The Liberal Party is narrowing its focus on key candidates as the deadline to enter the leadership race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau closed Thursday evening. The leadership contest has already sparked significant debate within the party, with high-profile figures Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland emerging as the frontrunners.
Candidates had until 5 p.m. ET to submit their nomination papers and an initial $50,000 deposit to be eligible for the race. The final list of contenders will be confirmed after the party reviews submissions over the next 10 days. The new leader will be announced on March 9.
Seven candidates have confirmed their bids for leadership, including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, MPs Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, Chandra Arya, and Jaime Battiste, as well as former MPs Frank Baylis and Ruby Dhalla.
Freeland, who served as Minister of Finance until December, and Carney, a key economic advisor to the Liberals since 2023, are widely seen as the strongest contenders.
The Liberal caucus met Thursday on Parliament Hill to discuss election strategy, with party unity, U.S. trade tensions, and economic challenges dominating conversations. Most MPs appear to be rallying around Freeland and Carney, with endorsements pouring in from influential members.
Freeland has positioned herself as a pragmatic leader, pledging to repeal controversial capital gains tax changes introduced during her tenure as Finance Minister. She also advocated for a mechanism to hold future leaders accountable, referencing Trudeau’s resistance to step down before announcing his departure.
Carney, who has never held elected office, is running as an outsider despite securing endorsements from several senior Liberal figures, including cabinet ministers Steven MacKinnon, Patty Hajdu, and Jonathan Wilkinson. “Liberals are showing very good judgment,” Carney said, dismissing criticism of his establishment support.
While Freeland and Carney dominate the race, other candidates face an uphill battle. Karina Gould, who recently resigned as House Leader to enter the contest, is presenting herself as a rejuvenating force for the party. “The leadership will ultimately be decided by grassroots members,” Gould emphasized, noting she had only begun organizing her campaign two weeks ago.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner criticized Carney for avoiding media engagement during his campaign, calling it “curious” that an unelected candidate could aspire to the Prime Minister’s Office without addressing national issues.
“We’ve heard absolutely nothing about his policies during this national crisis,” she said during a press conference outside a pub in Ottawa.
Carney, who held a closed-door event for supporters on Thursday, responded to questions about his media availability, saying, “This is the Liberal Party. We believe in freedom and good judgment.”
Despite early speculation, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne chose not to run, leaving the field without a prominent francophone candidate from Quebec. Both are reportedly working behind the scenes to ensure the candidates address Quebec-specific issues.
MP Joël Lightbound, backing Carney, expressed confidence in his ability to navigate Canada’s economic challenges. Meanwhile, Winnipeg MP Ben Carr endorsed Freeland, praising her toughness and ability to defend Canada’s interests on the international stage.
With the leadership race heating up, candidates are racing to secure endorsements and sign up new party members ahead of Monday’s deadline. The March 9 announcement will determine not only the next leader of the Liberal Party but also its direction in the face of significant challenges, including an emboldened opposition and economic uncertainty.
For now, all eyes remain on Carney and Freeland as they vie for the party’s top job and the opportunity to reshape Canada’s political landscape.