Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne and former B.C. premier Christy Clark both bowed out of the running for the federal Liberal leadership on Tuesday.
Champagne announced at an event in Toronto that he will not enter the race, saying he plans to remain focused on his current job.
I won’t be seeking the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada in the upcoming race.
— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) 🇨🇦 (@FP_Champagne) January 14, 2025
A difficult decision but one I take with Canada at heart. Thanks to Canadians, colleagues & organizers from across the country who share the vision of a proud, ambitious and prosperous Canada. pic.twitter.com/okwTMNTvfD
"It was probably one of the most difficult decisions of my life," he said. "There are many ways to fight for Canada."
In a statement to her supporters, Clark said that her French skills are not developed enough and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had called too short a leadership race to allow her to mount a successful campaign.
"I have made the difficult decision to step back," she said. "While we have come a long way, in a short time, there is simply not enough time to mount a successful campaign and for me to effectively connect with francophone Canadians in their language. I have worked hard at improving my French but it’s not where it needs to be today."
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney are expected to announce their own leadership bids in the coming days.
Government House leader Karina Gould also plans to launch her campaign later this week, according to a Liberal source close to the minister.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Transport Minister Anita Anand have all ruled out leadership runs.
