The Liberal party ruled that candidates running to replace Trudeau had to submit a $350,000 entrance fee. The first instalment was due Friday
OTTAWA — Liberal leadership candidate Karina Gould announced Friday she managed to raise the $125,000 due to stay in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as party leader and prime minister.
“It’s just incredible to see how much progress we’ve made in three short weeks since I started my campaign,” she said in a statement. “I’m so inspired by all of you.”
The Liberal party made it a rule that candidates running to replace Trudeau had to submit a $350,000 entrance fee, which was to be paid in instalments.
Friday marked when the first of two $125,000 payments were due. The second and final instalment must be provided by Feb. 17.
Heading into Friday, Gould had been criticizing the party for setting such a high entrance fee, saying the aggressive target ensured that only a handful of candidates would be able to stay in the contest.
Since announcing her candidacy, she has been pitching herself as running a grassroots campaign, telling reporters at a recent event in Toronto that unlike other leadership hopefuls, her donors do not have “deep pockets.”
Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney already paid his $125,000 deposit, as did former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, according to their respective campaigns.
A spokesman for former MP Frank Baylis, a Quebec businessman, confirmed in a a statement on Friday that his team sent the deposit that morning, which by the afternoon the party confirmed it had received.
Reached by phone, former MP Ruby Dhalla also confirmed she submitted her deposit Friday morning.
Liberals will name their new leader on March 9.
Candidates have until Friday at 5 p.m. to submit their $125,000 deposit.
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