The Liberal Party of Canada has officially disqualified leadership candidate Ruby Dhalla from the ongoing leadership race. This decision was confirmed by Azam Ishmael, the party’s national director, in a statement released just prior to the commencement of the French-language leadership debate on Monday.

Dhalla, a former Member of Parliament, was informed of her disqualification on Friday. The party's leadership vote committee indicated that she had breached multiple rules, leading to this drastic measure against her candidacy. Dhalla has vocally rejected these findings, labeling the allegations against her as “false” and “fabricated.” She expressed the belief that the party actively sought to prevent her victory in the leadership contest.

On Monday, following her disqualification, Dhalla submitted an appeal in an effort to reverse the committee’s decision. However, her appeal was not successful, and the party’s permanent appeals committee upheld the ruling of the leadership vote committee.

The timeline for the leadership contest indicates that the Liberal Party is set to select its new leader on March 9, 2025, moving forward without Dhalla’s participation following this controversy.

This update underscores the competitive and often contentious nature of political leadership races, where internal party dynamics and rule enforcement can lead to significant ramifications for candidates. Ruby Dhalla's removal from the race not only affects her political aspirations but also reflects broader tensions within the party as it seeks to navigate its leadership transition.