By Canadian Press

Trudeau Resigns

Trudeau prorogues Parliament, will step down as prime minister after leadership race

Jan 6, 2025 | 8:34 AM

OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau says he will resign as prime minister and the leader of the Liberal party following a leadership contest.

He is speaking to reporters outside his residence in Ottawa this morning. He also says Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has agreed with his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

Trudeau says he asked Liberal party president Sachit Mehra to immediately launch a leadership race.

He says Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election. Questions about Trudeau’s future have swirled for more than a year but took on new levels in December after Chrystia Freeland’s sudden resignation as minister of finance and deputy prime minister rocked the government and the party.

The Liberals have trailed badly behind the Conservatives in the polls for more than a year and in September the NDP ended the supply-and-confidence agreement that was propping up the Liberal government.

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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canadians may be relieved that Trudeau plans to leave office, but little changes in reality.

Poilievre says every Liberal MP has “actively worked to pass into law the job-killing, inflationary carbon tax,” and have all voted to support Trudeau’s “out-of-control spending.”

He says the only reason those MPs are now pushing back against Trudeau is because he’s no longer popular enough to win an election and MPs are interested in saving their own jobs.

He says Canadians need an election, not a prorogued Parliament, so Canadians can “take back control of their lives and their country.”

Former premier of British Columbia Christy Clark similarly thanked Trudeau on social media, adding that as a “lifelong Liberal” she looks forward to the upcoming leadership race. She says it is the biggest opportunity in more than a decade to grow the party and welcome new members.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said on social media Trudeau has let Canadians down, including with the cost of housing and groceries and fixing the healthcare system.

He says the Liberals don’t deserve another chance, and that the Conservatives are not a viable option to replace them.

Instead, Singh is pitching Canadians to vote for him in a coming election, saying if they do so they’ll have a government that works for them “for a change.”

President-elect Donald Trump says Trudeau resigned because he knows the U.S. will not put up with trade deficits with Canada and says many Canadians would love being the 51st state.

Trump reiterated his rhetoric about Canada joining the United States in a post on Truth Social after Trudeau’s announcement that he will resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as a new leader is chosen.