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Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s popularity started to dip following the Covid-19 pandemic but inflation, price rise and tussle with India also played its part.
Trudeau announced his resignation, saying he will leave office as soon as the ruling Liberal party chooses a new leader. (IMAGE: AFP)
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on Monday announced to step down as Prime Minister and Canadian Liberal Party chief ahead of an election year where rivals Conservatives are polling ahead of their main rivals.
The 53-year-old leader said Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history.
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“I am fighter. Every bone in my body has told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians and this country. I intend to resign as party leader and prime minister after the party elects its new leader,” he said at a press conference in Ottawa.
“This morning, I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of parliament. She has granted this request, and the House will now be prorogued until March 24,” added.
Sachit Mehra, the president of the Liberal party, said the process of selecting who will succeed Trudeau will begin this week. “We thank him for his service to Canada, and we look forward to his continued leadership until a new leader is chosen,” Mehra said.
Trudeau further listed his administration’s support for Ukraine and his policy during the Covid-19 pandemic, as being among his greatest achievements since he took power in 2015.
“We rallied to support each other through the pandemic … to stand strong with Ukraine, and our democracy, to fight climate change, and to get our economy ready for the future,” he added. “We are at a critical moment in the world.”
Trudeau was facing questions about lax immigration laws, rising crime and inflation but the prime minister of nearly 10 years faced criticism recently over his reaction to US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian imports.
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His popularity also waned in recent months, with his government narrowly surviving a series of no-confidence votes and critics calling for his resignation.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland quit in December after disagreeing with Trudeau over how to respond to Trump’s apparent plan, in the first open dissent against the prime minister within his cabinet. She, after Trudeau’s speech, thanked the outgoing PM for his service to the nation.
Trudeau swept to power in 2015 and led the Liberals to two more ballot box victories in 2019 and 2021.
Arya, Freeland Extend Support
Chrystia Freeland, whose resignation as Justin Trudeau’s deputy PM and finance minister in December rattled the party, posted on X after Trudeau’s press conference. Freeland wrote: “I thank Justin Trudeau for his years of service to Canada and Canadians. I wish him and his family the very best.”
Liberal Party president Mehra said Liberals across the country are “immensely grateful” to Trudeau for more than a decade of leadership. He said the outgoing PM “rebuilt our Party, making it the most open and inclusive moment in Canadian politics” in a post on social media site X.
Nepean MP Chandra Arya said Trudeau deserves credit for the things he has done with NAFTA and pensions.
After working hard for Canadians for over nine years Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resigned. I thank him for his services to our country. Let us give credit where it’s due—under his leadership, Canada saw significant successes: renegotiating NAFTA, reforming the Canada… pic.twitter.com/F4QEa3T2rs— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) January 6, 2025
“Let us give credit where it’s due—under his leadership, Canada saw significant successes: renegotiating NAFTA, reforming the Canada Pension Plan, introducing the Canada Child Benefit, and delivering $10-a-day daycare. He also guided us through a global pandemic and championed gender parity in leadership roles. He’s not perfect—no leader is. But Justin Trudeau is undeniably a disciplined, patient leader who works hard and reads extensively,” Arya said in a post on X.
Poilievre, Jagmeet Slams Liberals, Trudeau
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, Trudeau’s rival, pipped to succeed Trudeau and leading in the polls, said the Liberals are plotting to “rip off Canadians for another 4 years, just like Justin” in a post on X.
Jagmeet Singh of the left-leaning National Democratic Party (NDP) said Trudeau let Canadians down for several years. The former ally of Trudeau pulled the rug from beneath the feet of the outgoing Liberal Party chief after saying last month that he would back moves that would replace Trudeau towards February or March.
“Justin Trudeau has let you down over and over. If you oppose callous Conservative cuts. If you oppose the rich getting richer while everyone else falls further behind. Stand with the NDP this time,” Singh said, appearing to criticise Poilievre as well.
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