Prime MInister Justin Trudeau. (File photo/Canadian Press)

By paNOW Staff/Canadian Press

Political change

BREAKING: Trudeau to step down as prime minister

Jan 6, 2025 | 10:12 AM

Justin Trudeau says he will resign as prime minister and the leader of the Liberal party following a leadership contest.

He is speaking to reporters outside his residence in Ottawa this morning.

He also says Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has agreed with his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

Trudeau says he asked Liberal party president Sachit Mehra to immediately launch a leadership race.

He says Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election.

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Questions about Trudeau’s future have swirled for more than a year but took on new levels in December after Chrystia Freeland’s sudden resignation as minister of finance and deputy prime minister rocked the government and the party.

What does it mean to prorogue parliament?

When Parliament is prorogued, it means the current session ends, and all members are relieved of their parliamentary duties until the next session begins. While the House was scheduled to resume on January 27, MPs will now return on March 24, 2025.

During prorogation, Parliament’s authority to conduct business is suspended. Bills that have not received Royal Assent are effectively reset, meaning the legislative process for those bills must start over in the next session.

How are politicians reacting?

In a video posted to X on Monday, Pierre Poilievre, leader of the conservative party, said, “Nothing has changed.”

On his X account, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh encouraged Canadians to ‘stand with the NDP this time.’

Saskatchewan’s NDP leader is sharing her frustration today saying “it’s clear the chaos in Ottawa will not end for some time.”

Carla Beck said Saskatchewan cannot afford to wait for an election after the Liberals pick a new leader.

She said our economy, industries, and livelihoods hang in the balance with the threat of tariffs from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.

Beck said she’s written to Premier Scott Moe to offer the NDPs full support to help protect Saskatchewan’s economy.

Across the border

President-elect Donald Trump says Justin Trudeau resigned because he knows the United States will not put up with trade deficits with Canada and says many Canadians would love being the ’51st state.’

Trump reiterated his rhetoric about Canada joining the U.S. in a post on Truth Social after Trudeau’s announcement that he will resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as a new leader is chosen.

The president-elect has repeated the dig since the prime minister travelled to have dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in November.

(File photo/Canadian Press)

Experts say its unsurprising that Trump would take credit for Trudeau’s decision.

But they say the change in Canadian leadership could not come at a worse moment for the bilateral relationship with the U.S.

Trump has threatened that when he takes office later this month he will impose 25 per cent tariffs against Canada and Mexico unless the two countries stop the flow of migrants and drugs into the U.S.

–With files from CKOM and the Canadian Press