Transport Minister Anita Anand won't run for Liberal leadership, won't seek re-election

Transport Minister Anita Anand announced Saturday afternoon she will not run in the Liberal Party's ongoing leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, nor will she seek re-election when Canadians next go to the polls.

Anand said in a statement posted to social media she has been "deeply honoured and humbled to serve as Oakville's Member of Parliament and as member of cabinet."

"In these roles, I have given all I have to keep Canada safe, strong, and free," Anand said. "I entered public life because I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to my community and country, a goal instilled in me by my parents, who immigrated to Canada before I was born."

Anand also said she will continue to "execute my roles as a public office holder until the next election."

The Oakville, Ont., MP has held several cabinet portfolios since she was elected in 2019. Anand was first minister of public services and procurement, then became the second woman ever to serve as minister of national defence.

In one of her first acts as minister of defence, Anand transferred the investigation and prosecution of sexual misconduct cases within the Canadian forces into the civilian justice system — a move that came as the military reeled from several sexual misconduct investigations.

Anand was shuffled into a new position in 2023 and became president of the Treasury Board — a move she argued was not a demotion because she would have a central role in reining in the federal government's spending.

She currently serves in two positions as minister of transport and internal trade. Anand received the latter portfolio after Trudeau shuffled his cabinet at the end of December.

In her statement, Anand said while her time in public office "has been challenging, it has been tremendously fulfilling to deliver results for Canadians by working collaboratively."

"I sincerely thank Prime Minister Trudeau for welcoming me on the Liberal team as a Member of Parliament and for entrusting me with key cabinet portfolios," Anand said.

Anand is the latest Liberal cabinet minister to confirm she is not running to replace Trudeau as leader of the party. On Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed she would also not run in the leadership contest.

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc has confirmed he won't run in the contest either — despite some Liberals' attempts to get him to reconsider the decision.

The only confirmed candidates thus far are former Liberal MP Frank Baylis and current Liberal MP Chandra Arya, who announced his candidacy on Thursday.

But other expected heavy hitters are still in the mix, including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney. He's expected to formally announce his bid to replace Trudeau late next week, a source close to his campaign told CBC News.