The list of who people lining up to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to shift as top Liberal brass meet Thursday to consider the next move.
After a frenzy of formal and informal meetings this week following Trudeau’s decision to step down, the Liberal Party’s national council will gather to try to hammer out how to run a race to find the next party leader — and Canada’s next prime minister — against a ticking clock.
As an executive member, Trudeau will be in attendance, sources told Radio-Canada.
While many MPs got their way by getting Trudeau out the door, his decision to wait until early January gives the party little runway to write the rules for a campaign, hold a leadership contest and then pivot to an increasingly inevitable spring election.
MP Yasir Naqvi, Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon, MP Kevin Lamoureux, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos, MP Judy Sgro, MP James Maloney, MP George Chahal and MP Charles Sousa outline strength on the economy, bilingualism, holding Liberal values and being a skilled campaigner as some of the elements they are looking for in the next Liberal leader.
.While some potential contenders say they’re waiting to learn more about how the race will unfold, others are declaring their intentions.
On Thursday, Ottawa-area MP Chandra Arya announced he’ll be seeking the top job — making him the first caucus member and diverse candidate to declare their intentions.
Arya said he wants to “a lead a small, more efficient government.”
“We are facing significant structural problems that haven’t been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices,” he said in a statement.
Businessman and former MP Frank Baylis also said publicly he plans to run.
A number of cabinet insiders said they are reflecting. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon have all said they are considering a run.
Former central banker Mark Carney has also said he’s interested. Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. premier Christy Clark and House Leader Karina Gould are said to be gathering supporters, too.
MPs call to change rules around who can vote
Liberal MPs who gathered in Ottawa on Wednesday for a national caucus meeting said they were keen to learn what governing rules the executive will set out, including whether cabinet ministers will have to vacate their portfolios if they want to run and what the party will do to confront foreign interference threats.
Currently, non-Canadian residents are allowed to vote in Liberal Party riding nomination and leadership contests, which have been called a “gateway” for foreign interference. The party’s constition allows anyone who “ordinarily resides” in Canada to be a member.
A growing contingent of MPs urged the party executive to heed those warning.
There are other details the party will need to sort out, like the entrance fee amount and when the ballots will be counted
Toronto-area MP Rob Oliphant said he’d like to see a leader in place by the first weekend in March.
“I think we can do it and it be fast,” he said on his way into the hours-long meeting.
Ottawa-area MP Yasir Naqvi stressed while the planning is hastened, integrity needs to be upheld.
“We need to make sure that the process is credible, that the process is fair and transparent,” he said. “We need to ensure that Canadians have confidence in the process.”
Whoever wins the Liberal race will become Canada’s next prime minister, although based on the party’s polling it could be a short-lived time in office.
According to the CBC’s Poll Tracker, the Conservatives have opened a 24-point lead over the Liberals.