The race for the Liberal leadership is intensifying with notable candidates emerging and others stepping back
Ottawa: The Liberal leadership race is really heating up. With the election of a new leader on the horizon, some big names are stepping forward. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is expected to announce his candidacy soon. His team has hinted at his plans, and it looks like he’s ready to jump in.
Then there’s Christy Clark, the former premier of British Columbia. She’s also thinking about running. Last week, she told CBC Radio that she’s seriously considering it, but she’s not thrilled about the tight timeline for the race.
Interestingly, several cabinet ministers have decided not to run. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon and Transport Minister Anita Anand both announced over the weekend that they’re out. They’re joining Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, who want to focus on their current roles instead.
Meanwhile, the Liberal leadership race in Quebec is kicking off today. The provincial party is trying to regain its footing after some tough years. They faced their worst defeat in over 60 years in the 2018 election, and things didn’t get better in 2022. Now, they hold just 19 out of 125 seats in the legislature and are looking to win back support from francophone voters outside Montreal.
Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director of the Quebec Community Groups Network, suggests the party should lean into its traditional image of economic stewardship while framing minority rights as essential for provincial prosperity.
Former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez seems to be the front-runner, but he’s got some baggage from his time in Trudeau’s government. He’s not alone, though; one-time Montreal mayor Denis Coderre is also in the mix.
Switching gears, Saskatchewan’s new provincial police force is starting to interview Mounties as it gears up to launch this year. Critics are worried about job poaching, but Chief Marshal Robert Cameron says they’re getting interest from across the country.
In Edmonton, over 3,000 school support workers are set to strike today due to a wage dispute. The Canadian Union of Public Employees is leading the charge, and picket lines will be up at several schools. Many of these workers haven’t seen a raise in a decade, and the average salary is around $34,500 a year.
Lastly, legal arguments are kicking off for four teens involved in the Ken Lee case in Toronto. They’re facing trial for their alleged role in a deadly attack on a homeless man last December. It’s a serious situation, and the trials are set to unfold this month and in May.
