Chandra Arya Excluded from Liberal Leadership Race as Mark Carney Gains More Support

Ontario Member of Parliament Chandra Arya has revealed that the Liberal Party has barred him from contesting the leadership race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Arya, who was the first candidate to announce his bid, disclosed on social media Sunday that he was informed of his disqualification by the party and is awaiting official confirmation.

“This decision raises significant questions about the legitimacy of the leadership race and, by extension, the legitimacy of the next prime minister of Canada,” Arya wrote. He did not specify the reasons provided for his exclusion, nor did Liberal Party representatives immediately respond to inquiries.

Arya, one of seven candidates who submitted the required paperwork and a $50,000 deposit last week, is now considering his next steps. His exclusion narrows the competition, with former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney remaining the frontrunners. Other confirmed candidates include former Government House Leader Karina Gould, MP Jaime Battiste, and former MPs Ruby Dhalla and Frank Baylis. The party has up to 10 days to officially approve candidates.

Meanwhile, Mark Carney continues to solidify his position as a leading contender. On Sunday, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne endorsed Carney during an event in Champagne’s home riding of Saint-Maurice—Champlain, Quebec. Champagne praised Carney’s economic vision, noting their shared priorities for navigating current challenges, including potential tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“It’s critical for the next leader to be fluent in both official languages,” Champagne said, highlighting the importance of Quebec’s 78 federal seats in securing electoral success. None of the current leadership candidates are francophones, a point Arya controversially addressed earlier in the race by stating he does not speak French and suggesting it may not matter to Quebec voters.

Carney has also gained endorsements from high-profile Liberals, including Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. His growing support list features Defence Minister Bill Blair, Transport Minister Anita Anand, and Housing Minister Nate Erskine-Smith.

The leadership race has sparked comments from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who criticized the Liberals for holding the contest, claiming “Canadians were done with Justin Trudeau.” Poilievre challenged Carney to commit to excluding Trudeau-era ministers from his cabinet if elected as leader. Carney responded by emphasizing a focus on economic renewal, saying in French, “There will be a change with my government.”

Carney also pledged to run as a Liberal candidate in the next federal election regardless of the leadership race’s outcome. This aligns with a call from Freeland, who has urged all candidates to commit to running and proposed holding four leadership debates—two in each official language.

Freeland, another prominent contender, is also engaging with Quebec voters, appearing Sunday on the popular Radio-Canada talk show Tout le monde en parle. She has secured endorsements from several key caucus members, including Health Minister Mark Holland, Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier, and Justice Minister Arif Virani.

The deadline for registering to vote in the leadership contest is Monday, while candidates must submit the full $350,000 entry fee by February 17. The Liberals are set to elect their new leader on March 9, a decision that will shape the party’s future direction and its strategy for the next federal election.