Protesters disrupt Freeland’s launch as Joly endorses Carney

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OTTAWA — Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland endured more than a dozen disruptions to her Liberal leadership launch speech on Sunday as protesters shouted her down and banged on a door at the Toronto venue.

The protesters, who were apparently anti-Israel activists, shouted that Freeland was a “fascist” and a “genocide supporter” while she tried to deliver a speech.

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Nearly an hour ticked by as Freeland stopped and started her speech, with protesters shouting her down every few minutes and then being removed by security. Some began banging on the doors directly behind Freeland’s podium.

Freeland had hoped for a launch event at a local Boys and Girls Club in her riding that would focus on the threat posted by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and his threats to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods.

Nearly an hour into the event, as the disruptions fizzled out, Liberal supporters finally got a taste of the message that Freeland had hoped to deliver. Her case to potential voters in the leadership race is that she has deep experience dealing with the kind of geopolitical threats currently facing Canada.

“I have a message today for president Trump. We are your neighbour and your most important trading partner. You export more to Canada than to China, Japan, the U.K. and France combined,” said Freeland. “We won’t pick a fight with you. We don’t want a fight with you, but if the fight comes to our door, remember: we love our country just as much as you love yours. Canada is not for sale and our sovereignty is not negotiable,” she said.

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The line “Canada is not for sale” was apparently cribbed from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who sported the slogan on a hat at a premiers’ meeting this week. Freeland and Ford have spoken before about their close relationship, despite their partisan differences.

Freeland also bragged about Trump’s reported dislike for her, saying it was a testament to her tough negotiating style during the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (now called the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement).

Freeland also confirmed during the event that she will scrap the consumer carbon tax, saying the government needs to do a better job of listening to Canadians.

Speaking to reporters after her speech, Freeland said the protesters are free to speak their minds, but not to drown out others.

“That is not how Canadian democracy works and I know that Canadians are not going to stand for that and neither will I,” said Freeland.

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At the same time on Sunday that Freeland was dealing with protesters, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly endorsed her main rival former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.

In a social media post on Sunday, Joly wrote that Liberals faced a “crucial choice” about the future of the country.

Joly said she was supporting Carney for his “unparalleled economic experience” and because he is best positioned to beat Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has commanded a huge polling lead over the Liberals for a year-and-a-half.

Carney officially launched his campaign in Edmonton on Thursday, mostly taking aim at Poilievre in his speech.

Government House leader Karina Gould became the youngest person in the race when she also officially launched her leadership bid on Sunday.

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The Liberals will announce the party’s new leader on March 9.

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