The remaining candidates in the Liberal Party leadership race have successfully met the latest fundraising deadline, securing their positions in the contest to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
As of Friday, February 7, 2025, all remaining contenders confirmed they have paid the $125,000 installment required to continue in the race, marking a critical step toward the final payment deadline on February 17. The total entry fee of $350,000 has posed a significant challenge to candidates, with some struggling to meet the aggressive financial demands set by the party.
Among the candidates who have successfully made the payment is former Liberal House Leader Karina Gould, whose campaign noted that the average donation to her bid was $150. Earlier in the week, her campaign sent an urgent fundraising appeal, warning that $100,000 was still needed before the Friday deadline. Despite the pressure, Gould managed to secure the necessary funds and reaffirmed her commitment to the leadership contest.
“The party establishment tried as hard as possible to keep the number of candidates low, and this has been an extremely aggressive fundraising deadline,” Gould said Thursday.
Former MP and Montreal businessman Frank Baylis also confirmed his payment was successfully made, reiterating his commitment to adhering to the rules set by the party.
“This is a very condensed race, and we have a very short time period,” Baylis acknowledged in a Thursday press conference. “I respect what the party is doing, and we’re going to work within the confines of the rules.”
Meanwhile, former MP Ruby Dhalla’s campaign spokesperson, Sakshi Mehrotra, confirmed that she met the fundraising requirement and sent her payment to the party Friday morning.
The high entry fee has already taken a toll on candidates. Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, the only First Nations candidate in the race, was forced to drop out last week after failing to meet the previous financial deadline. His campaign faced difficulties raising the required funds within the tight timeframe, a challenge echoed by other contenders.
Despite these obstacles, frontrunners Mark Carney (former Bank of Canada governor) and Chrystia Freeland (former deputy prime minister) have also met their financial obligations, positioning themselves as strong competitors in the March 9 leadership election.
With Trudeau having announced his decision to step down on January 6, the Liberal Party is moving swiftly to elect a new leader. Parliament remains prorogued until March 24, giving the incoming leader an opportunity to reshape the party’s direction before the next session begins.
In the final stretch of the race, candidates will now focus on preparing for two leadership debates—one in English and one in French—which will take place after the February 17 payment deadline.
Meanwhile, the party has reported a surge in engagement, with nearly 400,000 supporters registering as members to vote in the leadership election, signaling a high level of interest in the race for the Liberal Party’s future.
As the leadership battle intensifies, the next two weeks will be critical, with candidates vying to build momentum and secure the support needed to emerge victorious on March 9.