On Monday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially announced his resignation as the Liberal Party leader, following almost ten years of service.
During a press conference held earlier today in Ottawa outside of Rideau Cottage, Trudeau said “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process.”
“Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. 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.”
The announcement follows the resignations of a number of high-profile cabinet ministers in recent weeks, including the shocking exit of deputy prime minister and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland.
It also comes just two days before a national caucus meeting coming up on Wednesday, January 8, and amid mounting calls for Trudeau’s resignation from within the Liberal caucus.
The Liberal party has taken a nosedive in public opinion polls in recent months, including a devastating rating of just 23 per cent in an Ipsos poll for Global News on December 20.
Speaking on his decision to resign, Trudeau stated this move should “decrease the level of polarization that we’re seeing right now in the House and in Canadian politics.”
As for his sole regret during his time as Canada’s Prime Minister, Trudeau stated, “I do wish we’d been able to change the way we elect our governments in this country so that people could simply choose a second choice or a third choice on the same ballot.”
The electoral reform, he said, would make parties “spend more time trying to be people’s second or third choices” and people would look for things they have in common, as opposed to trying to “polarize and divide Canadians.”
Trudeau asked the governor general to prorogue Parliament until March 24, which buys the Liberal Party time to hold a leadership contest without opposition parties being able to call for a new election with a non-confidence motion until a new leader is chosen.
Under Canadian law, the next election will take place no later than October 2025.