Justin Trudeau in Calgary as part of Liberal leadership bid
Justin Trudeau brought his campaign for the federal Liberal leadership to Calgary today.
He officially announced Tuesday night that he would be in the race to lead the Liberals hitting out at rival parties over the economy and reaching out to youth, the middle class and Quebecers.
Wednesday afternoon, a few hundred supporters packed a seniors' centre in northeast Calgary to listen to the MP who represents the Montreal riding of Papineau.
While his speech was similar to his remarks Tuesday, Trudeau said the Liberals could learn a thing or two about small-L liberal values from Albertans who value personal freedom.
He also promised to never use Alberta's energy resources as a wedge to gain votes in other regions.
“It is wrong to use our natural wealth to divide Canadians against one another, it was the wrong way to govern Canada in the past. It is the wrong way today and it will be the wrong way in the future. It's not the politics of division that help make Canada strong,” he said.
The federal Liberals will pick their new leader at an April convention in Ottawa
The CBC's Hannah Thibedeau reports that Trudeau's entry into the race means New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc will not run. The two have been close since they were children; their fathers were friends, their mothers remain so, and LeBlanc even babysat Trudeau and his brothers when they were young.
LeBlanc is expected to announce he is supporting Trudeau when the latter visits Dieppe, N.B., on Friday. CBC News has learned LeBlanc will play a national role in Trudeau's campaign.
