Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigns as party leader

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Mon Jan 6, 2025, 01:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Axios

Updated 2 hours ago


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned from his position as the leader of the Liberal Party on Monday.

Why it matters: The world's leading democracies are facing growing instability. Look to Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament, or the unprecedented government collapse in France.

His resignation came as polls indicated that the Liberal Party was set to be trounced by the opposition Conservative Party in the upcoming election, expected in or before October, Reuters reported.

Trudeau's decision to leave the post amid his government's deepening unpopularity is a far cry from the popularity he enjoyed when he became prime minister, when polls showed he boasted approval ratings above 60%.

Trudeau noted that the Canadian parliament will be prorogued — essentially, suspended — until March 24 while a new leader is chosen. He said it was "time for a reset."

Driving the news: "I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide, competitive process," Trudeau announced at a press conference in Ottawa Monday.

"It has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option" in the next election, he added.

"I've been inspired by the resilience, generosity and the determination of Canadians," Trudeau said.

Trudeau also slammed Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre's vision for Canada as "not the right one" for the country.

State of play: Trudeau has been the leader of Canada's Liberal Party for 11 years and the country's prime minister for nine.

Recent polling has put the Liberals at a mere 16% support among decided and leaning voters.

Trudeau's resignation also comes as members of the Liberal party are set to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday, per Reuters.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/06/justin-trudeau-resigns-canada

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Most of the news sites are doing "live updates" at the moment.

Article updated.

Original article -

7 mins ago


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned from his position as the leader of the Liberal Party on Monday.

Why it matters: The world's leading democracies are facing growing instability. Look to Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament, or the unprecedented government collapse in France.

His resignation came as polls indicated that the Liberal Party was set to be trounced by the opposition Conservative Party in the upcoming election, expected in or before October, Reuters reported.

Trudeau's decision to leave the post amid his government's deepening unpopularity is a far cry from the popularity he enjoyed when he became prime minister, when polls showed he boasted approval ratings above 60%.

Driving the news: "I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide, competitive process," Trudeau announced at a press conference in Ottawa Monday.

"It has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option" in the next election, he added.

"I've been inspired by the resilience, generosity and the determination of Canadians," Trudeau said.

State of play: Trudeau has been the leader of Canada's Liberal Party for 11 years and the country's prime minister for nine.

Recent polling has put the Liberals at a mere 16% support among decided and leaning voters.

Trudeau's resignation also comes as members of the Liberal party are set to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday, per Reuters.

[kimbutgar]

1. I was talking with some Canadian guys recently who are gay and asked them about Trudeau

Both expressed displeasure with him and said it was time for him to move on.That said I hope they don’t get another dumpt like prime minister.

[DeepWinter]

6. Same here

Canadians I know, don't really like him that much. "Too restrictive".

Be interesting who is next.

[EllieBC]

7. He didn't get rid of FPTP which was one of his promises.

That has angered a lot of young and more liberal voters.

[Clouds Passing]

2. ...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. This is not good news for Pierre Axe the Tax Poilievre (and that's a good thing). . . . . nt

[OnlinePoker]

15. It depends. An expected non-confidence vote could trigger an election

Liberals would be scrambling trying to find a leader and run an election at the same time. Not good optics.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. Parliament is pro-rogued into March, which means no non-confidences until then, hence no election call until then

When Parliament meets in March, expect the non-confidence vote then unless the Liberals call the election the day before or something. The optics are not a problem, but you are right in that the Liberals will be scrambling to choose a leader and then campaigning.

Liberals have just enough time for leadership race and then the election call will probably be on the longer side of such things (say seven weeks instead of four) so that the new Liberal leader has time to get better known by the electorate.

Pierre Axe the Tax Poilievre was hoping for an election now against Trudeau. His sloganeering and hiding of his anti-climate agenda has been focused for the last couple of years all on personalizing attacks against Trudeau. He will now have to come up with real policy while there is no personal target in front of him and then begin again vilifying a new target.

[Marigold]

4. Deja Vu

I was watching Trudeau's press conference, and the last question they asked him is why he waited so long to resign. Sound familiar? The corporate media has demonized Trudeau in Canada too.

[EllieBC]

5. There were a lot of missteps.

such as his former minister of finance referring to the “vibesession” when talking about Canadians concerned about skyrocketing prices. It’s not vibes when you need 2-3 jobs to survive.

There was a lot of tone deafness going on. The party needs to do better.

Also massive increases to immigration and no increases to services leading to longer wait times in healthcare in most provinces was not helpful either.

[angrychair]

8. Can anyone tell me why?

Seems to be a lot of deep dislike for him but I never see anything actually explaining "why" people are unhappy. Very similar to the situation with Biden and Democrats in general. I've read several articles and the all alluded to the unhappiness but none actually say "why". Any Canadians with some insights?

[Polybius]

9. North Americans get tired of leaders in power for a long time (2015 for him)

The only exception was FDR.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. And in 20th century, Canadian PM William Lyon Mackenzie King and Pierre Trudeau (the father)

But yeah, you are basically right. Fickle electorates. Though 10 years is a good stretch by any measure.

Canada's four longest-serving prime ministers:
William Lyon Mackenzie King; 21 years, 154 days: (1921–1926; 1926–1930; 1935–1948)
Sir John A. Macdonald; 18 years, 359 days (19th century)
Pierre Trudeau; 15 years, 164 days
Wilfred Laurier; 15 years, 86 days (late 19th, early 20th)
(only Laurier served it consecutively)


Justin Trudeau is the 7th longest serving and would have beaten Harper in 6th place if he had continued to an October election. He led the longest duration minority Parliament in Canadian history (2021-current).

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. Enough smallish grievances held for different reasons

Biggest factor I think is the relentless sloganeering and hiding anti-climate agenda on the part of Pierre Axe the Tax Poilievre, Conservative Party leader.

* Inflation. Of course that is fixed now, but prices never come down except in depressions which nobody wants but low-info voters don't understand.

* Housing shortage: primarily a provincial responsibility, not Federal.

* Some concern about immigration which put some (not a lot) of pressure on housing (and of course the racists who hated Trudeau from the get-go).

* Carbon pricing (known as the Carbon Tax even though it is refunded to the bottom 80% or so of tax payers): Pierre Axe the Tax Poilievre has been making hay by sloganeering and hiding his anti-climate agenda.

* Some concern about deficits even though they are declining as a percentage of GDP.

* General feeling among some voters that there "needs to be a change".

Those are off the top of my head.

[OnlinePoker]

16. While housing is a provincial responsibility but mass immigration didn't help

It was especially bad in that the federal government never gave the provinces a heads-up that we would be getting an extra million citizens a year. There was no ability to adequately plan for all the housing, medical, education and social services these new citizens would be require.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Yes. That was dialed back sometime last year though. . . . . .nt

[angrychair]

20. Thanks Paz

That is super helpful as nothing I was reading was trying to explain "why" and it was irritating me.

[Dem4life1234]

23. I can't understand why

Compared to this idiot coming up, he seems like a dream!

[bmichaelh]

11. Two Items

1. No one gains an advantage when trying to curry favor with Trump.
History and time will be the ultimate judge.

2. Canadians do not want our healthcare.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. Trudeau and Freeland beat tRump in 2018 over the trade agreement then

1. They did it by massaging his ego, tough negotiating, and a full-court press with US politicians at every level. I don't know if that fits your "curry favor" standard or not, doesn't matter. tRump in December says he hates Freeland and of course his whining tariff threats indicate he is unhappy with the results of his own treaty.

2. Canadians do not want or need US healthcare. I had a small operation a few years back: three doctors appointments plus operating room surgery with general anaesthesia and I never saw a bill or paid a penny beyond sales taxes that pay for healthcare. You got that right.

[moondust]

13. Another "cost of living" reaction?

Everyone knows the PM/President is the one who keeps driving up prices and making everything unaffordable, right?

[Marigold]

19. I do think that is much of it

I keep hearing Canadians were upset about the cost of food and housing. They blame immigrants for unaffordable housing.

[Butterflylady]

21. Melody will be so very, very disappointed. Poor baby, not.

Yeah I know that's not her name, but think it's fair because dump knew how to say Kamalas' name but purposefully mispronounced her name.

[Dem4life1234]

22. Drumpf is a bad example of world leadership

Canada is such a beautiful and classy nation, I hope they don't get a piece of trash for prime minister. They deserve better than that.

I hate this era.