Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declared his intention to resign as leader of the ruling Liberals after nine years in office, although he will remain in his position until the party elects a successor.
Under significant pressure from Liberal legislators to step down amid polls indicating a severe defeat in the upcoming election, Mr. Trudeau stated at a news conference that parliament would be suspended until March.
This suspension means Mr. Trudeau will still hold the office of prime minister on January 20 when US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Mr. Trump has indicated that he might impose tariffs that could severely impact Canada’s economy.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin acknowledged Mr. Trudeau’s contributions, stating he “made a significant impact on the global stage”.
He remarked: “Under his leadership, the relationship between Ireland and Canada has strengthened.”
“His support for the Irish-Canadian community, grounded in our shared values and historical and cultural connections, has fortified the bond between our two nations.”
Justin Trudeau, 53, assumed office in November 2015 and has been re-elected twice, making him one of Canada’s longest-serving prime ministers.
However, his popularity has declined over the past two years, fueled by public frustration over rising prices and a housing crisis, and his position has not recovered since.
Polls indicate that the Liberals are expected to lose significantly to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must take place by late October, irrespective of the party leader.
The key events charting Trudeau’s fortunes
Parliament was scheduled to reconvene on January 27, and opposition parties have vowed to dissolve the government as quickly as possible, likely towards the end of March.
However, if parliament does not resume until March 24, the earliest non-confidence motion could be presented would be sometime in May.
According to one source, Mr. Trudeau had a discussion with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc regarding his willingness to step in as interim leader and prime minister, but this arrangement would be impractical if Mr. LeBlanc intends to pursue the leadership.
Demands for Mr. Trudeau to resign intensified in December after his attempt to demote Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a key cabinet ally, failed when she opposed his spending proposals.
Ms. Freeland subsequently resigned, writing a letter that accused Mr. Trudeau of focusing on “political gimmicks” rather than prioritizing the country’s needs.
Mr. Trudeau brought the Liberals to power in 2015
Mr. Trudeau led the Liberals to victory in 2015 with promises of “sunny ways” and a progressive agenda emphasizing women’s rights and a commitment to combat climate change.
Nonetheless, the challenges of governance gradually took their toll on him, and like many Western leaders, the demands of managing the pandemic consumed much of his time.
While the government spent extensively to safeguard consumers and businesses, accruing record budget deficits, this did little to alleviate public dissatisfaction as prices continued to rise.
A flawed immigration policy resulted in a surge of arrivals, exacerbating an already overheated housing market.
Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar characterized Mr. Trudeau as “a prime minister who accomplished a great deal for Canada.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, he noted Mr. Trudeau’s interactions with Mr. Trump and his efforts on climate change were beneficial.
“I believe he will be regarded as one of the great Canadian prime ministers,” said Mr. Varadkar.
He described Mr. Trudeau as “a very decent, very personable individual” who called to congratulate Ireland when it won a seat on the UN Security Council over Canada.
“He’s someone I have come to know quite well,” added Mr. Varadkar.
“My first official visit abroad was to Canada, and his first inbound visit was to Ireland.”
“We would have met on numerous occasions throughout the years.”
