The Liberal Party of Canada confirmed on Thursday that it would replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with a new leader on March 9.
Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, blaming Liberal infighting – and not years of disastrous policies that have triggered a housing crisis, the deterioration of the socialist healthcare system, and rampant crime – for his demise. Canada is poised to hold a general election by October at the latest, but the rival Conservative Party, hoping to capitalize on high approval ratings and the widespread unpopularity of the Liberals, is advocating for a snap election as soon as possible.
Trudeau used his power as prime minister to “prorogue,” or essentially paralyze, Parliament through March 24 to allow the Liberals to replace him as leader, giving them months to campaign and attempt to erase the memory of Trudeau’s divisive final days from the minds of voters. Both the Conservatives and the far-left New Democratic Party (NDP), which often collaborates with the Liberals, have suggested elections much sooner, but the likelihood of voting before prorogation concludes is low.
The Liberal Party board of directors confirmed on Thursday that they would be ready with a leader by March 9, regardless of when elections are ultimately held. The Party still needs to finalize all rules for candidates seeking to run in the election, the Canadian Press reported on Thursday, but potential replacements for Trudeau will have to declare their intent by January 23 and pay $350,000 as an “entry fee” into the leadership race.
The Liberals currently have only two official candidates competing for the party leadership: Ontario Liberal MP Chandra Arya and former Montreal MP Frank Baylis. A host of other – in some cases, more popular – candidates are said to be organizing campaigns, however, reportedly including top Liberal Chrystia Freeland, whose resignation from Trudeau’s cabinet in December was widely considered the death knell of the decade-old Trudeau administration.
Freeland, one of Trudeau’s longest-standing political confidantes, resigned in a scathing letter in which she declared herself and Trudeau “at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” citing threats by American President-elect Donald Trump to impose onerous tariffs on Canada as a critical issue on which she felt Trudeau was weak.
The Globe and Mail, citing anonymous sources in the various camps, listed Freeland alongside several other well-known Liberals who are reportedly planning to throw their hats in the ring. Freeland was serving as deputy prime minister when she resigned and has previously served as economic and foreign minister.
Another prominent candidate is expected to be Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada. Conservatives have already begun campaigning against him, branding him “Carbon Tax Carney.”
Freeland, the Globe and Mail reported, who already has a draft campaign website established, is perhaps the most organized candidate on the list of candidates not yet making their run official. Others the newspaper listed as potential candidates are Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne,