Speculated list to run for federal Liberal leadership shortens

The speculated list of contenders in the upcoming federal Liberal leadership race is getting even shorter.

A vote will be held on March 9, and the new leader will be announced the same day.

According to the Globe and Mail, sources say Innovation Minister Francois Phillippe Champagne will bow out this week, due to a lack of time to organize a proper challenge.

Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon also stated on X over the weekend, that he will not be a candidate.

Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced last week, that they will not be putting their names forth for the leadership.

Meantime, MP Chrystia Freeland has yet to comment on whether or not she will be on the list of candidates as speculated.

UPEI Political Science Professor Don Desserud says if she does run, she may be blamed by some Canadians for the divisions in the Liberal party.

“None of the individuals who choose to run are going to able to avoid the opposition attacks saying that they are all just Trudeau wannabes. But she (Freeland) will be a strong contender, she has a strong following. She will be able to say to those who feel that she has Trudeau baggage, that she is the one who stepped aside,” Desserud says.

The deadline to register to run for the federal Liberal leadership race is January 23.

Last week, Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament until March and announced he would be stepping down from his role as the federal Liberal leader and as Prime Minister.