Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan.6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

By Canadian Press, CHAT News Staff

DEVELOPING

Trudeau vows to resign as prime minister after leadership race, prorogues Parliament

Jan 6, 2025 | 11:15 AM

Justin Trudeau on Monday vowed to resign as prime minister and Liberal leader as he paused Parliament until late March to launch a reset of the legislature and give his party a chance to elect his successor ahead of an expected election.

“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,” he said from in front of Rideau Hall.

Trudeau’s resignation plans come after immense pressure from within his own party to step down amid dismal opinion polls. The calls for him to quit grew after his longtime ally and finance minister Chrystia Freeland exited cabinet.

“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.

The coming contest will be the first Liberal leadership race since Trudeau was chosen as leader in 2013.

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READ: Smith, Motz, and Wright slam Trudeau for proroguing Parliament

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It will also leave Canada’s government in a political leadership crisis just days before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office with the promise to place 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports.

Trudeau was facing mounting calls for his resignation from MPs in his caucus as public opinion polls have continued to put the governing Liberals trailing far behind the Conservatives.

An Ipsos poll from December found that 73 per cent of Canadians believe that Trudeau should resign. That number included 43 per cent of Liberal voters.

Trudeau, who also serves as MP for Papineau, said he told his children Sunday evening of his decision to step aside from a job he’s held for much of their lives.

The prime minister said if he has one regret about his time in office it’s that he did not change the electoral rules when he had the chance.

He says if those changes were implemented, people would look for things they have in common instead of trying to “polarize and divide Canadians,” but that his party could not unilaterally change those rules.

Trudeau was asked by reporters if his decision in December to remove Freeland as finance minister and her subsequent resignation was the catalyst for his departure.

He says Freeland has been by his side for nearly 10 years, calling her an “incredible political partner” who he hoped would have agreed to continue serving in his government.

‘Desperate to turn the page’

Glen Motz, MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, said he’s hearing from Canadians that they are looking forward to moving on from Trudeau.

“They’re desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history and they might be relieved to hear that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving,” Motz told CHAT News on Monday morning.

Motz said Canadians are excited about the prospect of choosing a new government.

“Canadians can take back control of their lives and their country, and I believe that very, very strongly,” Motz said.

‘Selfish political interests’

Premier Danielle Smith, who also serves as MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat, said Canada requires a federal government elected “with a clear mandate won from the Canadian people” to negotiate with the incoming Trump administration.

“The Liberal Party has no such mandate from Canadians and they are putting their selfish political interests ahead of the Canadian people by paralyzing Parliament and suspending democracy for months while they fight a divisive internal leadership contest,” Smith said in a statement.

“It is one of the most irresponsible and selfish acts of a government in Canadian history,” she added.

“We call on all federal parties and MPs to force an election at the first available opportunity and give Canadians the opportunity to pick a party and a leader to represent their interests at this critical time for our nation.”

‘Out of control’

Reaction to Trudeau’s announcement poured in quickly.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who polls show as the favourite to be the next prime minister after an election, aimed to tie the Liberals at-large to policies he said have been detrimental to Canada.

“Every Liberal MP in power today, and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job, helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years,” he said in a pre-recorded video.

“All Liberal politicians actively worked to pass into law the job-killing, inflationary carbon tax,” he added.

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

Poilievre also criticized Liberal support for federal debt, raising taxes, immigration policies and approach to housing, among other items.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau has repeatedly let Canadians down amid high housing and grocery costs and a strained health care system.

“It doesn’t matter who leads the Liberals. They don’t deserve another chance,” Singh said in a statement.

He also criticized the Conservative Party — “you will pay the price of Poilevre’s cuts” — while urging voters to vote for his party.

“You can have a government that works for you for a change.”

Singh’s NDP helped to support the minority Liberals, keeping Trudeau in power through a supply agreement that started in 2022.

Freeland, who has been floated as a leadership candidate to replace Trudeau, released a short statement on X thanking the prime minister “for his years of service to Canada and Canadians.”

“I wish him and his family the very best.”

Business groups call for unity

Trudeau’s plan to step down has created greater uncertainty for the economy at a pivotal time, prompting business groups to call for unity in facing the challenges ahead.

Trudeau’s announcement that he will resign following a Liberal leadership contest comes just weeks before Donald Trump, who has threatened tariffs on Canadian goods, is sworn in as U.S. president.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Candace Laing welcomed Trudeau’s announcement, saying it marks a turning point as the country faces unprecedented domestic and international issues.

Laing says in a statement that Canada can’t afford inaction with so much at stake, and that unity is key going forward.

Business Council of Canada chief executive Goldy Hyder says in a statement it’s unfortunate that so often the federal government was at odds with the private sector, and there needs to be more collaboration ahead for the country to succeed.

RMS Canada economist Tu Nguyen says Trudeau’s announcement ushers in a new wave of uncertainty that could weaken the country’s bargaining position as it’s threatened by tariffs.