As a race to elect a new Liberal leader quickly approaches, a high-profile candidate appears set to throw their hat into the ring.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is expected to launch his bid to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after signalling plans through his campaign team.

Former B.C. premier Christy Clark has said she is also debating whether to put her name forward, telling CBC Radio鈥檚 鈥淭he House鈥� she was 鈥渧ery seriously鈥� considering it last week, but that she was disappointed with the short timeline for the race.

Several high-profile cabinet ministers have announced they will not run, including Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon and Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand, who each bowed out over the weekend.

They joined Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly to say they planned to focus on their portfolios instead.

Hopefuls have until Jan. 23 to declare their candidacy, and the new leader will be announced March 9.

So far, former Montreal MP Frank Baylis and Nepean, Ont., MP Chandra Arya are the only ones to publicly state they intend to run for the job.

MacKinnon said in a social media post Sunday that the leadership race needs diverse, experienced and pragmatic voices in both English and French.

And while he feels he could be that voice, the Gatineau MP says the length of the campaign for the leadership doesn鈥檛 fit with his plans.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has prorogued Parliament until March 24, so the March 9 date gives the new Liberal leader two weeks to prepare for the House鈥檚 return and a national campaign.

MacKinnon said he will focus on his ministerial responsibilities and will listen closely to help make an informed choice around who should replace Trudeau.

鈥淚 admire all those who have considered, or are considering, entering the leadership race. Liberals across Canada have big expectations. It has been energizing for me to hear their voices,鈥� MacKinnon wrote.

鈥淚t is the honour of my life to represent the people of Gatineau in the House of Commons, and I look forward to once again seeking their confidence.鈥�

Trudeau announced in early January that he would resign his role as prime minister and Liberal party leader as soon as a replacement is chosen.

In an interview that aired Sunday on MSNBC鈥檚 鈥淚nside with Jen Psaki,鈥� Trudeau said his party鈥檚 low popularity relates to a global anti-incumbent sentiment.

鈥淚 think now we鈥檙e seeing a time in politics where emotions and social media is carrying an awful lot of weight in how people feel about things, but I鈥檓 always going to lean back on what are the substantive things that are being done,鈥� Trudeau said.

He also blamed the 鈥減olitical right鈥� for contributing to perceptions things are worse than they are, and said people are looking for quick fixes that aren鈥檛 necessarily possible outside the medium- and long-term.

Once a new leader is chosen, Trudeau said he鈥檚 鈥渓ooking forward to resting.鈥�

鈥淢y two older kids have about a year and a half left in high school before they go off to university. The idea of being there for them as an active dad, making lunches and being home when they get home from school is something that鈥檚 really, really exciting to me.鈥�

A handful of high-profile ministers in Trudeau鈥檚 cabinet who were speculated to seek the leadership have in recent days quashed the idea.

Joly took herself out of the running Friday, saying she鈥檚 not willing to leave her cabinet posting at a 鈥渃rucial time鈥� for Canada-U.S. relations.

鈥淭he reality is, I can鈥檛 do both,鈥� she told reporters on Parliament Hill on Friday morning.

Anand announced Saturday that she, too, has declined to run and would also not seek reelection. She said the joy of her work in politics delayed a planned return to academia, but now that Trudeau has decided to step aside she says it鈥檚 time for her to do so as well.

鈥淚 sincerely thank Prime Minister Trudeau for welcoming me on the Liberal team as a member of Parliament and for entrusting me in key cabinet portfolios,鈥� she wrote in a statement on social media.

鈥淚 am truly grateful to the people of Oakville for selecting me to represent them in Canada鈥檚 House of Commons, and for being such a wonderful, welcoming community where my husband and I raised our four children over the past twenty years.鈥�

LeBlanc also dashed the hopes of many of his caucus supporters last Wednesday by becoming the first potential cabinet aspirant to rule out a leadership bid.

Since his announcement, several MPs, including Judy Sgro, have tried to convince him to change his mind, but he has signalled his decision is firm.