With reports of turmoil within the Liberal caucus, an impending exodus of Trudeau-era MPs ahead of the next federal election has become a real possibility. What makes this wave of departures crucial is that many of the vacating ridings are long-held Liberal strongholds, creating a rare opportunity for the party to add talent.

Mark Wiseman

Mark Wiseman brings heavyweight business and policy credentials to the table. Wiseman is a key advisor to Prime Minister Carney and has an extensive background in global investment management. He is most notably known as the chairman of BlackRock’s global investment committee and as the co-founder of the Century Initiative. The Century Initiative is a business-led interest group dedicated to increasing Canada’s population to 100 million by 2100, primarily through immigration.

Marco Medicino

Marco Mendicino, the former member of parliament for Toronto’s Eglinton-Lawrence, is no stranger to high-profile roles. He held key positions in Trudeau’s cabinet as minister of immigration and public safety. Despite stepping back from elected office, citing disagreements with the Trudeau government, he remains an influential figure within the Liberal Party and is closely aligned with Mark Carney, having previously served as his chief of staff. If he’s interested in making a return, he would be a strong contender for a safe seat.

Liam Olsen

Liam Olsen represents a different category of contender; he is a Liberal youth organizer and has served as the president of the Young Liberals of Canada since 2023 and recently served as the national youth director for Mark Carney’s leadership campaign. Should Olsen run for office, expect him to look for a vacant seat in British Columbia. His professional background includes interning for Jonathan Wilkinson and advising Steven Guilbeault while he was minister of the environment.

John Tory Jr.

John Tory Jr., the son of former Toronto mayor John Tory, recently announced that he was considering running for the Liberals. While new to federal politics, John Tory Jr. is a recognizable name, making him highly valuable for a seat in the area. Liberal sources told the Toronto Star that Tory Jr. is looking to take over Bill Blair’s seat in Scarborough Southwest. Now that we know that Bill Blair is looking towards a position as high commissioner in the U.K., a campaign for Tory Jr. is becoming more of a possibility.

Tim Krupa

Tim Krupa is an up-and-coming staffer in the PMO, serving as the current policy director for Mark Carney. He’s a longtime PMO staffer who also worked in policy under Justin Trudeau and even ran back in 2021 for Kelowna-Lake Country. With a background in economics and prior experience at Goldman Sachs, Krupa’s background aligns well with Carney’s leadership. Should Krupa run again, he would likely look at a British Columbia riding.

Katie Telford

Katie Telford is one of the most influential figures in the Liberal Party and the PMO throughout the Trudeau decade. As the Liberals’ national campaign director and later Trudeau’s chief of staff, she played a central role in developing their strategy, wielding significant power from the PMO. If Telford is ever keen on pursuing public office, she would have a strong ability to organize and fundraise given her connections, and the party would likely benefit from the experience and proven talent she brings to the table.

Ryan Comeau is a contributor to TrendingPolitics.ca