Karen Ludwig has announced she’ll be the candidate for the Liberal Party in the newly re-drawn riding of Saint John-Saint Croix.
She was acclaimed, but it isn’t her first time in federal politics. Ludwig won the riding in 2015, representing the area formerly known as New Brunswick Southwest.
“What’s taking place south of our border that’s impacting us today, in particular with the Trump tariffs on Tuesday, all three T’s, it was my calling to come back,” she said in an interview with The Courier. “And knowing that there was going to be a new leader really was reassuring in terms of taking that next step.”
She said she has met with leadership hopeful and former governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney – who she said she supports as the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
“I think the same way for leadership. I think at this time, who was the best person to lead us through this that has the experience? I believe it’s Mark Carney,” she said.
The riding of Southwest New Brunswick has been largely Conservative since 1997, only flipped Liberal once, when Ludwig ran, but the riding has an ongoing history shared between both parties representing the riding.
There are 10 electoral districts federally in New Brunswick, six are currently represented by Liberal MPs.
Richard Bragdon, Rob Moore, John Williamson, and Jake Stewart are the MPs representing Conservatives in New Brunswick – in the ridings of Tobique—Mactaquac, Fundy Royal, New Brunswick Southwest, and Miramichi-Grand Lake respectively.
Ludwig said it is a difficult time to step back into any level of politics.
WATCH: CHCO-TV NewsBreak26 with Nathalie Sturgeon: Karen Ludwig runs for Saint John-Saint Croix
“It’s difficult enough to get a female to run,” she said. “It’s much more difficult to get a female to stay, let alone return at this time. So, I’m counting on New Brunswickers to support me. I’m hoping for a clean campaign, and we do need more civility in the house, and we need to be protecting our democracy.”
Ludwig believes her experience with free trade agreements, helping to create and implement USMCA, which was succeeded by NAFTA, is critical as Canada deals with ongoing tariffs and threats to Canadian sovereignty by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“It’s really a time when all Canadians, all levels of government need to stand together to be unified and for our sovereignty,” she said.
Current MP John Williamson said he welcomed Ludwig to the race but did take aim at her recording in the House of Commons, particularly her vote against Bill 61 – known as the No New Pipeline Bill.
“This is going to be a good election, a great debate and I welcome Karen and all other candidates to join,” he said.
The Liberal Party of Canada is slated to select a new leader on March 9 and parliament is expected to return on March 14 – and while an election could be called early, it is legislated to take place in October.
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