In a dramatic turn in Canadian politics, Transport Minister Anita Anand announced on Saturday that she is stepping away not only from the race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but also from her parliamentary seat. Following Trudeau’s own declaration of intent to leave politics, Anand’s decision marks the latest exit from the top tier of the Liberal Party’s leadership ambitions.
Speaking on social media, Anand—whose portfolio has spanned from public services and procurement to defence and transport—stated, “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, and to return to my prior professional life of teaching, research, and public policy analyses.” The former law professor and expert in business and finance law has now set her sights on academia, a field in which she enjoyed a celebrated career long before entering the political limelight.
Anand’s departure comes amid a turbulent political climate. With polling data showing a significant lead for the opposition Conservative Party—47 percent of voter support to the Liberal Party’s 20 percent—a leadership contest perceived by many as a losing gamble has left senior officials wary of accepting the prime ministerial mantle for what might be a brief tenure. Alongside Anand, other major cabinet figures, including Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, have withdrawn their candidacies. Both officials, dealing directly with the repercussions of US President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose steep tariffs on Canadian imports, have said they are stepping down to focus on managing the ensuing crisis.
Anand’s political career has been marked by an impressive rapid ascent. Since her election as the MP for Oakville in Ontario in 2019, she has held several high-profile roles. Initially joining Trudeau’s cabinet as the minister of public services and procurement, she made significant contributions by securing medical supplies and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a subsequent cabinet shuffle, she took charge of the defence portfolio and later became the president of the Treasury Board, overseeing broad government operations. Most recently, she balanced her responsibilities as Transport Minister while managing Canada’s internal trade policy.
Reflecting on her journey, Anand recalled the challenges she faced during her early political campaigns. “During my first campaign, many people told me that a woman of Indian descent would not get elected in Oakville, Ontario. Yet, Oakville rallied behind me not once but twice since 2019, an honour that I will hold in my heart forever,” she shared. Her familial background also resonated with her constituents—her father, S V Anand, was a descendant of Tamil Nadu freedom fighter V A Sundaram, and her mother, Saroj Ram, hailed from Punjab; both were physicians who immigrated to Canada.
Prime Minister Trudeau, whose popularity has sharply declined, plans to step down once a new Liberal leader is elected—a process scheduled to conclude by March 9 ahead of the parliamentary session’s resumption on March 24. The looming threat of a non-confidence vote by opposition parties, combined with a potentially rescheduled election earlier than the current October deadline, has only deepened the sense of urgency within the party.
With notable figures like former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland and economist Mark Carney still in the running for the Liberal leadership, the race continues to gather momentum. Yet, as the party braces for political headwinds—including external pressures stemming from US trade threats—senior members appear increasingly hesitant to commit to a prime ministership for what could be a fleeting period.
Anita Anand’s departure from the political stage underscores the broader shifts occurring within Canadian politics, as seasoned leaders now pivot to safeguard their legacies and prepare for life beyond elected office. As she returns to the halls of academia, her influential role in government decision-making and her remarkable trajectory will likely continue to inspire discussions on diversity, leadership, and public service in Canada.
