Fri Jan 10 06:59:19 UTC 2025: ## Liberals Set March 9th Leadership Vote as Trudeau Steps Down

**OTTAWA** – The Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9th, the party announced Thursday, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation announcement earlier this week. The move comes as the Liberals face dismal poll numbers ahead of the 2025 federal election.

Trudeau, who will remain Prime Minister until a successor is chosen, cited pressure from within the party due to their declining popularity. The party’s National Board of Directors finalized the rules for the leadership race Thursday evening. Potential candidates must pay a C$350,000 (US$242,920) entrance fee, and the deadline to register as a voting Liberal member is January 27th.

Speculation is already swirling around potential candidates. The *Globe and Mail* reports that former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney are considering bids, while the involvement of Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne remains uncertain.

The party’s decision to hold the leadership vote on March 9th means Trudeau will remain at the helm through the prorogued parliamentary session, which ends March 24th. While the next election isn’t due until October 2025, polls suggest a significant Conservative victory is likely, regardless of the Liberal Party’s leader. The Liberals are currently facing voter dissatisfaction over issues such as rising living costs and a housing shortage. This leadership race will be crucial to the party’s chances of regaining public support before the next election.

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