Liberals behind in candidate nominations for upcoming election

A federal election in Canada could be announced in just a few days, but the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is struggling to fill candidate positions. As of now, the Liberals have nominated only 178 candidates out of 343 ridings. In contrast, the Conservative Party has filled 258 positions, while the NDP and the Green Party have placed 214 and 208 candidates, respectively. The Bloc Québécois is working on candidate nominations in Quebec and has announced 11 officially, with plans for more. Many incumbent MPs in that party have expressed their intention to run again. Political experts suggest that the recent leadership change in the Liberal Party may affect candidate recruitment. Some members were unhappy with the previous leadership, leading to uncertainty about running for office. Political science professor Melanee Thomas noted that the current number of Liberal candidates is notably low and needs to improve quickly as the election date approaches. She explained that parties focused on diversity and inclusion often take longer to finalize their candidates. Experts also warned about the risks of rushing candidate vetting. There can be issues if candidates have made controversial online posts in the past. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney is currently without a seat in the House of Commons, which adds pressure to the situation. If Parliament resumes without an election, opposition parties plan to challenge the Liberal government through a non-confidence vote.