Former Liberal MP considering leadership run in the wake of party's byelection defeat

Only a day after Conservatives won a federal byelection in the longtime Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's, ending a race that was largely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership at the head of the governing party, a new potential contender says he is considering a bid to replace him. 

Former Liberal MP Frank Baylis confirmed to CBC News he has been approached for a leadership run.

"A number of people are asking me to think about this, and I'm taking their request seriously," Baylis said in an interview. 

"It's been a long time, there's been a demand, there's been an interest in having a more centrist viewpoint, a more fiscally responsible approach, and with my background in business, many people have approached me and talked to me about this."

Baylis represented Pierrefonds-Dollard, another riding considered one of the safest in the country for the Liberals, on Montreal's West Island, from 2015 to 2019. He stepped down that year. 

He is the executive chairperson of Baylis Medical Tech, a company he sold to a larger American firm, Boston Scientific, for $1.75 billion US in 2022. 

He insisted he has made no firm decision, but has been watching the fallout from the byelection result closely. 

"This was a very, very decisive defeat, from a [previous] very strong victory," Baylis said, adding he understood the frustration of Liberal MPs who are concerned about their chances at reelection.  

"Prime Minister Trudeau will decide what he wants to do if and when he decides to do that, that's his prerogative," Baylis said.

He added only then would he decide his own next steps.

On Tuesday, Trudeau addressed the byelection results but gave no indication he was thinking of stepping down.

"I and my entire team have much more hard work to do to deliver tangible, real progress that Canadians can see and feel," he said. 

Two Liberal MPs, speaking to CBC News on the condition they not be named, said they have heard of Baylis considering a leadership run.

"This has been an open secret," said one MP, who said Baylis had been one of the best new Liberal parliamentarians for the term he was elected to public office.