Pierre Trudeau John Turner The Liberal Party of Canada held a leadership election on June 16, 1984, to replace retiring Liberal leader and sitting prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

First appointed to Cabinet by Lester Pearson in 1967, he had served in several senior portfolios under Trudeau, including minister of finance.

Don Johnston, 47, MP for Saint-Henri—Westmount in Montreal since 1978, was president of the treasury board, and had served in several other economic portfolios.

John Munro, 53, an MP for Hamilton East since 1962, was minister of Indian affairs and northern development.

Eugene Whelan, 59, MP for Essex-Windsor since 1962, has been minister of agriculture from 1972 to 1979, when the Liberals lost power, and again since 1980.