Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to resign as the leader of the governing Liberal Party after three terms in office.
“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 in an announcement to the media in Ottawa today. “Last night I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process.”
Trudeau – who led the Liberal Party for 11 years and has been Prime Minister for nine – will stay on as prime minister until someone else is chosen to fill the role.
The 53-year-old politician made his decision following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, which was seen as a critical signal of a lack of confidence in Trudeau’s leadership. His decision to step down comes ahead of the general elections set to take place later this year. Polls suggest that he and the Liberal Party are expected to lose by a larger deficit.
Justin Trudeau to resign amid pressure from all sides
Trudeau had been well-liked and successful in office until two years ago when the public mood shifted following a rise in prices due to extreme inflation and a severe housing crisis. Since Donald Trump became president-elect in November 2024, the Canadian Prime Minister has been dealing with threats of constant tariff increases that would further raise prices around the country.
The resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was a major blow to Trudeau, as she announced she was quitting just hours before she was supposed to share Canada’s annual fiscal report. In her letter of resignation, she heavily criticized Trudeau’s “political gimmicks,” referring to the two-month sales tax holiday he implemented and a 250 Canadian Dollar (US$175) tax rebate he gave to workers.
Trudeau stated that he had hoped that Freeland would choose to stay on as his Deputy Prime Minister, but that “she chose otherwise.” He said that the details of the move were private.
“In regards to what actually happened, I am not someone who’s in the habit of sharing private conversations.”
According to several Canadian media outlets, after Freeland resigned, Members of Parliament (MPs) from Trudeau’s own Liberal Party in Ontario met virtually to discuss the future of the party and agreed that the Prime Minister’s time in office should come to an end. Ontario has a total of 75 Liberal Party MPs and the province – which is the most populous in Canada – is where Trudeau formerly secured most of his support.
Trudeau announces intention to resign
Trudeau cited a frozen parliament as one of the main drivers for his decision to resign. He also said that he would ask for the Canadian Parliament to be prorogued.
“Despite best efforts to work through it, parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history. That is why this morning, I have advised the governor general to prorogue government. She has granted this request, and the house will now be prorogued until March 24th.”
Trudeau expressed the need for a reset, stating that he could not lead the Liberal Party of Canada if he is facing battles within his party.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau said. “A new Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election. I am excited to see that process unfold in the months ahead.”
Trudeau made his opinion known on Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who the polls predict will win the next election. He stated that Poilievre is not the right choice for the job of Prime Minister as he does not have a promising vision for Canada’s future.
“We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future, and Pierre Poilievre is not offering that,” said Trudeau.