The field of potential candidates to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to dwindle, with former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne both announcing they will not seek the Liberal leadership.
Mr Clarke made the announcement on Tuesday, days after he had to retract claims he was never a member of the Conservative Party.
Mr. Champagne, who joins a growing list of ministers who do not seek the position of their boss, told Canada Club Toronto on Tuesday that he also does not seek leadership. He called it one of the most difficult decisions of his life.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that he would resign as soon as the party chooses a successor, in anticipation of a growing revolt in his caucus and a slump in the polls.
Mr Clark told supporters he had made the “difficult decision” to withdraw because he did not have enough time to run a successful campaign. Clark also said that although she is working on her French, “you don’t have to be there” to connect with French-speaking Canadians.
Clark told CBC Radio in an interview aired Saturday. the house She was “seriously considering” running to replace Prime Minister Trudeau. She also denied being a member of the Conservative Party.
Mr Clark has publicly supported Jean Charest in the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election and said he plans to join the party to vote for his preferred candidate.
“I’ve never been a member and I’ve never received a ballot,” Clark told host Katherine Cullen.
A Conservative Party spokesperson refuted Mr Clarke’s claims and provided a screenshot of the recording.
Clark later posted on social media: “Well, I misspoke. Things like this happen. Lesson learned.”
The Liberal Party has announced that it will choose its next leader, and Canada’s next prime minister, on March 9th. Applicants must declare their candidacy by January 23rd. People can register with the party to vote in the leadership election until January 27.
Mr Clark used a “letter of thanks” to his supporters to bid farewell to his Liberal rival, Conservative leader Pierre Poièvre.
“I won’t join this leadership battle, but I won’t stop fighting. Pierre Poièvre would rather attack Canadians than condemn Donald Trump,” she wrote.
“He’s a bully at home and a pathetic pushover for MAGA Republicans. We don’t need Governor Poilievre. We need a Liberal at the top.”
Narrow down your race
The race to replace Prime Minister Trudeau is drawing attention as many candidates are expected to announce their positions in the coming days.
Government House of Commons Leader Karina Gould plans to run for leadership this week, according to people familiar with her plans. At 37 years old, he will be the youngest candidate in the race.
At a news conference Tuesday in Burlington, Ont., where he is riding, Gould said only that he would have more to add soon.
“I think it’s really important that we have a younger voice in the race that can relate to where people are,” she said.
At a news conference in Burlington, Ont., House of Commons Leader Karina Gould said she plans to say more in the coming days about whether she will run for Liberal leadership. Sources told CBC News that Gould plans to run this week.
Former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to announce her candidacy for Liberal Party leadership within the week, sources tell CBC News/Radio-Canada.
Freeland expects to make a formal announcement before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in next Monday, the people said.
Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney plans to formally announce his candidacy on Thursday, according to a person close to him.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is still deciding and is not expected to announce a plan this week, the people said.
Only three candidates have officially announced they will run to replace Prime Minister Trudeau.
Nova Scotia Rep. Jaime Batiste said Monday he would seek leadership. Ottawa MP Chandra Arya and former Montreal MP Frank Bayliss announced their intention to run last week.
