Justin Trudeau will step down as Liberal leader. Who could come next?

After nearly 12 years at the helm of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau says he will step down from the party’s top job once a new leader is chosen.

But who comes next? And how will the party select a new leader?

Outside his residence in Ottawa, Trudeau told reporters of his intention to step down following months of mounting pressure.

“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau said he informed the Liberal party president on Sunday evening.

“Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”

The Liberal party’s board of directors must now set a date for the next leadership election establish the leadership expenses committee, according to the party’s constitution.

But who could enter the race to replace Trudeau?

0:53
Trudeau outlines his ‘one regret’ as prime minister

Mark Carney’s potential plunge into politics has been rumoured since the summer, when Trudeau acknowledged that he has been speaking with Carney “for years about getting him to join federal politics.”

On Sunday, Global News reported that in the last few weeks, Carney has spent many hours on the phone with Liberal MPs — seeking their advice and support for a run at the leadership of the federal Liberal party, should that job come open in the coming days.

While Carney was unavailable for an interview Sunday, a source with knowledge of his activities said Carney has spoken to “dozens” of Liberal MPs over the Christmas break but declined to identify those MPs.

Born in Fort Smith, N.W.T., and raised in Edmonton, Carney earned an undergraduate economics degree from Harvard University and followed that up with master’s and doctoral…