Indigenous MP from Nova Scotia submits application for Liberal leadership race

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste officially joined the Liberal leadership race Thursday, saying he knows he is facing steep odds in his bid to become Canada’s first Indigenous prime minister.

“Someone always has to take these first steps, even if they know that these first steps are to pave the way for future generations,” he said Thursday after confirming he had submitted a $50,000 deposit and the required documents to the national party. Thursday was the deadline.

“I’ve always embraced being in the underdog role …. In previous nominations and elections, I’ve never been picked to be the eventual winner. If they keep betting against me, I’ll let them.”

Battiste, the only First Nations candidate in the race to replace Justin Trudeau, will need another $300,000 — paid in instalments — to continue with his leadership bid. The party will choose a new leader through a national vote on March 9.

The 46-year-old member for Sydney—Victoria, who was first elected in 2019, said he is up for the challenge.

“I was told as a boxer, you fight until the bell rings. And that’s what I plan on doing.”

Still, Battiste admitted that he has been surprised by the relentless work he’s had to do so far in the leadership campaign, saying he recently sent a note to Trudeau in appreciation of the prime minister’s commitment to becoming leader. In the note, Battiste said he told the prime minister, “I never knew how hard this was. And I could not imagine how hard it was for you.”

As he formally announced his candidacy in a Halifax-area hotel, the Mi’kmaq politician from Cape Breton was surrounded by Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey chiefs and councillors from across Atlantic Canada. Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny introduced Battiste, saying, “he has everything in his tool box to make sure he can run this country.”

Denny highlighted Battiste’s law degree and his work as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Crown-Indigenous relations. Battiste also serves as chair of the Liberal party’s Indigenous caucus and was the first Mi’kmaw elected to the House of Commons. He is also former regional chief with the Assembly of First Nations.

Battiste said he initially decided to enter the race after receiving encouragement from Indigenous leaders across Canada. But he went on to say that he wants to become prime minister to fight for key Liberal policies, including the national programs for pharmacare, dental care, affordable child care and the national school food policy. He then took a swipe at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

“If the Conservatives come in, (those programs) are all in jeopardy,” he said. “We can’t afford to go backwards with reckless Conservative cuts that value profits over people …. I’m hear to tell Pierre Poilievre that you can’t cut your way to prosperity, and you can’t pollute your way to a better planet.”

A member of the Eskasoni First Nation, Battiste also blamed the Conservatives for thwarting legislation that would have recognized that First Nations have an inherent right to clean drinking water.

Battiste, who is also a champion powwow dancer and musician, said he can speak and understand French, but he said his debating and conversation skills need work.

When he announced his plan to seek the party’s leadership earlier this month, he said reforming the First Nations child welfare system and ensuring adequate funding for First Nations police services would be his top priorities. But he said his focus wouldn’t be squarely on Indigenous issues. He also said that as prime minister, he would convene a first ministers meeting to discuss the price on pollution.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2025.

Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press