Justin Trudeau Steps Down as Canadian Prime Minister

In a shocking political move, Justin Trudeau resigns as Prime Minister of Canada, leaving the nation speculating about the future of its leadership.

On Monday, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, declared his resignation. He stated that he would step down once the ruling Liberal party selects a new leader following months of declining poll numbers and internal discord.

“I plan to step down as party leader and prime minister once the party chooses its new leader,” Trudeau, who has held office since 2015, announced to reporters in Ottawa. This decision comes after an extended political crisis during which key Liberal supporters encouraged him to resign.

It was not immediately clear how long Trudeau will continue to serve as a caretaker prime minister.

He stated that the Liberal leadership contest will be “a vigorous and competitive process across the nation.”

This implies that Trudeau will remain the leader of Canada when incoming US President Donald Trump assumes office this month. He will be responsible for guiding Canada’s initial response to the new US administration, which may involve a potential trade war.

Trump has pledged to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian imports, which could have severe consequences for the Canadian economy. In response, Trudeau has promised to retaliate.

Trudeau’s backing from the Liberal party had been unstable for most of last year, but hit unprecedented lows after his former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland unexpectedly resigned in December.

In a strongly worded resignation letter, Freeland criticized Trudeau for prioritizing political maneuvers aimed at pleasing voters—such as an expensive Christmas tax holiday—instead of stabilizing Canada’s finances in preparation for the tariffs promised by Trump.

Canadian media have suggested Freeland as a potential candidate to lead the Liberal Party, alongside Mark Carney—a Canadian who previously served as governor of both the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada.

Lori Turnbull, a political science professor at Dalhousie University, noted that while a Liberal leadership race typically spans four to six months, it needs to be expedited this time.

“If they haven’t chosen a new leader by the next election, then it’s pointless,” she told AFP.

Trudeau’s Liberal Party is significantly behind the opposition Conservatives in the polls and barely survived three no-confidence votes in parliament late last year.

His minority government had been supported by an arrangement with the left-wing New Democratic Party. However, in December, the NDP announced their intention to vote against Trudeau at the next available opportunity to bring down his administration.

Trudeau confirmed that he had obtained approval from Canada’s governor general to pause all parliamentary activities until March 24.

That could provide the Liberals with time to select a new leader while limiting the opposition’s ability to initiate a vote of no confidence.