I'm John Batson with my colleagues, Gordon Chang and Charles Burton.

Canadian election, imminent or this year.

My understanding, Charles, is that the Liberal Party now must choose a leader before the gears

of election go into action. The Prime Minister, Mr. Trudeau is the leader of the

liberal party, which has a minority hold on the government right now, but the election will be

called when there is a new leader of the liberal party or not. It's very difficult now to discern what happens next.

The presumption is there will be an election in March for the new liberal leader.

He then becomes the momentary prime minister.

It is his responsibility or hers, although the polls indicate Mr. Carney.

But Ms. Freeland is a candidate.

There are other candidates.

His or hers, a right to call an election immediately or not.

Help me with the calendar.

What's the earliest we can expect an election and what's the latest?

Thank you, Charles.

Well, I think that the earliest would be the moment that Mr. Carney becomes prime minister,

if that's the case. In last night's leadership debate, I think Christia Freeland performed much

more strongly, and of course she has a much better foreign policy focus and more, really more informed on China and Ukraine and Russia.

But anyway, it looks like Mr. Carney.

Mr. Carney becomes the prime minister on March the 9th.

If he wins the leadership contest, it appears to be pretty much inevitable.

And he could call an election at any time.

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