Who might replace Trudeau as Liberal Party leader?

Trudeau's announcement that he will step down from the role after nine years as PM means his party must now find a new leader to compete in a general election, where polls suggest they are headed to defeat.

Liberals will vote for their new leader on 9 March.

The list of potential candidates has narrowed in recent days, with many prominent cabinet ministers choosing not to run.

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said they need to focus on their current duties, while Transport Minister Anita Anand said she will be exiting politics.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has said the quick race will not allow him "to mount the kind of campaign" he wants.

Former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has also bowed out citing a lack of time to mount a successful campaign.

Here are some of the names that have entered - or are expected to enter - the Liberal leadership race.

Former central banker Mark Carney

Mark Carney formally launched his campaign on Thursday.

"I've helped manage multiple crises, and I've helped save two economies," he said at a speech in Edmonton.

"I know how business works, and I know how to make it work for you."

Mr Carney, 59, was born in Canada's Northwest Territories and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta.

He has been serving in recent months as a special economics adviser to Trudeau, has long been considered a contender for the top job, though the Harvard graduate has never held public office.

Trudeau himself admitted that he had long been trying to recruit Mr Carney to his team.

"He would be an outstanding addition at a time when Canadians need good people to step up in politics," he told reporters on the sidelines of a Nato conference in July 2024.

Mr Carney brings with him expertise on environmental matters through his role as the United Nations special envoy on climate action, recently calling the goal of net zero "the greatest commercial opportunity of our time".

He is a champion of some Liberal policies that have been unpopular within the country's conservative circles like the federal carbon tax policy, the party's signature climate policy that critics argue is a financial burden for Canadians.

He pledged in his speech to "stand up for Canada against Donald Trump".

In an appearance on US television's Daily Show in mid-January, while hinting at his potential bid, Mr Carney portrayed himself as an outsider in the race.

Former Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland

The Toronto member of parliament became one of the most well-known members of Trudeau's team and is seen as one of the top contenders to replace the outgoing leader.

She is expected to launch her bid in the coming days.

While she had long been seen as a trusted senior official in his inner circle, a rift with the prime minister's office led to her recent abrupt resignation in December.

Her criticism of Trudeau in her public resignation letter piled the pressure on him and made his departure seem inevitable.

Born to a Ukrainian mother in the western province of Alberta, the 56-year-old was a journalist before entering politics.

She entered the House of Commons in 2013 and two years later joined Trudeau's cabinet with a trade brief after he swept the party to power.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs she helped Canada renegotiate a free trade deal with the US and Mexico.

She was later named deputy prime minister and minister of finance - the first woman to hold the job - and oversaw Canada's financial response to the Covid pandemic.

Quitting last month, she criticised Trudeau as insufficiently strong in his handling of Donald Trump's threat to levy US tariffs on Canadian goods.

A 2019 Globe and Mail profile said depending who you asked, Freeland is either a last, best hope for the liberal world order or an out-of-touch idealist.

Her steadfast support of Ukraine earned praise in some quarters but the Harvard-educated MP has had her share of critics, including Trump who recently called her "toxic".

Liberal House leader Karina Gould

Karina Gould, a former trade and investment specialist, has thrown her hat in the ring, declaring she would represent a "new generation" if elected.

She was first elected in 2015 and has served a number of roles in Trudeau's cabinet - the youngest woman to serve as a minister in Canada.

The 37-year-old was families minister, international development minister and later Minister of Democratic Institutions, before taking on her current role as House Leader, where she oversees the government's legislative agenda.

MP Jaime Battiste

Jaime Battiste, a Mi'kmaw member of parliament from the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, was first elected in 2019.

The indigenous politician said in a social media post he is contemplating a run after receiving an "outpouring of support" from indigenous leaders and others.

His vision for the country is one that "prioritises protecting human rights, reconciliation and environmental sustainability" he said.

"Before there was a Premier Wab Kinew, there had to be an Elijah Harper," he said, referencing respectively the indigenous leader and the indigenous former provincial politician in the province of Manitoba.

"Before there was a Barack Obama, there had to be a Jesse Jackson," he added.

Battiste conceded he faces a challenge in raising the C$350,000 ($245,700; £200,000) for the entry fee, and said he is launching an exploratory bid.

MP Chandra Arya

The backbench member of parliament is one of the first to formally toss his hat into the race.

In a statement, Arya said he is running to "lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations".

Arya, an engineer and former entrepreneur, was first elected MP in 2015.

An immigrant who came to Canada from India 20 years ago, he called himself the embodiment of "what Canada is all about".

Businessman Frank Baylis

Frank Baylis, a former Liberal member of parliament, was the first out of the gate to announce he is seeking the leadership of the party.

He has said he will bring his experience from the world of business to address the affordability and cost-of-living challenges facing Canadians.

Baylis served in parliament from 2015-2019.

-BBC