Karina Gould Enters Canada Liberal Leadership Race as Trudeau Era Nears End

Canadian cabinet minister Karina Gould said on Saturday that she is running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the ruling Liberal Party. Gould, 37, is currently the Liberals’ House Leader, meaning she manages the party’s legislative agenda in Parliament.

The three are now entering the fray; two former Liberal Cabinet ministers-the first one a finance minister-the third major entrant, she joins Chrystia Freeland and ex-Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. And, on March 9, the Liberal Party will unveil a new leader.

Freeland, who unexpectedly quit in December, announced her candidacy on Friday. Her resignation was said to have factored into Trudeau’s decision to quit. Meanwhile, Carney, 59, launched his campaign Thursday in Edmonton, promising to reinvigorate Canada’s economy and to offer a change of direction from the Trudeau government.

The road ahead for the new leader will be tough, with polls suggesting a landslide victory for the opposition Conservatives in the next election, which is constitutionally mandated to occur by October 20 but could be called as early as May. Trudeau’s resignation comes as growing discontent among Liberal legislators has been fuelled by declining public support for the party.