Toronto: Karina Gould, a Member of Parliament from Ontario, has joined the race to become the new leader of the Liberal Party and possibly the next Prime Minister of Canada. At just 37 years old, she is the youngest candidate so far. Gould announced her decision on Saturday in a video and also launched a campaign website. She said, “It’s time for a new generation of leadership. I’m here for Canada and for you today, tomorrow, and for years to come.”
Gould also pointed out that many Canadians no longer trust the Liberal Party, saying, “Right now, Canadians have lost faith in our party, and we have to earn back their trust.” Other cabinet members who thought about running have decided not to join in, including Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
Recently, former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and former central banker Mark Carney announced their own candidacies. Freeland, who was also Finance Minister, said on Friday, “I’m running to fight for Canada.” She plans to officially launch her campaign on Sunday. Carney announced his bid on Thursday, stating, “I’m in,” and explained that he believes Canada can become even better than it already is. Carney, 59, previously served as the Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England.
The Liberal Party leadership race was triggered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to resign. The process of selecting a new leader will be complete by March 9, giving the new leader a short time to prepare for Parliament, which resumes on March 24. Candidates must declare by January 23, and people wanting to vote need to register by January 27.
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