Canada’s Justin Trudeau announces resignation after nearly a decade as prime minister
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation after nearly a decade in power.
Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule and had initially been praised for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old leader, the son of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers, became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing and surging immigration.
The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the U.S. That’s even though far fewer of each cross into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened.
The decision to resign bows to rising discontent over his leadership and growing turmoil within his government signaled by the abrupt departure of his finance minister.
Trudeau said Monday that “internal battles” mean that he “cannot be the best option” in the next election. He planned to stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party was chosen.
He said Parliament would be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race. A spring election after the Liberals pick a new leader was almost assured.
Chrystia Freeland, the finance minister who resigned last month and sent discussions about Prime Minister Trudeau’s resignation into overdrive, has thanked him for his years of service and wished him well.
Freeland is a likely candidate for prime minister after being Trudeau’s most powerful minister.
In his resignation comments, Trudeau called Freeland “an incredible political partner” and said he had hoped she would continue as his deputy prime minister.
Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has responded to Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s resignation announcement. In a taped message posted on X, Poilievre said “Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada deserves a Parliament that functions. He took questions after announcing his resignation Monday morning.
Trudeau said Parliament has been “entirely seized” by what he called obstruction and a total lack of productivity. He said this has been the longest-serving minority government in Canadian history.
In some of his final comments to the media, Trudeau shared his thoughts on opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. He said Poilievre has a “very small vision” for Canada, describing it as “stopping the fight against climate change,” backing off on “strength in diversity,” and “attacking journalists.”
Associated Press January 6, 2025
