National

Liberals split on how quickly to proceed with choosing new leader

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Jan, 2025 01:57 PM

Attention is turning quickly in Ottawa to who will replace Justin Trudeau who announced Monday he will step aside as prime minister and Liberal leader as soon as a new leader is chosen.

But some former Liberal advisers are split on how quickly the process should move.

With Parliament set to resume March 24, there's little time for Trudeau's successor to actually lead before the government surely falls at the earliest confidence vote.

But having a quick leadership race provides little time for the party electorate to get to know the candidates.

No sitting MP has formally declared their intention to run but speculation is already buzzing in Ottawa about who may vie for the job.

Among them are Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, whom the New York Times profiled last month as Trudeau's potential successor and former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, whose shock resignation shortly before the Christmas break served as the catalyst for renewed calls for Trudeau to step down.

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, House Leader Karina Gould, Transport Minister Anita Anand, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson are also all said to be kicking the tires of a possible run.

Other high-profile candidates who may seek the leadership former B.C. premier Christy Clark and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who have both been subject to Conservative attack ads in recent weeks.

In a statement, Carney said he is "encouraged and honoured" by the support he has been hearing from Liberal MPs and Liberals across the country who want the party to move forward "with positive change and a winning economic plan."

"That's what it will take to defeat Pierre Poilievre, to get Canada back on track and to build the strongest economy that works for all Canadians," he said. "I'll be considering this decision closely with my family over the coming few days."

Former Montreal MP Frank Baylis was the first to publicly declare his intent to seek the Liberal leadership in an interview Monday with The Hill Times.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. charities worried Canada Post strike will affect fundraising efforts

Some B.C. charities and not-for-profits said they are worried the Canada Post strike will jeopardize their year-end fundraising efforts. Nicole Mucci, a spokeswoman for Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, said 50 per cent of the organization's revenue normally comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a mail strike at this time of the year is "detrimental" since so many donations come in the mail.

B.C. charities worried Canada Post strike will affect fundraising efforts

Trudeau says he could have acted faster on immigration changes, blames 'bad actors'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government could have acted faster on reining in immigration programs, after blaming "bad actors" for gaming the system. Trudeau released a nearly seven-minute video on YouTube Sunday talking about the recent reduction in permanent residents being admitted to Canada and changes to the temporary foreign worker program.

Trudeau says he could have acted faster on immigration changes, blames 'bad actors'

2 bystanders pepper-sprayed in Metrotown

Mounties in Burnaby say two innocent bystanders were reportedly pepper-sprayed by four teenagers in Burnaby over the weekend. Corporal Mike Kalanj with Burnaby R-C-M-P says officers responded to reports of the assault inside the Metrotown shopping centre on Saturday evening.

2 bystanders pepper-sprayed in Metrotown

Canadians generally optimistic about human rights, despite challenges: poll

Two-thirds of Canadians are optimistic about where human rights are headed in this country, but there is growing pessimism about the state of rights abroad, a new survey found. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg released its second survey on the topic as it seeks to ensure its exhibits match Canadians' concerns.

Canadians generally optimistic about human rights, despite challenges: poll

Parliament remains gridlocked amid Trump trade talk and postal strike

Parliament closes in on its eighth week of gridlock over a privilege motion, as Canada Post employees are on strike and calls emerge to exclude Mexico from upcoming trade talks. While question period has continued, other house business is on hold due to a Conservative privilege motion calling on the government to turn over unredacted documents on a green technology fund.

Parliament remains gridlocked amid Trump trade talk and postal strike

Police say death of young woman found in Halifax Walmart walk-in oven not suspicious

The death of a young Halifax woman whose body was recently found in a Walmart's walk-in oven was not suspicious and did not involve foul play, police said Monday. The death of the 19-year-old employee in the store's bakery was reported on Oct. 19.