THUNDER BAY – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down after nearly 12 years at the helm of Canada’s Liberal party.
Trudeau, who spoke to media on Monday, also has announced he's asked the governor general to prorogue Parliament until March 24, a request that's been granted. The move will allow the Liberals to select a new leader and to avoid a vote of no-confidence in the House of Commons later this month, something NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said he would vote for, after last year dissolving an agreement to prop up the minority Liberal government.
"Over the holidays, I had a chance to reflect and had long talks with my family about our future. Throughout the course of my career, any success that I have personally achieved has been because of their support and with their encouragement," Trudeau said on Monday, addressing media and the nation outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.
"Last night, over dinner, I told my kids about the decision I'm sharing with you today. 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 he tried to hang on until it became clear he was not the right person to lead the Liberals into the next election, an election that sees the party trailing the Conservatives by more than 20 points in the most recent polls.
"My friends, as you all know, I'm a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians, I care deeply about this country and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians," Trudeau said.
"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's why 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."
Trudeau was elected Liberal leader in 2013 and led the party to a sweeping election victory in 2015, wining minority governments in subsequent elections in 2019 and 2021.
During his time as prime minister, Trudeau helped navigate the country through the COVID-19 pandemic, some of his decisions polarizing the nation. While he helped spearhead the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, he also faced plenty of backlash for his actions, including vaccine mandates, the closure of the border by invoking the Emergency Measures Act in an attempt to break up the Freedom Convoy that took over Ottawa’s downtown, calling on the prime minister to resign.
Trudeau’s government has also been blamed for rising inflation and sticker shock at the grocery store, with many pointing to the Liberal government’s implementation and acceleration of the controversial carbon tax.
Trudeau has been facing increased calls to resign from within his own party, with several high-profile defections in recent weeks, most notably former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, who resigned from cabinet after disagreeing with the prime minister over budget matters, notably Trudeau’s so-called GST holiday.
Locally, both Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski and Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu have confirmed they plan to run again in the next federal election. Hajdu currently serves at Indigenous Services minister in Trudeau's cabinet and has been a cabinet minister since 2015.
Leadership candidates to succeed Trudeau include Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, former central banker Mark Carney, Transport Minister Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc.
