By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
OTTAWA/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday after nearly a decade in power amid mounting concern over the nation’s future.
The post-pandemic inflation spike, high unemployment, mass immigration, huge housing costs, and questions over his governing style made the 53-year-old increasingly unpopular.
His position became untenable, however, after more than 20 Liberal members of parliament publicly called for Trudeau’s departure.
The revolt up followed the abrupt departure of his finance minister minister and deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, who resigned last month.
Both disagreed on financial policies ahead of Donald J. Trump’s January 20 inauguration as the 47th president of the United States.
Freeland openly questioned the recently announced two-month sales tax holiday and 250 Canadian dollars ($175) checks to Canadians.
She said Canada is dealing with Trump’s threat to impose sweeping 25 percent tariffs and should eschew “costly political gimmicks” it can “ill afford.”
TEARY-EYED
Appearing teary-eyed, Trudeau became the latest incumbent driven out by rising voter dissatisfaction worldwide.
He said it had become clear to him that he could not “be the leader during the next elections due to internal battles.”
Trudeau planned to remain prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party was chosen.
“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well-being of democracy” are “something that I hold dear,” said Trudeau, outside his official residence.
He confirmed that Parliament, which had been due to resume on January 27, would be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race.
The announced leadership change at one of America’s largest trading partners prompted U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump to say, incorrectly, according to his critics, that Trudeau stepped down because Canada relies on subsidies from the U.S. to stay afloat.
He has also referred to Canada as the 51st state of the United States, despite being a sovereign nation with British King Charles III as its current monarch since September 2022.
MAJOR EXPORTER
Canada is also a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the U.S., which, according to analysts, relies on its northern neighbor for steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
Trudeau’s planned resignation will end a career for a man who became the second-youngest prime minister in Canada’s history and whose filmstar looks and family background helped him in a come-from-behind victory in 2015.
Trudeau is a former teacher, nightclub bouncer, and snowboard instructor who has three children with his ex-wife, a former model and television host. He was also the first government leader to be the child of a previous prime minister, as the eldest son of Pierre Trudeau.
However, his political rivals quickly warnedCanadians that only they could turn the country into a more prosperous nation. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said Canadians “desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved” that Trudeau is leaving.
“But what has really changed? Every Liberal [member of parliamemt] MP in power today and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years.”
Other opposition leaders, including Jagmeet Singh, who leads the leftist New Democratic Party, added their criticism. “It doesn’t matter who the next Liberal is. They’ve let you down. They do not deserve another chance,” added Singh, who propped up Trudeau’s party for years.
Yet the president of the Liberal party, Sachit Mehra, said party members were “immensely grateful” to Trudeau for delivering “transformational progress” for Canadians, including $10-a-day child care, dental care, and a national climate plan.
Mehra said he would call a meeting this week to select a new leader.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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