The four candidates vying to be the next Liberal leader and prime minister pitched themselves to supporters as the best person to handle relations with U.S. President Donald Trump.

He wasn't on the stage but U.S. President Donald Trump's shadow towered over the Liberal leadership race during Monday night's French-language debate. The candidates — former central banker Mark Carney,

Chrystia Freeland, the former finance minister who has focused much of her leadership bid on her experience dealing with Mr. Trump, was stark in her assessment of what’s at stake for the country. ”Trump represents the biggest threat to Canada since the Second World War,” she said. “He is threating us with an economic war.”

How Canada should stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s many threats against the economy and sovereignty of its northern neighbour was a running theme of Monday night’s French-language Liberal leadership debate.

Candidates to replace Justin Trudeau call the US president "aggressive" and "greatest threat to Canada since WW2".

Liberal leadership candidates Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Frank Baylis faced off on the debate stage for the first time in this campaign on Monday night. As the four hopefuls fought for their party’s top job,