The race to replace Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party – and as the country’s prime minister – is well under way, with seven candidates throwing their names into contention. The leadership hopefuls had until Thursday evening to meet a deadline to formally submit their candidacies before the party picks its new chief on March 9.

Freeland, who was one of Trudeau's closest political allies for a decade, quit last month after resisting his demands for more spending and wrote a letter denouncing his governing style.