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Trudeau resigning as Liberal leader

PM asked to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is addressing his political future after an increasing number of Liberal MPs called on him to resign as leader.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is addressing his political future after an increasing number of Liberal MPs called on him to resign as leader.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he plans to step down once the Liberal Party has chosen a successor, bringing his time leading the country to a tumultuous end. 

Trudeau, who became Liberal leader in 2013 and prime minister in the fall of 2015, announced his long-awaited decision outside his official residence, Rideau Cottage, on Monday morning.

Trudeau also said he asked Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until March 24, and she granted the request.

His decision will set off a competitive leadership race to replace him and find a contender to take on the Liberals' key rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, in the next federal election. 

Trudeau has been under mounting pressure to resign amid sinking public opinion polling, including from his own caucus. 

At least two dozen individual MPs and several regional caucuses — including Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario — have called for him to step down since before the holiday break.

His political future was put into a tailspin when Chrystia Freeland, long seen as his top lieutenant, resigned as finance minister and deputy prime minister last month, the day she was scheduled to present the fall economic statement.

Conservatives threaten non-confidence motion

In a letter to Trudeau that was subsequently posted to social media, Freeland said she had no choice but to resign after Trudeau approached her about moving her to another cabinet role.

Freeland also took a jab at Trudeau's handling of the economy, denouncing what she called the government's "costly political gimmicks" and imploring him to work collaboratively with the country's premiers to take on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's tariffs threat.

 

A woman with blonde hair speaks into a microphone while a man with brown hair looks at her
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland speaks at a press conference after meeting with families at a local child care centre in Ottawa, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

 

She went on to write that she and Trudeau have been "at odds" in recent weeks about how to handle the incoming U.S. administration.

The Conservatives, which have been riding high in the polls for more than a year, have promised to move a motion of non-confidence in the Liberal government as soon as possible in the new year. 

 

Author: Editors Desk

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