Liberal leadership hopeful Karina Gould would launch ‘charm offensive’ in U.S. trade talks

CTV’s Todd Battis speaks with Liberal leadership candidate Karina Gould.

Karina Gould, who is seeking the Liberal leadership position – and by extension the Prime Minister role – said she would make a case directly to Americans about how U.S. tariffs would negatively impact them if she were elected.

“We need a major charm offensive in the United States to speak to everyday Americans about the impact this will have on them,” Gould told CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis on Tuesday. “This is not good for Americans.”

Gould is one of five people running for leadership of the federal Liberals in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement he will resign once his replacement is chosen. Gould is running against Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Ruby Dhalla and Frank Baylis.

Gould, who went to Ottawa to represent the Burlington riding following the 2015 election that brought the Trudeau Liberals to power with a majority, has held numerous cabinet positions, including minister of Families, Children and Social Development. She was re-elected in 2019 and 2021.

Gould said Canada’s position in the ongoing trade negotiations with President Donald Trump needs to be strong and united.

“We have to show Donald Trump we’re not going to back down,” she said. “We don’t want this dispute. We are friends, we are allies.

“Don’t mess with Canada. If we need to, we’ll take the gloves off.”

Gould said Canada and the United States need to focus on “real foes” like China.

Carney and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre both told CTV News Atlantic in past interviews they would match U.S. tariffs if they were prime minister.

Snap election

When asked if she would call a snap election if she were prime minister, Gould said it would depend on the state of the trade dispute.

“If on March 10 we are in a major tariff war with the United States, I don’t know if that’s a responsible thing to do, to have an election in that time,” Gould said. “The government needs to be focused on defending Canadians in that moment. It’s also dependent on the opposition parties.”

Carney did not commit to calling a snap election if he were prime minister during an interview last month.

Carbon tax

Both Carney and Freeland have promised to scrap the Consumer Carbon Tax if they become prime minister, but Gould said she would keep it.

“I’m not going to abandon our climate policy,” she said. “The consumer price on carbon is not increasing prices, it’s inflation. Until you have a plan to actually reduce emissions, I don’t think that’s a responsible approach.”

Gould said she would reduce the GST from five to four per cent to help with the cost of living for Canadians.

The next leader of the Liberal Party will be chosen on March 9.