On the evening of March 9, 2025, the Liberal Party of Canada is set to announce its new leader and the potential next prime minister at a highly anticipated event taking place in Ottawa. Among the candidates, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is viewed as the frontrunner, with former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould, and businessman Frank Baylis also vying for the top position.
The announcement is expected to take place at approximately 7 p.m. ET, following speeches by outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. The event begins at 5 p.m., and attendees are eager to witness the outcome of the party's leadership election, especially as over 400,000 Liberal members cast their votes by the deadline earlier this afternoon.
Sheila Copps, the former deputy prime minister, has suggested the new leader could quickly call for a federal election. According to Copps, if Carney is elected as Trudeau's successor, he might call the election before March 24—when Parliament is slated to resume—taking advantage of the Liberal Party's newfound momentum against the Conservative Party. Recent Ipsos polling shows the Liberals holding a slight lead over the Conservatives for the first time since 2021. Surprisingly, 86% of Canadians want to see the election take place as soon as possible.
Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods have sparked this urgency among Canadians according to Copps, who remarked on Carney's unique qualifications to deal with such crises. "I think the Trump turmoil has refocused Canadians' attention on having a leader who actually has good background and business experience," said Copps. Carney’s experience includes not only his tenure as governor of the Bank of Canada but also extensive roles at Goldman Sachs and as the first non-British governor of the Bank of England.
Freeland, who has defended Canada's sovereignty against external pressures, likened the current political situation to patriotism, asserting during her speech, "Canadians are ready to fight for Canada, and I know all of us have one message for Donald Trump tonight: Canada will never be the 51st state." Her comments reflect the urgency felt among Liberal members as they prepare to lead Canada amid heightened tensions with the United States.
With observably increasing support, Copps believes the likelihood of previously hesitant MPs re-entering the race for re-election is high. For example, Minister of Transport Anita Anand recently reversed her decision to not seek re-election, deciding instead to run again, likely influenced by the party’s renewed prospects.
The challenges for the new leader will be significant, and as Copps noted, both charisma and relatability will be important traits. "He’s got the history. He was born in Fort Smith, N.W.T., and he’s lived across Canada and abroad. But he can appear to be a little bit distant," she warned, highlighting the need for the new leader to connect with voters.
On the event day, anticipation builds with many supporters donning Carney's campaign signs, indicating strong grassroots support for his candidacy. Polling analysts project mixed results if elections were held today, with the Conservatives likely securing slightly more seats than the Liberals, but not enough to form a majority government.
Carney has promised transparency concerning his potential conflicts of interest, stating he would place his assets in blind trust should he win the leadership race. This commitment reflects the pressure he faces to address concerns from the public and opposition about his financial interests. His critics, including Freeland, have made strategic moves during the campaign, such as offering Carney the finance minister position should she become the new party leader.
Behind the scenes, Justin Trudeau's resignation has triggered significant political maneuvering within the party since he announced his decision to step down earlier this year, following Freeland's resignation as finance minister. Many observers view this moment as pivotal, with potential far-reaching consequences for the Liberal Party and the broader Canadian political spectrum.
Results from the leadership contest are eagerly awaited throughout the day, culminating with the new leader's announcement at the event tonight, which marks a significant shift not only for the Liberal Party but for Canada itself as it navigates tricky international political waters.
With faces and voices of the past guiding the proceedings and new leaders on the rise, Canada is at the threshold of potentially transformative times as its next chapter begins.