Freeland pitches herself as tested Trump negotiator, as protesters disrupt Liberal leadership launch

Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland laid out her case Sunday to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and take on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, positioning herself as "a battle-tested leader with the scars to prove it."

But her campaign launch message was repeatedly drowned out by pro-Palestinian protesters in the crowd who shouted down Freeland with calls of "genocide supporter" and loud banging.

At least a dozen hecklers were escorted out, according to reporters in the room, delaying her speech multiple times.

"I am not going to let anyone stop me from working with you, from talking with you, and from talking about how we together are going to stand up for our amazing country," she told the room at the St. Alban's boys and girls club in Toronto.

Once she got back on track, Freeland pitched herself as a veteran negotiator and leader with eyes on the Canadian economy.

A protester interrupts Freeland’s event on Sunday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Freeland's official launch comes nearly a month after she resigned from Trudeau's cabinet and one day before Trump takes office, two factors she leaned on in her campaign launch speech.

The former deputy prime minister resigned from cabinet in mid-December, which sent shock waves through Ottawa and galvanized caucus to push Trudeau out.

In a letter to the prime minister that was subsequently posted to social media, Freeland said she had no choice but to resign after Trudeau approached her about moving to another cabinet role.

WATCH | Freeland asked about clashes with PM over Canadian economy

Her searing resignation letter, sent the same day she was originally set to deliver the Liberals' fall economic statement, took aim at Trudeau and denounced what she called the government's "costly political gimmicks."

Speaking to reporters Sunday, Freeland said she and the prime minister had been in disagreement over the government's handling of economy "for some time," which worsened following Trump's re-election in November.

"I realized that we had to really focus all of our energies on being ready for that threat. We had to keep our fiscal fire power dry," she said.

"I was very clear about that and we saw the consequences."

Canada will 'inflict the biggest trade blow' U.S. has seen: Freeland 

Freeland, who walked on stage to the song Maneater, launched her campaign just hours before Trump takes office. The incoming administration has committed to imposing punishing 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports.

Freeland —who helped lead Canada's negotiating team during Trump's first term in office, when the North American Free Trade Agreement was in jeopardy — promised to "lead a true Canadian response to the threat we now face."

In this file photo from Nov. 30, 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer, U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexico's Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, and President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto participate in a signing ceremony for the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in Buenos Aires, (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

That would include, she said, dollar-for-dollar retaliation.

"If you hit us, we'll hit back," she said. "If you force our hand, we'll inflict the biggest trade blow that the United States has ever endured."

WATCH | Freeland says Canadians should have a leader 'Trump is afraid of'

After her December resignation, Trump took to social media to call Freeland "toxic" and said she "will not be missed."

Freeland argued Trump not liking her is a good thing.

"He prefers pushovers," she told reporters. "You want someone as leader of the Liberal Party as prime minister who Donald Trump is afraid of."

Freeland also took aim at another opponent — calling Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who continues to lead public polling by a wide margin, "weak."

"He will bow down and he will sell us out," she said. "He will never stand up to Donald Trump. He can't even stand up to Danielle Smith."

WATCH | Watch as several protesters disrupt Freeland liberal leadership launch event

During the media question and answer session of the launch, Freeland was asked about the protesters and why she thinks her launch was singled out.

"I am really grateful that we live in a country where everyone can express their views and where everyone has the right to protest," Freeland said.

"It's also the case that the right to protest doesn't include the right to disrupt other people's right to speech."

Race to replace PM firms up

Freeland will face off against central banker Mark Carney, who is pitching himself as someone who can lead Canada through economic uncertainty.

"I'm not the usual suspect when it comes to politics but this is no time for politics as usual," he said at his Thursday launch in Edmonton. 

Mark Carney speaks during his Liberal leader campaign launch in Edmonton on Thursday. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

Burlington MP Karina Gould confirmed Saturday she is running as well, making her the youngest candidate so far running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Recently the government House leader, Gould said she'll step aside from cabinet to run.

WATCH | Freeland announces bid to become next Liberal Party leader

MP Chandra Arya, who represents the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean; former Montreal MP and businessman Frank Baylis; and MP Jaime Battiste, who represents the Nova Scotia riding of Sydney—Victoria, have all declared they're running for the leadership.

Candidates only have until Jan. 23 to declare they are running and begin a series of entry fee payments to the party so they can join the race.The party will choose their next leader, who will serve as the next prime minister, March 9.