A Liberal backbencher is promising to make Canada “a sovereign republic” if elected by his celebration to switch Prime Minster Justin Trudeau.
On Thursday, Ottawa MP Chandra Arya introduced he’ll be searching for the highest job — making him the primary caucus member to declare their intentions.
In a press release, Arya stated he needs to make “Canada a sovereign republic,” which might require changing the monarchy as the top of state.
“It is time for Canada to take full management of its future,” he wrote in a press release.
Arya stated he additionally needs to “a lead a small, extra environment friendly authorities with a cupboard chosen on benefit and never on [diversity, equity and inclusion] quotas.”
“We face vital structural issues that have not been seen for generations and fixing them would require powerful selections,” he stated.
Nepean MP Chandra Arya attends a rally on Parliament Hill in assist of Iranian protesters on Nov. 24, 2019. Arya says he’ll run for the Liberal management. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)
His multi-page announcement features a listing of coverage proposals, together with rising the retirement age by two years in 2040, introducing a citizenship-based tax system and recognizing Palestine as a state.
Arya was first elected by Nepean voters in 2015 and has been a backbench MP ever since.
He hasn’t at all times been consistent with the federal government’s insurance policies. In 2023, he sponsored a petition calling on the Liberals to rethink plans to introduce a international agent registry in response to severe allegations of international interference in Canadian politics. The registry laws has since handed, but it surely’s not but up and operating.
His ties to India have raised eyebrows amid worsening diplomatic relations.
Final summer time, Arya travelled to India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An announcement from International Affairs Canada on the time stated Arya “travelled to India on his personal initiative and was not representing the Authorities of Canada.”
Liberal MP Chandra Arya posted this picture with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2024. (Chandra Arya/Fb)
His August 2024 go to got here practically a yr after Trudeau accused “brokers of the Indian authorities” of finishing up the deadly taking pictures of a Canadian Sikh chief.
“I’m conscious that some (largely non secular) teams have been attacking me due to my faith, and I’ve nothing extra so as to add,” he stated in a press release, in response to these criticisms.
Liberal executives assembly
The listing of individuals lining as much as substitute Trudeau continues to shift as prime Liberal brass meet Thursday to think about their subsequent transfer. Many potential candidates say they wish to know the foundations of the marketing campaign earlier than committing.
After a frenzy of formal and casual conferences this week following Trudeau’s determination to step down, the Liberal Social gathering’s nationwide council will collect to attempt to hammer out how one can run a race to discover the subsequent celebration chief — and Canada’s subsequent prime minister — in opposition to a ticking clock.
As an government member, Trudeau will probably be in attendance, sources advised Radio-Canada.
Whereas many MPs received their approach by getting Trudeau out the door, his determination to attend till early January offers the celebration little runway to put in writing the foundations for a marketing campaign, maintain a management contest after which pivot to an more and more inevitable spring election.
Chandra joins businessman and former MP Frank Baylis on the listing of people that have stated they publicly plan to run.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend Thursday’s Liberal nationwide council assembly, sources advised Radio-Canada. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Plenty of cupboard insiders stated they’re reflecting. Overseas Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Pure Sources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon have all stated they’re contemplating a run.
Former central banker Mark Carney has additionally stated he is . Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. premier Christy Clark and Home Chief Karina Gould are stated to be gathering supporters, too.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated he wouldn’t search the highest job, saying he is higher positioned to concentrate on Canada’s relationship with the U.S.
Some MPs are nonetheless urging him to run. However in a press release Thursday LeBlanc reiterated that he is out of the operating.
“I’ve been deeply touched by the colleagues who’ve requested me to rethink my determination to not run for the management of the Liberal Social gathering of Canada. However as I’ve expressed clearly to a lot of them, I don’t intend to rethink,” he stated.
MPs name to alter guidelines round who can vote
Liberal MPs who gathered in Ottawa on Wednesday for a nationwide caucus assembly stated they have been eager to be taught what governing guidelines the chief will set out, together with whether or not cupboard ministers should vacate their portfolios in the event that they wish to run and what the celebration will do to confront international interference threats.
At the moment, non-Canadian residents are allowed to vote in Liberal Social gathering using nomination and management contests, which have been referred to as a “gateway” for international interference.
WATCH | What some Liberal MPs are on the lookout for in a pacesetter: 
Liberal ministers and MPs talk about imaginative and prescient for brand spanking new chief
MP Yasir Naqvi, Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon, MP Kevin Lamoureux, Minister of Public Companies and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos, MP Judy Sgro, MP James Maloney, MP George Chahal and MP Charles Sousa define power on the economic system, bilingualism, holding Liberal values and being a talented campaigner as a number of the components they’re on the lookout for within the subsequent Liberal chief.
A rising contingent of MPs urged the celebration government to heed these warning.
There are different particulars the celebration might want to type out, like the doorway price quantity and when the ballots will probably be counted
Toronto-area MP Rob Oliphant stated he’d wish to see a pacesetter in place by the primary weekend in March.
“I believe we are able to do it and or not it’s quick,” he stated on his approach into Wednesday’s hours-long caucus assembly.
Ottawa-area MP Yasir Naqvi harassed whereas the planning is hastened, integrity must be upheld.
“We have to make it possible for the method is credible, that the method is honest and clear,” he stated. “We have to be certain that Canadians trust within the course of.”
Whoever wins the Liberal race will turn into Canada’s subsequent prime minister, though based mostly on the celebration’s polling it may very well be a short-lived time in workplace.
In keeping with the CBC’s Ballot Tracker, the Conservatives have opened a 24-point lead over the Liberals.
