Who Could Replace Justin Trudeau as Leader of Canada’s Liberal Party?

Last updated on January 21st, 2025 at 07:16 am

Trudeau’s announcement that he will step down as Prime Minister after nine years means that his party must now pick a new leader to run in a general election which polls predict they will lose.

On March 9, Liberals will vote for their new leader. The list of probable candidates has shrunk in recent days with some important cabinet officials declining to run.

Mark Carney, the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has entered the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party. With Trudeau’s recent announcement that he will step down after nearly a decade in office, the party must now select a new leader ahead of a general election. Carney, 59, launched his campaign in Edmonton, presenting himself as a leader with experience in managing crises and a deep understanding of business and environmental policy. Carney has long been considered a potential candidate, and Trudeau himself has praised Carney’s expertise, particularly in climate action. He served as the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action, advocating for net-zero goals.

Other potential candidates include Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s former deputy prime minister and current finance minister. Freeland has long been seen as one of Trudeau’s most trusted allies but she resigned in December following a public rift with the prime minister. Known for her work in renegotiating trade deals and overseeing Canada’s financial response to the pandemic. Freeland is expected to officially announce her candidacy soon.

Karina Gould, the former trade and investment specialist and Liberal House Leader has also announced her candidacy. Since 2015, Gould has held a series of cabinet roles and is pitching herself as part of a “new generation.” Other hopefuls include MP Jaime Battiste, who is looking at running on an Indigenous-centric platform, and backbench MP Chandra Arya, who seeks to lead a more streamlined government.

The Liberal Party will vote for its leadership on 9th March when candidates will seek to win the hearts of the party’s members and those voters in an election during which the party is contesting.