24°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Gerrard endorses Justin Trudeau's bid for top Liberal spot
Liberal MP Justin Trudeau announced his candidacy Oct. 2. (SEAN KILPATRICK / ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)
Manitoba Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard today threw his support behind Justin Trudeau and his bid to become the next leader of the federal Liberal party.
"I just think that he's the right person for this time and our country," Gerrard said this morning.
The eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau announced his candidacy Oct. 2.
Gerrard said he and Trudeau are good friends and it was logical he publicly declare his support now, rather than hold back.
"I just believe that Justin is the person who’s got that ability to reach out to young people to create a new interest in politics across the country and to provide a very different and very forward-looking vision for Canada as opposed to what we have at the moment under (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper," Gerrard said.
Trudeau will be in Winnipeg for a rally this Saturday at the Punjab Banquet Hall, 94 Mandalay Dr. It begins at 3 p.m.
Toronto-based constitutional lawyer Deborah Coyne, the mother of Trudeau's half-sister, has already announced her candidacy.
Reports say other prominent Liberals are also considering a run for the top job. They include Montreal MP Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, Vancouver MP Joyce Murray, former cabinet minister Martin Cauchon, former MP and leadership candidate Martha Hall Findlay, Ontario government economist Jonathan Mousley, former Ottawa candidate David Bertschi, Toronto lawyer George Takach, and David Merner, former president of the party's B.C. wing.
Ottawa MP David McGuinty is also reported to be thinking about his chances, but is not considered a likely candidate. Veteran Montreal MP Denis Coderre is meanwhile considering whether to run for the Liberal leadership or mayor of Montreal.
Manitoba paramedic Shane Geschiere, who earlier said he’d enter the race, pulled out after Trudeau announced his intentions.
The leadership contest doesn't officially begin until Nov. 14, with the leadership convention taking place on April 14.
Meanwhile, Gerrard said provincial Liberals pick their new leader at their own leadership convention in October 2013. Gerrard announced his resignation last spring.
He said at this point he has no intention of running in the next federal election. Gerrard was a MP from 1993 to 1997 and was a secretary of state in the government of Jean Chrétien before becoming Manitoba Liberal Leader in 1998.
"People can say what they want, but right now that’s not my plan," Gerrard said. "We’ll see how things develop."
"I’m not doing this for personal gain," he added of his support for Trudeau. "As everybody knows, there’s a leadership convention and I’ll be stepping down as leader next year. I plan to stay on as MLA in River Heights as I’ve promised people in River Heights."
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 48 articles for today)
Video Child in critical condition after West End crash
3:55 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Man convicted of drunk driving in Henderson pile-up
- Teen on train tracks from York Landing
- Saskatchewan considering hydro deal with Manitoba
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- California 'Night Stalker' serial killer Richard Ramirez dies at 53
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Jaimie Creasy becomes first woman to graduate from RRC with degree
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- RCMP say woman deliberately murdered her sister with her car
- Toronto woman dead in rural Manitoba ATV wreck
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Portage Ave. stretch re-opens after Friday-night bomb scare
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Two Winnipeg teens identified as victims of crash
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Father, daughter seriously injured in ATV crash
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Filipino singer Charice comes out as lesbian; Catholic official says she's in identity crisis
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Make it look natural; companies work to make packaged foods appear homespun
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Teens can join Let It Out Summer Rock Camp
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Scientists meet to discuss weird British weather, say soggy summers likely for a few years
- Craig Ferguson adds second show
- New Flyer awarded Atlanta bus contract
- Suspect arrested after North End sex assault
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Priest kept silent about accusations against Storheim, court hears
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Yaz and Yasmin pills linked to 23 deaths, say Health Canada documents
- Geothermal heat coming to some Manitoba First Nations
- Spiralling cost of land raises new home prices
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Jaimie Creasy becomes first woman to graduate from RRC with degree
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Door openers being used to break into garages, police warn
- Province formally opens Mental Health Crisis Response Centre
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.