Liberal leadership contender Karina Gould says she’s going to wait to gauge the state of the Canada-U.S. relationship when the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is determined in mid-March, before deciding whether to call an early election, if she wins the contest.
On March 4, Trump’s 30-day reprieve on across-the-board tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian imports and 10 per cent on Canadian energy, is set to expire. Then, Trump says other levies are on the way, such as new tariffs on steel and aluminum, and “the big one,” reciprocal tariffs, in early April.
When pressed again on the fact it is only Liberals who would be choosing her to be the next prime minister, not Canadians as a whole, Gould said: “I am an elected member of Parliament.”
“I do have a seat in the House of Commons,
so I can actually sit there when I become prime minister,” Gould said, referencing her Liberal leadership race opponent and presumptive frontrunner in the contest, Mark Carney.
Liberal leadership contender Karina Gould says she’s going to wait to gauge the state of the Canada-U.S. relationship when the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is determined in mid-March, before deciding whether to call an early election, if she wins the contest.
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Carney — the former governor of the Bank of Canada — has never been elected to office, and if he wins the Liberal leadership, would not be able to participate in Parliament.
“There will be an election at some point this year,” Gould said. “We have a fixed election date in October.” (
Looking at you Jagmeet!!)
Meanwhile, Carney is currently well ahead in the race when it comes to fundraising, high-profile endorsements and in the polls.
Carney has never specifically ruled out calling a snap election shortly after the leadership race ends, if he becomes prime minister, when asked by reporters throughout the campaign…which would avoid his NOT participating in parliament assuming he allows parliament to sit.
The NDP, for its part, sent out an internal memo to its candidates earlier this month, urging them to prepare for an election “as early as March 10.”
The four Liberal leadership hopefuls are set to square off in two debates this week, first in French on Monday, then in English on Tuesday, both in Montreal.
The Liberals will select their next leader on March 9…then maybe parliament might be allowed to function again?