Justin Trudeau to resign as prime minister, Liberal Party leader
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to step down as prime minister and Liberal Party leader.
“Last night, over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I’m sharing with you today,” he said in a press conference in Ottawa on Monday morning. “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process.”
Trudeau said Governor General Mary Simon has granted his request for the House of Commons to be prorogued until March 24.
He added that he’s asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin the process of selecting its next leader.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” said Trudeau.
This resignation follows days of speculation that Trudeau would step down before an important national caucus meeting on Wednesday, January 8.
Trudeau responds to Freeland resignation
Trudeau’s announcement is a culmination of events sparked by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s shocking resignation from the prime minister’s cabinet on December 16.
In a statement shared on X, Freeland said Trudeau had told her he no longer wanted her to serve as his finance minister and offered another cabinet position.
“Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the cabinet,” she stated.
It came hours before the federal government was expected to announce its fall economic statement.
The bombshell news was followed by mounting calls for the prime minister to step down from several MPs, including Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
During Monday’s press conference, Trudeau was asked what happened between him and Freeland, but he refused to get into specifics.
“I am not someone who’s in the habit of sharing private conversations,” said the prime minister.
“Chrystia has been by my side for close to 10 years now… I had really hoped that she 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,” he added.
Opposition leaders react
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre posted statements on X shortly after the prime minister’s announcement.
Singh said regardless of who leads the Liberals, they “don’t deserve another chance.”
“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,” reads the post.
Below is my statement on Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
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: https://t.co/7rFS9LdsDh pic.twitter.com/hQRB4XvRZu
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) January 6, 2025
Poilievre is still pushing for a carbon tax election.
“Nothing has changed,” reads his post. “Every Liberal MP and Leadership contender supported EVERYTHING Trudeau did for nine years, and now they want to trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians for another four years, just like Justin.”
Nothing has changed.
Every Liberal MP and Leadership contender supported EVERYTHING Trudeau did for 9 years, and now they want to trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians for another 4 years, just like Justin.
The only way to fix what… pic.twitter.com/YnNYANTs1y
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 6, 2025
Trudeau made his resignation announcement outside of Rideau Cottage, where he has lived for years since becoming prime minister.