Canada’s Liberal Party to Elect New Leader and Prime Minister-Designate
The Liberal Party of Canada will hold a vote to elect a new leader and prime minister-designate on Sunday, according to Anadolu Ajansi (AA). The new prime minister will inherit a country that could be on the road to economic disaster if United States (US) President Donald Trump follows through with his 25 per cent tariffs on imported Canadian goods, arguably the worst crisis Canada has faced since World War II.
The Inheriting Leader
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, facing rebellious party members who saw the ruling Liberal government and Trudeau plummeting in public polls, announced he would stay on until the party voted in a new leader, then walk away after winning three elections over 10 years. The news that the deeply unpopular Trudeau was leaving resulted in a dramatic rebound in public polls. They rebounded and cut deeply into the double-digit lead that was enjoyed by the opposition Conservative Party.
The Candidates
The leader will be chosen from a field that includes the former head of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney; former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland; ex-Cabinet minister Karina Gould and Frank Baylis, a former Member of Parliament. The polls suggest Carney, who has never entered politics, is the front-runner.
Voting Process
People who have registered as Liberals can vote. Voting is done online, and about 400,000 people had signed up to vote as of January 30. Voting closes at 3 pm local time (1900GMT) Sunday. There are 343 Liberal ridings (districts) across the breadth of Canada, and each candidate is awarded points based on the number of votes received. If no one receives more than 50 per cent of the overall points on the first ballot, the one who received the least number is eliminated. That person’s points are then distributed to the other candidates based on their performance in each riding.
The Winner
The winner will be announced later Sunday. Trump and his tariff-inducing trade war will be the number one priority.
Conclusion
The election of a new leader and prime minister-designate in Canada is a significant event, coming at a time when the country is facing a major economic crisis. The chosen leader will have to navigate the challenges of the trade war with the US and other pressing issues, while also addressing the concerns of the Canadian people.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are the candidates running for the Liberal leadership?
The candidates include Mark Carney, former head of the Bank of Canada; Chrystia Freeland, former Deputy Prime Minister; Karina Gould, ex-Cabinet minister; and Frank Baylis, a former Member of Parliament. - How many people have signed up to vote in the Liberal leadership election?
About 400,000 people had signed up to vote as of January 30. - How will the winner be determined?
The winner will be determined through a voting process, with points awarded to each candidate based on the number of votes received. If no one receives more than 50 per cent of the overall points on the first ballot, the one who received the least number is eliminated, and their points are distributed to the other candidates based on their performance in each riding.