The race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada has reached a critical milestone, as candidates were required to submit the final $125,000 instalment of the $350,000 entrance fee by the end of today. With just three weeks until the leadership vote on March 9, the field appears to be set.
The campaigns for Chrystia Freeland, Frank Baylis, and Karina Gould have confirmed that they have successfully made their final payments.
Ruby Dhalla announced via social media on Sunday that she, too, has met the financial requirement.
Meanwhile, Mark Carney’s campaign stated that he will be completing his payment today, solidifying his place in the race.
The five candidates will now face off in two key debates next week in Montreal—one in English and one in French—giving them a final opportunity to appeal to Liberal members.
Fundraising has played a crucial role in this leadership contest. Carney’s campaign has disclosed that he has raised more than $1.9 million from over 11,000 donors, while other campaigns have remained tight-lipped about their fundraising totals. However, Elections Canada is expected to release official fundraising figures for all candidates in the coming days.
With the final financial hurdle cleared, the candidates now enter the last phase of the campaign, where debates, policy positions, and party endorsements will play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome. The Liberal Party of Canada is set to elect its new leader on March 9, 2025.