Chrystia Freeland confirms she is running for Liberal leader

Former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland is entering the Liberal leadership race.

In a sparsely worded post on the social media platform X on Friday morning, the former cabinet minister said simply that she's "running to fight for Canada."

Her official campaign launch will be on Sunday, but the post provided no details of when or where it will take place.

Freeland's announcement comes a day after former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney announced his bid for the party leadership at an event in Edmonton. 

So far, two cabinet ministers have publicly thrown their support behind Freeland: Health Minister Mark Holland, who represents the Ontario riding of Ajax, and Diane Lebouthillier, the minister of fisheries and oceans and MP for Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec.

A majority of ministers, however, have not weighed in on who they might support in a leadership bid.

Freeland's other public supporters include Rob Oliphant, James Maloney, Leah Taylor Roy, Julie Dabrusin and Lloyd Longfield from Ontario; Alexandra Mendès and Anthony Housefather from Quebec; Ken McDonald from Newfoundland and Labrador; Lena Diab from Nova Scotia; Ken Hardie from B.C.; Ben Carr from Manitoba and former tourism minister Randy Boissonnault from Alberta, who left his cabinet post amid controversy surrounding questions about false claims of Métis heritage.

The party's Ontario Liberal caucus chair, Michael Coteau, joined that list Friday morning, posting on X that he is proud to support the former cabinet minister. 

"Having worked with her, I've seen first-hand her dedication, compassion and ability to tackle tough challenges," Coteau said. 

"Chrystia has the skills, experience and heart needed to guide Canada through these difficult times," he added.

Allan Rock, a former Liberal cabinet minister under Jean Chrétien, also threw his support behind Freeland on Friday. 

"Throughout her remarkable career and especially during her 10 years in the most senior cabinet portfolios, she has shown competence, courage and character," he said in a post on Facebook.

"She has stood up for Canada and Canadians at every turn, and I am proud to stand with her now," he added.

Writing in Friday's Toronto Star newspaper, Freeland was quick to define her approach to president-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he assumes office. 

"President Donald Trump thinks tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary. He has spoken about redrawing borders — and has threatened economic coercion to do so," she said. 

"While it may be tempting to turn the other cheek, we must take President Trump at his word. Hope is not a strategy and capitulation is not an option," Freeland added. 

She warned the United States that "If you hit us, we will hit back. We will not escalate, but we will never back down."

Wilkinson bows out

Meanwhile, Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister of energy and natural resources who was considering a leadership bid himself, announced that he will not be running.

While acknowledging that the timeline to mount a successful campaign is short, Wilkinson said he was confident he could stage a successful campaign — but that now was not the time to leave cabinet. 

"My role as minister of energy and natural resources gives me responsibility for many of the tools that can enable Canada to stand up to and effectively negotiate with president-elect Trump." Wilkinson said in a statement.

"As a Canadian, this is a responsibility I take very seriously. Stepping aside from my position in cabinet at this critical time would not, in my view, best serve Canadians and the country I love so very much."