Quebec governing party: Trump is ‘real adversary’

Quebec governing party leader Christine Fréchette labeled President Trump as a “real adversary” as she launched her election campaign Thursday, citing the escalating trade war between the U.S. and Canada.

“My opponent is named Donald Trump,” said Fréchette, who leads the right-leaning Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ). “He’s the real adversary.”

Fréchette took over the CAQ in April after former Quebec Premier François Legault stepped down, putting her at the helm of a party that has governed the province for the past eight years. The October election will be her first test with voters as party leader.

On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario, which is shared between New York and Ontario, to “Lake America” in his latest move targeting Canada after failed trade negotiations .

Fréchette said she is seeking to guide Quebec through the economic uncertainty caused by the tit-for-tat tariffs between the nations, arguing her government would be best positioned to protect businesses and workers in the province.

“I’m asking for a mandate to move forward through a storm,” she said.

After Canada backed out of trade negotiations with the U.S., Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, in turn, set retaliatory “dollar for dollar” tariffs on the U.S. effective Sept. 8. Trump later responded by imposing additional tariffs on Canadian automobiles starting Jan. 1.

Canadian independence has become a major focal point in the province’s election following Trump’s repeated threats to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Fréchette’s main competitor in the race, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, pushed back on Fréchette’s attempt to put Trump at the center of the race.

“Let’s not let the tariffs of Donald Trump’s administration confiscate this important debate from us,” he said. “Let’s not let him confiscate our election. “