Liberal Leadership Election Results

63 days after Prime Minister Trudeau’s resignation, Mark Carney was elected as the Leader of the Liberal Party and became Canada’s 24th Prime Minister, securing 85% of the vote.

Background

  • On January 6th, Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign as Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Party, effective upon the election of a new leader.
  • In his resignation speech, Trudeau also announced the prorogation of Parliament until March 24th. His decision came amid growing pressure from Liberal MPs following the resignation of Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in December.
  • Initially, seven candidates declared their intention to run for the leadership, but the field later narrowed to four.
  • Voter turnout among eligible Liberal Party members was 37.91%, with 151,631 votes cast out of 400,000 eligible members.
  • To secure the leadership, a candidate needed 17,151 out of 34,300 points. Each riding was worth 100 points, and the race used a ranked ballot system that eliminated the lowest-ranked candidate until one reached 50%.
  • On the first ballot, Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney won 29,457 points, securing his victory as the new Leader of the Liberal Party and the 24th Prime Minister of Canada.
  • Carney is the third person in Canadian history to become Prime Minister without holding a seat in Parliament, the most recent being John Turner in 1984, following Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s resignation.
  • Carney won 85.9% of the vote—a higher percentage than Justin Trudeau in 2013.
  • No date has been set for Carney’s swearing-in. Once in office, he will have the option to either call an election or recall Parliament.

Round 1 Results:

Name Points Votes  
Mark Carney 29,457 131,674 85.9%
Chrystia Freeland 2,729 11,134 8.0%
Karina Gould 1,100 4,785 3.2%
Frank Baylis 1,014 4,038 3.0%

 

Mark Carney’s Plan:

  • Strengthening Trade & Competitiveness
    • Convene a First Ministers’ Meeting to remove interprovincial trade barriers, promote mutual recognition of qualifications, and streamline regulations for economic growth and job creation.
    • Prioritize cross-border trade corridors, critical infrastructure, and faster project approvals to modernize transportation networks, expedite major projects, and improve cybersecurity.
  • Housing & Immigration Reform
    • Build 4 million homes by 2035 and double the pace of construction over 10 years by unlocking private capital.
    • Expand the construction workforce through investments in skilled trades.
    • Cut red tape, reduce taxes and fees, and accelerate permits to lower housing costs.
    • Eliminate GST for first-time homebuyers on homes under $1 million.
    • Double non-profit and co-op housing to strengthen communities.
    • Address housing needs for Indigenous communities while advancing self-determination.
  • Fiscal Management: Two-Budget System
    • Operating Budget: Balance within three years by reducing wasteful spending, capping public sector growth, and leveraging AI for efficiency, while maintaining key social transfers (pensions, healthcare, child benefits).
    • Capital Budget: Focus on housing, infrastructure, energy, and AI investments with a small, strategic deficit to support economic expansion and ensure the debt-to-GDP ratio declines over time.
  • Investing in Infrastructure & Clean Energy
    • Expand supply chains and critical infrastructure to enhance global competitiveness.
    • Invest in nuclear, hydro, wind, hydrogen, battery storage, and energy efficiency.
    • Replace the carbon tax with financial incentives for green choices.
  • Government Efficiency & Fiscal Responsibility
    • Cap the size of the public sector and leverage AI to streamline government operations.
    • Introduce fiscal rules to ensure responsible spending while fostering long-term growth.
    • Tax large corporate emitters and provide financial incentives for energy efficiency.

Federal Polling:

  • Prior to Prime Minister Trudeau’s resignation, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives held a 22.7-point lead over the Liberals as of January 3, 2025. However, throughout the Liberal leadership campaign, this gap narrowed, with Leger reporting a 13-point Conservative lead over the Liberals on March 5, 2025.
  • Angus Reid polling on March 5, 2025, shows that under Mark Carney’s leadership, the Conservatives will maintain a slight lead at 40% support, compared to 37% for the Liberals.
  • When it comes to managing Canada-U.S. relations under President Trump, 43% of Canadians trust Mark Carney, compared to 34% for Pierre Poilievre, according to Angus Reid.

What Comes Next:

  • Carney will be sworn in as Prime Minister and asked to form a Government by the Governor General. Although, no date has been announced when he will be sworn in
  • Reports have indicated that Carney may call a snap election, if so, Canadians could be going to the polls as early as April.

Statements:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in one of his last speeches as Liberal Leader and Prime Minister Trudeau said “Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given,” Trudeau said. “None of those happened by accident. None of them will continue without effort.” He emphasized “the world is looking to see what Canadians will do … Let us not dwell on all the great things we’ve achieved over the last 10 years,” he says. “Let us inspire instead to achieve even more over the next 10 years and decades to come.”

Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in his 9th Liberal Party Convention and 7th speech to the party said he paid tribute to Prime Minister Trudeau, thanking him for his leadership. The former Prime Minister also took aim at Donald Trump, stating, “From one old guy to another old guy, stop this nonsense. Canada will never join the United States.”

Prime Minister Designate Mark Carney in his victory speech he thanked former Prime Minister Chrétien and Prime Minister Trudeau for their leadership and service to Canada. Carney pledged “I will work day and night with one purpose, which is to build a stronger Canada for everyone.” Carney also pledged in his speech that his government will listen to Canadians and eliminate the carbon tax and will end the hike in the capital gains tax.