The race to replace Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began on Tuesday, following his resignation amid growing tensions with the United States over a possible trade war and deep political divides within Canada. The new Prime Minister will face immediate electoral challenges, with polling expected soon after their appointment in March.
Anita Anand, the current Transport Minister, is one of the leading candidates. A notable figure within the Liberal caucus, Anand was considered an “obvious leadership contender” by Maclean’s in 2022.
Born on May 20, 1967, in Kentville, Nova Scotia, to immigrant parents from India, Anand has had a distinguished career. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence from Oxford University and advanced law degrees from Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto. Anand entered politics in 2019, representing Oakville, Ontario, in the House of Commons.
Before her political career, Anand was an esteemed academic at institutions like Yale University, specializing in financial market regulation and corporate governance. She was appointed Minister of Public Services and Procurement after her election, leading Canada’s efforts to secure vaccines and protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, she took on the role of Minister of Defence, overseeing Canada’s support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.
Her recent role as Minister of Transport has focused on modernizing Canada’s infrastructure. As a woman of Indian descent, Anand has come to symbolize Canada’s diverse political environment.
Other key candidates include Chrystia Freeland, former deputy prime minister, who currently leads in opinion polls; Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England; and Dominic LeBlanc, a close political ally of Trudeau. Melanie Joly, the Foreign Minister, and Christy Clark, the former British Columbia premier, have also shown interest in leading the country.
