In a heated debate, Liberal leadership candidates addressed key issues concerning Canada’s future, including the looming threat of U.S. President Donald Trump and potential trade tensions between the two neighboring nations. As the race intensifies ahead of the selection of a new Liberal leader and prime minister on March 9, candidates emphasized the importance of strategic economic planning and cooperation with provincial leaders. The federal government’s recent initiative to increase health transfers by $46 billion over ten years dominated discussions, reflecting the urgent need to address health care post-pandemic.
The federal government has pledged $200 billion in health transfers to provinces over the next decade, a move prompted by provincial premiers as they recover from the strains imposed by COVID-19. Moderator Hannah Thibedeau highlighted Canadians' concerns about accessing doctors and nurses, which remains a critical issue despite increased funding. Karina Gould, one of the candidates, advocated for more efficient use of these health transfers, urging for transparency and accountability from provinces regarding their expenditure.
“When it comes to health transfers, we need greater accountability from provinces, not to the federal government but to their own citizens on the outcomes that they expect to deliver for their citizens.” – Karina Gould
Chrystia Freeland commended the federal government’s response to the pandemic's effects on the healthcare system. She noted that Ottawa "stepped up" to support provinces during a time of "unbearable strain after COVID."
“But I do want to say to the premiers of the provinces and territories, I respect your work running the health-care systems.” – Chrystia Freeland
Candidates voiced their commitment to ensuring that health transfers lead to tangible improvements in healthcare services. They called for better transparency to help Canadians understand which healthcare strategies are successful.
“Having real transparency on health-care outcomes across the country would help all Canadians, and it would help Canadians to see what's working and what isn't.” – Chrystia Freeland
While health care took center stage, candidates also discussed broader economic strategies. Mark Carney emphasized controlling Canada's economic destiny amidst uncertainties posed by U.S. trade policies.
“We can’t change Donald Trump, but we can control our economic destiny.” – Mark Carney
Carney also highlighted the divisive nature of the consumer carbon tax, suggesting its removal due to its minimal impact on emissions reductions. He stressed that leadership involves taking a stand on pressing issues like climate change.
“Politics is also about leadership, and it's also about conviction. And I'm not going to abandon the fight against climate change because (CPC Leader) Pierre Poilievre is telling us to do that.” – Karina Gould
Another significant point of discussion was defense spending. All candidates supported reaching NATO's goal of spending two percent of GDP on defense, aligning with the Liberal government's commitment to achieve this by 2030, with talks of possibly accelerating this timeline.
The debate also touched on improving labor mobility within Canada’s healthcare sector. Candidates pledged to remove barriers preventing professionals from working across provincial boundaries, aiming for a more unified national healthcare workforce.
As part of ongoing federal-provincial collaborations, Ontario recently signed a bilateral agreement securing $3.1 billion over three years to bolster its healthcare services. This agreement is part of a broader effort to ensure provinces have the necessary resources for healthcare improvements.
Mark Carney further elaborated on his approach towards U.S.-Canada relations under President Trump, emphasizing proactive communication and strategic policy implementation.
“Then I would call President Trump. It’s going to be a long day.” – Mark Carney
The candidates underscored the necessity for a cohesive national strategy involving regular dialogues with provincial leaders. Both Carney and Gould emphasized that the first task for the new prime minister would be to engage with Canada's premiers, facilitating alignment on federal plans and priorities.
“There is a lot of uncertainty. But it’s important to distinguish what you can and cannot control,” – Mark Carney
