• Current Markham-Stouffville MP and Liberal Party member Dr. Helena Jaczek has announced she will run for re-election, reversing her earlier decision to retire.
  • Jaczek, who had previously stated her intention to retire in July 2023, has been a long-serving politician for the area.
  • She was first elected to Provincial office in 2007 and became Markham–Stouffville’s MP in 2019.
  • With the Liberal leadership race underway, Jaczek also declared her endorsement of Mark Carney
  • Canada’s Parliament has been prorogued until March 24, with a federal election expected soon after.

 

Jaczek’s political career spans more than 17 years. She was first elected as a Liberal MP for Markham–Stouffville in 2019 and served as Canada’s Public Services and Procurement Minister and Receiver General from August 2022 to July 2023. She was also the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario between October 2021 and August 2022.

Prior to joining the federal Liberals, she was an Ontario Liberal MPP for the riding of Oak Ridges-Markham from 2007 to 2018. During her time at Queens Park, she took on the roles of Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

In July 2023, Jaczek announced her decision not to seek re-election. In October 2024, she publicly supported a secret ballot to determine whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should remain as Liberal Leader.

Following Trudeau’s decision in January to step down, the Liberal Party is now preparing to select a new leader. Current candidates include Nepean MP Chandra Arya, Sydney–Victoria MP Jaime Battiste, businessperson and former Pierrefonds–Dollard MP Frank Baylis, former Governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney, former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and Burlington MP and House Leader Karina Gould.

“The Liberal Party of Canada is choosing a new leader and future Prime Minister. We now have a full roster of candidates each of whom has their own individual strengths,” Jaczek said in a statement posted to her X account today. “I’ve been talking to my constituents in my riding of Markham-Stouffville to hear their views. The overwhelming majority tell me that Mark Carney is the best candidate to lead our country.”

Jaczek also announced her intention to run in the next federal election.

“The new energy in the party and in my community has caused me to rethink my retirement, and I now intend to run in the next election,” she stated.

Trudeau will remain Prime Minister until a new leader is selected. Although a federal election must be called by October of this year, it is widely expected that a no-confidence vote will result in an early election shortly after Parliament resumes in March.