“It’s sunny, my friend. Sunny roads.”
With those words, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began his administration, leading the Liberal Party out of the political wilderness to form a majority government in October 2015.
After a few weeks of these sunny days, he arrived on an unseasonably warm November day when he attended his official swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall. Prime Minister Trudeau was surrounded by family members, new cabinet members and a crowd of cheering supporters as he made his way down the driveway to Government House.
For those watching the 23rd prime minister announce his pending resignation as Liberal leader and prime minister on Monday, the contrast could not have been more stark. Prime Minister Trudeau delivered the news after walking through the snow to a podium outside Rideau Cottage. And that was after the pages of his farewell speech were blown away by an icy wind.
“I’ll try,” Prime Minister Trudeau said with a smile.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, but it was clear to me that if I had to fight a domestic battle, I would not be the best choice in that election. ”
Just before Trudeau’s speech, Trudeau’s photographer Adam Scotti met up with longtime behind-the-scenes allies Katie Telford, chief of staff Philip Proulx, and Kate Purchase, former director of communications and planning. I took a photo of the Prime Minister.
Trudeau’s two children, Xavier and Ella-Grace, watched as their father spoke to Purchase before walking out of Rideau Cottage to make history.
Tyler Meredith, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s former chief economic adviser and author of the 2019 and 2021 Liberal Party platforms, said Trudeau’s resignation follows a common pattern among political leaders, stepping down “at the last minute.”
“To be a politician, you have to have some kind of ego. You have to believe in yourself. You have to have confidence. You have to have confidence in your ability to overcome challenges. ” Meredith said. This can sometimes prevent you from making more rational decisions. ”
“In recent decades, almost all prime ministers have resigned, not voluntarily, but most often because of circumstances. This is actually a normal course of political life. I think it’s an arc, but I think some people are reading too much into this as Trudeau’s story.”
But Prime Minister Trudeau is not resigning at a normal time. The incoming U.S. administration, President Donald Trump, has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian products, and the president-elect is mulling the possibility of annexing Canada through “economic power.”
Immigration Minister Mark Miller, a longtime friend of Trudeau’s, said Wednesday that the prime minister was taking the threat seriously, citing the fact that Trudeau appeared at the Canada-U.S. Ministerial Committee an hour after announcing his resignation. said. Prime Minister Trudeau is not a full member of that committee.
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday, Prime Minister Trudeau said President Trump’s annexation comments were a sign of concern for American voters due to the potential impact of 25% tariffs on products such as oil and gas, electricity and steel. He said it was a tactic to deflect. This was Prime Minister Trudeau’s first sit-down press conference since announcing his resignation.
Prime Minister Trudeau said Trump’s comments did not influence his decision to resign, but they clearly created uncertainty for Canada.
“Prime Minister Trudeau’s resignation at this time leaves Canada in a precarious position. The timing is dire, with President Trump’s inauguration looming and the potential for economic catastrophe. Resigning at this time will only increase political uncertainty and leave the country without clear leadership at a critical time,” said Semra Sebi, assistant professor of political science at the University of Toronto.
Two of the front-runners for the Liberal leadership, Finance Minister Dominique Leblanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, have decided not to run for the Liberal leadership to focus on their ministerial responsibilities and dealing with the tariff threat. I declined.
Jolie said Friday that the federal government is considering imposing retaliatory tariffs on the United States if Trump’s threats come true.
During the last Trump administration, Canada countered Canadian taxes on steel and aluminum by imposing targeted tariffs on typical American products like Harley-Davidson motorcycles and bourbon.
The winner of the Liberal Party leadership vote on March 9th will become the next prime minister, but there will be no room for him to regain the optimistic momentum he had at the start of his government.
Parliament will be adjourned until March 24, with a vote of confidence expected soon after. All three major opposition leaders plan to overthrow the government at the earliest opportunity and prepare for spring elections.
As his term draws to a close, Prime Minister Trudeau leaves behind a legacy marked by major new programs, including the Canada Child Benefit, the government’s COVID-19 response, the legalization of recreational cannabis and the introduction of a carbon price.
This record also has some blemishes. These include the SNC-Lavalin scandal, the uproar over Trudeau’s “blackface” photo, and criticism of his co-operation with members of his caucus. Prime Minister Trudeau’s relationship with his caucus and cabinet has been strained at times, but reached a new low with the surprise resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. After that, calls for his own resignation became too loud to ignore.
His immediate successor may only be in office long enough to answer the trivia question, “Who is the shortest-serving prime minister in Canadian history?”
Meredith said he believed there was a “75 percent” chance that a snap election would be held as soon as the House reconvened. Current opinion polls put the Conservatives in a position to win a comfortable majority.
Assuming that happens, Meredith said there is a “good chance” the next Liberal leader will continue to lead the party from the opposition side.
“If a person performs relatively well, maintains a majority of seats, and retains; [Conservative Leader Pierre] “Anyone who is supported by a minority, or even a minority, has a long way to go before they remain leader of the Liberal Party of Canada,” he said.
But Mr Meredith said if the election was a landslide victory for the Conservatives, the Liberals would likely want to install someone else as leader after a lengthy campaign.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2025.
