Endorsements start rolling in for Liberal leadership contestants from caucus

Liberal MPs, especially those who for months had called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation both publicly and behind closed doors, have started backing two of his potential successors. 

At least 30 caucus members have weighed in, most endorsing either former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney or former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, the presumed front-runners in the race. 

Carney held his leadership launch event in Edmonton on Thursday, while a source told CBC News that Freeland would launch her campaign on Sunday in Toronto. 

"The party has to … rebrand, and take a step back from the prime minister," said Wayne Long, MP for Saint John-Rothesay in New Brunswick, in an interview with CBC News. 

Long was one of the earliest dissidents in caucus, asking Trudeau to step down in an email back in June 2024.

However, he said he hadn't made up his mind about who should replace the departing prime minister until he had a more than 30-minute phone conversation with Carney on Tuesday evening. 

"Mark Carney has experience guiding Canada through a financial crisis. He's got experience guiding the U.K. through Brexit," Long said, alluding to what he considered Carney's strength on the economy file in his previous jobs at the central banks of both countries. 

'I feel a sense of renewed hope'

Long said Freeland, who resigned abruptly from cabinet as finance minister in mid-December, triggering the Liberals' current leadership crisis, is too close to Trudeau to signal a change for voters. 

"I feel a sense of renewed hope that we have somebody like Mark Carney to face the existential threat that our country is facing with the United States," Sophie Chatel, the MP for Pontiac, in Quebec, told CBC News. 

Chatel said she sent an email to registered Liberals in her riding asking for their feedback and spoke to her riding association before making up her mind on Sunday. 

The other MPs who have already publicly indicated support for Carney include Robert Morrissey from Prince Edward Island;  Sameer Zuberi from Quebec; George Chahal from Alberta; Brendan Hanley from Yukon; Ontario's Ali Ehsassi, Francesco Sorbara, Salma Zahid, Shafqat Ali and Maninder Sidhu and British Columbia's Patrick Weiler, Randeep Sarai and Sukh Dhaliwal. 

Freeland has garnered support from the only two cabinet members who have made public endorsements in the race so far. 

Health Minister Mark Holland, who represents Ajax in Ontario, said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday that Freeland has "faced Trump. Renegotiated NAFTA. Stood up to Putin." 

Holland pointed out that he has known Freeland since 2013, when she left her job as a journalist to run in a byelection.

"Going door to door with her … gave me a lot of hope for our party," he said.

Diane Lebouthillier, minister of fisheries and oceans and MP for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, said in a statement on X, "We are at a critical moment for the future of our country. Chrystia Freeland has always had Quebec and the French language at heart. Having worked with her for over nine years, I can tell you that she is the best person to embody the change we need."

"I ultimately believe that there's no one in the House of Commons today … that understands the importance of trade and that has negotiated as many deals as she has," said Kevin Lamoureux, MP for Winnipeg North, in a video posted on Instagram. 

Freeland's other public supporters include Rob Oliphant, James Maloney, Leah Taylor Roy, Julie Dabrusin and Lloyd Longfield from Ontario; Alexandra Mendes and Anthony Housefather from Quebec; Ken McDonald from Newfoundland and Labrador; Lena Diab from Nova Scotia; Ken Hardie from B.C.; Ben Carr from Manitoba and former tourism minister Randy Boissonnault from Alberta, who left his cabinet post amid controversy surrounding questions about false claims of Métis heritage.

Most cabinet members still silent

A majority of ministers, however, have not weighed in on who they might support in a leadership bid.

Some replied to emails from CBC News stating they have not chosen a candidate yet. Some said they want to wait until contenders officially enter the race or see them campaign before they decide.

Asked at a news conference on Wednesday, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said his focus was on the ongoing trade dispute with the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump.

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Immigration Minister Marc Miller joked he and McGuinty would run as co-leaders, before explaining he had not made up his mind yet, either.

Liberal House leader Karina Gould, who is expected to launch a leadership campaign of her own this weekend, has one declared caucus supporter so far: Ontario MP Pam Damoff.  

Ottawa MP Chandra Arya, former Montreal MP and businessman Frank Baylis and Cape Breton, N.S., MP Jaime Battiste, who have all declared they are running for leadership, have yet to collect public caucus endorsements.