Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told his cabinet colleagues that he will remain the Liberal Party of Canada’s leader for the next federal election.
According to the Toronto Star, Trudeau told his cabinet ministers at their Vancouver retreat that he is energized to face the challenges facing Canada and looks forward to winning a fourth term as prime minister.
Rumours of the prime minister stepping down ahead of the next general election have circulated as many in his position do not last for more than three terms at a time.
Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper managed to win three elections before being defeated by the Trudeau Liberals.
Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien was awarded three majority governments before his party ejected him as the leader, replacing him with Paul Martin.
Trudeau’s cabinet ministers and other high-profile liberals have been rumoured to be eyeing the party’s leadership as the prime minister loses his lustre with the Canadian people.
Former Bank of Canada governor and former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has been built up as a possible successor given his record managing the monetary policy of two different G7 nations.
Cabinet ministers rumoured to run include foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly, innovation minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Attorney General David Lametti, defence minister Anita Anand and more.
Should the Liberal and NDP supply-and-confidence alliance last, the current parliament is expected to survive until 2025 when the next general election is scheduled.
In the event the Trudeau Liberals win the next general election, Justin Trudeau will become the first PM since his father Pierre-Elliot Trudeau to win a fourth term, and the first PM since Wilfrid Laurier to win four elections in a row.
Despite Trudeau’s assertion that he can lead the Liberals to another election victory, the rivalling Conservatives have been gaining momentum as the party selects a new leader to face-off against Trudeau.
Further, polls show that Canadians’ patience are weaning, as Abacus data found that approval in the government has dropped to the lowest point since Trudeau was elected PM in 2015.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has been able to sign-up a historic 678,708 new members to their party and have fundraised more money than the Liberals and NDP combined in the second quarter of 2022.
