Liberal Leadership Race: Exploring the Potential Candidates for 2025
The Liberal Party is gearing up for a leadership race to find Trudeau’s successor
Ottawa, Canada, Liberal Party, Leadership Race, Justin Trudeau
Ottawa: The federal Liberals are diving into their first leadership race in over ten years. It’s also the shortest one in the party’s recent history, all to find a replacement for Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau announced on January 6 that he would step down after a national vote to choose his successor. The new leader will be revealed on March 9, and candidates need to declare by January 23, along with a hefty $350,000 entry fee.
So, who’s in the running? Chandra Arya was the first to throw his hat in the ring, just days after Trudeau’s announcement. He’s been an MP since 2015 and believes he doesn’t need to speak French to be prime minister. He’s also against Trudeau’s carbon pricing and wants to abolish the monarchy.
Then there’s Frank Baylis, a former Montreal MP and businessman. He was the first to announce his candidacy and has a big business background, having sold his company for a whopping $1.75 billion last year.
Christy Clark, the former B.C. Liberal premier, is also considering a run. She’s been building a team and seems ready to step in as an outsider, not tied to Trudeau’s record.
Chrystia Freeland, who used to be the finance minister, is expected to jump in too. She’s been a key player in Trudeau’s government but had a falling out with him recently.
Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, is another name to watch. He’s been advised to join the race and is expected to make a decision soon.
Karina Gould, known for her strong presence in Parliament, is also in the mix. She made headlines as the first cabinet minister to take maternity leave while in office.
François-Philippe Champagne, the industry minister, is still weighing his options. He’s known for his energy and has been involved in major investments in electric vehicles.
Jonathan Wilkinson, the energy minister, is also considering a bid. He’s been a big part of the Liberals’ climate policies and is talking it over with his family.
Steven MacKinnon, the labour minister, has shown interest too. He’s been vocal about the need for a bilingual leader and recently helped end a Canada Post strike.
Anita Anand, the transport minister, is another potential candidate. She gained recognition for her role in Canada’s vaccine procurement during the pandemic.
On the flip side, Mélanie Joly, the foreign affairs minister, dropped out of the race, saying it’s not the right time to leave her post. Dominic LeBlanc also ruled out a bid, citing trade threats from the incoming U.S. president.
This leadership race is shaping up to be quite the event, and it’ll be interesting to see who ultimately steps up to lead the party.