• Chrystia Freeland has officially announced her intention to run for the leadership of Canada's Liberal Party.
• Her resignation as finance minister last month was instrumental in leading Justin Trudeau to step down.
• Freeland emphasizes a strong economy and a "dollar-for-dollar" response to potential U.S. tariffs in her campaign.
• The leadership election will occur on March 9, amid significant public dissatisfaction with the current government.
• Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada, is seen as Freeland's primary competitor for the leadership position.

OTTAWA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Former Canadian finance minister Chrystia Freeland has announced her candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party and the prime ministership of Canada, amidst growing discontent with the government's performance. The 56-year-old politician, who served as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's close ally, revealed her intention via a statement on social media, urging her supporters to rally for change as she is set to launch her formal campaign this Sunday.

Freeland's resignation from her post in December came after intense disagreements with Trudeau over economic direction, including the government's response to U.S. tariff threats. This political schism contributed to the declining support for the Liberal Party, prompting Trudeau to announce he would step down after the party selects a new leader on March 9. In her resignation letter, Freeland criticized some of the prime minister's fiscal strategies, dismissing them as “costly political gimmicks” and argued that Canada needed to adopt a less conciliatory approach to U.S. trade threats.

Calling for a robust national economic strategy, Freeland stated, “If President Trump imposes 25 percent tariffs, our counterpunch must be dollar-for-dollar and it must be precisely and painfully targeted,” showcasing her intention to position herself as a strong defender of Canadian interests against potential U.S. economic aggression [Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/freeland-promises-match-trump-tariffs-canada-2016804).

The political landscape is shifting rapidly. With polls indicating that the Liberal Party now significantly trails the opposition Conservatives (47% to 20%) [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm277d030evo), Freeland faces the daunting task of differentiating her leadership from that of Trudeau. Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, has also announced his candidacy and is considered her most formidable rival in the leadership contest. Both candidates will need to present strong platforms that resonate with the electorate ahead of an expected general election, which could occur as early as May.

Having previously led negotiations during the renegotiation of North American trade agreements, Freeland's experience as a journalist and her strong networks both internationally and domestically lend an edge to her candidacy. However, her past policies and decisions as finance minister may also come under scrutiny as Canada grapples with pressing issues like the rising cost of living and housing shortages [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/17/chrystia-freeland-liberal-canada-prime-minister).

As Freeland prepares for her campaign launch, her ability to connect with voters and articulate a clear vision for a post-Trudeau Liberal Party will be critical in what promises to be a highly contested leadership race.

For further details, you can read the full articles on Reuters, AP News, The Guardian, BBC, and Newsweek.