After a tumultuous end to 2024 which saw the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and increasing calls for his resignation by his own caucus members, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced his resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada pending a new leader being chosen.
During the announcement, the Prime Minister also indicated he has requested the Governor General prorogue Parliament thereby ending the current session and convening a new session beginning on March 24th. The Prime Minister cited the paralysis the House of Commons has been experiencing over the last several months as the reason for needing a new session of Parliament and that the current session has been the longest of a minority government in Canadian history. He also said that he believes removing him from the equation could reduce the political temperature in Ottawa. However, this allows time—albeit short—for the Liberals to choose a new leader.
With the Liberals struggling in the polls and consistently being roughly 20 percent behind the Pierre Poilievre led Conservatives, along with the dissolution of the Liberal and NDP Supply and Confidence Agreement, the minority Liberal government was increasingly looking to be on shaky ground. The Liberals also recently lost 2 considered relatively safe seats in byelections in Ontario and Quebec. The ability to move their agenda and key pieces of legislation forward was in question with many in the Liberal caucus nervous about their electoral prospects and doubtful they could survive another confidence vote.
The Prime Minister stated he will stay on until a new leader of the party is chosen. The path on how a new leader will be decided by the Liberal Party Executive in the coming days. But a long-drawn-out leadership race is not expected given their tenuous ability to maintain confidence in the House of Commons, making a spring election much more likely.
After serving as Prime Minister for nearly a decade by winning three elections (one majority and two minorities) beginning in 2015, Mr. Trudeau leaves what may be seen by many as a polarizing and controversial legacy. Over his time leading the country, the government moved forward on several initiatives such as:
- A national climate change plan
- Renegotiated North American free trade agreement
- Reform of the Senate
- New child care agreements with the provinces
- A focus on Indigenous reconciliation
- Legalization of marijuana
- Leading Canada’s response to the COVID pandemic
- A pharmacare program
More recently, Canadians have been concerned by post pandemic inflation and overall affordability issues, including significant increases in housing costs, which have been reflected in the polls for some time.
We’re Here to Help
For more information and insights about what these developments mean for Canada’s political landscape, please contact:
Brian Gilbertson
Senior Strategy Advisor—Ottawa
brian@praireskystrategy.ca
403.471.6470
Tara Bingham
Vice President
tara@prairieskystrategy.ca
204.390.7760
To learn more about Prairie Sky Strategy, please visit our website.
