Who is in the running to replace Trudeau as Liberal Party leader?

Canadians are currently participating in a significant vote to select a new leader for the Liberal Party, which is the party led by Justin Trudeau. This decision is crucial as it has the potential to reshape the landscape of Canadian politics. Approximately 140,000 members of the party are casting their votes for their preferred candidate, with the results expected to be announced by Sunday evening. The individual who emerges as the new leader will also assume the role of prime minister. However, since the Liberals are currently a minority government, maintaining this position will necessitate winning a general election, which could be called in the near future. The new leader will face various challenges, particularly in relation to US President Donald Trump, who has issued threats against Canada, including the possibility of a trade war and suggestions that Canada should become the 51st state of the US. This issue has been a focal point in the campaigns of all four candidates vying for the leadership position. One of the leading candidates is Mark Carney, who previously served as the governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. Carney has positioned himself as a capable fiscal manager who can guide the country through difficult times. In his campaign launch speech, he stated, 'I've helped manage multiple crises, and I've helped save two economies. ' Many observers consider him the frontrunner for the leadership role, as he aims to demonstrate his ability to navigate the challenges posed by Trump's tariffs. Carney, who is 59 years old, was born in Canada's Northwest Territories and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He has emphasized his Canadian roots and has attempted to present himself as a political outsider. Although he has served as a special economics advisor to Trudeau in recent months, he has never held an elected office. Carney has distanced himself from Trudeau, expressing that he is 'not the only Liberal in Canada who believes that the prime minister and his team let their attention wander from the economy too often. ' Despite this, Trudeau's approval ratings have improved since Trump returned to office. Carney also brings expertise in environmental issues, having served as the United Nations special envoy on climate action, where he referred to the goal of achieving net-zero emissions as 'the greatest commercial opportunity of our time. ' He has been a supporter of some Liberal policies that have faced criticism, such as the federal carbon tax, which some argue is a financial burden for Canadians. Recently, he has softened his stance on this policy, stating that it has 'served a purpose up until now. ' He has garnered endorsements from several cabinet members, including Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly. Another prominent candidate is Chrystia Freeland, who previously held the position of deputy prime minister. Freeland has become one of the most recognizable figures in Trudeau's administration. However, she recently resigned from her position due to a disagreement with the prime minister's office, which was a setback for Trudeau's already fragile hold on power. The two had differing views on how to address Trump's tariff threats, among other financial policies, as Canada faced a significant deficit. Freeland, who was born to a Ukrainian mother in Alberta, began her career as a journalist before entering politics. She became a member of the House of Commons in 2013 and joined Trudeau's cabinet two years later, where she played a key role in renegotiating a free trade agreement with the US and Mexico. Later, she was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of finance, overseeing Canada's financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A profile in the Globe and Mail described Freeland as either a last, best hope for the liberal world order or an out-of-touch idealist, depending on who you ask. Her strong support for Ukraine has earned her praise, but she has also faced criticism, including from Trump, who labeled her as 'toxic. ' During her campaign launch, she emphasized her experience in renegotiating trade deals and vowed to lead a strong Canadian response to the threats posed by the US. She has received support from various MPs, including Health Minister Mark Holland and Justice Minister Arif Virani. Karina Gould is another candidate in the race, representing a younger generation of leadership. She was first elected in 2015 and has held several roles in Trudeau's cabinet, making her the youngest woman to serve as a minister in Canada. At 37 years old, Gould has served as families minister, international development minister, and Minister of Democratic Institutions, before taking on her current role as House Leader, where she manages the government's legislative agenda. Gould launched her campaign by stating, 'Canadians have lost trust in our party. ' She has criticized the US while trying to persuade voters to support her leadership, claiming that 'trust has been broken' between Canada and the US. She addressed the issue of fentanyl, which Trump has used as a justification for imposing tariffs, stating that it comes from Canada in 'miniscule amounts. ' She suggested that if the US is concerned, they should establish an inspection team at the border to check trucks for fentanyl and illegal guns. Lastly, Frank Baylis, a businessman and former Liberal MP, was the first to announce his candidacy for the leadership. He believes that his business experience can help tackle the affordability and cost-of-living challenges facing Canadians. Baylis is the executive chairman of a medical device company founded by his mother, which he later led as president before it was sold to a US firm in 2021. He served in parliament from 2015 to 2019 and was a founding member of the Parliamentary Black Caucus. Baylis has been critical of Trudeau's approach to Trump's tariff threats and claims he would handle Trump more effectively than his opponents, emphasizing that his business background gives him an advantage. He stated, 'Whether we like it or not, the Americans have put as a president a highly aggressive bully of a man, who's a businessman. ' He believes that those coming from traditional bureaucratic or banking backgrounds may struggle to deal with such a character. Notably, several prominent cabinet ministers chose not to run in this leadership race, including Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, all citing the need to focus on their current responsibilities. Jaime Battiste, an MP from Nova Scotia, withdrew from the race early on. Another candidate, former Toronto MP Ruby Dhalla, was disqualified due to serious violations related to her campaign's financial reporting, although she has appealed this decision.