Toronto — The Liberal Party of Canada is set to name the new prime minister on March 9, following the resignation of Justin Trudeau earlier this week. Until a successor is elected, Trudeau will continue to serve as prime minister.
Leading the race for the Liberal leadership are Mark Carney, a former central banker, and ex-Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, whose unexpected resignation last month triggered Trudeau’s departure. “After a thorough and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party will select a new leader on March 9, preparing to compete and succeed in the 2025 election,” stated Sachit Mehra, the party’s president.
This political turbulence arrives at a challenging time for Canada, especially as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has characterized Canada as the 51st state and has imposed threats of 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods. The newly elected Liberal leader may end up being the shortest-serving prime minister in Canada’s history, as all three opposition parties are poised to challenge the Liberal minority government with a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes on March 24.
Current polling data does not favor the Liberals, as they lag significantly behind the opposition Conservatives, with figures showing 45% for Conservatives and 23% for Liberals according to the latest Nanos poll. Trudeau declared his resignation on Monday as he faced diminishing support within his party and among the electorate.
The 53-year-old, who is the son of the iconic Pierre Trudeau, found himself at odds with voters over various pressing issues, including rising food and housing costs, as well as increasing immigration. Trudeau expressed to Freeland his desire for her to step down as finance minister, although she could stay on as deputy prime minister managing U.S.-Canada relations. Following her resignation, Freeland penned a critical letter regarding the government that marked a decisive moment for Trudeau’s leadership.
Freeland is currently engaging with her colleagues to discuss the way forward after her resignation. In response, Trump labeled her as “totally toxic” and unfavorable for negotiations. During the initial Trump administration, Freeland was integral in renegotiating the free trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Freeland embodies multiple characteristics that seem to unsettle Trump: she is a liberal, a Canadian, and a former journalist. Additionally, being of Ukrainian descent, she has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. Mark Carney, who was appointed in 2012 as the first foreign governor of the Bank of England since its inception in 1694, received accolades for his leadership during Canada’s recovery from the 2008 financial crisis.
Carney, an accomplished economist with experience from Wall Street, has been a pivotal figure in shaping Canada’s economic strategies and is recognized for facilitating the UK’s management of Brexit. Despite his lack of formal political experience, he has shown interest in entering politics and potentially assuming the role of prime minister. Recently, he conveyed that he is heartened by the support he has received and intends to consult with his family before making a final decision.
On Thursday, the party’s National Board of Directors laid out the leadership race rules. Participation in the leadership race will require a fee of $350,000 Canadian (approximately $243,000), with candidate declarations due by January 23. The party stipulates that voters in the leadership election must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
The Liberals have revised their membership rules in previous years to simplify the process for individuals to register as party members and engage in leadership elections, including the removal of membership fees. However, following inquiries into foreign interference, some members of Parliament have voiced their concerns that the party needs to enforce stricter guidelines regarding membership registration. The party highlighted that “ensuring the integrity of our democratic process while also encouraging widespread participation is a primary focus for the Liberal Party of Canada.”
