Anita Anand Exits Canadian Politics, Citing Need to 'Move to Next Chapter'
Anita Anand, Canada's Transport Minister, announced on Saturday that she would not seek re-election to parliament or run for the leadership of the Liberal Party. In a social media post, Ms. Anand said she was following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's example and was ready to return to her career in academia.
With the Liberal Party leadership contest set to conclude by March 9, Ms. Anand's exit marks the latest development in a rapidly unfolding crisis for the party. Trudeau announced last week that he would resign as prime minister, citing a decline in popularity and increasing opposition from within his own party and the Conservative Party of Canada.
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc have also quit the leadership contest to focus on other priorities, including negotiating with US President-elect Donald Trump over border security measures. Trudeau's office has confirmed that he will tender his resignation letter before the new leader is elected.
An expert in business and finance law, Ms. Anand was a tenured professor at the University of Toronto before entering politics. She won a seat in the Ontario legislature in 2019 and has held key cabinet posts, including transport minister. During her time in office, she played a key role in ensuring Canada had enough medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Anand also praised her constituents for supporting her during her two terms in parliament, saying that they stood behind her despite skepticism from some quarters about her ability to win an election. Her father was a freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu, while her mother was a doctor from Punjab who immigrated to Canada.
The Liberal Party is facing increasing pressure to act after Ms. Anand's withdrawal. Opposition parties have threatened to stage an immediate vote of no confidence if Trudeau does not step down, which would trigger new elections earlier than scheduled for October.
An Abacus poll taken after Trudeau's announcement showed the Conservative Party with a significant lead in voter support, and Ms. Anand's own polling numbers were similarly low. The party is now scrambling to put together its leadership bid, though leaders are hesitant to take on the role just before an election that appears increasingly unwinnable.
The Canadian government faces a number of pressing issues, including renegotiating trade agreements with countries such as US under Trump's new administration and managing a crisis on illegal immigration from the US.