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Canadians are just over 48 hours away from having a new prime minister, but whoever takes the top job—especially if it’s Mark Carney—will do so under a cloud of controversy. For those who have been closely following the political maneuvering leading up to this moment, it’s hard to see this as anything other than a leadership race orchestrated to deliver a preordained result. From the exclusion of the only two South Asian candidates, raising serious questions about equity and fairness, to the party’s deliberate efforts to set the dominos in Carney’s favor, the entire process has been riddled with problems that will leave the winner with an asterisk next to their name.
The lack of transparency in the leadership selection, leaks to the press that conveniently shaped narratives, and financial questions surrounding multiple donors tied to Carney and other leadership candidates have further eroded trust in the process. Complaints from current candidates and party members have made it abundantly clear that this was never a fair race. Instead, it has played out like an elaborate staging designed to ensure the chosen successor emerges unchallenged.
Despite all of this, the Liberals can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has signaled he won’t be pulling the plug on the government. He’s pointed to global instability and turmoil in the U.S. as reasons for keeping the current arrangement intact. But let’s be honest—he was never going to bring the government down. The NDP doesn’t even have a full slate of candidates yet, and there’s serious doubt about whether they have the financial resources to mount a competitive national campaign. More importantly, Canadians have consistently shown they’re not willing to put the NDP in charge, and that reality hasn’t changed.
So, while Canada will soon have a new prime minister, the legitimacy of their leadership will remain under scrutiny. The cracks in this process have been too glaring to ignore, and no amount of party spin will erase the doubts hanging over this transition.
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