Canada Minute: Leadership Candidates, New Council, and Clark Bows Out

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

This Week In Canada:

• Mark Carney, former Bank of Canada Governor, is officially vying for leadership of the Liberal Party. He hosted his campaign launch last week in Edmonton. He said that he is committed to improving Canada’s economy and suggested that any removal of the carbon tax would require a more effective alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support job creation. He did not announce what riding he would run in. Carney also criticized Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre for seeking endorsements from figures like Donald Trump.
  
  
• House Leader Karina Gould and former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland are also running for the Liberal Leadership. In her campaign video, Gould emphasized the need for new leadership to address the challenges Canadians face, promising to rebuild trust in the Liberal Party. Gould has been a key figure in Trudeau's cabinet, holding positions such as Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and leading efforts on childcare. Freeland’s campaign video positioned her as a tough opponent to US President-elect Donald Trump. In the video, Freeland highlights her role in renegotiating NAFTA and portrays Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre as someone who would capitulate to Trump.
  
  
• In other leadership race news, Jaime Battiste, MP for Sydney-Victoria, says he is forming an exploratory team to consider running for Liberal leadership and potentially becoming Canada’s first Indigenous leader of a major political party. Battiste acknowledged the ambitious nature of his goal and the challenges of raising the $350,000 entry fee. Meanwhile, François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, says he will not be entering the race.

Last Week In Canada:

• Despite her announcement being imminently expected, former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark announced that she will not run in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Clark expressed gratitude to her supporters but explained that the tight window for the campaign left insufficient time to effectively connect with Francophone Canadians, despite her efforts to improve her French. She criticized Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's approach to politics and emphasized the need for the Liberal Party to generate new momentum and energy. Clark also clarified a previous “misstatement” regarding her membership in the Conservative Party, acknowledging her past support for Jean Charest in the 2022 leadership race.
  
  
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith declined to sign a joint statement from Canadian Premiers addressing US President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats. Smith opposed using Alberta's energy resources as a bargaining tool, citing concerns over potential federal export restrictions. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the need for national unity in facing these threats, with Trudeau noting that retaliatory measures, including blocking oil exports, remain on the table. Other Premiers, like Saskatchewan's Scott Moe, urged caution amid escalating trade tensions. Smith’s refusal to sign the statement marked a significant divergence in response strategy.
  
  
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has created a new 18-member Canada-US Relations Council to help manage the impact of those potential tariffs. The Council includes representatives from various sectors, including business, unions, and agriculture, as well as former political leaders like ex-Premiers Jean Charest and Rachel Notley. The Council also features trade negotiator Steve Verheul and former Ambassadors David MacNaughton and Kirsten Hillman. The Council’s efforts will focus on mitigating the potential damage from tariffs, with weekly meetings planned after Trump’s inauguration.