Who’s Backing Who in the Liberal Party Leadership Race?

A Liberal Party of Canada logo is shown on a giant screen as a technician looks on during day one of the party's biennial convention in Montreal on Feb. 20, 2014. The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes

As more contenders join the race to become the next prime minister and Liberal leader, two candidates have garnered the most endorsements from the current caucus.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney launched his bid last week, and former cabinet ministers Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould announced theirs over the weekend. All of them were flanked by members of the Liberal caucus.

As of Jan. 20, a total of six candidates have officially entered the leadership race or announced their intention to run. The other candidates in the race, Ontario Liberal MP Chandra Arya, Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste, and businessman and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis, have yet to receive major endorsements.

Freeland, the former deputy prime minister and finance minister, has received the endorsement of at least 25 MPs and ministers, including Justice Minister Arif Virani and Health Minister Mark Holland.

Carney has gotten the endorsements of at least 21 MPs, including that of Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.

And former Government House Leader Karina Gould has been endorsed by at least two MPs.

Freeland’s Endorsements

Freeland, who resigned from cabinet on Dec. 16, officially announced she would be running to replace Trudeau on Jan. 17. Two days before her expected announcement, Holland said in a statement that she had his “full support” to become leader of the party, citing her experience with renegotiating NAFTA, dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and serving as deputy prime minister and finance minister.

The same day, former Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said he hoped Freeland would become the Liberal Party’s new leader. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also came out in support of Freeland on Jan. 16, saying he was “100 percent confident that she is committed to bringing our party back to the center and that her campaign will illustrate this for all Canadians.”

During Freeland’s official campaign launch on Jan. 20, Justice Minister Virani was seen in attendance, as were Ontario Liberal MPs such as Yvan Baker, Jean Yip, and Rob Oliphant.

Former Liberal cabinet ministers Allan Rock and Wayne Easter have also thrown their support behind Freeland, as well as Quebec Liberal caucus chair Stéphane Lauzon.

Carney’s Endorsement

In endorsing Carney, Joly  said on Jan. 19 that he brought “unparalleled economic experience” to the race, and has a “clear vision for a better and greener future for us and a clear plan to implement it.”

The minister from Quebec is known to have a large network within the Liberal Party’s base in the province. When Joly announced she wouldn’t run for party leader on Jan. 10, she said she would use her organizing capacity to support a candidate.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan also endorsed Carney on Jan. 18, saying his accomplishments are “known the world over” and that he embodies “some of the best attributes of Canada.”

B.C. Liberal MPs like Patrick Weiler and Parm Bains have endorsed Carney, as has Ontario MP Francesco Sorbara, Alberta MP George Chahal, and New Brunswick MP Wayne Long. When Carney officially launched his candidacy in Edmonton on Jan. 16, he was joined by B.C. Liberal MPs Randeep Sarai and Sukh Daliwal, as well as Yukon MP Branden Hanley and Ontario MP Shafqat Ali.

Additionally, businessman and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg, former Justice Minister David Lametti, and former Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan have endorsed Carney.

Others

Gould, who also launched her leadership campaign on Jan. 19, has received the endorsements of Liberal MPs Pam Damoff and Lise Hepfner, as well as former Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps.

Former NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has spoken positively of Baylis in an opinion piece for CTV News, saying he is a successful businessman, fluent in French, and “the only Black candidate” in the race.

A recent Jan. 13 Leger poll found that Carney is the current favourite among party supporters to lead the Liberals with 27 percent support, followed by 21 percent for Freeland, 3 percent for Arya, and 1 percent for Gould.

Candidates have until Jan. 23 to declare their intention to run and have to pay a $350,000 entry fee. The Liberal Party says the new leader will be chosen on March 9.