Trudeau Replacement Update

Here's an update on the names being bandied around to take over for Trudeau to lead the Liberals into the inevitable spring election.

FRONT RUNNERS

Mark Carney, never previously run for office, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. Rumour is that he is going to announce his candidacy next week. He is the favourite because he is the absolute most establishment candidate that can be imagined. And what is more centre-left moderate than picking the most establishment candidate possible at a time of extreme anti-establishment anger.

Chrystia Freeland, the trigger for Trudeau's resignation - former Deputy Minister and former Minister of Finance. She's a pretty good pick too - as she would represent a complete and total continuation of Trudeau, and what would be more centre-left than picking a candidate that most represents continuity with a deeply unpopular incumbent. I guess she's hoping that her shivving of Trudeau when he tried to demote her might give her enough space to be viable - but that's crazy naive.

NOT RUNNING

Dominic LeBlanc, the current Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs who also picked up Freeland's jobs as Deputy PM and Minister of Finance. Not running.

Melanie Joly, our Minister of Foreign Affairs  - with an increased profile with all the foreign affairs going on. Not running.

Anita Anand, former Minister of Defense and current Minister of Transport - not running.

LONGSHOTS

Christy Clark, former premier of BC - who resigned in 2017. Her party, the BC Liberals, was left so screwed over by her term that they no longer exist as a party, but solely as a target for irregular fundraising practices. That party rebranded for the latest election this past year knowing that the brand was toxic. They still failed to win a seat and in fact went on to endorse Conservative candidates they were notionally running against. Still, that all happened after she retired from politics eight years ago. This will be an uphill slog if she decides to run, a decision she will be making this coming week.

Karina Gould, the Liberal House Leader.  The youngest person in contention at the age of 37. Says she is considering a run. As House Leader, she's spent the past year defending Trudeau's stubborn refusal to resign, which isn't going to help her at all.