Canada’s Liberal Party to elect new leader and prime minister-designate amid economic crisis

OTTAWA — The Liberal Party of Canada will elect a new leader and prime minister-designate on Sunday, selecting from a field of four candidates.

The incoming prime minister will face an immediate economic challenge, as US President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian imports threaten to push the country toward economic turmoil.

The potential trade war has been described as one of the most severe crises Canada has faced since World War II.

Current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has led the Liberal government for a decade and won three elections, announced his decision to step down amid growing dissatisfaction within his party and plummeting public approval ratings.

However, after confirming his departure, the Liberals experienced a surge in support, significantly narrowing the opposition Conservative Party’s previous double-digit lead in polls.

The new Liberal leader will automatically become Canada’s next prime minister following a brief transition of power.

A federal election is expected soon after, as a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons could be triggered at any time after March 9.

The four candidates vying for leadership include former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, former Cabinet Minister Karina Gould, and ex-Member of Parliament Frank Baylis. Carney, despite never having held elected office, is considered the front-runner in the race, according to recent polls.

The leadership vote is open to registered Liberal Party members, with approximately 400,000 individuals signing up by Jan. 30. Voting is conducted online and will close at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (1900 GMT) on Sunday.

Canada's 343 Liberal ridings (electoral districts) each allocate points based on the distribution of votes. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the total points on the first ballot, the contender with the lowest tally is eliminated. Their points are then redistributed to the remaining candidates based on their performance in each riding.

The final results and the next Liberal leader will be announced later on Sunday.

As the party transitions to new leadership, navigating Trump’s proposed tariffs and the resulting economic fallout will be the incoming prime minister’s top priority. — Agencies