North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson has dropped his bid to lead the Liberal Party of Canada.
Wilkinson’s announcement on Friday came just a day after economist Mark Carney launched his campaign to become the political party’s nominee for prime minister in the October election. Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland confirmed Friday that she would be launching a bid.
Earlier in January, Wilkinson – who’s also federal minister of energy and natural resources – said he was considering running for the nomination, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canadians that he would step down.
But now the MP said he will not seek party leadership, and instead focus on keeping his seat in the upcoming federal vote.
“I am very grateful for the outpouring of support over the past 11 days,” he said in a written statement. “While the timeline is extremely short, I am confident that if I had chosen to run, I would have raised the required funds and fully stood up a competitive national organization, thanks to many Liberals and Canadians across the country.”
After working more than 20 years in the private sector, Wilkinson said he was motivated to join politics by the urgent need to fight climate change and build an economy in which his children and others’ children could thrive.
“Fundamentally, it was to serve – to give back to a country that has given so much to me and to my family,” he said. “And it is the seriousness with which I take the service of this country that has led me to come to this decision.
“Stepping aside from my position in cabinet at this critical time would not, in my view, best serve Canadians and the country I love so very much,” Wilkinson said.
Liberal Party has 'several strong options' for next leader
In his view, the Liberals are the party of thoughtful international diplomacy, Medicare, fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability.
“Today, it means standing up to the fearmongering, misinformation and polarization that Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives are injecting into Canadian politics,” he said.
“[Canadians] deserve so much more than what is on offer from a career politician like Mr. Poilievre who has done nothing career wise other than sit in the House of Commons since he was 25 years old,” he said.
The Liberals are fortunate to have several strong options for the next party leader, Wilkinson said, “all of whom I am confident can bring to the table leadership, fresh perspectives, and an economic focus.”
The MP said he’ll continue to offer his service to the people of North Vancouver and Canada, regardless of the outcome of the leadership race.
“I very much look forward to running in the next federal election under a new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada,” he said.
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Liberal MP Patrick Weiler, who was among the first MPs calling for Trudeau to step down, has endorsed Carney to be the party's next leader.
Other declared candidas for the leadership include Ottawa area MP Chandra Arya and former MP Frank Baylis.
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