All eyes on Champagne as Quebec waits for Liberal leadership candidate

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OTTAWA – Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne will announce whether he plans to run in the Liberal leadership race before noon Tuesday at a Canadian Club event in Toronto.

With Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon not running for the leadership, Champagne is seen as the last great Quebec and francophone hope in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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But many insiders in the province aren’t holding their breath.

“There’s nothing happening, it’s surprising and disappointing. Because without Minister Joly in the race, you would think Champagne would have a serious advantage in being able to win a large majority of ridings in Quebec,” said a Liberal source who was not at liberty to speak openly.

Sources in Quebec Liberal circles say the minister has made numerous phone calls over the past week, including to former prime ministers, provincial premiers, former cabinet ministers and organizers to gauge a possible leadership bid.

However, the minister does not appear to have a robust campaign organization like other potential candidates including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, former British Columbia premier Christy Clark or even former finance minister Chrystia Freeland.

He is also reportedly focused on his ministerial responsibilities, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. For example, the minister is scheduled to travel to Lansing and meet with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday, the National Post has learned. The two politicians are expected to discuss the auto sector and how to mitigate potential tariffs.

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Following his speech at the Canadian Club, Champagne will meet with the Burlington Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday afternoon alongside his cabinet colleague and Burlington MP Karina Gould, who is also considering a leadership run and is expected to make her intentions known soon.

With Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Transport Minister Anita Anand, MacKinnon and Joly dropping out of the leadership race, a source familiar with Mark Carney’s thinking recently told the National Post that he is expected to launch his campaign toward the end of the week. The source said he has received support from more than 30 MPs from across the country.

Businessman and former Quebec MP Frank Baylis and MP Chandra Arya have both indicated they are running to become Canada’s next prime minister. However, their candidacies are not considered “serious” among Liberals. Nova Scotia MP and chair of the Liberal Indigenous caucus Jaime Battiste also signalled his intention to run on Monday.

As for former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, sources said she has reached out to many Liberals, but it is unclear when she will announce her intentions.

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A source close to minister Champagne confirmed he has spoken to other potential candidates and could endorse one of them if he decides not to run.

Champagne has been very clear in private and in public that Quebec must have a prominent place in the race and the next election campaign. He remains the co-chair of the Liberal campaign in Quebec.

“It goes without saying that the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada must be able to speak in French and English, Canada’s two official languages. It is equally important to have a debate in French,” he recently wrote on social media.

In the meantime, after much criticism about foreign interference in the leadership race, the Privy Council Office announced that all relevant departments and agencies continue “to monitor the general environment” and “work to address potential risks of foreign interference”.

“Briefings on foreign interference and best practices for protection, such as increased cybersecurity measures and rigorous screening of donations and memberships will be offered to all candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.,” Nathalie Drouin, the deputy clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, said in a statement.

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The Liberal Party of Canada announced it was tightening its rules on who is eligible to vote in the race after concerns were raised that anyone with a Canadian address over the age of 14 could potentially vote.

To participate in the selection process, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people with status under the Indian Act must register as Liberal members by Jan. 27 and be at least 14 years old.

National Post
atrepanier@postmedia.com

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