Many Canadians already knew this was happening but thousands are rejoicing on social media as Trudeau resigns citing internal battles in governing party.
New Liberal Party leader
For months Justin Trudeau had been under growing pressure from within his party and elsewhere to step down as Ex-Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland and former central banker Mark Carney are among the potential successors.
Trudeau resigns
All week the whispers of Justin trudeau resignation were building momentum. But the moment he announced Canadians celebrated.
Trudeau said in a news conference in Ottawa that he will stay on as PM until a new Liberal Party leader is chosen.
“This country deserves a real choice” at the next election, he said, announcing that parliament will be prorogued until 24 March.
Trudeau said the governor general had accepted his request to prorogue parliament, meaning all proceedings, including debates and votes, will be suspended, though parliament will not be dissolved.
Canada should merge with the US as its 51st state
Less than two hours after Trudeau announced his plans to resign, US President-elect Donald Trump took another jab suggesting Canada should merge with the US as its 51st state.
Opposition party leaders, including the Conservatives’ Pierre Poilievre and the New Democrats’ Jagmeet Singh, did not miss the opportunity to strike whilst the iron is hot, immediately responding by hitting out at Trudeau and his time in leadership, calling him a failure, yet no-one criticised his support for Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Marijuana legalisation but failed on electoral reform
Trudeau listed his focus on strengthening the middle class as a highlight, saying that his government passed a number of policies that helped reduce taxes for lower-income Canadians.
One thing he did not mention – but will undoubtedly be remembered for – is his government’s legalisation of recreational marijuana nationwide in 2018.
As for regrets, Trudeau listed one: his broken promise to enact electoral reform in Canada.