Factbox-Potential contenders to exchange Justin Trudeau as Canadian prime minister

By David Ljunggren

(Reuters) – Canada’s ruling Liberal Celebration is in search of a brand new chief to exchange Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who introduced on Jan. 6 he meant to step down.

The Liberal Celebration will decide a brand new chief on March 9.

Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stated on Friday she was working. Former Financial institution of Canada Governor Mark Carney introduced his candidacy on Thursday.

Listed here are the highest contenders.

FORMER FINANCE MINISTER CHRYSTIA FREELAND

Freeland, 56, was certainly one of Trudeau’s closest allies throughout his 9 years in energy and had been serving as finance minister. Freeland unexpectedly resigned in December after an argument over spending and penned a letter attacking the prime minister’s management and his love of “political gimmicks.” 

Freeland, probably the most high-profile member of the federal government after Trudeau, had been finance minister since August 2020 and helped craft the federal government’s multi-billion-dollar social spending program to assist struggle the pandemic. 

She had beforehand been overseas minister and led the Canadian staff that efficiently renegotiated a trilateral commerce cope with the US and Mexico after then-President Donald Trump threatened to tear up the settlement. 

She joined the federal government in November 2015, first serving as commerce minister. Earlier than coming into politics in 2013, Freeland labored as a journalist and in senior editorial roles with a number of media corporations, together with the Monetary Occasions, the Globe and Mail, and Reuters, the place she labored from 2010 to 2013. She has written two books.

FORMER BANK OF CANADA GOVERNOR MARK CARNEY

Carney, 59, is the one main candidate who shouldn’t be a part of the Trudeau authorities. Carney’s title has been circulating for years as a possible Liberal chief, largely due to his monetary credentials. He launched his bid for the management on Thursday, casting himself as an outsider who was not a part of Trudeau’s unpopular authorities and stated he needed to concentrate on the struggling financial system.

Carney labored for Goldman Sachs earlier than becoming a member of the Canadian finance ministry in 2004. He was named Financial institution of Canada governor in 2007 and shortly needed to cope with the after-effects of the worldwide monetary disaster in 2008. In 2013, he took over as governor of the Financial institution of England, changing into the primary particular person to move two main central banks. 

Carney forecast the financial injury that may outcome if Britain left the European Union, prompting assaults from pro-Brexit advocates. After leaving the financial institution in 2020, he was appointed United Nations particular envoy for local weather motion and finance. He was vice chairman at Brookfield Asset Administration (TSX:BAM) however has stepped down from the function to marketing campaign.

HOUSE LEADER KARINA GOULD

Gould, 37, is looking for to turn out to be the primary feminine chief of the Liberal Celebration. She entered parliament in 2015 and was named minister of democratic establishments in January 2017, changing into the youngest-ever feminine cupboard minister at age 29. Though she pushed by some voting reforms, her ministry was dissolved after the 2019 election and he or she took over the comparatively low-key overseas help ministry. She additionally grew to become the primary federal cupboard minister to take a maternity depart after giving start in 2018. She grew to become minister of households in 2021 and in 2023 was named the Liberals’ Home of Commons chief.

Three different individuals have introduced they intend to participate however they’ve little likelihood of successful. They’re backbench legislators Chandra Arya and Jaime Battiste in addition to former member of parliament Frank Baylis.