Liberal leadership hopefuls could face hefty fees, short timelines: Sources
Sources say candidates will face $500Gs entry fee for potential March 1 leadership contest
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OTTAWA — Liberals hoping to lead their party into the next election have a short amount of time to raise the required half-million-dollar entrance fee, sources say.
Sources in the nation’s capital suggest to the Toronto Sun the internal party vote to select the next leader of the federal Liberals is expected to take place March 1, and may come with an entrance fee as high as $500,000.
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If accurate, that would make the membership sign-up cut-off date around Jan. 19, assuming the party sticks to the 41-day rule listed in the party’s constitution.
Party officials have previously said that the coming race to decide the successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would come with no changes to the party’s rules.
The $500,000 entrance fee would also limit candidates to those capable of raising such a large amount of money in a short amount of time, and potentially limit the roster of candidates.
That fee is higher than those typically charged for leadership contests.
The 2022 race to replace outgoing Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole charged candidates a $300,000 entrance free, including a $100,000 refundable compliance bond.
Party officials, however, say the details for the leadership race have yet to be finalized.
“The national board is having formal and informal meetings all this week to discuss the next steps of a leadership race, after Justin Trudeau announced his intent to resign as party leader Monday,” Liberal Party of Canada spokesperson Parker Lund said, explaining that establishing the rules for the race will take some time.
Trudeau announced on Monday that he would be stepping down as party leader and prime minister as soon as the party chooses a successor.
That must happen before March 24, when the currently prorogued Parliament resumes sitting.
With most indicators suggesting the minority Liberal government will fall in a confidence vote soon after, Canadians would likely see a spring election.
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