Surinder Mavi/Gurmalkiyat Singh Kahlon
Winnipeg/Vancouver, January 7
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation on Monday. Trudeau said he would step down as prime minister after the Liberal Party elects his successor. Justin Trudeau became the Liberal leader in 2013 and in 2015 he took over as the country’s prime minister. No one has yet officially put forward their name as a replacement since Trudeau announced his resignation, but several senior Liberal Party leaders have been in the running for party leadership. Among them are former Minister of Defense and MP from Oakville Anita Anand (57), economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney (59), current Minister of Finance Dominic Labelle, renowned lawyer Francois Phillips Champangi (54), who is recognized as a global thinker. Christy Clark (59), who turned TV host into politics and served as British Columbia’s chief minister twice, resigned from the ministry last month. Prominent are Sian Ferzer (40), former Liberal MP Frank Bayliss and former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (59), who trumpeted the rebellion against Trudeau. On the other hand, the leaders of the three opposition parties have said that it is not too late for the elections, as they will open the way for the elections by passing a motion of no confidence against the Trudeau government on the first day of parliamentary proceedings.
Although Parliament’s deadlock until March 24 has given the Liberals 2 months, this is too little time given the upcoming election. Meanwhile, Quebec Liberal MP Sophie Chettle mentioned in an email that after the resignation of John Turner in 1990, the Liberals had scheduled a party convention in 98 days. Chettle said the party’s national board could ask for leadership candidature applications to be received in days instead of weeks. He said candidates can engage members through debates and virtual events instead of lengthy campaign tours. Until now, Liberal leaders have been elected individually at party conventions. Chettle has also suggested voting electronically, so that members can vote from wherever they want, maintaining the democratic nature of the process.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, his political rivals, his fellow MPs and other politicians across the country gave their reactions. Some criticized Trudeau’s performance while others praised Trudeau for his time in public service.
Thank you Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau for your leadership, for your many contributions to Canada, and for the sacrifices you and your family have made for public service.
Wishing you the best for your next chapters.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 6, 2025
Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, who has been considered a potential replacement for Trudeau, sent his best wishes via a social media post upon news of Trudeau’s departure. “Thank you, Prime Minister, for your leadership, for your many contributions to Canada, and for the sacrifices you and your family have made in public service,” Carney wrote on X.
After a lifetime of public service Justin Trudeau has stepped aside as both Leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister of Canada. I want to thank him as a Canadian for his service to the country that he so clearly loves. I wish him and his family well.
As a lifelong Liberal…
— Christy Clark (@christyclarkbc) January 6, 2025
Former BC Premier Christy Clark, who may be a contender for the Liberal leadership, thanked Trudeau for his service to the country and wished the Trudeau family well. “As a lifelong Liberal, I look forward to joining thousands of Canadians in choosing our next leader,” Christie said.
Trudeau’s praise was not seen in NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s statement. He welcomed the news of Trudeau’s resignation, but said Trudeau had let down Canadians who elected him to serve.
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
Conservative Leader Pierre Poulivar said in a post on X that despite Trudeau’s resignation, nothing has changed and that every Liberal MP and leadership contender has supported everything Trudeau has done during his time in office. Now he is the other four. Want to seduce voters by swapping in yet another Liberal face to rip off Canadians for years…. A carbon tax is the only way to fix what the Liberals broke. Pouliver urged Canadians to vote for the Conservative Party in the upcoming election.
Candace Laing, CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that Trudeau had assessed the situation and made the right decision to resign. Thanking Trudeau for his service, Laing said the prime minister’s resignation marks an important turning point. Because this is a time when Canada is dealing with domestic and international challenges. Goldie Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, thanked Trudeau for his nine years in office.