Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

The leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (French: chef du parti libéral) is the highest political office of the Liberal Party of Canada. The holder of the office is the formal political head of the party as a political organization and its parliamentary caucus in Canada's House of Commons, with specific authority to "speak for the party concerning any political issue". The current leader is Mark Carney, the current Prime Minister of Canada. He is the 14th permanent leader. He succeeded former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as party leader on March 9, 2025, following his victory in the party's leadership election, and succeeded Trudeau as Prime Minister five days later. Given that the Liberal Party has been one of the two principal contenders for power for most of Canada's history, most of the past holders of this office had served as prime minister. The leader primarily functions in parliament and, when the party is in power, in government. Past leaders had from time to time designated deputy leaders in parliamentary caucus, or deputy prime ministers in their ministries, and assigned varying additional authorities and responsibilities to such deputies. There is currently no such deputy designated. The leader is also advised and assisted by two individuals holding offices through separate elections: the national caucus chair elected by the party's parliamentary caucus (currently Etobicoke—Lakeshore MP James Maloney); and party president, a volunteer elected by the party's convention to serve as the board chair and executive head of the party's administrative organization (currently Sachit Mehra).

Infobox

Status

Party leader

Member of

Liberal Party of Canada

Appointer

Elected by members of the party

Inaugural holder

Alexander Mackenzie

Formation

March 6, 1873

Deputy

Deputy Leader

Tables

· List of leaders

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Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. George Brown(1818–1880)(ran and defeated in Ontario South, Ont.)Unofficial leader

Term of office

c.1867

Tenure

(n/a)

Led party in elections

1st (1867)

Ministries in officewhile Leader

Macdonald1st (1867–73)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Edward Blake(1834–1912)MP for Bruce South, Ont.Unofficial leader

Term of office

c.1872

Tenure

(n/a)

Led party in elections

2nd (1872)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Alexander Mackenzie(1822–1892)MP for Lambton, Ont.2nd Prime Minister

Term of office

March 6, 1873 – April 27, 1880

Tenure

7 years, 1 month and 21 days

Led party in elections

3rd (1874)4th (1878)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Edward Blake(1833–1912)MP for Durham West, Ont.

Term of office

May 4, 1880 – June 2, 1887

Tenure

7 years and 29 days

Led party in elections

5th (1882)6th (1887)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Sir Wilfrid Laurier(1841–1919)MP for Quebec East, Que. (1877–1919); Ottawa, Ont. (1908–10)Soulanges, Que. (1911–17)7th Prime Minister

Term of office

June 23, 1887 – February 17, 1919

Tenure

31 years, 7 months and 25 days

Led party in elections

7th (1891)8th (1896)9th (1900)10th (1904)11th (1908)12th (1911)13th (1917)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Daniel Duncan McKenzie(1859–1927)MP for Cape Breton North and Victoria, N.S.Interim Leader

Term of office

February 17, 1919 – August 7, 1919

Tenure

5 months and 21 days(interim)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. William LyonMackenzie King(1874–1950)MP for Prince, P.E.I. (1919–21); York North, Ont. (1921–25); Prince Albert, Sask.(1926–45); Glengarry, Ont. (1945–49)10th Prime Minister

Term of office

August 7, 1919 – August 7, 1948

Tenure

29 years

Led party in elections

14th (1921)15th (1925)16th (1926)17th (1930)18th (1935)19th (1940)20th (1945)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. Louis St. Laurent(1882–1973)MP for Quebec East, Que.12th Prime Minister

Term of office

August 7, 1948 – January 16, 1958

Tenure

9 years, 5 months and 9 days

Led party in elections

21th (1949)22th (1953)23th (1957)

Ministries in officewhile Leader

St. Laurent17th (1948–57)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson(1897–1972)MP for Algoma East, Ont.14th Prime Minister

Term of office

January 16, 1958 – April 6, 1968

Tenure

10 years, 2 months and 21 days

Led party in elections

24th (1958)25th (1962)26th (1963)27th (1965)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. Pierre Trudeau(1919–2000)MP for Mount Royal, Que.15th Prime Minister

Term of office

April 6, 1968 – June 16, 1984

Tenure

16 years, 2 months and 10 days

Led party in elections

28th (1968)29th (1972)30th (1974)31th (1979)32th (1980)

Ministries in officewhile Leader

P. Trudeau20th (1968–79)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. John Turner(1929–2020)MP for Vancouver Quadra, B.C.17th Prime Minister

Term of office

June 16, 1984 – June 23, 1990

Tenure

6 years and 7 days

Led party in elections

33th (1984)34th (1988)

Ministries in officewhile Leader

Turner23th (1984–84)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien(b. 1934)MP for Beauséjour, N.B. (1990–93); Saint-Maurice, Que. (1993–2003)20th Prime Minister

Term of office

June 23, 1990 – November 14, 2003

Tenure

13 years, 4 months and 22 days

Led party in elections

35th (1993)36th (1997)37th (2000)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. Paul Martin(b. 1938)MP for LaSalle—Émard, Que.21st Prime Minister

Term of office

November 14, 2003 – March 19, 2006

Tenure

2 years, 4 months and 5 days

Led party in elections

38th (2004)39th (2006)

Ministries in officewhile Leader

Martin27th (2003–06)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Bill Graham(1939–2022)MP for Toronto Centre, Ont.Interim Leader

Term of office

March 19, 2006 – December 2, 2006

Tenure

8 months and 13 days(interim)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Stéphane Dion(b. 1955)MP for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, Que.

Term of office

December 2, 2006 – December 10, 2008

Tenure

2 years and 8 days

Led party in elections

40th (2008)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Michael Ignatieff(b. 1947)MP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Ont.

Term of office

December 10, 2008 – May 25, 2011 (Interim leader until May 2, 2009)

Tenure

2 years, 5 months and 15 days (interim: 4 months and 22 dayspermanent: 2 years and 23 days)

Led party in elections

41th (2011)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

—

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Hon. Bob Rae(b. 1948)MP for Toronto Centre, Ont.Interim Leader

Term of office

May 25, 2011 – April 14, 2013

Tenure

1 year, 10 months and 20 days(interim)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau(b. 1971)MP for Papineau, Que.23rd Prime Minister

Term of office

April 14, 2013 – March 9, 2025

Tenure

11 years, 10 months and 23 days

Led party in elections

42th (2015)43th (2019)44th (2021)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)

Rt. Hon. Mark Carney(b. 1965)MP for Nepean, Ont.24th Prime Minister

Term of office

March 9, 2025 – present

Tenure

9 months and 2 days

Led party in elections

45th (2025)

Ministries in officewhile Leader

Carney30th (2025–)

Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while leader)		Term of office	Tenure	Led party in elections	Ministries in officewhile Leader
—	Hon. George Brown(1818–1880)(ran and defeated in Ontario South, Ont.)Unofficial leader	c.1867	(n/a)	1st (1867)		Macdonald1st (1867–73)
—	Hon. Edward Blake(1834–1912)MP for Bruce South, Ont.Unofficial leader	c.1872	(n/a)	2nd (1872)
1	Hon. Alexander Mackenzie(1822–1892)MP for Lambton, Ont.2nd Prime Minister	March 6, 1873 – April 27, 1880	7 years, 1 month and 21 days	3rd (1874)4th (1878)
						MacKenzie2nd (1873–78)
						Macdonald3rd (1878–91)
2	Hon. Edward Blake(1833–1912)MP for Durham West, Ont.	May 4, 1880 – June 2, 1887	7 years and 29 days	5th (1882)6th (1887)
						Abbott4th (1891–92)
						Thompson5th (1892–94)
						Bowell6th (1894–96)
						Tupper7th (1896)
3	Sir Wilfrid Laurier(1841–1919)MP for Quebec East, Que. (1877–1919); Ottawa, Ont. (1908–10)Soulanges, Que. (1911–17)7th Prime Minister	June 23, 1887 – February 17, 1919	31 years, 7 months and 25 days	7th (1891)8th (1896)9th (1900)10th (1904)11th (1908)12th (1911)13th (1917)
						Laurier 8th(1896–1911)
						Borden9th (1911–17)
						Borden10th (1917–20)
—	Hon. Daniel Duncan McKenzie(1859–1927)MP for Cape Breton North and Victoria, N.S.Interim Leader	February 17, 1919 – August 7, 1919	5 months and 21 days(interim)
4	Rt. Hon. William LyonMackenzie King(1874–1950)MP for Prince, P.E.I. (1919–21); York North, Ont. (1921–25); Prince Albert, Sask.(1926–45); Glengarry, Ont. (1945–49)10th Prime Minister	August 7, 1919 – August 7, 1948	29 years	14th (1921)15th (1925)16th (1926)17th (1930)18th (1935)19th (1940)20th (1945)
						Meighen11th (1920–21)
						Mackenzie King12th (1921–26)
						Meighen13th (1926–26)
						Mackenzie King14th (1926–30)
						Bennett15th (1930–35)
						Mackenzie King16th (1935–48)
5	Rt. Hon. Louis St. Laurent(1882–1973)MP for Quebec East, Que.12th Prime Minister	August 7, 1948 – January 16, 1958	9 years, 5 months and 9 days	21th (1949)22th (1953)23th (1957)		St. Laurent17th (1948–57)
						Diefenbaker18th (1957–63)
6	Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson(1897–1972)MP for Algoma East, Ont.14th Prime Minister	January 16, 1958 – April 6, 1968	10 years, 2 months and 21 days	24th (1958)25th (1962)26th (1963)27th (1965)
						Pearson19th (1963–68)
7	Rt. Hon. Pierre Trudeau(1919–2000)MP for Mount Royal, Que.15th Prime Minister	April 6, 1968 – June 16, 1984	16 years, 2 months and 10 days	28th (1968)29th (1972)30th (1974)31th (1979)32th (1980)		P. Trudeau20th (1968–79)
						Clark21th (1979–80)
						P. Trudeau22th (1980–84)
8	Rt. Hon. John Turner(1929–2020)MP for Vancouver Quadra, B.C.17th Prime Minister	June 16, 1984 – June 23, 1990	6 years and 7 days	33th (1984)34th (1988)		Turner23th (1984–84)
						Mulroney24th (1984–93)
9	Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien(b. 1934)MP for Beauséjour, N.B. (1990–93); Saint-Maurice, Que. (1993–2003)20th Prime Minister	June 23, 1990 – November 14, 2003	13 years, 4 months and 22 days	35th (1993)36th (1997)37th (2000)
						Campbell25th (1993–93)
						Chrétien26th (1993–2003)
10	Rt. Hon. Paul Martin(b. 1938)MP for LaSalle—Émard, Que.21st Prime Minister	November 14, 2003 – March 19, 2006	2 years, 4 months and 5 days	38th (2004)39th (2006)		Martin27th (2003–06)
						Harper28th (2006–15)
—	Hon. Bill Graham(1939–2022)MP for Toronto Centre, Ont.Interim Leader	March 19, 2006 – December 2, 2006	8 months and 13 days(interim)
11	Hon. Stéphane Dion(b. 1955)MP for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, Que.	December 2, 2006 – December 10, 2008	2 years and 8 days	40th (2008)
12	Hon. Michael Ignatieff(b. 1947)MP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Ont.	December 10, 2008 – May 25, 2011 (Interim leader until May 2, 2009)	2 years, 5 months and 15 days (interim: 4 months and 22 dayspermanent: 2 years and 23 days)	41th (2011)
—	Hon. Bob Rae(b. 1948)MP for Toronto Centre, Ont.Interim Leader	May 25, 2011 – April 14, 2013	1 year, 10 months and 20 days(interim)
13	Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau(b. 1971)MP for Papineau, Que.23rd Prime Minister	April 14, 2013 – March 9, 2025	11 years, 10 months and 23 days	42th (2015)43th (2019)44th (2021)
						J. Trudeau29th (2015–25)
14	Rt. Hon. Mark Carney(b. 1965)MP for Nepean, Ont.24th Prime Minister	March 9, 2025 – present	9 months and 2 days	45th (2025)		Carney30th (2025–)

· Other key leadership roles › Deputy leaders and deputy prime ministers › List of deputies

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

April 23, 1969–September 16, 1977

June 4, 1979 –March 3, 1980

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

June 4, 1979 –March 3, 1980

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

Deputy Leader (unofficial) Opposition House Leader

March 3, 1980 –June 30, 1984

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

March 3, 1980 –June 30, 1984

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

Deputy Prime Minister (22nd) Minister of Finance (until September 1982) Secretary of State for External Affairs (from September 1982)

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

September 17, 1984–January 10, 1989

November 4, 1993 –June 11, 1997

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

November 4, 1993 –June 11, 1997

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

Deputy Prime Minister (26th) Minister of the Environment (1993–96) Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship & Minister of Communications (1996) / Minister of Canadian Heritage (1996–2003)

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

November 13, 2008 –September 7, 2010

Michael Ignatieff(2008–11)

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

Michael Ignatieff(2008–11)

Bob Rae(Interim, 2011–13)

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

Bob Rae(Interim, 2011–13)

Justin Trudeau(2013–25)

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

Justin Trudeau(2013–25)

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

No deputy designated

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)

November 3, 2015 –November 19, 2019

Deputy Leader (Born-Died)Parliamentary seat (while deputy)		Term of office	Tenure	Deputy role (Ministry if Deputy PM)Concurrent roles	Leader (term)
	Hon. Paul Hellyer(1923–2021)MP for Trinity	April 30, 1968 –April 23, 1969	11 months and 24 days	Senior Minister (20th) Minister of Transport Minister responsible for Housing	Pierre Trudeau(1968–84)
No deputy designated		April 23, 1969–September 16, 1977
	Hon. Allan MacEachen(1921–2017)MP for Cape Breton Highlands—Canso	September 16, 1977 –June 4, 1979	6 years, 9 months and 14 days	Deputy Prime Minister (20th) President of the Privy Council Government House Leader
		June 4, 1979 –March 3, 1980		Deputy Leader (unofficial) Opposition House Leader
		March 3, 1980 –June 30, 1984		Deputy Prime Minister (22nd) Minister of Finance (until September 1982) Secretary of State for External Affairs (from September 1982)
	Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien(b. 1934)MP for Saint-Maurice	June 30, 1984 –September 17, 1984	2 months and 18 days	Deputy Prime Minister (23rd) Secretary of State for External Affairs Minister responsible for La Francophonie	John Turner(1984–90)
No deputy designated		September 17, 1984–January 10, 1989
	Rt. Hon. Herb Gray(1931–2014)MP for Windsor West	January 10, 1989 –January 30, 1991	2 years and 20 days	Deputy Leader Opposition House Leader (Sept 1984 – Feb 1990) Leader of the Opposition (Feb – Dec 1990)
	Hon. Sheila Copps(b. 1952)MP for Hamilton East	January 30, 1991 –November 4, 1993	6 years, 4 months and 12 days	Deputy Leader	Jean Chrétien(1990–2003)
	Hon. Sheila Copps(b. 1952)MP for Hamilton East	November 4, 1993 –June 11, 1997	6 years, 4 months and 12 days	Deputy Prime Minister (26th) Minister of the Environment (1993–96) Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship & Minister of Communications (1996) / Minister of Canadian Heritage (1996–2003)
	Rt. Hon. Herb Gray(1931–2014)MP for Windsor West	June 11, 1997 –January 15, 2002	4 years, 7 months and 4 days(Total: 6 years, 7 months and 24 days)	Deputy Prime Minister (26th) Minister responsible for the Millenium Bureau of Canada (1998–2002) Political minister for Ontario
	Hon. John Manley(b. 1950)MP for Ottawa South	January 15, 2002 –December 12, 2003	1 year, 10 months and 27 days	Deputy Prime Minister (26th) Minister of Finance (from May 2002)
	Hon. Anne McLellan(b. 1950)MP for Edmonton West/Centre	December 12, 2003 –February 6, 2006	2 years, 1 month and 25 days	Deputy Prime Minister (27th) Solicitor General / Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness	Paul Martin (2003–06)
	Hon. Lucienne Robillard (b. 1952)MP for Westmount—Ville-Marie	February 26, 2006 – December 17, 2006	9 months and 21 days	Deputy Leader	Bill Graham(Interim, 2006)
	Hon. Michael Ignatieff(b. 1947)MP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore	December 18, 2006 – November 13, 2008	1 year, 10 months and 26 days	Deputy Leader	Stéphane Dion(2006–08)
No deputy designated		November 13, 2008 –September 7, 2010			Stéphane Dion(2006–08)
No deputy designated		November 13, 2008 –September 7, 2010			Michael Ignatieff(2008–11)
	Hon. Ralph Goodale (b. 1949)MP for Wascana	September 7, 2010 – November 3, 2015	5 years, 1 month and 27 days	Deputy Leader	Michael Ignatieff(2008–11)
					Bob Rae(Interim, 2011–13)
					Justin Trudeau(2013–25)
No deputy designated		November 3, 2015 –November 19, 2019
	Hon. Chrystia Freeland(b. 1968)MP for University—Rosedale	November 20, 2019 –December 16, 2024	5 years and 26 days	Deputy Prime Minister (29th) Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2019–20) Minister of Finance (2020–24)

References

During the 1867 dominion election, Brown, who served briefly as the joint premier from Canada West prior to confederatio
Blake was also elected in Durham West; he chose to sit for Bruce South instead, and resigned as the Member of Parliament
Unofficial leader at the 1872 election, as leader of the Ontario Liberals
Concurrently as MP for Quebec East
Also elected As MP for Wright, Quebec in 1904 but opted only to hold Quebec East
Assumed parliamentary leadership and the role of Leader of the Opposition on February 6, 2006
Not formally named deputy leader while the party was in opposition but generally recognized as such and referred by the
Gray initially stated that the deputy title applied only to parliamentary duties, but party president Michel Robert late
Gray assumed the parliamentary leadership on February 7, 1990 while Turner retained party leadership until leadership co
Named deputy leader on January 30, 1991 and appointed Deputy Prime Minister when the Chretien ministry was formed.
Strictly speaking, the office of deputy prime minister was vacant from April to June 1996 when Copps, after being challe
Prime Minister Justice Trudeau did not name a deputy prime minister at the initial formation of his ministry. However, h
"Constitution of the Liberal Party of Canada"
https://liberal.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/292/2021/04/The-Constitution-of-the-Liberal-Party-of-Canada.pdf
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/09/mark-carney-to-be-next-canada-pm-after-winning-liberal-leadership-race
Report of the proceedings of the National Liberal Convention 1948
The Vancouver Sun
Parlinfo
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/Parties/Profile?partyId=4831
Ottawa Citizen, "A Heartbeat From The Top", Charles Lynch, 10 November 1982, pp.3
The Gazette (Montreal), "Hellyer Appointed No.2 Man To Rule In Trudeau's Absence", 1 May 1968, p.3
CTV News
https://web.archive.org/web/20241216143056/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/chrystia-freeland-resigns-from-justin-trudeau-s-cabinet-1.7146828
Reading Eagle, "Hellyer Quits Cabinet Job", P, 24 April 1969, pg.47
In Pursuit of the Public Good Essays in Honour of Allan J. MacEachen
The Windsor Star
The Ottawa Citizen
The Windsor Star
The Windsor Star
Parlinfo
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=1877
Parlinfo
https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=4927
The Winnipeg Sun
Edmonton Journal
www.pco-bcp.gc.ca
https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070544/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc.asp?viewattach=31592
iPolitics
https://www.ipolitics.ca/news/liberals-elect-sachit-mehra-as-new-party-president