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SHERBROOKE, Que. — Liberal cabinet ministers on Friday wrapped up a three-day retreat in the southeast Quebec city of Sherbrooke — a riding currently held by the NDP in a province key to the Liberal re-election effort.

The retreat, likely the final one before the election scheduled for Oct. 21, gave glimpses of what the Liberals hope to campaign on, but also of the looming threats that could throw everything off track.

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Over the three days there was a striking contrast between the comments of Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who emphasized a rosy picture of Canada’s economic outlook, and the comments of Global Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who said Canada faces the most volatile international environment in nearly a century.

If all goes to plan over the next 10 months, it will be Morneau front and centre as the Liberals promote Canada’s well-performing economy.

“Private-sector economists are all looking towards a period of sustained growth, so we’re not actually looking right now with any expectation of difficult times,” Morneau said on the opening night of the retreat. “With the strongest job numbers we’ve seen in over four decades, we’re in a positive situation. Our goal of course is to figure out how we maintain that growth.”