MISSISSAUGA, ONT.—The Liberals have nominated their first candidate for next year’s federal election.

At a Toronto-area rally Wednesday evening that included a speech by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Navdeep Bains was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate in Mississauga-Malton.

The minister of innovation, science and economic development says he will run a positive campaign and will steer clear of fear-based politics. He says the economy will be the party’s number-one priority.

Trudeau, meantime, doubled down on his positive approach and the “sunny ways” campaign that brought his party to power in 2015. He says negativity will surround both him and the party in the year ahead.

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“Around the world, the politics of division, of polarization, of populism are taking more and more hold,” Trudeau said to a cheering crowd of hundreds at a convention centre in Mississauga, Ont.

“We have to demonstrate here in Canada, for ourselves, for our communities, for our kids — but also for the world — that those don’t always work.”

The Liberals said last week that more nominations will take place at “a very quick pace” throughout the summer.

For most, if not all, of the 183 sitting Liberal MPs, the process will be a simple acclamation, after the party decided that incumbents won’t have to fight open nomination contests.

That’s provided they meet certain conditions on fundraising and voter engagement.

For the 155 ridings where the governing party isn’t in control, a number of conditions need to be met before a nomination meeting can be held.

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They include: documenting that a thorough search for female candidates has been conducted; having at least 15 per cent of the election expenses limit in the bank; having at least 150 registered Liberals in the riding; and having recruited at least 15 new monthly donors.

The next federal election is set for Oct. 21, 2019.

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