Hotelier Ruby Dhalla makes surprise entry in liberal leadership race

Dhalla was the first Canadian woman of Indian origin, along with Nina Grewal, elected to the House of Commons. / House of Commons 2008

The Liberal leadership race took a glamorous turn with the surprise entry of former Liberal MP and now hotelier, Ruby Dhalla, bringing the total number of candidates to seven. Dhalla, the third woman to join the race after Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould, is the only outsider woman contender vying to replace Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and, potentially, the country’s prime minister.

The seven candidates now in the running include former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, who will go head-to-head with fellow contenders Chandra Arya, Jamie Battiste, and Frank Baylis, along with the three women—Freeland, Gould, and Dhalla.

Notably, Dhalla and Arya are both of Indian descent, drawing attention to the diverse background of some of the candidates. Dhalla, who started her career as a chiropractor before entering politics in 2004, represented Brampton-Springdale until 2011. Her decision to return to politics has sparked excitement among the nearly two million Indo-Canadian community and beyond. Her last electoral battle in 2011 garnered headlines, especially after Conservative leader Stephen Harper expressed interest in the riding, which was ultimately won by Parm Gill.

The deadline for candidates to formally submit their nominations passed recently, and the party will select its new leader on March 9. However, media outlets have reported that confirming the official list of candidates may take a few more days.

The Liberal Party, currently in a minority government, has already faced three no-confidence motions in the House of Commons. The party hopes that the selection of a new leader will bolster its chances in the upcoming federal election later this year.

The race has become more challenging due to the recent political shifts in the United States, where President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all imports from Canada. Meanwhile, the Liberal government continues to face growing opposition both from other political parties and within its own ranks. The new leader will also have to contend with a no-confidence motion that could be called soon after Parliament reconvenes on March 24.

Among the candidates is Chrystia Freeland, who has held high-profile government roles, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. She made a surprise announcement earlier this month, resigning from her position just before she was set to present the fall financial report. Freeland has vowed to "inflict the biggest trade blow" if Trump follows through on his tariff threat.

Karina Gould, the youngest candidate in the race, resigned from her position as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons earlier this month to pursue the leadership bid. At a rally on Jan.19, she emphasized the need to rebuild trust in the party, saying, "Canadians have lost trust in our party, and if we are going to be able to keep building our country, we must rebuild our party."

Chandra Arya, the first candidate to enter the race, previously represented Nepean, Ontario, in Parliament. Arya launched his campaign to lead a smaller, more efficient government and has criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion quotas.

Jaime Battiste, a Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria in Nova Scotia, has served as Chair of the Liberal Indigenous Caucus. He is running for leadership to advance a collaborative vision of Canadian politics, focusing on human rights, reconciliation, and environmental sustainability.

Frank Baylis, a former MP for Pierrefonds-Dollard in Montreal, emphasized his experience with Canadian innovation and cross-party collaboration. As leader, Baylis says he would focus on affordability, economic challenges, and investing in industries to create good-paying jobs.

Finally, Ruby Dhalla, who is returning to the political scene after losing her re-election bid in 2011, claims to be the only candidate without ties to outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A self-described "trailblazer, hotelier, philanthropist, and motivational speaker," Dhalla emphasized her experience as a businesswoman. She plans to steer the Liberal Party back toward the center-right, believing that is where the party needs to be in these challenging times.

As the race intensifies, all eyes will be on which candidate emerges as the best option for leading the Liberal Party into the next federal election.