Liberal Party announces new national campaign directors

As questions arise about when Canadians will be able to go to the polls, the Liberal Party on Sunday announced the two people who will oversee its campaign for the next federal election.

In a news release, the Liberals said Andrew Bevan will serve as campaign director and Marjorie Michel will serve as deputy campaign director.

Bevan previously worked as chief of staff to former federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, the statement said. He also served as chief of staff to former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Last October, Bevan joined the current Liberal government as chief of staff to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and senior advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the statement said.

He will replace Jeremy Broadhurst, who stepped down in September and cited the pressures of work on himself and his family as the reason for his decision.

According to the release, Michel is “an experienced Liberal political organizer with deep roots in Quebec.” She is currently Trudeau’s deputy chief of staff and previously worked as the party’s director of campaign operations in Quebec during the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

A man in a suit gestures with his hand while speaking into a microphone. — Jeremy Broadhurst announced in September that he was stepping down as the Liberal Party’s national campaign director, citing the pressures work placed on himself and his family as the reason for his decision. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

The party’s announcement comes days after dissatisfaction with Trudeau’s leadership emerged at Wednesday’s Liberal National Caucus meeting.

CBC News reported Friday that some MPs were upset that Trudeau had traveled to Laos for an international summit while some key questions remained unanswered, including Broadhurst’s replacement.

Uncertain electoral moment

Although Canada’s fixed-date election law states that voting must take place by October 2025, since the NDP withdrew its supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals, there has been more uncertainty about the timing of the next election.

Some parties have thought about pushing for an earlier trip to the polls.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has been pushing the Liberal government to pass legislation that would increase some pensions and protect management from offering concessions in trade negotiations.

Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet speaks to reporters at a podium. — Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet speaks to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday. Blanchet said that if the Liberal government does not pass legislation on pensions and supply management, the Bloc would begin negotiating with other parties to overthrow the government. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby)

On Wednesday, Blanchet said the Liberals have just days to support their party’s proposals, or else the Bloc would begin negotiating with the Conservatives and NDP to oust Trudeau’s government.

The Conservatives twice attempted to overthrow the government through votes of no confidence, but both attempts failed when the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois voted against the motions.

Trudeau has previously said an election would take place next year, but “hopefully not until next fall.”