Longtime cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc will not be running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberals. He announced his decision in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday.
LeBlanc — who’s been an MP since 2000 and ran for the leadership in 2008 before dropping out to support Michael Ignatieff — wrote he is “enormously grateful” for those who’ve encouraged him to run.
“While I am extremely grateful for the encouragement and the expressions of support I have received from caucus colleagues and Liberals across the country, I have decided not to be a candidate in the Liberal Party of Canada’s upcoming leadership race,” he wrote.
Trudeau announced Monday he’s stepping down from the party’s leadership, but staying on as prime minister until a new leader is selected through what he called a “robust, nationwide, competitive process.”
Liberal MPs, meanwhile, are meeting in Ottawa today for the first time since Trudeau announced he’s stepping down.
They’re expected to discuss the upcoming leadership race.
Other longtime cabinet ministers, including former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, and Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand, are also on the shortlist of possible contenders.
Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon told reporters on his way into the meeting he’s “absolutely considering running” for the leadership.
MacKinnon was first elected in 2015 and has been a member of cabinet since 2017. He highlighted Wednesday the importance for him of having a bilingual Liberal leader, but wouldn’t say whether potential candidates who are not fully bilingual should be disqualified from the race.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is also considering a leadership run, a source close to him told CTV News on Monday.
When asked about his plans on his way into Wednesday’s caucus meeting, Wilkinson told reporters he hasn’t yet made a decision, but that he’s considering it.
“I am continuing to have discussions with my colleagues,” Wilkinson said. “At the end of the day, I want to ensure that this is a race that is a robust race, that discusses important issues.”
Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney is also actively considering throwing his hat in the ring, writing in a statement this week he’ll be doing so “closely with (his) family over the coming few days.”
And former B.C. premier Christy Clark has expressed an interest in a potential leadership bid.
Ministers say they’re focused on Trump
LeBlanc currently heads up the finance and intergovernmental affairs portfolios, and wrote in his statement he believes the “best way for (him) to serve” Canada is to focus on those files, as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump prepares to head back to the White House in a week and a half.
Trump has threatened to impose blanket 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Canada until it stops the flow of illegal drugs and migrants over the border. He’s also doubled down on a comment he made in late November about Canada becoming the 51st state, saying at a press conference on Tuesday he’s open to using “economic force” to that end.
LeBlanc said he plans to run in the next federal election, under the party’s new leader, in his New Brunswick riding of Beauséjour.
Joly — who in an interview with CTV Question Period last month would not rule out leadership aspirations after a profile in the New York Times labelled her as Trudeau’s “possible successor” — said Wednesday she’s reflecting on whether to enter the race, and has been meeting with her “core team.”
“In the context of my reflection, of course, I very much know that I’m the minister of foreign affairs at a time where it’s extremely difficult with the American administration, the incoming one, and so that’s why I’ll continue my reflection,” she said, adding she is considering how she can have the “biggest impact” in the current Canada-U.S. context.
With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur, Rachel Hanes, and Stephanie Ha