Former MP Frank Baylis Emerges as First Candidate in Race for Liberal Party Leadership

Former Liberal MP Frank Baylis. House of Commons

Former Liberal MP and businessman Frank Baylis is the first person out of the gate to confirm his candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party. His unofficial announcement came just hours after the resignation announcement of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau held a Jan. 6 press conference outside his official residence, Rideau Cottage, to announce he will step down as prime minister and Liberal leader after a replacement is chosen.

Baylis told The Hill Times he intends to have his name on the ballot to replace Trudeau.

“I intend to run, but I’ll formally announce when the rules are out,” he said. “But, yes, it’s my intention to run. I am running.”

Baylis represented the Montreal riding of Pierrefonds–Dollard, Que. from 2015 to 2019 but chose not to run in the 2021 election.

He sold medical device firm Baylis Medical Company to Boston Scientific for US$1.75-billion in 2022 and currently serves as the executive chairman of Baylis Medical Technologies, a separate entity that was not part of the sale. The company is based in Mississauga, Ont.

So far, he remains the only one to have confirmed his candidacy publicly, but there are others whose names have come up as possible contenders for the role.

Two other caucus outsiders that have been mentioned as potential candidates are former B.C. Premier Christy Clark and former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney.

Recent polls have placed former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland as the favourite to take over from Trudeau, but she is not the only elected official thought to be a potential candidate.

Dominic LeBlanc, who was named finance minister after Freeland resigned from cabinet last month, has been mentioned as a possible contender, as has Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Transport Minister Anita Anand.

Trudeau was asked during his resignation announcement if current cabinet ministers could compete for the Liberal leadership while continuing their roles on the front bench, but he did not give a definitive answer.

While there are no regulations to prevent cabinet ministers from pursuing the leadership role, they are generally expected to resign from their positions to concentrate on their campaigns.

Liberal Party President Sachit Mehra said he will get the ball rolling this week for the leadership race to begin.

“In accordance with the Liberal Party’s Constitution, I will call a meeting of the national board to be held this week to begin the nationwide democratic process of selecting a new leader of the party,” he wrote in a Jan. 6 social media post.

Trudeau Resignation Announcement

Trudeau’s resignation announcement came after internal party turmoil following Freeland’s Dec. 16 resignation as both finance minister and deputy prime minister. Her resignation letter criticizing Trudeau’s policies combined with dismal poll numbers led a number of MPs to call for the prime minister to step down. Those calls grew over the Christmas break, with more MPs speaking out against Trudeau’s continued leadership.

During his resignation press conference, Trudeau said he had asked Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament. Simon agreed and suspended all parliamentary proceedings until March 24.

The move requested by Trudeau prevents opposition parties from toppling the government with a non-confidence vote. It also delays an election until at least spring, giving the Liberals time to choose a new leader and attempt to drum up support at a time when the party is low in the polls, trailing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives by at least 20 points.