Minister LeBlanc says not running for Liberal leadership, as caucus meets to discuss process to replace Trudeau

Longtime cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc will not be running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberals. He announced his decision in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday.

LeBlanc — who's been an MP since 2000 and ran for the leadership in 2008 before dropping out to support Michael Ignatieff — wrote he is "enormously grateful" for those who've encouraged him to run.

"While I am extremely grateful for the encouragement and the expressions of support I have received from caucus colleagues and Liberals across the country, I have decided not to be a candidate in the Liberal Party of Canada's upcoming leadership race," he wrote.

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Trudeau announced Monday he's stepping down from the party's leadership, but staying on as prime minister until a new leader is selected through what he called a "robust, nationwide, competitive process."

Liberal MPs, meanwhile, met in Ottawa today for the first time since Trudeau announced he's stepping down.

Many of them — including Judy Sgro, Yasir Naqvi, Jennifer O’Connell, and Ken McDonald — expressed some disappointment at LeBlanc’s decision not to put his name forward, with some adding they hope he’ll reconsider.

Other longtime cabinet ministers, including former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, and Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand, are also on the shortlist of possible contenders to replace the leader.

Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon told reporters on his way into the meeting he’s “absolutely considering running” for the leadership.

MacKinnon was first elected in 2015 and has been a member of cabinet since 2017. He highlighted Wednesday the importance for him of having a bilingual Liberal leader, but wouldn’t say whether potential candidates who are not fully bilingual should be disqualified from the race.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is also considering a leadership run, a source close to him told CTV News on Monday.

When asked about his plans on his way into Wednesday’s caucus meeting, Wilkinson told reporters he hasn’t yet made a decision, but that he’s considering it.

“I am continuing to have discussions with my colleagues,” Wilkinson said. “At the end of the day, I want to ensure that this is a race that is a robust race, that discusses important issues.”

Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney is also actively considering throwing his hat in the ring, writing in a statement this week he’ll be doing so “closely with (his) family over the coming few days.”

And former B.C. premier Christy Clark has expressed an interest in a potential leadership bid.

Ministers say they’re focused on Trump

LeBlanc currently heads up the finance and intergovernmental affairs portfolios, and wrote in his statement he believes the "best way for (him) to serve" Canada is to focus on those files, as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump prepares to head back to the White House in a week and a half.

Trump has threatened to impose blanket 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Canada until it stops the flow of illegal drugs and migrants over the border. He's also doubled down on a comment he made in late November about Canada becoming the 51st state, saying at a press conference on Tuesday he's open to using "economic force" to that end.

LeBlanc said he plans to run in the next federal election, under the party's new leader, in his New Brunswick riding of Beauséjour.

Joly — who in an interview with CTV Question Period last month would not rule out leadership aspirations after a profile in the New York Times labelled her as Trudeau’s “possible successor” — said Wednesday she’s reflecting on whether to enter the race, and has been meeting with her “core team.”

“In the context of my reflection, of course, I very much know that I'm the minister of foreign affairs at a time where it's extremely difficult with the American administration, the incoming one, and so that's why I'll continue my reflection,” she said, adding she is considering how she can have the “biggest impact” in the current Canada-U.S. context.

Questions about leadership race process

Several MPs on their way out of the five-hour caucus meeting told reporters they discussed the leadership race process itself, specifically concerns around preventing foreign interference.

Foreign interference inquiry Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue was granted a month-long extension to present her final report, which is now due at the end of January.

Ontario MP and newly appointed Public Safety Minister David McGuinty told reporters he has a “very unique insight into this,” given his new cabinet portfolio, and his testimony before the Hogue inquiry. He is also the chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP).

“I do believe we need to be vigilant on this issue,” McGuinty said. “And I know that the party is looking very hard at it. I'm certainly putting my mind to it. It’s important that Canadians know that there is integrity in our process including the internal political processes.”

Sgro agreed, telling reporters on the Hill there needs to be a “solid, transparent and safe process,” and adding the voting should be exclusive to Canadian citizens and people with permanent resident status.

Hogue’s interim report, published last May, details allegations of potential interference in a Liberal nomination race, during which busloads of international students were alleged to have voted in the contest in support of a particular candidate, at the direction of foreign officials.

The Liberal Party of Canada constitution does not appear to explicitly exclude international students or non-permanent residents from voting in such races. And according to Hogue’s report, non-citizens, including international students, are eligible to vote in Liberal nomination contests as long as they can provide “satisfactory proof of residence.”

MP Ben Carr also weighed in on the issue, saying while decisions about the leadership process and party constitution are up to the national executive, he believes caucus input will be critical, and he was looking forward to having the discussion with his colleagues to protect the integrity of the race.

In interview with CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos following the meeting, Sgro said it was a “very lengthy discussion with the president of the party,” also calling it “a very fruitful day.”

Asked by Kapelos whether she anticipates the party will change some of its rules for the upcoming race, Sgro said: “They need to.”

“There is a very short time frame for this leadership campaign, so it's important that they heard from all of us today, and they will take that back to the meetings with the other members of the commission,” she also said.

Sgro’s interview was part of a panel with fellow Liberal MP Charles Sousa, who added the party is “very open” to making changes.

“I'm not going to presuppose what the board is going to do, but they heard very clearly the concerns that, not only that we as members have, but certainly that Canadians have,” Sousa said.

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Asked by CTV News on Tuesday whether the Liberal party plans on making changing to its voting process to protect against potential foreign meddling, Director of Communications Parker Lund said in an email statement that the “party remains committed to working with the Commissioner of Canada Elections, law enforcement, or any other bodies that are tasked with pursuing election irregularities if there is sufficient evidence.”

Lund added that the party is a “grassroots movement” that has built an “open and inclusive process” that “ensures we hear from more people in the communities we engage with and helps foster civic engagement with those who may one day have the privilege to vote in a federal election.”

In an email to CTV News on Wednesday, Lund said the National Board is having “informal meetings” this week to discuss the specifics of the leadership race.

“As you would expect, the establishment of the rules for the upcoming leadership race will take some time. We will be in touch when there is more to share,” he wrote.

On the issue of foreign interference, Lund added the party will provide more details once the rules of the leadership race have been set.

A report last summer from NSICOP, meanwhile, determined there were "two specific instances where [People's Republic of China] officials allegedly interfered in the leadership races of the Conservative Party of Canada."

With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur, Rachel Hanes, Rachel Aiello and Stephanie Ha