Front Burner

Is Mark Carney ready for the real fight ahead?

After two mild Liberal leadership debates, are any of the candidates, including Carney, prepared to take on Trump and Poilievre?
Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney gestures as  Chrystia Freeland looks on during the English-language Liberal Leadership debate in Montreal on Tuesday, Feb.25, 2025. The Federal Liberals will pick a new leader on March 9.
Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney gestures as Chrystia Freeland looks on during the English-language Liberal Leadership debate in Montreal on Tuesday, Feb.25, 2025. The Federal Liberals will pick a new leader on March 9. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

The four Liberal leadership candidates - Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Frank Baylis - had a chance to make their case to voters and challenge each other over two debates this week. The winner of the race will go on to be the next Prime Minister and will head directly into a tariff war with Donald Trump and an imminent federal election. But with so many points of agreement, did any of the four prove they were up to the task? Especially Carney, the front-runner?

Aaron Wherry, senior writer at CBC's Parliamentary Bureau, joins us to talk about the highlights and takeaways from the debates and what it all means for the race and election ahead. 

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

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