Federal Liberal Party will choose new leader in two months

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks to a meeting room after speaking to reporters at the Liberal caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

By Renee Bernard

Posted January 9, 2025 7:59 pm.

Last Updated January 9, 2025 8:30 pm.

The Liberal Party of Canada will choose its next leader — who will also take over as prime minister — in two months, the party announced Thursday.

The leadership vote to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be held March 9, with the leader announced that same day, the National Board of Directors says.

The board says candidates have until Jan. 23 to join the race, and it will cost $350,000 to run.

People whose names might be on the ballot are former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. premier Christy Clark, and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.

Trudeau announced on Monday that he would step down as Prime Minister and as the leader of the Liberal Party following a “robust” leadership contest. He also prorogued Parliament until March 24.

The cut-off date to join the Liberal Party of Canada in time to vote in the leadership race is Jan. 27. Members must be Canadian citizens or have Permanent Resident status and be 14 years of age or older. They also must not belong to any other federal political party.

With files from Michael Talbot.

Submit a Correction
Accessibility Feedback

Top Stories

Flu driving spike in respiratory illness in B.C., but COVID-19 numbers low

New data shared by British Columbia's Centre for Disease Control shows the province has one of the worst flu rates in Canada.

8h ago

A heartbreaking look inside the most destructive fires L.A. has ever seen

Unreal scenes out of L.A. as fires continue to burn, most with zero per cent containment. Communities have been wiped out with thousands of structures burned including the homes of some high profile celebrities....

The Big Story

1h ago

Earth records hottest year ever in 2024 and the jump was so big it breached a key threshold

Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, with such a big jump that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold.

11h ago

Vancouver rents dip for second year but city remains Canada's most expensive: report

Average rents in Vancouver dipped in January, but the city remains the most expensive major centre in the country, according to new data.

8h ago

Top Stories

Flu driving spike in respiratory illness in B.C., but COVID-19 numbers low

New data shared by British Columbia's Centre for Disease Control shows the province has one of the worst flu rates in Canada.

8h ago

A heartbreaking look inside the most destructive fires L.A. has ever seen

Unreal scenes out of L.A. as fires continue to burn, most with zero per cent containment. Communities have been wiped out with thousands of structures burned including the homes of some high profile celebrities....

The Big Story

1h ago

Earth records hottest year ever in 2024 and the jump was so big it breached a key threshold

Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, with such a big jump that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold.

11h ago

Vancouver rents dip for second year but city remains Canada's most expensive: report

Average rents in Vancouver dipped in January, but the city remains the most expensive major centre in the country, according to new data.

8h ago

Most Watched Today

3:23
Flights from Los Angeles to and from YVR continuing as scheduled

Despite the deadly wildfires raging in and around Los Angeles, flight impacts at Vancouver International Airport have been relatively low. At YVR, several flights arriving from and departing to LAX are flying as scheduled.

10h ago

1:36
Trudeau claims Trump is running distraction plot with 51st state comments

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau believes Donald Trump's comments about Canada becoming the 51st state is a ploy to distract Americans from the potential impact of Trump's own tariff plan. Trudeau made the comments during an interview on CNN.

15h ago

3:56
A look at the shocking damage from the LA wildfires

Firefighters are making some progress in dousing the wildfires in Los Angeles county, but the fight is far from over. Leigh Waldman looks at some of the significant damage on the ground in California.

15h ago

2:35
Wildfires continue to burn across L.A., Canadian crews heading to help

At least five dead as thousands flee raging wildfires in Los Angeles area.

22h ago

2:46
More than 19,000 cheered on Toronto and Montreal in Vancouver’s first PWHL game

For plenty of girls filling the seats in Rogers Arena on Wednesday – raising signs to their idols flying by on skates – they saw who they could be one day: women playing ice hockey at the highest level in the continent. Kier Junos has more.

22h ago

More Videos