On Friday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly declared she would not seek to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberal Party. Her primary reason, according to her, was focusing on the threat that growing US tariffs presented, particularly with president-elect Donald Trump at the helm.
The second senior minister after Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc to decide against a run, Joly is one of the most senior members of the Trudeau cabinet. She said she couldn’t dedicate the time she needed to devote to a run given her existing duties, as the Canadian government readies itself for what could be the consequences of a Trump move in tariffs.
“The reality is I can’t do both,” Joly said, highlighting her responsibility to ensure Canada is ready should tariffs be applied. Her decision came just days ahead of a pivotal meeting to consider possible countermeasures in the face of the trade threat.
Trudeau further solidifies his position by announcing Joly as his deputy, further trying to ease party tensions amid dropping poll numbers. The Canadian leader had previously mentioned that he will step down once the Liberal Party selects a new leader, scheduled for March 9. As Trudeau’s ratings remain low, the Liberals now trail the opposition Conservatives in polls.
Several key players in Trudeau’s cabinet are allegedly considering a shot at the top job, with former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney thought to be prime contenders. Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Transport Minister Anita Anand, and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson are also considered candidates. The scramble for the Liberal Party’s next leader heats up as the party readies for a general election that could happen as early as May.
