Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada Resigns from Cabinet to Run for Mayor of Montreal

After announcing her resignation from cabinet and as the Liberal Party national campaign co-chair, Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada has set her sights on a new role – running for mayor of Montreal.

Sharing her resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media, Martinez Ferrada expressed her intentions to seek the mayoral position in Montreal. In her letter, she stated, “This was not an easy decision, but it is one that I know is right, in which I will continue to fight for progressive values.”

Reflecting on her desire to serve the city that welcomed her as a young refugee from Chile and gave her a start in politics, Martinez Ferrada emphasized the importance of this new chapter in her career. She posted a video on social media announcing her candidacy to lead the municipal party Ensemble Montréal.

The members of Ensemble Montréal will select their new leader on April 6, who will then represent the party as its mayoral candidate in the city’s November election. This comes as current Mayor Valérie Plante, leader of the Projet Montréal party, has decided not to seek re-election.

As Martinez Ferrada steps down from her role as one of the Liberals’ national campaign co-chairs, the Liberal Party spokesperson, Parker Lund, confirmed that Prairies Economic Development Minister Terry Duguid will continue to work closely with the national campaign director and deputy ahead of the next election. Lund also mentioned that there is currently no news regarding the appointment of a new co-chair.

Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge will take on Martinez Ferrada’s portfolios. With the possibility of an early federal election looming, as all three main opposition parties have expressed their intentions to bring down the minority Liberal government, preparations are underway for what could be an early election.

While the next federal election is not scheduled until the fall, the House of Commons is set to reconvene on March 24, with confidence votes expected to follow shortly after. MPs will need to vote on the throne speech and government funding, setting the stage for potential election discussions.

Furthermore, the Liberal Party is gearing up to select its new leader on March 9, as they navigate through the changing political landscape and prepare for the upcoming challenges ahead.