Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has lined up behind banker Mark Carney in the race for leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. At the same time, the government leader in the House of Commons, Karina Gould, announced that she would abandon the carbon tax if she becomes leader.
“Mark brings unrivaled economic experience, having served as governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England,” she wrote in a post on X.
Mme Joly, who had considered entering the race, argued that “governments from all walks of life” turned to him, notably during the economic crisis of 2008 and during Brexit.
She also judges that he is “best placed” to defeat Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre who currently leads in the polls.
Meanwhile, Government House Leader Karina Gould, 37, launched her campaign to become the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada by banking on her youth.
“It is time for a new generation of leaders,” she insisted. A generation of leaders who bring people together, who reach out to those who feel like they have been left behind, a generation of leaders who are not going to stand behind a podium and read a speech prepared by someone ‘other. No. Someone who speaks from the heart. »
Mme Gould, who said she would resign as government House leader to focus on campaigning, also announced that she proposes immediately canceling the increase in the price of pollution, also known as the “carbon tax.” before the increase planned for April 1.
“We will continue to fight climate change, but I understand that this is not necessarily the way they (Canadians) want to do it. We have to make these difficult choices. »
-Mme Gould thus joins his voice to that of Mr. Carney, who has also committed to repealing the consumer carbon price if he becomes leader of the Liberal Party, and to replacing it with a “comprehensive plan” that he has promised to publish in the coming weeks.
The aspiring candidate explained that Ottawa must give Canadians a helping hand in purchasing electric vehicles or reducing emissions from their homes. At the same time, she insisted that “we must make the big polluters pay”.
At the time of publication, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, was starting an event in Toronto.
Mme Freeland is trying to use his experience successfully negotiating with the first Trump administration to set himself apart from other leadership contenders, including the race’s other front-runner, former central banker Mark Carney.
She is launching her candidacy more than a month after having slammed the door of the cabinet due to a falling out with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and on the eve of the return of American President Donald Trump to the White House.
Candidates only have until Thursday to declare they are running and begin a round of party registration fee payments in order to join the race.
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