Jan 14: François-Philippe Champagne, a prominent federal cabinet minister from Quebec and a close ally of Justin Trudeau, has announced he will not run for Liberal Party leadership to replace the prime minister.
Champagne revealed his decision during a fireside chat at the Canadian Club Toronto on Tuesday. He described it as “one of the hardest decisions” of his life but emphasized it was “the right choice at the right time.”
He expressed gratitude to Canadians and Liberal supporters who encouraged him to enter the race. However, Champagne said he plans to focus on defending Canada, its businesses, and its people, particularly in light of the economic challenges posed by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs.
