January 23, 2025
Speaking in front of chiefs, councillors and supporters Thursday morning, Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste said he has officially submitted his application to run as the first Indigenous candidate for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Battiste was elected in the riding of Sydney-Victoria in Cape Breton in 2019, becoming the first Mi’kmaw MP.
He recently launched an exploratory team for a campaign to become the next leader of the federal Liberals in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
In a meeting with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs in Dartmouth, N.S., Battiste said he’s chosen to run as Liberal leader because he was encouraged to do so by Indigenous leaders across Canada and because he believes in Liberal policies.