OTTAWA — The federal Liberal caucus gathered on Parliament Hill on Wednesday with speculation swirling about which of its members will put their names forward to lead the party into the next election — and with one potential contender bowing out.
Just before the meeting got underway, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc surprised many of his fellow Liberal MPs by posting a statement to social media thanking supporters for their encouragement and saying he’s decided not to run in the upcoming race.
The New Brunswick MP wrote that Canada is “at a critical juncture in its relationship with its most important ally and trading partner, the United States.”
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, LeBlanc said he was genuinely touched that caucus colleagues encouraged him to seek the leadership.
“I decided that the most important thing I should do over the next few months is my job as minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs,” he said, adding he will be “solely focused on the real economic threat that American tariffs represent.”
Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump threatened in November to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico when he takes office, unless both countries act to stop migrants and illegal drugs from crossing the border into the United States.
LeBlanc has travelled to Florida twice since Trump won the U.S. election in November to meet with the president-elect and key members of his team. Trump has doubled down on his rhetoric in recent days, insisting the tariffs are coming and threatening to use “economic force” to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.
Some Liberal MPs expressed disappointment LeBlanc won’t run in the race, including Yasir Naqvi, Ken McDonald and Judy Sgro, who said she was “counting on” him to run and doesn’t have another person in mind yet who she wants to support.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she’s weighing whether to launch a leadership bid of her own for the very same reason as LeBlanc: not wanting to leave cabinet at a crucial time for Canada.
“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. That’s why I’ll continue my reflection,” she said.
Joly said she’s receiving a lot of support from across the country to run, but is also factoring in her family, her desire to become a mother and her need to defend Canada’s national interests against Trump’s trade threats.