Nine candidates are officially registered for the Liberal leadership with the last-minute addition of former cabinet minister Martin Cauchon.
Hopefuls had to deliver a non-refundable $75,000 entry fee and the signed support of 300 Liberal party members by midnight Monday to be eligible.
Here are the registered candidates:
- David Bertschi
- Martin Cauchon
- Deborah Coyne
- Marc Garneau
- Martha Hall Findlay
- Karen McCrimmon
- Joyce Murray
- George Takach
- Justin Trudeau
The first Liberal leadership debate takes place Sunday, Jan. 20 at the Westin Bayshore hotel in Vancouver (4pm ET / 1pm PT). The event is sold out, according to the party.
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ABOUT THE RACE
The winner will be announced on April 14 in Ottawa. Candidates will give speeches and debate the previous weekend in Toronto (Friday, April 6).
Besdies this weekend's debate in Vancouver, events are also planned for Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax between Feb. 2 and March 23.
The party is using a preferential ballot that gives equal weight to each of Canada's federal ridings. The last-place finisher on each ballot will be eliminated and their votes redistributed to the second choice.
The biggest change revolves around who can actually vote. Liberals opted earlier this year to allow "supporters" to join paid members in selecting the leader. Supporters cannot belong to another party and must promise to support Liberal principles.
The party has set a spending limit of $950,000 and a campaign loan limit of $75,000.
Bob Rae became interim leader in May 2011 following the party's third-place election finish and the resignation of Michael Ignatieff. Party members chose to delay a full leadership vote until spring 2013.
-Andrew Thomson
Correction (Jan. 20): An earlier version did not include George Takach's name on the list of candidates.
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