Following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation announcement, the party has revealed the date for who will take his spot as Liberal leader.
The Liberals announced Thursday that a new party leader will be named by March 9 and those interested in running in the leadership race will have to pay an entrance fee of $350,000.
READ MORE: https://nowtoronto.com/news/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-expected-to-resign/
All contestants must declare their race participation by Jan. 23 in order to be included in the “robust and secure nation-wide process,” President of the Liberal Party of Canada, Sachit Mehra, said in a press release on Thursday.
“This is a time for Liberals across the country to exchange ideas and engage in thoughtful debate to shape the future of our party and our country – and I encourage all Liberals to get involved in this exciting moment for our party,” he said.
After the leadership vote concludes on Mar. 9, a new leader will be announced the same day.
A number of Canadian politicians have already announced they will be opting out in running in the race to replace Trudeau, including Foreign Affair Minister Mélanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
While speculation circulates whether Chrystia Freeland, the former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to Trudeau, will run following her tense resignation last month, more candidates are expected to throw their hats in the ring in the coming weeks.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles. I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau said in his resignation speech on Jan. 6.
Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, is also a rumoured candidate to join the running.
He also announced that Parliament will be prorogued on Mar. 24, 2025.
READ MORE: https://nowtoronto.com/news/trudeau-prorogues-parliament-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
The cut-off date to become a registered Liberal and to be eligible to vote in the race for a new party leader is Jan. 27.
A registered Liberal must meet the following criteria: be at least 14 years of age, support the purposes of the party, be a Canadian citizen, have status under the Indian Act or be a permanent Canadian resident, not be a member of any other federal political party in Canada; and not have publicly declared an intention to be a candidate for election to the House of Commons other than as a candidate of the Party, while registered as a Liberal.
