Justin Trudeau resigns latest: Canadian prime minister steps down as Trump wighs in

Justin Trudeau commented on the departure of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland last month.

“She has been an incredible political partner through just about everything we have done as a government and as a party over the past decade,” he said Monday. “I had really hoped that she would agree to continue as my deputy prime minister and take on one of the most important files that not just this government but this country is facing, but she chose otherwise.”

“In regards to what actually happened, I am not someone who’s in the habit of sharing private conversations,” he added.

“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide, competitive process,” Trudeau said on Monday.

Now, the Liberal Party will decide on its next leader by holding a contest to decide who will succeed Trudeau. Until they do so, Trudeau will remain prime minister.

Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday.

“Last night, over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I sharing with you today,” he said.

“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process,” he added. “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 am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”

Justin Trudeau took to the podium Monday, saying “Every morning I’ve woken up as prime minister, I’ve been inspired by the resilience, the generosity and the determination of Canadians.”

He added: “It is the driving force of every single day I have the privilege of serving in this office, that is why, since 2015 I’ve fought for this country, for you, to strengthen and grow the middle class, why we rallied to support each other through the pandemic, to advance reconciliation, to defend free trade on this continent, to stand strong with Ukraine and our democracy and to fight climate change and get our economy ready for the future.”

“We are at a critical moment in the world,” he argued.

“Throughout the course of my career, any success I have personally achieved has been because of their support and with their encouragement,” Trudeau said.

“So last night over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I’m sharing with you today. I intend to resign as party leader as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process.”

Canada’s Prime Minister was forced to resign off the cuff after his notes blew away seconds before his planned resignation announcement on Monday.

“I’ll wing it,” Justin Trudeau said, as he watched his notes fly from the lectern standing outside his residence in Ottawa.

Trudeau announced he would be stepping down as prime minister, and leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, after nearly ten years in power.

A row had broken out inside Trudeau’s party after US President-elect Donald Trump announced a proposal to introduce 25 percent tariffs on Canada.

Facing low approval ratings in part due to the cost of living crisis, signs were mounting that Canadians had lost faith in the Liberal Party, which Trudeau has led as prime minister since 2015.

But internal confidence plummeted in mid-December, when Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister and head of finance, unexpectedly resigned citing disagreements over the handling of Trump’s proposed 25 percent tariffs on the country – an issue that could damage the economy.

The minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs is one of Trudeau’s closest allies. During times of disorder, he has been entrusted with politically difficult responsibilities.

Having been in parliament for more than 20 years, he previously ran to be the leader of the Liberal Party in 2008, but at the time, Michael Ignatieff came out victorious.

Former deputy prime minister and minister of finance Chrystia Freeland threw Trudeau’s government into chaos when she abruptly resigned from the cabinet last month, just hours before she was due to deliver the country’s first economic update since the U.S. election.