Field of Liberal leadership hopefuls shrinks

The race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader is heating up with several high-profile candidates expected to announce their candidacy. 

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney appears ready to enter the leadership race with the backing of approximately 30 Liberal MPs, 

Carney is expected to declare his candidacy by January 23.

Former British Columbia premier Christy Clark said she is seriously weighing her chances but is disappointed with the short timeline. 

It is also expected that Chrystia Freeland will run for the leadership, but so far, Freeland has not publically declared her intention to run.

A group of high-profile cabinet ministers, including Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand, Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc, and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, have already announced they will not run for the Liberal leadership.

With the deadline for leadership contenders approaching, only two other candidates have publicly confirmed their intention to run. 

Former MP Frank Baylis and MP Chandra Arya said they plan to run for the Liberal leadership. 

The Liberal Party has set March 9 as the end of the leadership contest, leaving candidates little time to run their campaigns and raise the $350,000 entrance fee.