OTTAWA — Federal Liberal leadership candidates began their evening at the party's convention on a patriotic note, taking shots at President Donald Trump's tariffs and threats of annexing Canada.
The party is selecting its next leader to replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney arrived on the convention floor with his brother Brian Carney by his side, parting a sea of Liberal partisans as he made his way to the stage.
He vowed to win the next election and fight back against Trump's threats to make Canada the 51st state.
"The stakes have never been higher," Carney said. "Our neighbours want to take us. No way!"
The crowd loudly booed Trump's threat.
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland arrived holding hands with her husband Graham Bowley with her family in tow to the song "Man Eater" by Nelly Furtado.
“There is a remarkable wave of patriotism across our country," Freeland said. "Canadians are ready to stand for Canada. Canadians are ready to fight for Canada. And I know all of us have one message for Donald Trump tonight: Canada will never be the 51st state!”
Montreal businessman Frank Baylis was the first of the evening to take shots at Trump's economic threats against Canada.
“We will not be intimidated by a tweet and we will not be broken by a tariff,” he said.
Karina Gould arrived waving and hugging supporters to loud applause and said in her remarks she's proud to be a Liberal.
She touted the Charter of Rights, Canada's public health care system, child care and other hallmark policies in her speech as she addressed party rank-and-file.
Voting in the leadership race ended at 3 p.m. Sunday and the winner will be announced this evening.
The party said 151,899 Liberals voted in the race. The party had announced in January that nearly 400,000 registered to vote.
Sunday night's winner could replace Trudeau as prime minister within a matter of days and then within weeks call an early election.
In his farewell speech, Trudeau said he is deeply proud of everything the party has done over the past decade and singled out two people to thank: Adam Scotti, his official photographer, and Katie Telford, his longtime close friend and chief of staff.
Trudeau said Canadians have proven resilient as they face crisis after crisis, but they always emerge stronger.
"Canadians are showing exactly what we are made of,” he said.
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien praised Trudeau for taking the Liberal party from third place to government and hailed some of the party's standout polices, such as child care and dental care.
Minister of Justice Arif Virani, who is backing Freeland in the race, said before the event began that there’s a lot of “buzz” in ridings around the country.
“I think you’re sensing that people feel very excited about the prospects of a new leader,” Virani said, adding that Canada is in “a pretty big fight” domestically and internationally.
He said now is a time for “strong leadership” that won’t embolden aggression from the U.S.
“Regardless of who wins tonight, you’re going to see somebody who’s willing to take on Donald Trump,” Virani said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2025.
-- With files from Catherine Morrison in Ottawa.
Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
