Liberal leadership candidates pitch plans to confront Trump in English debate [Video]

The state of the Canadian economy and U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade threats topped the agenda for the Liberal party’s English language leadership debate, the second in as many days and the last of the campaign.

Presumed front-runner and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and former finance minister Chrystia Freeland clashed over the Liberal government’s record of economic management.

“Our economy was weak before we got to the point of these threats from President Trump,” Carney said. “That’s why we need big changes to how we’re managing this economy.”

He said the economy has relied in recent years on a big boost to the labour force caused by a surge in immigration, along with government spending that grew at a rapid clip.

Freeland argued that Canada is in a “strong fiscal position” and that Liberals should deliver solid economic and social policy at the same time.

“We need …