“While I am extremely grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from my caucus colleagues and Liberal activists across the country, I have decided not to run in the next election. race for the leadership of the PLC,” he wrote in a statement published on his social networks.
The federal Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs instead wishes to focus on his current mandate, in particular because of the arrival of Donald Trump in power and his tariff threat which could affect the Canadian economy.
“Serving Canadians is an immense privilege […] Canada finds itself at a crucial turning point in its relationship with its most important ally and trading partner, the United States,” he continued in his statement. “The threat these tariffs pose to the economic well-being of our nation and to the livelihoods of countless Canadian families cannot be underestimated. […] it requires nothing less than my full attention.”
SEE ALSO | Very brief Liberal leadership race poses challenges
Mr. LeBlanc also plans to run in the next federal election in the riding of Beauséjour, New Brunswick.
It’s a disappointment for Liberal MPs Judy Sgro and Ken McDonald, who was one of the first to call for Justin Trudeau’s resignation. Mr. McDonald said, before the start of a national caucus meeting, that he would like an “interim leader” to be chosen by cabinet pending a vote by all LPC members.
Remember that, for the moment, the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, has officially shared his interest in entering the race for leadership of the PLC in order to succeed Justin Trudeau . “The minister is still considering all his options, and everything is still on the table, but he is indeed interested in the race,” Mr. Champagne’s office told Noovo Info on Tuesday.
Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney is seriously considering running there as well.
For her part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, exercised caution. She is waiting to see what rules will be established by the party for Trudeau’s succession, she said Wednesday before the caucus.
Some caucus members, including ministers Jonathan Wilkinson, Steven MacKinnon and Karina Gould, are responding to calls from the party’s rank and file and are seriously considering a run for the party leadership.
Others, including Chrystia Freeland, Anita Anand and François-Philippe Champagne, are doing their own outreach with other MPs and party members to gauge support for their possible candidacy.
Liberal MPs are meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday for the first time since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would resign. The national caucus meeting, which is to take place in person and online, was initially scheduled to last six hours to discuss the rules of the leadership race, the upcoming schedule and expected expenses. Developing these rules could take several days once the committee is formed.
SEE ALSO | Departure of Trudeau: the autopsy of the fall of the Canadian Prime Minister
With information from The Canadian Press
Related News :