Ontario Liberal MP Chandra Arya has announced, and a Liberal Party of Canada spokesman has confirmed, that he will not be allowed to run for Liberal leader. No reason was given.
Arya says Liberals won't let him seek leadership, questions 'legitimacy of the next prime minister' | National Post | Sarah Ritchie:
January 26, 2025 - "One of the seven Liberal leadership hopefuls says the party is not allowing him to run.... Ontario member of Parliament Chandra Arya said the Liberal party informed him he’s out of the running to be its next leader. Arya, who was the first to announce his candidacy to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said he is waiting on official communication from the Liberals and is considering his next steps....
Chandra Arya in 2017. Photo courtesy
“'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 said in a social media statement on Sunday. He did not elaborate on his concerns or provide reasons the party gave for declining his candidacy.
"Liberal party spokesman Parker Lund confirmed Arya would not be a candidate, citing a section of the national leadership rules that state a prospective candidate can be disqualified if they are found to be 'manifestly unfit for the office' of leader.... Lund did not say what specifically led to Arya being removed from the race.
"Arya was one of seven people who submitted paperwork and a refundable $50,000 deposit last week to enter the race.... Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney ... former Government House leader Karina Gould, MP Jaime Battiste and former MPs Ruby Dhalla and Frank Baylis have also submitted the paperwork to enter the race. The party has up to 10 days to approve the candidates....
"Arya made headlines early on in the race for saying he does not speak French and suggesting in an interview with the CBC that he didn’t think it was important to Quebecers that the prime minister speak the language."
Read more: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/arya-liberal-leadership-out
Speak French, understand Quebec or don’t run for party leadership, some Liberals say | National Post | Antoine Trépanier & Stephanie Taylor:
January 10, 2025 - "'Quebecers, like all Canadians, at the end of the day, they want to see the work to be done. It is not that whether you’re polished in French and English,' said Arya in an interview. 'What is important for Canadians is their prosperity, not for the current generation alone, but for the future generation. That is the thing that Quebecers and all Canadians look forward, and that’s what I’m going to deliver,' added the Ottawa MP....
"With several potential candidates still considering launching a leadership bid, bilingualism has emerged as one of the main criteria for entering the race. The last time an English-speaking leader outside Quebec won a majority for the Liberals was William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1945."
Read more: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/french-quebec-liberal-leadership
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