‘Cannot be the best option’: Trudeau resigns as Liberal Party leader, to step down as PM after leadership race
Posted Jan 6, 2025 12:06:46 PM.
Last Updated Jan 7, 2025 09:12:19 AM.
Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he has decided to resign as prime minister and the leader of the Liberal Party following a leadership contest, ending rampant speculation and months of political turbulence.
Trudeau made the long-awaited announcement at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Monday following a bombshell report from the Globe and Mail over the weekend highlighting the prime minister’s intentions to resign.
Over the winter holiday break, Trudeau reflected on his future amid growing calls from his caucus to step down. On Monday morning, he met with Governor General Mary Simon and asked for the prorogation of Parliament until March 24.
“I’m a fighter; every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians; I care deeply about this country,” said Trudeau.
“The fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session for a minority government in Canadian history. I intend to resign as Party Leader and Prime Minister after the party selects its next leader following a national, robust, rigorous and competitive process.”
Trudeau says he asked Liberal party president Sachit Mehra to launch a leadership race immediately.
Trudeau’s Liberals have been in flux for some time, and political pundits began questioning the Prime Minister’s leadership stemming from weeks of turmoil, none more evident than Chrystia Freeland’s sudden resignation in mid-December.
After Freeland resigned, Trudeau ducked questions from the media for weeks and cancelled all his year-end interviews with news organizations.
“I hoped that [Freeland] would agree to continue as my Deputy Prime Minister and take on one of the most important files that not just this government, but this country, is facing. But she chose otherwise,” Trudeau said of Freeland’s decision to step down last month. “Regarding what actually happened, I am not someone who is in the habit of sharing private conversations.”
Freeland thanked Trudeau for serving the country and Canadians in a post on X, wishing him and his family the best.
The Conservatives were expected to introduce a non-confidence motion at the public accounts committee next week. However, proroguing Parliament would wipe clear the current slate of legislation and delay opportunities for non-confidence votes that could trigger an election.
The next federal election is slated for October but could happen much sooner.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has continually stated that Trudeau lost government control and repeated calls for an election. Trudeau’s Liberals have trailed behind Poilievre’s Conservative party for over a year as an affordability crisis grips the nation.
What comes next?
With Trudeau’s resignation official, the constitution provides that the Liberal caucus can be consulted on who becomes the interim leader. Many names have been floated as possible replacements, including Chrystia Freeland, former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, and current Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, to name a few.
The constitution does not dictate the length of a leadership contest. However, candidates must gather the necessary signatures and deliver a written nomination letter to the party president at least 90 days before the vote.
“Pierre Poilievre is not the right choice for Canadians,” Trudeau said of his political counterpart. “Stopping the fight against climate change doesn’t make sense. Backing off on the values and strength in diversity that Canada has always worked to pull itself together on is not the right path for the country.”
One key factor is Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has said he plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports. Trump said the tariff will remain in place until both countries stop drugs, in particular fentanyl, and people from illegally crossing the borders.
Trudeau was elected three times, most recently in 2021, when he retained power but lost his governing majority. He has been the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada since 2013 and the prime minister since 2015. He is the son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada’s 15th Prime Minister.
“Since 2015, I have fought for this country, for you,” Trudeau said. “The country deserves a clear and real choice… If I have to focus on internal battles, I cannot be the best choice.”
Premier Ford issues statement following Trudeau’s resignation
In response to Trudeau’s decision to step down as Canada’s Liberal Party leader and eventually as Prime Minister, Ontario Premier Doug Ford mentioned Trump’s looming tariffs as potential devastation to the country.
“In two weeks, the president-elect will be sworn in as America’s next president and will have every opportunity to make his threats real,” Ford said in a statement.
“Between now and then, the federal government needs to do everything humanly possible to avoid these tariffs, including by doing more to secure our border and offering a credible plan to invest more in Canada’s military to meet and exceed our NATO spending commitments.”
Premier Ford said the interests of Canadian workers and families “need to come before political or party ambitions.”
“Canada needs to demonstrate stability and strength at this critical moment, and the federal government must urgently explain to Canadians how they will avoid tariffs that could have devastating effects on our economy.”
Ontario’s premier has repeatedly referenced Trump’s tariff threat and has been pressing Trudeau to ramp up border security.
With files from The Canadian Press
