Freeland perfect fit for Liberal leader, two Winnipeg MPs say

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Winnipeg Liberal MPs Ben Carr and Kevin Lamoureux say former finance minister Chrystia Freeland is the best person to lead their ailing party.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his pending resignation and prorogued Parliament last week after months of party dissent and public calls for him to step down.

Freeland is expected to make her leadership bid official this week.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

Chrystia Freeland is expected to make her bid for leadership of the Liberals official this week.

“I will be very disappointed if she does not run,” Lamoureux, who represents Winnipeg North, told the Free Press. “I think she’s an incredible individual that really has a true understanding of Canada’s middle class.”

Lamoureux, who publicly endorsed Freeland in a social media post Wednesday, said he has got to know her over the last decade and “loves her style of politics.”

He described her as a hardworking, intelligent and skilled parliamentarian.

“Through Chrystia Freeland, I believe that we can actually be an agent of change that Canadians want to see going into the next election so they don’t have to vote for the Conservative party.”

Carr echoed those thoughts.

“It remains clear to me, and others, that our new leader must be able to present a vision for Canada that contrasts that of (Conservative party leader) Pierre Poilievre and who will not back down from a fight,” he said in a statement published online.

“I have concluded that Chrystia Freeland is the best person to take on this fight.”

Carr said he spoke at length with Freeland, his colleagues, non-partisans and his Winnipeg South Centre constituents before coming to his decision.

Freeland’s choice to quit finance minister helped cement the choice, he said in an interview.

“There is no denying that consequential decision she made in December demonstrated to me that she is an individual that is principled, and who is always willing to put the country first,” Carr said.

“She has the vision, tenacity and balanced policy mind that is required for us at this time.”

Freeland announced her resignation Dec. 16, just before she was to deliver a fiscal statement that showed the government was running a $62-billion deficit, 50 per cent higher than forecast.

In a letter addressed to Trudeau, Freeland said she and the prime minister were at odds about how to handle the economy.

Carr said he believes she will provide a change of direction for the Liberal party, he said.

Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England is expected to join the race Thursday. House leader Karina Gould, who was first elected in 2015, is also in line for the contest.

Three people have formally declared their candidacies: Ottawa MP Chandra Arya, former MP Frank Baylis and Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste.