Hours left for Liberal leadership candidates to meet 1st deadline as race clips along
As the deadline looms for candidates vying to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the race is heating up with high stakes and tight timelines. With Trudeau’s recent resignation and an anticipated spring election, the leadership contest is moving at a rapid pace.
Candidates have until 5 p.m. ET Thursday to submit their nomination packages, including the signatures of 300 registered Liberals and a $50,000 refundable deposit. This initial hurdle is just the beginning of the process, as the total entry fee amounts to $350,000 and is being spread out over four installments.
Among the frontrunners in the race are former central banker Mark Carney and former finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Both have already submitted their nomination packages, with Carney focusing on grassroots outreach and Freeland making appearances on morning shows and meeting with Liberals across the country.
Other contenders, such as former House leader Karina Gould, Ottawa MP Chandra Arya, Montreal businessman Frank Baylis, and Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, have also thrown their hats into the ring. Gould, in particular, has shown strong fundraising abilities, raising her first $50,000 within 24 hours of launching her campaign.
The Liberal Party will need to approve all candidates within the next 10 days, with Elections Canada also needing to give their stamp of approval. Registered Liberals will have until Monday to sign up to vote in the leadership race, which is scheduled for March 9 across 343 ridings, with each riding weighted at 100 points.
The race to replace Trudeau is shaping up to be a fierce competition, with candidates working hard to meet the stringent requirements and gain support from party members. It will be interesting to see how the field narrows down in the coming days and who ultimately emerges as the leader of the Liberal Party.
