rChandra Arya, an Indian-origin Member of Parliament and former loyalist to ex-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced his candidacy for the position of Prime Minister on Thursday, just days after Trudeau’s resignation.
“I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations,” Arya declared in a post on X.
Trudeau’s tenure faced numerous challenges, including strained international relations and domestic controversies, such as his handling of the Khalistan issue and visa restrictions on Indian students.
Arya emphasized the need for bold decisions to address significant structural problems, stating, “We are facing significant structural problems that haven’t been seen for generations, and solving them will require tough choices.”
He added, “For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary. If elected as the next Leader of the Liberal Party, I offer my knowledge and expertise to do so.”
Arya, originally from Dwarlu village in Karnataka, India, completed his MBA at the Kousali Institute of Management Studies, Karnataka University, Dharwad. He immigrated to Canada in 2006 and initially served as the chairman of the Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber before entering politics. Arya was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Nepean riding in the 2015 Canadian federal election and was re-elected in both 2019 and 2021.
In 2022, Arya made history as the first MP to address the House of Commons of Canada in Kannada, his mother tongue. He has been vocal about issues such as the vandalism of Hindu temples in Toronto, which he attributed to “Khalistani extremists.”
Arya’s policy proposals include limiting immigration to meet economic growth needs, criminalizing the glorification of terrorists, guaranteeing orders for over 100,000 prefab homes, and prioritizing defense investments to secure Canada’s specific needs. He also aims to make Canada a sovereign republic.
Former Liberal MP Frank Baylis is the only other declared candidate for the Liberal leadership. Other potential candidates include Gatineau MP and Minister of Employment Steve MacKinnon, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign as Liberal leader and Prime Minister on Monday, pending the party’s selection of his replacement. The Liberal Party of Canada has yet to announce the rules for the upcoming leadership contest.
Arya is the first member of the Liberal Caucus to declare his candidacy for party leader. In a video posted on X, he stated, “Our economic growth and fiscal strength are not benefiting many Canadians.”
Arya’s candidacy letter outlines his commitment to making bold decisions to rebuild the economy and foster prosperity for all generations. He proposes reviewing government spending and ensuring every program and entity is relevant to economic development.
Arya’s ambitious goals include raising Canada’s real GDP to $5 trillion within 25 years, raising the retirement age by two years, and having scientists, engineers, and industry professionals lead the way in crafting fact-based policies to grow the economy and tackle climate change. He also plans to eliminate the consumer carbon pricing mechanism.
