Journalists surround Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc before a Liberal Party caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Jan. 8.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
The Liberal Party’s board of directors is expected to meet Thursday to go over the rules for the leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after some of its officials gathered with MPs who expressed concerns about safeguarding the race from foreign interference.
Other issues raised by MPs over the course of a nearly five-hour caucus meeting Wednesday included the entry fee for the contest, how long it would be and whether cabinet ministers will have to step down from their posts to run – several potential candidates currently have a seat on the front bench.
But the dominant issue for caucus is who will be allowed to vote.
The party allows anyone who “ordinarily resides” in Canada to be a member, an issue that has become a point of contention.
The Liberals’ rule came up during the public inquiry into foreign interference, which heard testimony that Chinese international students voted for then-Liberal Han Dong in the party’s nomination for Don Valley North in 2019.
In her interim report, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue noted that the incident “makes clear the extent to which nomination contests can be gateways for foreign states who wish to interfere in our democratic processes,” and that “the eligibility criteria for voting in nomination contests do not seem very stringent, and the control measures in place do not seem very robust.”
Those same membership criteria currently apply for the Liberal leadership race.
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Many MPs voiced concerns about the potential for foreign interference during Wednesday’s meeting.
“My view is that the race should be limited to Canadian citizens and permanent residents,” said B.C. MP Taleeb Noormohamed, who called that the consensus position for British Columbia MPs. It was also echoed by MPs from elsewhere in the country, including long-time Liberal Judy Sgro.
“Given the issue of foreign interference in our country, we have to make sure that we have a solid, transparent and safe process,” she said.
There is nothing in the party’s rules that gives caucus a say over how the leadership race will be conducted, but MP and caucus chair Brenda Shanahan does sit on the board.
How soon a vote will be called will likely dictate how quickly candidates will have to decide whether to run, as will the decision on whether cabinet ministers will have to step down.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said that issue was on her mind.
“I very much know that I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs at a time where it is extremely difficult with the American administration, the incoming one,” she said on her way into Wednesday’s meeting.
“And so, that’s why I’ll continue my reflection.”
Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced earlier Wednesday morning that he’d already thought the matter over and decided he’s not going to run, citing the need to remain focused on his job.
Mr. LeBlanc is also the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and was given the task by Mr. Trudeau to manage border relations with the United States. President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican exports after his inauguration on Jan. 20.
“I will be solely focused on the real economic threat that American tariffs represent to the Canadian economy and to Canadian workers. It is a full-time job, I’m lucky to have it,” Mr. LeBlanc told reporters.
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Mr. LeBlanc became Finance Minister after Chrystia Freeland quit the job on Dec. 16, hours before she was to deliver the fall economic statement. Her departure ultimately led to Mr. Trudeau’s own announcement on Monday that he’ll resign as party leader as soon as his replacement is chosen.
Ms. Freeland is considering a run for leadership, but dodged reporters staked out in hallways and doorways who asked about her plans.
“Happy New Year,” she replied.
Other cabinet members considering a bid include Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon, Transport Minister Anita Anand, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne and House Leader Karina Gould.
Those outside the government considering a run include former B.C. premier Christy Clark, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and businessman Frank Baylis, a onetime Liberal MP.
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Some MPs worry that if ministers are allowed to keep their jobs and run for leadership, it will give them an unfair advantage, risks conflicts of interest and casts doubt on how well either job would be done.
On the other hand, requiring cabinet ministers to step out of their portfolios would require another cabinet shuffle and time for new ministers to get up to speed – time that is in short supply, especially as it relates to Mr. Trump. The last cabinet shuffle was on Dec. 20, after Ms. Freeland’s resignation.
Mr. Wilkinson said there is not a lot of time left to make the decision.
“I would suggest that folks that are interested in seeking the leadership would need to make the decision within a week, and two at the outside, but I would say probably within a week,” he said.
“People want to see, obviously, what the rules are, including how much money needs to be raised before they make a decision. But this is going to be very condensed.”
On his way into the caucus meeting, Mr. MacKinnon said that if he does decide to run, he’d be open to stepping back from cabinet – if that’s required.