, a victory for 59-year-old Carney would mark the first time a Canadian prime minister would come from outside of politics with no real political experience.
He has stated that his experience as the first person to lead two central banks — Canada and the UK — makes him the best candidate to handle relations with Trump.
Moreover, during his campaign, Carney declared support for appropriate tariffs against the US on a "dollar-for-dollar" basis. He also advocated for a coordinated investment stimulus strategy. Additionally, he has repeatedly criticized Canada's economic growth under Trudeau, considering it insufficient.
As Reuters writes, around 400,000 members of the Liberal Party were eligible to vote for the new leader. The first results are expected to be announced around 6:30 PM local time.
The agency added that the prospect of a Liberal Party renewal under Carney's leadership, combined with Trump’s tariffs and his repeated "taunts" about making Canada the 51st state, has led to a revival in the popularity of the Liberals.
For more on why Trudeau is stepping down and what this change means for Ukraine, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
