The Liberal Party of Canada has announced it will choose the next leader of the party and Canada’s next Prime Minister on March 9.
“After a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” said Sachit Mehra, President of the Liberal Party of Canada in a release on the party’s website. “This is a time for Liberals across the country to exchange ideas and engage in thoughtful debate to shape the future of our party and our country – and I encourage all Liberals to get involved in this exciting moment for our party.”
The release said the National Board of Directors formally met on Jan. 9 to outline the rules of the upcoming leadership race.
It comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned on Jan. 6 amid internal strife in the party. Trudeau faced growing calls from his own members of parliament and caucuses of Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election,” he said during a speech on Monday. “And it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
The Liberal Party said by its constitution, the National Board made the following decisions:
- The leadership vote will conclude on March 9: The new leader will be announced on the same day, and the deadline to become a registered liberal and to be eligible to vote in the leadership race is Jan. 27. It must post the registration procedures for the vote 27 days before the date of the vote.
- The entrance fee for a candidate to join the leadership race will be $350,000: A contestant must declare their participation by Jan. 23.
- Suzanne Cowan, the past party president, and Marc-Etienne Vien, LPC(Q) director, will co-chair the leadership vote.
- MP Patricia Lattanzio and John Herhalt, chair of the Federal Liberal Agency of Canada, will co-chair the Leadership Expense Committee.
The National Board also updated the requirements for becoming and maintaining status as a registered Liberal.
To be a Registered Liberal, a person must:
- Be at least fourteen (14) years of age;
- Support the purposes of the party;
- Be a Canadian citizen, have status under the Indian Act, or be a permanent resident of Canada.
- Not be a member of any other federal political party in Canada; and
- While registered as a Liberal, not have publicly declared an intention to be a candidate for election to the House of Commons other than as a candidate of the Party.
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