OTTAWA—Embattled by internal party strife and under attack by political opponents, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will resign as prime minister and Liberal leader after the Liberal party chooses his successor sometime in the next few months.
Trudeau told reporters in a nationally televised news conference that although his instinct was to stay on in the face of what he called a “critical moment” for the country, the internal battles in his own party that flared into a crisis in the past three weeks made that impossible.
“My friends, as you all know I am 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,” he said.
But he said he realized he could no longer continue, telling his family Sunday night what he announced Monday in a sombre tone: “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process.”
For now, Trudeau will lead the government for another two and a half months or more, as Donald Trump’s assumes the U.S. presidency with threats of crippling tariffs on all Canadian products.
Trudeau met with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon early Monday morning and received her approval to prorogue — or suspend — Parliament until March 24, citing the inability to conduct normal parliamentary business because of Conservative filibustering tactics, he told reporters.
He rejected suggestions it was anti-democratic or unfair not to call an immediate election, saying Parliament needs a “reset.”
But he acknowledged the obvious: so does the Liberal party.
Trudeau has faced a growing caucus mutiny since losing key by-elections in the past six months, and his decision to fire Chrystia Freeland as finance minister in December triggered a flood of new calls by dozens of Liberal MPs for him to step down.
“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,” Trudeau said Monday.
In response to Trudeau’s announcement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to taunt the prime minister and Canadians, saying his 25 per cent tariff threat and vow to ensure Canada paid a price to the U.S. drove Trudeau to act.
“Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them,” Trump wrote.
Trudeau declined to explain why he had wanted to shift Freeland out of finance last month, saying only that she rejected his appeal to remain as deputy prime minister and take on a key role in charge of the Canada-U.S. file but he wouldn’t dish on their “private” conversations.
The prime minister pushed back on suggestions it is anti-democratic or unfair not to dissolve Parliament altogether and trigger an immediate election to replace the Liberals, saying it is “time for the temperature to come down, for people to have a fresh start in Parliament and to be able to navigate through these complex times both domestically and internationally.”
It is not yet clear when that vote to replace him will take place. And it is not clear whether any of his current cabinet ministers on the front lines of the Canada-U.S. tensions who want to vie for his job will have to step aside.
Liberal party sources say that a leadership election committee to be named by the party’s board has up to 26 days to set rules for a race, including whether sitting cabinet ministers can compete.
The ultimate leadership selection date depends on several factors, including venue availability. The party has discretion to adapt other rules too, sources said.
Exiting more than 15 minutes late for his announcement in front of cameras — and several months too late in the eyes of his critics — Trudeau quipped he’d “wing it” as his speech notes flew off a podium outside his home at Rideau Cottage. It was the same spot where he used to address the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic back when his approval ratings soared.
On this bitterly cold Ottawa day, a teleprompter scrolled off his scripted explanation for why he’d asked for the minority Parliament to be suspended until a new Liberal leader is picked.
The House of Commons has moved little legislation forward in months due to a privilege debate that ground almost all other business to a halt. Trudeau said it was time to break the logjam.
“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,” he said.
Trudeau said removing him from the equation should reduce the polarization in Canadian politics. He insisted Canadians will see that the Conservative plan for Canada is a mistake.
“Pierre Poilievre’s vision for this country is not the right one for Canadians,” he said. “We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future, and Pierre Poilievre is not offering that.”
Would-be contenders for Trudeau’s job like Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland and Christy Clark took to social media and issued perfunctory thanks to Trudeau for his “service” to the country and Canadians. “I wish him and his family the very best,” Freeland posted on X.
Trudeau’s political rivals reacted quickly.
Poilievre said in a recorded video and statement that there should be an immediate election, saying, “Liberals want to protect their pensions and paycheques by sweeping their hated leader under the rug months before an election to trick you, and then do it all over again.”
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said while it is not a bad idea to suspend Parliament during a Liberal leadership race, the country needs an election as soon as possible.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the Liberals do not deserve another chance at governing, no matter who their leader is. “They should get fired.”
Premier Doug Ford, responding to Trudeau’s news, said in the next two weeks before Trump’s tariffs turn into a reality, “the federal government needs to do everything humanly possible to avoid these tariffs, including by doing more to secure our border and offering a credible plan to invest more in Canada’s military to meet and exceed our NATO spending commitments.”
The Liberal government will continue to direct Canada’s response to Trump.
For now, prorogation suspends the current Parliament, which was set to return at the end of January. It will mean the end of any legislation currently before the House of Commons and force the government to reopen with a throne speech when the members return.
It also means the Liberals will be able to avoid any confidence votes during that time.
Assessing his own record, Trudeau said he regretted that he had not brought in electoral reform, as he promised in 2015, but said he believes he leaves with a solid record of helping the middle class.
“We reduced their taxes. We increased the benefits to families. We made sure the economy was focused on working for everyone and not just a few,” he said. “That has dropped poverty rates in Canada, that has brought more people into the workforce, that has moved us forward on reconciliation.”
Politically, Trudeau is leaving his party with the Liberals more than 20 points behind the Conservatives in almost all opinion polls.
Pressed to say whether he thought another Liberal leader can succeed in defeating Poilievre in the next campaign, Trudeau said “absolutely,” a new Liberal leader will have an opportunity to turn the party’s fortunes around.
“A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal party will carry its values and ideals into that next election. I’m excited to see the process unfold in the months ahead.
