After nine years at the helm, Justin Trudeau has stepped down as Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the ruling Liberal Party. The Liberals have to choose a new leader before the October 2025 general election, where surveys do not paint an encouraging picture for the party. Several candidates are expected to contest the leadership race.
Here are the most prominent:
chrystia freeland
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland is one of the prominent names joining the Liberal leadership race. Freeland unexpectedly resigned in December, citing disagreements with Justin Trudeau over “the best path forward for Canada.” A high-profile member of Trudeau’s team, Freeland previously served as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance.
Last year, Freeland was asked why Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was previously on Canada’s no-fly list and had his bank accounts frozen, was being posthumously honored in Parliament. He responded by acknowledging the anniversary of Nijjar’s death and reaffirming Trudeau’s strong stance against threats to Canadians. However, he avoided citing the government’s past actions against Nijjar or the reasons for honoring him after his death.
mark carney
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is widely seen as a top candidate for the Liberal Party leadership. Trudeau acknowledged that he had long tried to bring Carney into his team, most recently offering her the role of finance minister following the exit of Chrystia Freeland. Carney refused.
According to the Toronto Star, he recently contacted Liberal MPs seeking support for a potential leadership bid.
Mark Carney, chairman of Brookfield Asset Management, said in 2023 that he sees India as a prime opportunity for investment due to its strong domestic demand and changes in the global supply chain.
Anita Anand
Canada’s Transport Minister Anita Anand is considered one of the more ambitious members of the Liberal caucus. With a background in financial market regulation and corporate governance, the Indian-origin leader has held several key positions in the federal government, including overseeing public services and procurement, defense and treasury boards.
Last year, Anita Anand had announced stronger security measures for air passengers traveling to India. This came after tensions between Canada and India increased after Trudeau accused India of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. He said the security measures were for safety and included more screening for travelers coming to India from Canada.
dominic leblanc
Canada’s Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc stepped into the role shortly after Chrystia Freeland’s resignation and is one of Trudeau’s closest allies.
LeBlanc is a trusted ally of Trudeau. Their long-standing friendship included babysitting LeBlanc, Trudeau and their siblings in their youth. LeBlanc comes from a political family, his father serving in the cabinet of Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau. A former lawyer, he once ran for party leadership in 2008 but lost.
Last year, LeBlanc addressed serious allegations related to India’s foreign interference in Canada. He confirmed that the ongoing investigation into foreign interference will also look into new claims of criminal activity, such as murder, coercion and extortion, allegedly involving agents of the Indian government. LeBlanc said the current mandate of the investigation already includes India’s involvement, and he is confident the final report will include these new allegations.
melanie jolie
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie has faced diplomatic tensions, including differences with China and allegations against the Indian government. She is known for her “pragmatic diplomacy”, which involves engaging with countries with whom Canada has disagreements.
Last October, Jolie expelled six Indian diplomats linked to alleged criminal activities targeting Canadian citizens. The move follows an RCMP investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.
