Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a rally in Milton, October 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his decision to step down once the Liberal Party selects a new leader, marking the end of his tenure as leader of Canada since 2015.
He shared his decision publicly outside Rideau Cottage after informing his family over dinner the previous evening. Trudeau also requested Governor General Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until Monday, March 24th, which she approved.
Trudeau’s resignation comes amid declining public support and internal party pressure, with several MPs and regional caucuses urging him to step aside. Trudeau’s departure will prompt a leadership race to find a successor capable of competing with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the next federal election.
The announcement follows recent political challenges, including Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet after disputes over economic policies and Trudeau’s handling of U.S. trade tensions. Trudeau emphasized his hope for a robust leadership transition that upholds the party’s values. Both opposition parties have criticized the Liberals, with Conservatives threatening a non-confidence motion and the NDP urging Canadians to reject the party entirely.
Locally, Adam van Koeverden of the Liberal Party remains the Member of Parliament (MP) for Milton until an election is called. When that happens, the Conservatives will be represented by former Milton MPP Parm Gill. Other parties have not named their candidates for a potential election at this time.
We’ll keep you updated when the eventual election is called.
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