The four-way race for the federal Liberal leadership will conclude March 9 when party members cast their votes to select the next leader and, by extension, Canada’s next prime minister.
Among the candidates is Chrystia Freeland, a longtime Liberal MP and former deputy prime minister. Freeland, who hails from the Peace Country, spent the early part of her campaign touring her hometown of Peace River and the Grande Prairie region.
Freeland, who launched her bid shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he was stepping down, said she felt “unleashed” on the campaign trail.
“It was really important for me, very early in the campaign, to come home to the Peace Country,” she said. “It has been very personally energizing and inspiring, not only because it’s so beautiful, although it is, but also to remind myself where I came from, where I come from, where my roots are.”
Freeland said she takes seriously the challenges that would come with the role, particularly in light of Canada’s shifting relationship with the United States.
“This is a turning point for Canada and the world,” she said. “I really recognize that. I take the threats from (former U.S. president) Donald Trump seriously. Taking them seriously doesn’t mean being scared—it means recognizing that within the challenge, there could be an opportunity, and I’m excited about that.”
Freeland held one of her first official campaign events at the Board n’ Barrel restaurant in Peace River, where she acknowledged the Liberal Party’s struggles in rural Alberta.
“I think it’s pretty unlikely that in the next federal election, Peace River or Grande Prairie will elect a Liberal MP—I recognize that,” she said. “But I do want to say to people in the Peace Country, northern Alberta and rural communities across the country that, if I am chosen as Liberal leader and prime minister, I will not forget where I come from.”
Policy priorities
Freeland said she has heard from Canadians, particularly in rural areas, that healthcare and education remain top concerns. She pointed to past efforts to support rural healthcare workers, such as a student loan forgiveness program she implemented as finance minister, and suggested further measures could be needed.
“We just need to redouble our efforts,” she said. “We need to find a way to hear the voices of healthcare professionals and get their input into how to run the system better.”
The carbon tax has also been a divisive issue in Alberta. While Freeland previously backed the federal carbon pricing system under Trudeau, she and fellow leadership candidate Mark Carney have since said they would eliminate the consumer price on carbon.
“I have said that as prime minister, I would lift the consumer price on pollution,” Freeland said. “Canadians have been really clear that they don’t think it works for them, and a big part of democracy is not lecturing people about their lives but listening to them.”
Freeland also spoke about the role of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Alberta’s economy.
“Northern Alberta, the Peace Country, Grande Prairie are really lucky that we have all this natural gas,” she said. “With the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the direct threat to our sovereignty that Donald Trump is posing, it is more important than ever for Canada to have our own sources of strength.”
She said LNG exports, particularly to Asia, could be an economic opportunity for the region.
Focus on trades and workforce development
Freeland has also promised to make trade schools free, citing her personal connection to skilled trades.
“My brother is a pipefitter, and I grew up in a blue-collar community where blue-collar work was recognized as valuable, as lucrative—jobs that can support a family,” she said. “We need to make that as easy as possible.”
She also emphasized the need for interprovincial regulatory harmonization, allowing trade certifications to be recognized across provinces.
“If you have a qualification in one part of the country, we should make sure that’s valid across the country,” she said.
Freeland argued that the cost of making trade schools free would be an “investment” that pays for itself in the long run.
“We have looked at the costing, and actually, it’s not that expensive—that’s one piece of good news,” she said. “We need to look very carefully at making the federal government more efficient, and I do think we can find savings in how the government operates.”
Liberal leadership decision looms
Voting in the Liberal leadership race has already begun, with party members able to cast their ballots until March 9. The winner will become Canada’s 24th prime minister.
