Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as party leader

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce that he is stepping down as the leader of the Liberal Party on Monday according to CNN and other media outlets.

‘Dark chapter’

Update 12:12 p.m. Jan. 6: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said on X, “Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving.”

Nothing has changed.

Every Liberal MP and Leadership contender supported EVERYTHING Trudeau did for 9 years, and now they want to trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians for another 4 years, just like Justin.

The only way to fix what… pic.twitter.com/YnNYANTs1y
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 6, 2025

Earlier when Poilievre’s name came up, Trudeau said “Pierre Poilievre’s vision for this country is not the right one for Canadians. Stopping the fight against climate change doesn’t make sense. Backing off on the values and strength in diversity that Canada has always worked to pull itself on is not the right path for the country. Attacking journalists, the CBC, institutions, that is not what Canadians need in this moment.”

Trudeau announces resignation as party leader

Update 11:03 a.m. Jan. 6: Trudeau in a Monday news conference confirmed he will be stepping down as the leader of the Liberal Party. After discussing with his family, he said intends to resign as party leader and prime minister after a new leader is chosen. He asked the party to start the process.

“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its new leader,” he said.

“If I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” he added, according to The Associated Press.

Parliament will not be sitting while the process happens, and Trudeau will be a prime minister as a caretaker until that time, CNN reported.

He told the Governor General that a new session of parliament was needed and it would be prorogued, or postponed, until March 24.

Trudeau was the second-youngest prime minister of Canada and was planning on running for a fourth term, the AP reported.

Original report: Trudeau will remain in the office of prime minister until a new leader is selected.

He is expected to make the announcement during a news conference scheduled for 10:45 a.m. ET, CNN reported.

Trudeau has been in office for nine years but recently has been losing favor with voters. Polls have shown that the Liberal Party could lose the general election later this year, the BBC reported. The party was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, according to the Globe and Mail.

An election must take place before October, the BBC reported. But it could happen earlier, CNN reported.

His administration had already seen the resignation of his Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. She announced her resignation in a letter that criticized his “political gimmicks” which CNN surmised were a two-month sales tax holiday and a rebate for most workers.

Trudeau has also been called the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada” by President-elect Donald Trump who said he will issue an executive order of a 25% tariff of products coming into the U.S. from Canada.