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Ottawa, January 11, 2025 — In a surprising move, Transport Minister Anita Anand announced on Saturday that she will not seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, nor will she run for re-election as the Member of Parliament for Oakville.
The announcement, made via a statement on social media, marks a significant shift in Anand’s political career, which has seen her hold several key cabinet positions over the past several years. The Oakville MP, who first entered public life in 2019, confirmed she would remain in office until the next federal election but would not be pursuing a leadership bid, as many had speculated.
Anand’s statement reflects her deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve in government. “I have been deeply honoured and humbled to serve as Oakville’s Member of Parliament and as a member of cabinet,” she wrote. “In these roles, I have given all I have to keep Canada safe, strong, and free.”
The decision to step back from both the leadership race and the next election comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement to step down. Anand indicated that Trudeau’s departure from politics was a key factor in her own decision to leave the political stage.
“Now that the Prime Minister has made his decision to move to his next chapter, I have determined the time is right for me to do the same,” she explained, adding that she plans to return to her academic roots in teaching, research, and public policy analysis.
Before entering politics, Anand had a long career as a lawyer and law professor at the University of Toronto, where she focused on capital markets regulation and governance. In her statement, she acknowledged that while she had originally taken a leave of absence after the 2019 federal election with the intention of returning to academia, the fulfillment she found in her work in government had delayed that return.
Anand’s departure from the political stage follows a series of other high-profile decisions by Liberal MPs and cabinet ministers to exit or not seek re-election. Among these is Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, as several key figures of the Trudeau government make their own plans for the future.
Anand’s political career saw her rise quickly through the ranks, serving as Minister of Public Services and Procurement before becoming the second woman in Canadian history to hold the position of Minister of National Defence. Most recently, she has served as Minister of Transport, managing the country’s transportation and infrastructure portfolio.
Her decision to retire from politics and transition back to academia signals a new chapter in her life, one that will see her return to the field of law and policy, where she spent over two decades before her political career.
Anand’s announcement is expected to have significant implications within the Liberal Party, as leadership speculation intensifies in the wake of Trudeau’s upcoming departure. Her decision to step aside adds to the growing sense of change and transition within the party, as a new generation of leaders begins to emerge.
As Canada awaits the next election, Anand’s legacy in public service is assured, and her future plans reflect a commitment to shaping the policy discussions of tomorrow, albeit from a different platform.