Liberal backbencher vows to dump the monarchy if elected leader
Chandra Arya is first sitting MP to launch a leadership campaign
A Liberal backbencher is promising to make Canada "a sovereign republic" if elected by his party to replace Prime Minster Justin Trudeau.
On Thursday, Ottawa MP Chandra Arya announced he'll be seeking the top job — making him the first caucus member to declare their intentions.
In a statement, Arya said he wants to make "Canada a sovereign republic," which would require replacing the monarchy as the head of state.
"It's time for Canada to take full control of its destiny," he wrote in a statement.
Arya said he also wants to "a lead a small, more efficient government with a cabinet selected on merit and not on [diversity, equity and inclusion] quotas."
"We are facing significant structural problems that haven't been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices," he said.
His multi-page announcement includes a list of policy proposals, including increasing the retirement age by two years in 2040, introducing a citizenship-based tax system and recognizing Palestine as a state.
Arya was first elected by Nepean voters in 2015 and has been a backbench MP ever since.
He hasn't always been in line with the government's policies. In 2023, he sponsored a petition calling on the Liberals to reconsider plans to introduce a foreign agent registry in response to serious allegations of foreign interference in Canadian politics. The registry legislation has since passed, but it's not yet up and running.
His ties to India have raised eyebrows amid worsening diplomatic relations.
Last summer, Arya travelled to India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A statement from Global Affairs Canada at the time said Arya "travelled to India on his own initiative and was not representing the Government of Canada."
His August 2024 visit came nearly a year after Trudeau accused "agents of the Indian government" of carrying out the fatal shooting of a Canadian Sikh leader.
"I am aware that some (mostly religious) groups have been attacking me because of my religion, and I have nothing more to add," he said in a statement, in response to those criticisms.
Liberal executives meeting
The list of people lining up to replace Trudeau continues to shift as top Liberal brass meet Thursday to consider their next move. Many potential candidates say they want to know the rules of the campaign before committing.
After a frenzy of formal and informal meetings this week following Trudeau's decision to step down, the Liberal Party's national council will gather to try to hammer out how to run a race to find the next party leader — and Canada's next prime minister — against a ticking clock.
As an executive member, Trudeau will be in attendance, sources told Radio-Canada.
While many MPs got their way by getting Trudeau out the door, his decision to wait until early January gives the party little runway to write the rules for a campaign, hold a leadership contest and then pivot to an increasingly inevitable spring election.
Chandra joins businessman and former MP Frank Baylis on the list of people who have said they publicly plan to run.
A number of cabinet insiders said they are reflecting. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon have all said they are considering a run.
Former central banker Mark Carney has also said he's interested. Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. premier Christy Clark and House Leader Karina Gould are said to be gathering supporters, too.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he would not seek the top job — although some MPs are urging him to reconsider.
"I don't think it's closed. I think if we can get a 'draft Dominic' movement it just may happen," said Liberal MP Judy Sgro.
MPs call to change rules around who can vote
Liberal MPs who gathered in Ottawa on Wednesday for a national caucus meeting said they were keen to learn what governing rules the executive will set out, including whether cabinet ministers will have to vacate their portfolios if they want to run and what the party will do to confront foreign interference threats.
Currently, non-Canadian residents are allowed to vote in Liberal Party riding nomination and leadership contests, which have been called a "gateway" for foreign interference.
A growing contingent of MPs urged the party executive to heed those warning.
There are other details the party will need to sort out, like the entrance fee amount and when the ballots will be counted
Toronto-area MP Rob Oliphant said he'd like to see a leader in place by the first weekend in March.
"I think we can do it and it be fast," he said on his way into Wednesday's hours-long caucus meeting.
Ottawa-area MP Yasir Naqvi stressed while the planning is hastened, integrity needs to be upheld.
"We need to make sure that the process is credible, that the process is fair and transparent," he said. "We need to ensure that Canadians have confidence in the process."
Whoever wins the Liberal race will become Canada's next prime minister, although based on the party's polling it could be a short-lived time in office.
According to the CBC's Poll Tracker, the Conservatives have opened a 24-point lead over the Liberals.
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