Sunday March 9, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS – OTTAWA (reporting from VICTORIA, BC) | Posted at 3:38 pm PT | Updated 7:28 pm
Political news by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The next prime minister of Canada is Mark Carney. [See separate article about his acceptance speech, to come]
This comes after his win today as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
The vote results for the four candidates show this result: Mark Carney 85.9% (131,674 votes); Chrystia Freeland 8.0%; Karina Gould 3.2%; and Frank Baylis 3.0%.
The number of vote points required to win (in a ranked ballot process) was 17,151. Carney won on the first ballot with 29,457 points.
Voting closed at 3 pm Eastern (12 noon Pacific) and was announced around 6:22 pm Eastern (3:22 pm Pacific). A total of 151,899 ballots were cast by the 400,000 eligible Liberal Party of Canada members.
Digital challenges for some voters using the online app has been blamed for some voters not casting a vote.
The announcement was held at the Rogers Centre in Ottawa. The event was televised on CBC and CTV and livestreamed by the Liberal Party in social media (with as many as 107,200 viewers toward the end).
Carney emerged from a four-way race:
These four are now in a way ‘tied at the hip’ as Carney will need to quickly form a cabinet in the midst of this country’s ongoing economic difficulties resulting from external pressures from the United States.
Freeland and Gould are both long-time members of parliament (Freeland for 12 years, Gould for 10 years) but they were not in cabinet during the now-concluded leadership race. Baylis was an MP in Montreal for four years during Trudeau’s first term.
Twenty-six of the previous Trudeau cabinet backed Freeland during her leadership campaign but Carney had the backing of over 90 members of the Liberal caucus. Freeland won’t have too much weight to throw around for a top cabinet seat in a Carney cabinet; she drew the ire of many in the party for stabbing Trudeau in the back with her manner of resignation in December 2024.
Carney had raised $3,497,367 for his leadership campaign (21,847 donors); Karina Gould had raised $363,147 for her campaign (2,393 donors); Freeland had raised $361,398 (1,227 donors); and Baylis raised $349,753 (484 donors).
For his calm, cool approach and business ideas during the campaign, Baylis may earn a good spot in the Carney cabinet.
Quotes from today:
“The man who challenges us does not know our history or understand our values. We are builders, fighters and peacekeepers … and a compassionate people.” He called for “confidence and optimism” as Canada moves forward. ~ Frank Baylis
“Canadians are ready to stand and fight for Canada. Canada will never be the 51st state.” ~ Chrystia Freeland
“I am inspired by you, the members of our party. You are here to stand up for Canada. We are the party of health care, of the Charter, of the maple leaf, of multiculturalism, of reconciliation, the party that fights for climate change, and national child care.” ~ Karina Gould
“The stakes have never been higher. This party has more than quadrupled its membership in the past two months. United with one purpose, which is to make Canada even greater for all Canadians.” ~ Mark Carney
In his speech ahead of the vote results, Carney said he would be proud to stand with his colleague Karina Gould but did not mention the other candidates.
Trudeau outgoing:
Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has served as Liberal leader from 2012 into 2025; he has been Canada’s 23rd prime minister from November 2015 to March 2025.
“Liberals are dedicated to making this country even better. We have a responsibility to ensure that Canada stays the best country on earth,” said Trudeau today in his last speech as prime minister.
“We know that standing up for everyone’s fundamental rights is the only way to protect our freedom,” said Trudeau today, adding that no one should be left behind. A strong economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand, he reminded. He promoted a shared prosperous future through reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
“When you try to count us out is when we Liberals show our true mettle,” said Trudeau to fellow Liberals today. “Your country needs you maybe more than ever before. Liberals will meet this moment,” he said.
“This is a nation-defining moment. Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given. None of those happened by accident. None will continue without effort. It takes hope and hard work,” said the outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Let us prove our love of country.”
“It is the Liberal party that gave us the red maple leaf flag,” said former prime minister Jean Chretien in a speech following Trudeau’s speech, which Trudeau listened to in the front row with his family. Chretien thanked Trudeau for bringing the Liberals from third place to a majority in 2015.
“From one old guy to another old guy, stop this nonsense,” said Chretien through his speech to US President Donald Trump. “No one will starve us into submission, because we are the best country in the world!”
Transition:
There will be a governance transition process over the next few days to see Carney be fully the 24th prime minister of this country.
This keeps the federal government’s leadership in the hands of the Liberals for now.
Just a day after International Women’s Day, it was a highlight to see both Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney be introduced on stage by their teenage daughters.
Next federal election:
The next federal election is officially scheduled for October 20, 2025 but a prime minister may call an election at any time.
Most political observers expect that a federal election will be called fairly soon.
Carney does not currently have a seat in the House of Commons but also because a new government will need a strong mandate to deal with the threat to Canada’s sovereignty that currently looms due to economic warfare initiated by the US President.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find him one,” said François-Philippe Champagne (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry) to media today regarding Carney getting a seat in the House of Commons.
Today Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party will “put Canada first” but it would be odd for any federal party to do otherwise.
Some key political sources suggest the next federal general election will be called in the next two or three weeks. Some specific dates mentioned include Monday April 28 or Friday May 2. But if Carney will get a seat first — possibly in a by-election — the general election could still well remain with its scheduled date.
===== RELATED:
- Carney’s compact cabinet geared toward Canadian economic resilience (March 14, 2025)
- Liberal leadership race down to the wire for March 9 vote (March 8, 2025)
- English Liberal leadership debate was good exposure (February 26, 2025)
- Carney would make 3-part adjustment to carbon tax (January 31, 2025)
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