Boissonnault to seek re-election in Edmonton Centre, backs Freeland as next Liberal leader

Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Minister Randy Boissonnault rises during Question Period on Nov. 18, 2024 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

The controversial and elected Liberal representative for one of Edmonton’s federal ridings says he plans to run again in the next election.

Randy Boissonnault said Wednesday on social media he will seek re-election as theat the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre while endorsing Chrystia Freeland as the next Liberal party leader.

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Freeland is expected to run in the Liberal leadership race to replace Justin Trudeau, who announced early this month he will step down as prime minister and head of the party head once it chooses his successor.

The former finance minister and deputy PM resigned from Trudeau’s cabinet last month the day the Toronto MP and Peace River, Alta., native was supposed to deliver the government’s fall economic update.

Boissonnault, who is in his second stint as Edmonton Centre MP, stepped down from his cabinet post as employment minister in November amid questions about his former business and claims of Indigenous identity that turned out to be false.

Other hopefuls who have announced or are expected to announce bids for the Liberal leadership include Mark Carney, cabinet ministers Karina Gould and Jonathan Wilkinson, MPs Jaime Battiste and Chandra Arya, and former MP Frank Baylis.

Freeland and Carney, an Edmonton native and economist who has held high-profile positions as the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, are considered the frontrunners in the leadership race.

Carney had the support of 27 per cent of Liberal voters recently polled by Leger, while Freeland was second among Liberals with 21 per cent. Former B.C. premier Christy Clark, who announced Tuesday she is not seeking the leadership, was a distant third at six per cent.

Carney is slated to launch his bid on Thursday in Edmonton.

The Liberals will vote on a new leader March 9.

With files from The Canadian Press