Liberals to announce new leader by March 9: sources

The Liberal Party of Canada is gearing up to choose their next leader, and ultimately, Canada’s next prime minister by March 9, according to sources from Radio-Canada. Following Justin Trudeau’s announcement that he will be stepping down as prime minister, the party’s national council has been in a flurry of formal and informal meetings to set the groundwork for the leadership race.

One of the key decisions made by the council is to establish the entry fee for potential candidates at $350,000, a significant increase from the $75,000 fee in the previous leadership race. This move could potentially impact the pool of candidates who can afford to enter the race.

Several prominent figures within the Liberal Party, including Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, and Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon, have expressed interest in running for the top position. However, they have emphasized the importance of understanding the rules and regulations set by the party before officially declaring their candidacy.

Other notable individuals considering a run for the leadership include former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. premier Christy Clark, and House Leader Karina Gould. Ottawa MP Chandra Arya and former Montreal MP Frank Baylis have already confirmed their intentions to run for the leadership.

During a national caucus meeting in Ottawa, Liberal MPs expressed their eagerness to learn about the governing rules that the executive will establish for the leadership race. One key point of discussion is whether cabinet ministers will be required to resign from their positions if they decide to enter the race.

Additionally, the council is deliberating on who will be eligible to vote in the leadership contest. In the past, non-Canadian residents were allowed to participate in Liberal Party riding nominations and leadership contests, raising concerns about potential foreign interference. A growing number of Liberal MPs have called for stricter regulations to prevent such interference in the party’s internal processes.

Overall, the upcoming Liberal Party leadership race promises to be an exciting and competitive affair, with a diverse range of candidates vying for the opportunity to lead Canada as its next prime minister. Stay tuned for more updates as the race unfolds.