The former deputy prime minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, has warned of Donald Trump's "existential risk" to the country, portraying herself as a "battle-tested leader with the scars to prove it" at the formal kickoff of her candidacy to become the country's next prime minister.

Freeland, positioning herself as the best candidate to negotiate with a protectionist and unpredictable White House, vowed to retaliate "dollar for dollar" against any tariffs, promising the "largest trade blow the US has ever endured."

She told prospective voters that "the stakes are just too damn high," claiming that Trump loathed her because she was "fierce, resolute, and effective in defending Canada."

Trump has vowed to impose 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada as part of a slew of protectionist trade policies.

"I have a message for Trump: We are your neighbor and most important trading partner," Freeland declared. “But if the fight comes to our door, just remember we love our country as much as you love yours…. Canada will not escalate. But if I’m prime minister, Canada will never back down.”

My message to our American neighbours in the @washingtonpost, don’t doubt our resolve. We are glad to have you as neighbours, but we have no interest in joining you.
@PostOpinions https://t.co/RbiSU5W9DDhttps://t.co/OX0nImMAZ4

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) January 20, 2025

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Freeland sparked the current leadership competition by leaving as the country's finance minister last month after a disagreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over how to deal with the growing threat of US tariffs. Her strong criticism of the prime minister was interpreted as a catalyst for his departure weeks later.

Having worked for the profoundly unpopular PM, she must now persuade the public that she will take a different approach.

Freeland launched her campaign at a Toronto youth community center, highlighting government daycare fee cuts but was interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters who called her a “grave digger".

Meanwhile, her rival Mark Carney received an endorsement from Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, who praised his experience managing the 2008 financial crisis and Brexit's aftermath. 

The frontrunners' opposing methods revealed a fundamental schism inside the party over whether the threat posed by Trump should be addressed by a strong negotiator or a senior economist with crisis experience.

The successful candidate must also persuade a Liberal government-weary public that they will outperform Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who is presently on pace to win the next election and create a government.

According to Freedland, “The real problem with Pierre Poilievre is that he’s weak. He will never stand up to Donald Trump,” adding that “if he’s elected he’ll be on the first flight to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring. He will bend down and sell us out.”