Who's who

The federal Liberals will choose a new leader in April, after Michael Ignatieff stepped down following the party's disastrous showing in the last election. Bob Rae, who has been the party's interim leader since Ignatieff's departure, announced in June that he was bowing out of the permanent job.

Candidates for the leadership must submit their nomination papers and a non-refundable $75,000 fee by Jan. 13, 2013. Voting takes place in the week leading up to announcement of the winner on April 14.

Here's a look at who's in the running.

Justin Trudeau

Age: 40

Bio: The eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau graduated from McGill University. He moved to Vancouver, where he worked as a math and French teacher after receiving his degree in education from the University of British Columbia. He’s married with two children.

Political experience: Trudeau entered federal politics in 2008, when he won the Montreal riding of Papineau. He retained his seat in 2011 while the Liberals fell to third-party standing.

CBC story: Justin Trudeau seeks 'new chapter' for Liberal Party

Martha Hall Findlay

Age: 53

Bio: Hall Findlay graduated from the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School. Currently working as an executive fellow at the University of Calgary, Hall Findlay has had an extensive career as a lawyer and businesswoman. She has three children.

Political experience: In 2004, Hall Findlay ran as a Liberal candidate in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora and narrowly lost to then-Conservative Belinda Stronach. She made an unsuccessful bid for the Liberal leadership in 2006. From 2008 to 2011, Hall Findlay was the MP for the Toronto riding of Willowdale. She lost her seat in the 2011 federal election.

CBC story: Martha Hall Findlay brings 'guts' to Liberal leadership race

Deborah Coyne

Age: 57

Bio: Coyne received her law degree at York University’s Osgoode Hall. She’s been involved in public policy debates as a lawyer, university professor and author. She advised former Newfoundland premier Clyde Wells, an opponent of the Meech Lake constitutional accord, and helped rally public opinion against the subsequent Charlottetown accord. She is a mother of two; her daughter is Justin Trudeau’s half-sister.

Political experience: Deborah Coyne ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Toronto-Danforth in the 2006 federal election, but lost to the late NDP leader Jack Layton.

CBC story: Deborah Coyne enters Liberal leadership race

Karen McCrimmon

Age: 54

Bio: After graduating from the University of Windsor, McCrimmon enlisted in the Canadian Forces as a navigator. The 31-year veteran was the first woman to command a Canadian air force squadron. Upon retirement, the lieutenant-colonel started her own business specializing in negotiation. She is married with two children.

Political experience: McCrimmon ran as the Liberal candidate in the 2011 federal election in the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills, but lost to Conservative incumbent Gordon O'Connor.

Joyce Murray

Age: 58

Bio: Joyce Murray holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University and wrote her thesis on Canada's policy options for dealing with climate change. Before entering politics, Murray co-founded a reforestation business with her husband, Dirk Brinkman. She was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada as a child in 1961. She has three grown children and lives with her husband in Vancouver.

Political experience: Murray was first elected as MLA for New Westminster, B.C., in 2001 and served as Environment Minister and Minister of Management Services under B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell. She entered federal politics and won the riding of Vancouver Quadra in a byelection in 2008. She has been re-elected twice and is currently Liberal critic for Small Business and Tourism, the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Western Economic Diversification.

CBC story: B.C. MP Joyce Murray joins Liberal leadership race

Marc Garneau

Age: 63

Bio: Marc Garneau was born in Quebec City and graduated from Royal Military College, becoming a naval officer after getting his doctorate in engineering. In the 1980s he became one of six Canadian astronauts and flew his first space shuttle mission in 1984, ultimately logging 644 hours in space. In 2001, he became head of the Canadian Space Agency, a position he held until entering politics in 2005. He is married with two children, with two children from a previous marriage.

Political experience: Garneau lost his first bid for election in 2006, but in 2008 won the Montreal riding of Westmount-Ville-Marie. He is the Liberal critic for science, industry and technology and served as Liberal House Leader until announcing his leadership bid.

CBC story: Ex-astronaut Marc Garneau launches Liberal leadership bid

David Bertschi

Age: 52

Bio: Born and raised in Quebec, Bertschi received a law degree from the University of Windsor. He’s a founding partner in a law firm specializing in business and insurance. He’s married with six children.

Political experience: In 2011, he ran and lost for the Liberals in Ottawa-Orleans.

Inside Politics Blog: Unofficial Liberal leadership candidate turns to political ad veteran

Martin Cauchon

Age: 50

Bio: Cauchon was a lawyer before entering politics, and returned to practising commercial law after leaving office. He's currently practising with the Montreal firm Heenan Blaikie, advising clients on Quebec's Plan Nord development initiative and developing the firm's strategy on China. Cauchon holds a Master of Law degree in International Business Legal Studies from the U.K.'s University of Exeter.

Political experience: After running unsuccessfully in the riding of Charlevoix in 1988, Cauchon was elected as the Liberal MP for Outremont in 1993 and was re-elected twice (1997, 2000.) A Jean Chretien loyalist, he joined cabinet as a junior minister responsible for the Quebec regional development agency in 1996 before being named revenue minister in 1999 and then justice minister in 2002. After flirting with his own leadership ambitions, he decided not to run again in 2004. After a divisive Liberal nomination controversy in his old Outremont seat, he was unsuccessful in a bid to re-enter the House of Commons in 2011, losing to NDP incumbent Tom Mulcair.

CBC story: Ex-cabinet minister Cauchon enters Liberal leadership race

George Takach

Age: 55

Bio: The son of Hungarian immigrants, George Takach is a Toronto technology lawyer and holds an MA in International Relations. Fluent in French, Takach identifies himself as fiscally conservative but progressive on social issues. He advocates more R&D spending, grassroots online collaboration on government legislation and a digital "bill of rights" that would include faster internet speeds in Canada. He also supports the legalization of marijuana.

Political experience: Has not held elected office.

CBC story: Tech guru Takach joins crowded federal Liberal leadership

George Takach announced Feb. 25 he was withdrawing from the Liberal leadership race.