The line to get into a Richmond political rally on Monday evening snaked around the Sheraton Hotel starting from the front door on Westminster Highway, along the west side of the building, through parking lots and alleyways and out to Elmbridge Way.
Once inside, Liberal supporters, who had come to see Liberal leader Mark Carney, packed a ballroom, holding signs emblazoned with patriotic signs such as "Canada Strong" and "Canada is not for sale" under two large maple leaf flags.
The rally was opened by Vancouver Quadra Liberal candidate Wade Grant, and Richmond incumbent Liberal MPs Wilson Miao and Parm Bains as well as Jill McKnight, who is running in Delta.
The crowd of several hundred chanted "Carney" as he arrived after being introduced by his wife Diane Fox Carney.
Carney addressed a crowd of several hundred party faithful, reiterating his campaign talking points about tariffs being "unjustified," the need to fight back and the need to lower inter-provincial trade barriers.
"The system of global trade that's existed all my life... anchored on the United States, that we as country have relied on since the end of the Second World War, a system, that while not perfect, has helped build prosperity for our country for decades, that system is over," Carney said.
This relationship was built on "steadily deepening integration," he added, but he called the current situation with Trump's tariffs a "tragedy but a new reality."
Carney said Canada is fighting the tariffs with counter-tariffs that "will cause maximum harm in the United States."
But Carney also appealed to the Richmond audience, saying the city embodies the spirit of international cooperation.
"We believe in the free and open trade of goods and services and ideas," Carney said. "And if the U.S. no longer want to lead, Canada will."
The federal election is on Monday, April 28, with advance voting over the Easter long weekend, from April 18 to April 21.
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