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The contest for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s position began on Tuesday, a day after Trudeau stepped down amid escalating tensions with the United States over a looming trade war and a deeply divided political landscape at home.
The incoming Prime Minister will likely encounter electoral challenges shortly after taking office in March, with polls anticipated within weeks of their appointment.
Among the top contenders is Transport Minister Anita Anand, a prominent figure in the Liberal caucus, who was regarded as an “obvious possible leadership contender,” by a 2022 Maclean’s article, according to news agency AFP.
Who is Transport minister Anita Anand
- Anita Anand was born on May 20, 1967, in Kentville, Nova Scotia, to parents who were both doctors and immigrated to Canada from India in the early 1960s.
- She holds degrees in political science and law, including a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Jurisprudence from Oxford University, as well as advanced law degrees from Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto.
- Anand entered politics in 2019, representing the riding of Oakville, Ontario, in the House of Commons.
- Before that, she was a distinguished academic, teaching at institutions such as Yale University. Her expertise spans financial market regulation and corporate governance.
- Upon her election in 2019, she was appointed Minister of Public Services and Procurement, where she led Canada’s efforts to secure vaccines and personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In 2021, she became Minister of Defence, spearheading Canada’s aid to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia and addressing a sexual misconduct crisis within the Canadian Armed Forces.
- Her appointment as President of the Treasury Board was widely viewed as a step down, with critics suggesting it was a response to her perceived ambitions to one day lead the Liberal Party.
- In December 2022, she was reshuffled again to her current role as Minister of Transport and Minister of Internal Trade.
- As Minister of Transport, Anand has focused on modernising Canada’s infrastructure, improving roads, highways, and rail networks.
- As a woman of Indian descent, she has become a symbol of Canada’s multicultural political landscape.
Who are the other leading candidates:
Chrystia Freeland : The former deputy prime minister, aged 56, resigned in December following disagreements with Trudeau regarding Trump’s proposed 25-percent tariffs on Canadian imports. Having served in various senior cabinet positions since 2015, she currently leads opinion polls as the preferred replacement.Mark Carney : The 59-year-old former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England ranks second in popularity. He joined Trudeau’s team as special economic advisor in September.- Dominic LeBlanc: At 57, this lifelong friend of Trudeau serves as a key political associate. His recent responsibilities include managing US relations, having conducted two meetings with Trump at Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to prevent potential trade conflicts.
- Melanie Joly: The 45-year-old Foreign Minister has received recognition from the New York Times as a potential Trudeau successor.
- Christy Clark: The 59-year-old former British Columbia premier publicly declared her interest in the federal leadership position in October.
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