Canada’s Liberal Party has announced that it will select a new leader on March 9, 2025, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to step down after nine years in office. Trudeau, who revealed his decision to resign earlier this week, has faced mounting pressure from party members concerned about the Liberals’ dismal performance in pre-election polls.
Despite stepping aside, Trudeau will continue to serve as both prime minister and party leader until a successor is chosen. “After a robust and secure nation-wide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9 and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” the party said in a statement.
The party’s National Board of Directors convened on Thursday to set the initial rules for the leadership race. The leadership vote will conclude on March 9, with the new leader announced on the same day.
To participate in the race, candidates must pay an entrance fee of C$350,000 (approximately $243,000 USD). The deadline for Canadians to register as Liberal Party members and be eligible to vote in the leadership election is January 27.
According to “The Globe and Mail”, prominent figures such as former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and ex-central banker Mark Carney are expected to enter the race. However, it remains unclear whether Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly or Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne will join the contest.
Trudeau also announced that Canada’s parliament would be prorogued until March 24, delaying any potential election until at least May 2025. In the interim, he will continue to address key challenges, including navigating tensions with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20.
Trump has proposed tariffs on Canadian imports and referred to Canada as a US state, prompting Trudeau to dismiss such rhetoric as unrealistic. “There is not a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,” Trudeau remarked earlier this week.
The next federal election is scheduled to take place by October 20, 2025, but the Liberal Party faces significant hurdles. Rising voter frustration over high prices and a lack of affordable housing has propelled the opposition Conservatives to a commanding lead in the polls. Analysts suggest the Liberals are on track for a resounding defeat, regardless of who leads the party.
As Trudeau prepares to pass the torch, the incoming Liberal leader will face the daunting task of revitalising the party and regaining the trust of Canadian voters ahead of the critical 2025 elections.
Melissa Enoch
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