François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, has announced that he will not participate in the upcoming Liberal Party leadership race. In his statement, he described the decision as challenging but emphasized that it was made with Canada’s best interests in mind. Champagne expressed gratitude to Canadians, his colleagues, and supporters across the country who shared his vision for a “proud, ambitious, and prosperous Canada.”
This announcement comes in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down as Liberal leader, with the party currently seeking a new candidate to assume leadership. Champagne’s withdrawal adds to the list of prominent figures, such as Mélanie Joly and Dominic LeBlanc, who have also declined to run. The race will determine Trudeau’s successor ahead of the Liberal Party’s internal vote scheduled for March 9, 2025