The Liberal Party has revealed that family physician Dr. Danielle Martin will be the candidate for the upcoming federal byelection in University-Rosedale, the downtown Toronto constituency previously represented by Chrystia Freeland before her recent resignation. Dr. Martin currently serves as the chair of the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto. Notably, in 2014, she defended Canada’s healthcare system in front of a U.S. Senate committee, garnering significant attention at the time.
Described as a staunch advocate for constituents in the area, Dr. Martin is poised to collaborate with Mark Carney and the Liberal team to bolster the economy, safeguard essential programs for workers and families, and provide Canadians with more affordable living standards and increased opportunities for advancement.
The byelection in University-Rosedale comes as Chrystia Freeland, who vacated her seat to assume an advisory role to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, steps down. Having served as deputy prime minister from 2019 to 2024 and being the first female finance minister in Canada, Freeland, with Ukrainian heritage, has been a prominent critic of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
A former contender for the Liberal leadership, Freeland had represented University-Rosedale since 2015, a constituency formed from the area she initially won in 2013. Prime Minister Mark Carney has yet to announce the date for the byelection, with Elections Canada stipulating that it must occur between January 20 and July 8, 2026, with the earliest possible date being March 2, 2026.