Through a shocking political move, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his plan to resign from his role as Prime Minister and the leadership of the Liberal Party on January 6, 2025. Trudeau motivated this decision as being a product of internal disagreements, stating that “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.” Having been at the forefront of the Canadian and International political scene since 2015, Trudeau’s departure raises many questions as to what happens next, especially since polls predict that the Liberal Party will badly lose to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held in late October. His decision has equally sparked deep anxieties about what Donald Trump’s impending inauguration will mean in terms of foreign relations. This article will seek to analyze the political lead-up to Justin Trudeau’s resignation, as well as what Canada’s future may shape up to be.
A Look Back at Trudeau’s Political Career
Trudeau’s presence in Canadian politics always passively existed with his father, Pierre Trudeau, who served as the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. By 2007, Justin Trudeau himself was actively involved, going from helping the Liberal Party, to winning the nomination for the district of Papineau in Quebec. He then swiftly transitioned to party leader, kicking off his campaign for Prime Minister in 2014.
The Liberal Party gained support with Trudeau as its face largely due to his promises that he would bring about “real change”, “positive politics” and “sunny ways”. Once governing, Trudeau’s first act was to appoint a gender-balanced cabinet in 2015, gaining the attention of international media. From there, his government continued to make positive changes, rolling out the Canada Child Benefit and signing the Paris Agreement on climate change.
However, it didn’t take long before problems arose with the Liberals’ more substantial promises. Within a few years of governing, they abandoned a plan to do away with the first-past-the-post electoral system (voters in each electoral district select one candidate and the candidate with the most votes in that district wins a seat in the House of Commons, regardless of whether they achieve a majority of votes) and began failing to balance the budget while enraging environmental activists for spending billions on a cross-provincial Trans Mountain pipeline.
The situation did not improve over time as Liberal party members under Trudeau’s purview continued to face accusations of corruption and political interference, leading to public opinion steadily declining. The government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic equally did not serve to highlight any redeeming qualities of the leadership, with many deeming the situation as having been “very poorly” tackled.
The situation continued to decline during 2023 and 2024 as Canadians began raising concerns over the spike in the cost of living post-pandemic. Small measures brought out by the current government were not enough to satisfy concerns, opening up the scene for the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to take advantage of voters’ economic bothers. As 2024 came to a close, Trudeau saw dozens of his caucus members organize behind the scenes to ask him to consider stepping down. Stepping down now, he has left little time for another Liberal Candidate to salvage support before the polls open.
What does Trudeau’s Resignation Mean for Canada?
In his resignation speech, Justin Trudeau announced that he would remain at the helm until a new Liberal leader was selected. He equally remarked that he had requested for Canada’s governor general to prorogue Parliament (a suspension that will stop all proceedings including debates and votes without dissolving Parliament). This procedure is not uncommon, having already been carried out by Trudeau in 2020 when his party was facing a scandal over the handling of a contract with a charity.
It is likely that the Liberals will try to have a new leader by the end of this period although it is unclear at this moment who this candidate may be. Prominent figures of the Party such as former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Transport Minister Anita Anand, and former central banker Mark Carney have been proposed as possible options. Regardless, Canada must have its next federal election by October.
Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative Party have enjoyed a double-digit lead in the polls over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party. Courtesy of Cole Burston for The New York Times.
Opinion polls currently indicate that Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party would be the favourite bid for leadership. He has been extremely active on the Canadian political scene for the past couple of years, frequently criticizing Trudeau and asking him to call early elections. He has branded himself as anti-elite and anti-Trudeau when it comes to his policies. As the situation continues to evolve, many hope for a strong successor that will be able to fight the tariffs of up to 25% on imports threatened by Donald Trump.
Featured Image Courtesy of Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the press outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Canada, on January 6.
