The new Liberal leader will likely call an election in the next two weeks, former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps says as the party gathers in Ottawa on the final day of its leadership contest.
In an interview with The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson, Copps says that if former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney emerges as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s replacement on Sunday evening, as he is presumed to do, he could call an election before March 24, when Parliament resumes.
“I think it’s going to be fast, partly because, as we know, the Conservatives have an awful lot of money in the bank. […] And they’re going to try and pin Carney back as soon as he’s elected,” Copps says.
Story continues below advertisement
“So if the Liberals under the leader go into an election, then the election rules kick in as to what you can spend on advertising. Before the election, it’s pretty much carte …