Here’s Who Could Replace Justin Trudeau 

OTTAWA — A former journalist who did not flinch during trade negotiations with Donald Trump. An economist and former central banker with the resume to tackle Canada’s housing crisis. And a longtime political fixture who has a rapport with Donald Trump. These are the leading candidates to replace Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation Monday in the face of growing opposition.

Trudeau said he will step down as Liberal leader as soon as his party finds his replacement.

That means he will not lead the Liberals into Canada’s next federal election, scheduled for October but far more likely to take place this spring. The prime minister also pulled the plug on the current session of Parliament, paving the way for a leadership race.

Trudeau announced his exit plan with just two weeks to go before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Trudeau has held power for three terms since 2015, but stubborn inflation, a housing affordability crisis, and voters’ desire for change tanked his popularity.

Here’s a quick look at the potential contenders who could replace the Liberal leader:

Mark Carney

former BANK GOVERNOR

The former Bank of Canada governor and economic adviser to the Liberal Party has been reaching out to Liberal MPs as he prepares to launch a leadership bid. His strength would be his economic and climate policy, an area Liberals have taken a beating on in recent years as Canada deals with a housing crisis and cost-of-living hangover following years of high inflation.

He’s considered to be one of the top contenders, but some within the party view him as not retail-politician ready. The two-time former central banker, in Canada and the U.K., has never run for office. He’s already being painted by Conservative detractors as being “just like Justin,” due to his support of Canada’s carbon price.

Chrystia Freeland

former deputy prime minister

The former deputy prime minister's backers insist she's the most viable replacement for Trudeau because she’s most recognized by Canadians and boasts a rolodex that could come in handy as Canada readies for a possible trade war with the United States.

In 2013, Trudeau handpicked the former journalist to lead his economic advisory team. She entered Parliament that year. In government, Freeland helped finalize a trade deal between Canada and the EU when she was international trade minister. As foreign affairs minister, she helped renegotiate NAFTA during Trump’s first administration. As finance minister, she spearheaded a coordinated effort among Western allies to slap massive sanctions on Russia.

But her relatability to Canadians is often lost in translation. She struggled to connect with families on cost-of-living issues by saying she cut her household's Disney+ subscription, and downplayed affordability concerns, saying in November that Canada was experiencing merely a “vibecession.”

Christy Clark

former premier of British Columbia

Last October, the former premier of British Columbia made it known she was interested in the Liberal leadership. At the time, dozens of MPs were calling on the prime minister to resign. If Trudeau were to step down as leader, Clark said: “I would want to be part of the conversation on the future direction of the Liberal Party and of the country.”

Some MPs consider Clark the right pick because Conservatives can’t tie her to nine years of Trudeau’s government in Ottawa.

Dominic LeBlanc

Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs

LeBlanc is known around Ottawa as Trudeau’s “fixer,” often picking up files, including the former Public Safety portfolio, that were once plagued with scandal. He is also developing relationships with the incoming Trump administration, having twice visited Mar-a-Lago since Donald Trump was elected — on one visit, even dining with the president-elect.

LeBlanc is a long-term friend of the PM’s. He even babysat Trudeau when they were younger. His father, former Governor General Romeo LeBlanc, was a longtime Cabinet minister under former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

He’s known for his silver-tongued communication, and his laid-back style of politicking could resonate with Canadians. But his closeness to Trudeau and his policies could hurt him if he tries to seek leadership. Additionally, LeBlanc comes from a privileged family, and the Liberals have struggled to fend off attacks from Conservatives that they’re out of touch.

He’s also not untarnished by his own scandal. In 2017, LeBlanc was found to have breached conflict-of-interest rules as fisheries minister after he approved a lucrative fishing license for a company run by a family member.

François-Philippe Champagne

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

The industry minister is from Quebec, a seat-rich province that often carries strategic importance for parties that aspire to form a majority government.

Known as Cabinet's “Energizer Bunny,” Champagne has been influential in revolutionizing Canada’s auto industry by securing deals with Stellantis, Volkswagen and Honda to help build up the country’s EV battery supply chain. He’s also been an instrumental part of Team Canada’s charm offensive in advance of a second Trump administration. For months, he met with lawmakers in the U.S. in an effort to build bridges with Democrats and Republicans.

Mélanie Joly

foreign affairs minister

The foreign affairs minister was invited by Trudeau to become an MP after her unsuccessful mayoral race in Montreal, where she had a surprisingly strong finish. The Oxford-educated lawyer and former communications firm executive is a seasoned political organizer who has maintained a high profile in Quebec — a province that has long been key to the party’s electoral success.

Joly maintains a close friendship with Sen. Lindsey Graham, and has recently visited Mar-a-Lago to discuss strengthening the Canada-U.S. border.

She also helped shape Liberal foreign policy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, amidst allegations of foreign interference in Canadian elections, and in response to India’s alleged killing of a Canadian in British Columbia. Some MPs have secretly called for her ouster as foreign minister, citing the government's inability to maintain a united caucus amid war in the Middle East.

Anita Anand

Transport minister

Now the transport minister, Anand has shot up the ranks of the Liberal Party following her first election win in 2019. As a rookie minister, Anand oversaw the distribution of Covid vaccines. She recently told POLITICO that one of the reasons she ran for public office is to ensure that Canadians see themselves in leadership positions in the country — including the office of the prime minister.

As defense minister, Anand worked to overhaul the culture of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces to address sexual harassment and misconduct. As Treasury Board president, she managed the government’s purse strings, and worked to dismantle systemic barriers within the public service and to change workplace culture.