Early in the debate, Freeland - whose resignation as finance minister in December triggered the collapse of Trudeau's leadership - stated that Trump represented "the greatest threat to Canada since World War Two".

MONTREAL — The first Liberal leadership debate was one in name only, with the four candidates consistently agreeing with each other as they tried to differentiate themselves in the race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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.

Monday's debate will be followed by an English-language debate on Tuesday. The debates will be the only time all four candidates share a stage before Liberals elect their new leader on March 9. Former TVA-Québec anchor Pierre Jobin will moderate the French leadership debate and former CBC News host Hannah Thibedeau will moderate the English one.

Canada's Liberal Party leadership candidates, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis stand next to each other before participating in a French language debate ahead of the March 9 vote to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,